Eyo Charles, the Daily Trust correspondent who had a bitter encounter with a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, in Calabar, Cross River State, at a press conference has narrated his own side of the story.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the ex-minister abruptly left the conference after verbally assaulting the reporter, calling him stupid for asking the ex-minister if his tour was being sponsored by any politician or political group.
“What type of stupid question is that? What type of stupid question is that? Bankrolling who? Do you know who you are talking to?” Mr Fani-Kayode has angrily told the reporter.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in a defense of his widely condemned action said United States President Donald Trump and former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo who appointed him (Fani-Kayode) minister would have responded more harshly to the reporter than he did. Fani-Kayode also said the reporter had apologised and he has moved on.
However, the journalist said he was disorganised from the encounter, which was why he apologised to Mr Fani-Kayode.
Mr Charles explained that he was “more disorganised” when he heard other reporters told him right there that he should not have asked the question.
He said he did not expect the former minister to “suddenly jumped” at him.
“The question was sir, you said you have gone round six or seven states to inspect projects undertaken by those governors, and now you are here in Cross River state, rounding off your one-week visit to Governor Ayade. Who is bankrolling you?” Mr Charles said.
Mr Charles said after the incident a “security aide” to the former minister walked up to him and began interrogating him. He said he had to hurriedly leave the hotel premises.
The former minister, the reporter said, later called his editor in Daily Trust and demanded his sack.
The reporter said he regretted apologising to Mr Fani-Kayode over the incident.
“I am 53, he is not much older than me. I am not a child, I am an adult and I have children,” he said.
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Ray
August 28, 2020 at 8:20 am
I’m at a loss as to the relevance of the question, ‘who is bankrolling you?’
Do you mean to say Ffk is too poor to finance his tour across those states? I don’t get it!
I mean, he’s a private citizen, holding no public office. I’m convinced your question was mired in mischief!
Soji Omole
September 4, 2020 at 2:57 pm
But if you are sure of yourself, why apologising. Are you that afraid of losing your job or what? You shouldn’t have apologised. As for FFK the question is when someone is seeking relevance and always wanting to be headlines at all times, he may dip his hands into his pocket to bankroll.
So who is bankrolling you, FFK? Answer: Quest for relevance in the polity and desire to be in headlines.