Former Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, has attacked a journalist working with Daily Trust newspaper for asking the source of funding of his recent tours.
In a video shared by Daily Trust, 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’m saying this live on TV, put that thing down, what kind of stupid question is that? Bankrolling who? Do you know who you are talking to? I will not take any further questions from this man. Who you do think you are talking to? Go and report yourself to your publisher. I don’t want to take questions from this man, very stupid.
“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.
This will be the second time within four days Fani-Kayode will be attacking journalists, who dared asking a similar question.
Meanwhile, Fani-Kayode said that the journalist had apologized to him during and after the press conference and he accepted the apology in good faith.
"The young man apologised to me during the press conference and sent his apologies to me after the conference. I have accepted his apologies in good faith and moved on.
"I have always had respect for journalists and I always will. Those of them that know me or have worked with or for me over the last 30 years can attest to that.
"However there is a distinction between asking a question and offering a gratuitous insult.
"This is all the more so when it is clear that the assertion was sponsored and engineered by my political enemies who wanted to use the young man to insult and embarrass me and question my integrity. Well they got more than they bargained for.
"I repeat this was not a question but an assertion and an insult and I will not accept that from any man born of woman. Thank you.