EX-NIGERIAN MINISTER, FEMI FANI KAYODE ABRUPTLY INSULTS A JOURNALIST
The former minister of aviation attacked Eyo Charles, a journalist who asked him a question at a press conference in Calabar, Cross River state. about the source of his funding for his recent tours in Nigeria.
Eyo, a reporter with Daily Trust, had asked the ex-minister if his recent trips were being sponsored and Fani-Kayode flew into a rage shortly after.
Fani-Kayode, who described the reporter as “very stupid”, said he is not a poor man who would beg for funds.
In a video, Fani-Kayode, who recently took a tour of some South-South and South-East states, described the journalist as ‘very stupid’ for asking such a question.The journalist had during a press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, asked him if he was being bankrolled by any politician or political group – a question that attracted verbal assault from the ex-minister.
“I am saying this on live TV… put that thing down, What type of stupid question is that? Bankrolling who? Do you know who you are talking to? I will not take any questions from this man,” he said. “I could see from your face before you got here how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that. I’m not a poor man and will never be, bankroll who? A former minister, a lawyer, don’t ever try that with me again, see me well, don’t ever. You are very rude, it’s not the standard of Daily Trust at all and I will report you to your publisher,” he said.
“What type of insulting question is that? Which bankroll? To do what? Who can give me money for anything? Who do you think you are talking to? Go and report yourself to your publisher? Please don’t insult me here. I don’t want to take any questions from this man. Who do you think you’re talking to. Bankroll who? You think I am one of those ones you… from who, when, how? You have a small mind, very small mind. Don’t judge me by your own standards.
“I have been in politics since 1990… I have been locked up many times by this government. Suffered. I have been persecuted unlike most of the politicians you follow for brown envelope. Don’t ever judge me by that standard. I spend I don’t take and I am not a poor man — I have never been and I will never be.
“Bankroll how? Don’t ever suggest that to me. I am sorry that was deeply insulting. I don’t often get annoyed in press conference. I have been doing this type of thing for so many years. Don’t you ever make that kind of suggestion to me. Bankroll who? A former minister, a lawyer? Don’t ever try that with me again o, please. You see me well, don’t ever. Try it with others, but with me, don’t! I will hit you hard and if anybody sent you to ask that question and gave you brown envelope, go and tell them that you got more than they bargained for to do it.
“Very rude. It is not the standard of gaining trust at all and I will report you to your publisher. Thank you. Somebody that has been on the road for how long, you are coming to talk about that. Very stupid.”
The ex-minister had asked if there were other questions but he did not entertain any other question before storming out of the hall in anger.
It was seen on the video, despite the attempt of Christian Ita, chief press secretary to Ayade, to pacify Fani-Kayode, he continued raining insults on the reporter outside the hall.
“You can go ahead and write your rubbish. I have marked you,” a journalist who witnessed the incident quoted Fani-Kayode as telling Charles. This will be the second time within four days Fani-Kayode will be attacking journalists, who dared asking a similar question. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists Condemns The Gangster-Like Outburst Says Its Totally Reprehensible
However, after some hours Femi Fani Kayode humbly dropped this on his twitter handle-I met with my advisors & I wish to say the following. I hereby withdraw the word “stupid” which I used in my encounter with a journalist in Calabar. I have many friends in the media who I offended by losing my cool & using such words. I hereby express my regrets for doing so.
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