Former minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode seems to have bowed to the media call-out that followed his encounter with a journalist at Calabar, the Cross River State capital when he hosted a media briefing.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP chieftain who’s on tour to the Southern Nigeria states had flared up when a reporter with Daily Trust asked him the question; “Who’s bankrolling your tour”. The visibly enraged Kayode scolded the journalist and went as far as addressing him as “stupid”.
However, the former minister in a series of tweets on Tuesday has withdrawn the comment which he said he did after his meeting with his advisors and also considering the fact that he has so many friends that are journalist who might have been offended by his action.
“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.”
Fani-Kayode also denied threatening to harm the journalist insisting that anyone insinuating that is lying as he would never want to harm a journalist.
“I do however wish to state categorically that no threat of physical harm was ever made to the journalist in question and neither did I send anyone to threaten him. Anyone that says otherwise is lying and I challenge them to bring the proof.
I would never seek to physically harm a journalist. For the last 30 years I have defended & worked with journalists & fought for the right of freedom of exiression. I am also very close to many in that profession. I would be the last to seek to disparage those that are honorable and noble within its ranks.
“I hope that this will assuage the pain and anger of anyone that was hurt or offended by this ugly episode. I have now put this matter behind me and moved on. Now my tour of the South continues. Moving to another state today!” he said.
