The Nigeria Union of Journalists- NUJ has lashed back at the former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani Kayode (FFK) for failing against the Cross River State Correspondent of the Daily Trust Newspaper, Eyo Charles, who sought to know in what capacity he was inspecting projects in the South-South geopolitical zone and who was bankrolling his tour.
Like the Daily Trust newspaper, the NUJ described Fani-Kayode’s outburst as reprehensible. The newspaper urged the Police to note the threat against its reporter by the former minister.
Curiously, FFK, in a series of tweets, likened himself to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and US President Donald Trump.
NUJ President Chris Isiguzo described FFK’s behaviour as unacceptable and condemnable and asked him to apologise for assaulting the reporter and threatening him.
Said Isiguzo’s statement, “Kayode assaulted the journalist and threatened him for daring to ask such a question.
“By denigrating the journalist, Fani Kayode has exposed himself the more as an intolerant and unstable person who will not want his activities closely scrutinised by the Media.
“It is instructive to remind the likes of Fani Kayode that it is the Constitutional right of Journalists to monitor and keep a check on people and institutions in power.
“By delving into politics and holding political office, Fani Kayode is very conversant with the watchdog role of the media.
“For him to have embarked on assessment of projects in some states, even though we are yet to be told under what platform, he is doing so, it is proper for the media to hold him to account for his actions and decisions.
“His reaction was totally unacceptable, dishonourable and reprehensible and we demand for retraction of his untoward, irritating and awkward utterances which negate simple decorum and civility.
“We are more shocked that the same Kayode who had in recent times, used his social media handles to call leaders to account is at the same time attacking a Journalist for a simple demand for him to unmask those behind his nationwide tour. He had already visited six states. This is indeed, terribly disappointing”.
In his own tweets, FFK sought to justify his actions in the viral video. Wrote he: “During my tour of the South and after a long and successful press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers state, a journalist put up his hand for the last question and said, “Well we do not know who is bankrolling you”. This is not a question but an assertion and an insult.
“And if this insulting assertion were made before Trump or OBJ I know how they would have reacted. Above is my response & I have no apology to offer for it. The young man apologised to me during the press conference & sent his apologies to me after the conference.
“I have accepted his apologies & moved on. I have always had respect for journalists & always will. Those of them that know me or worked with or for me over the last 30 years can attest to that. However there is a distinction between asking a question & offering an 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”.