A two minutes video has emerged showing how Nigeria’s former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, verbally attacked Eyo Charles, a journalist who asked him a “stupid question” at a press conference in Calabar, Cross River state.
The former presidential advisor, who began a tour of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states in July, recently visited Cross River state.
Kayode at the end of his tour held a press conference and praised governor Ben Ayade of Cross River for his achievements.
Among the projects inspected by the former minister are the superhighway that would stretch from the Atlantic ocean in Bakassi to the boundary of Benue state and the proposed deep sea port. Kayode popularly called “FFK” called on the federal government to assist the state to achieve its developmental strides.
Eyo, a reporter with Daily Trust, asked the former minister “who bankrolls his trips?” Angered by the question, FFK flew into a rage. He told the reporter that he does not rely on politicians for patronage.
“I am saying this on live TV. What type of stupid question is that? Bankrolling who? Do you know who you are talking to? I will not take any questions from this man,” he said.
“What type of insulting question is that? Which bankroll? To do what? Who can give me money for anything? Who do you think you are talking to? Go and report yourself to your publisher? Please don’t insult me here. I don’t want to take any questions from this man.
“I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that. Who do you think you’re talking to. Bankroll who? You think I am one of those ones you… from who, when, how? You have a small mind, very small mind. Don’t judge me by your own standards.
“I have been in politics since 1990… I have been locked up many times by this government. Suffered. I have been persecuted unlike most of the politicians you follow for brown envelope. Don’t ever judge me by that standard. I spend I don’t take and I am not a poor man — I have never been and I will never be.
“Bankroll how? Don’t ever suggest that to me. I am sorry that was deeply insulting. I don’t often get annoyed in press conference. I have been doing this type of thing for so many years. Don’t you ever make that kind of suggestion to me. Bankroll who? A former minister, a lawyer? Don’t ever try that with me again o, please. You see me well, don’t ever. Try it with others, but with me, don’t! I will hit you hard and if anybody sent you to ask that question and gave you brown envelope, go and tell them that you got more than they bargained for to do it.
“Very rude. It is not the standard of Daily Trust at all and I will report you to your publisher. Thank you. Somebody that has been on the road for how long, you are coming to talk about that. Very stupid.”
The ex-minister had asked if there were other questions but he did not entertain any other question before storming out of the hall in anger.
FFK was the Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to former president Olusegun Obasanjo from July 2003 until June 2006. He was appointed the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 22 June to 7 November 2006 and as the Minister of Aviation from 7 November 2006 to 29 May 2007.
Fani-Kayode is a prominent critic of the Muhammadu Buhari/APC government.
