Gbenro Adesina
Nigerians, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and notable media practitioners have unequivocally condemned Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode for hauling insults at the Cross River State Correspondent of the Daily Trust Newspaper, Eyo Charles, for asking him to state where he gets funds being used to monitor projects executed by the governments in the South.
In 2003, the nation’s ex-president, Dr Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Femi Fani-Kayode, as Special Assistant on Public Affairs. In 2006, Obasanjo appointed him Minister of Culture and Tourism and was later redeployed to the Aviation Ministry.
NUJ, in a press release dated August 25, 2020, condemns the gangster-like outburst by Femi Fani Kayode against the Correspondent, who asked him a simple question which he felt was embarrassing.
According to the press release signed by the Union’s National President, Chris Isiguzo, Fani-Kayode, in his reaction to the question asked, assaulted the journalist and threatened him for daring to ask such a question.
The statement noted that by denigrating the journalist, Fani-Kayode has exposed himself the more as an intolerant and unstable person, who would not want his activities closely scrutinised by the Media adding that it is instructive to remind the likes of Fani-Kayode that it was the constitutional right of journalists to monitor and keep a check on people and institutions in power.
The Union asserted that by delving into politics and holding political office, Fani-Kayode was very conversant with the watchdog role of the media saying, “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”.
Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, reacted, “This is absolutely disgusting for three reasons. First, that FFK elected to haul insults at a journalist, who simply asked a question. When has it become an offence for a journalist to seek to clarify an allegation? Second, more disgusting, that the journalist in question stood like a statue and later sat like a zombie instead of walking out on the charging bull. Third, absolutely disgusting, that other colleagues sat there without protesting but instead chose to utter moronic sorry sir, sorry sir. Sorry for what, for crying out loud!! I will be shocked if Daily Trust does not protest this assault on their reporter”.
Dapo Falade of the Nigerian Tribune was disappointed over the attitude of the other correspondents at the assignment saying, “Journalists helped the cocky and arrogant Femi Fani-Kayode to rubbish one of their own”.
Former Oyo State Chairman of NUJ, Adewumi Faniran, simply said, “My heart is still bleeding”.
Afolabi Gambari said, “He rubbed it in that he is a ‘former minister’ and ‘lawyer’. Meanwhile, his public behaviour has always been just short of a motor park tout. Very undignifying and most times, dishonourable”.
Omooba Adewale Olayemi said, “It is painful that journalism practice could come to that abysmal low level in this country. So, shameful and condescending”.
On his twitter page, Fani-Kayode explained his own side of the story saying, “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. 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 gratuitous insult and I will not accept that from any man born of woman. Thank you. Permit me to add the following”.
“I have taken note of the report by Daily Trust on the incident. The content is false. I didn’t send any of my security men to threaten their reporter. I only reprimanded him for a premeditated plan to embarrass me and he apologised thereafter. That was all. This is not a battle between me and the esteemed Nigerian journalists, who respect the ethics of the noble profession. I have always been and will always be a friend to journalists and a champion of freedom of speech. What I will not accept are brazen insults from an individual in the name of journalism. The assertion or assumption that I am being bankrolled by anyone is deeply insulting. Finally, to the NUJ, I say you have got me completely wrong. It would have been better if you had heard my own side of the story and established who was behind this whole incident and attempt to embarrass me, who paid for it and how much they paid before going to press. Nevertheless, I still hold you in high esteem”, he added.
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