Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, has apologised to Eyo Charles, a Daily Trust reporter, he insulted at a press conference.
The ex-minister, who began a tour of some states, especially those controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states in July, visited Cross River last week.
At a press conference in Calabar, Cross River capital, Charles had asked Fani-Kayode if anyone was bankrolling his trip.
But the former minister, who felt offended by the question, described him as “very stupid”.
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“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, a very small mind,” he had said.
His comments had generated a backlash, with at least two chapters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) boycotting his activities.
The ex-minister had initially refused to apologoise to Charles, saying his apology was for his “friends in the media”.
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But speaking at a press conference at government house, Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom, on Friday, Fani-Kayode said he disappointed himself and everyone.
“I’m deeply sorry for the manner I reacted to the said reporter. I was too hard on him. The question was mischievous, but I fell for it,” he said.
“I should have been smarter than that. I am using this opportunity to reach out to him, and I hope he will be kind enough to forgive me. I disappointed myself, my family and friends, my colleagues and even my bosses, those who hold me in high esteem.
“I have regrets, it was not my finest day. No leader or public figure should ever react like that. I disappointed myself. I deeply regret it and I believe it will never happen again.”
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11 comments
Better. Much better.
Thank God Mr short fuse has now realized how stupid he acted and not the journalist that is stupid.
I know you reacted that way on an impulse because of who you believe you are and this matters a lot. You have made positive impact in Nigeria than many at your level. I just checked your plus and minus and you are still on the high.
We draw inspiration from you qualities and things you do. The day was our lowest outing and I trust the media and the young reporter will accept our apology.
We will wipe this page with more positive things to come and smile at it some day looking back at your achievements. Let’s keep walking Boss
This should close the chapter. To err is human. Femi has shown bravery in accepting his mistake. I commend him
Better, learning is a continuous process. Thank God he has learnt not allow his fame crash by poor management of temperament.
I can have some confidence in any man who would publicly apologize to another whom he had hurt. It speaks well of him; any man can be upset at any given time, we are mortals and subject to mistakes. We also wish to hear from the offended journalist that he also has forgiven him. But he should also know that his QUESTION was very offensive, and not every person will tolerate that kind of question. It was a very probing question.
I respect FFK the more by this public apology.
What do you know about journalism. a good journalist is supposed to be gate keeper and a watchdog and asking probing question is one of the marks of a good journalist.
A journalist should not just settle for anything he/she is fed with by public figures.
FFK did not, and I mean did not have any reason to react the way he did.
Only people that have something to hide react that way just to cow the next person.
The work of a Journalist is to probe. We all deserve to know why and at whose expense FFK was touring these states when he’s not a Government appointee. Does he have so much money to waste millions on touring states to look at projects. So it was a legitimate question and FFK’S response showed he was being ‘bankrolled’ and he didn’t want it seemed that way. Also he could have just parried the question. I commend his heartfelt apology notwithstanding. That was very manly of him.
FOR ME, THE WORD STUPID WAS NOT THE ISSUE & SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE MAIN TOPIC OF FFK’S APOLOGY.
THE TONE & WORDINGS OF THE APOLOGY TENDERED BY FFK IS NOT ONLY UNWHOLESOME, HALF-BAKED & AN EFFORT IN SELF-HELP AIMED AT JUST PATCHING UP A MAJOR REND BUT CLEARLY SHOWS HE HAS NOT REPENTED ONE BIT.
THE MAIN POINT TO NOTE HERE IS THAT IF AN EBULLIENT CHARACTER LIKE FFK EVER HAS ANY ADVISOR(S) THEN PERHAPS BOTH FFK & HIS THE ADVISORS (IF ANY) JUST REALIZED HIS ONLY MARKET IS THE MEDIA & IF HE LOSES OUT IN THIS “MARKET” HE WILL THEN BE WITHOUT ALL THE “MEDIA ATTENTION & MENTION” HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GETTING AND EVENTUALLY BE CONSIGNED TO IRRELEVANCE.
LET’S RECALL THE TIMES WHEN A STUDENT WAS CALLED OUT FOR COMMITTING AN OFFENCE DURING ASSEMBLY IN OUR COLLEGE DAYS THAT THE ONLY “OXYGEN” THAT SUSTAINED THE CULPRIT WAS THE “CHEERS & HAILINGS” HE GOT FROM THE REST OF THE STUDENTS AS HE TRUDGED OUT TO BE FLOGGED.
FUNNY ENOUGH WHEN YOU INVITED THAT SAME STUDENT TO YOUR OFFICE TO COUNSEL HIM YOU’D BE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE FELLOW WHO ACTED “JAMES BOND” DURING ASSEMBLY WOULD NOW BE LITERALLY FIDGETING & SHAKING LIKE LEAVES ON THE TREE – THE REASON BEING THAT HE HAS BEEN DENIED THE “MUCH NEEDED OXYGEN” (BEING “CHEERED & HAILED” BY THE REST OF THE STUDENTS).
IN THE SAME WAY IF NIGERIA’S SOCIAL MEDIA SHOULD DENY FFK “ALL THE ATTENTION & MENTION HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GETTING FROM THEM”, HE WILL FIZZLE OUT INTO IRRELEVANCE & YOU ALL WILL SEE THAT HE LITERALLY “CRAWL” TO CHARLES EYO BEGGING FOR MERCY & FORGIVENESS.
LEST REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE SUSTAINED INJURY IN OUR CHILDHOOD DAYS WE HID IT FROM MUM, BUT BY THE TIME MUM STARTED TO BATHE US WE STRUGGLED TO KEEP THAT PART WE WERE INJURED FROM HER REACH AND WE ONLY ENDED UP GIVING OURSELVES AWAY THAT “ALL WAS NOT WELL”.
CHARLES EYO’S QUESTION WAS SIMPLE, HARMLESS BUT ON TARGET JUST LIKE WHEN WE TRIED TO HIDE INJURIES WE SUSTAINED IN OUR CHILDHOOD DAYS ONLY TO BE EXPOSED BY THE TIME OUR MUM STARTED TO BATHE US.
SO THE UNWARRANTED OUTBURSTS OF UNPRINTABLE & UNMENTIONABLE VOCABULARY BY FFK ONLY ENDED UP GIVING HIMSELF AWAY, AND THIS SHOULD ACT AS A TIMELY “WARNING-SHOT” TO “EVERY ARDENT” FOLLOWER OF FFK NOT TO BE DECEIVED BY ALL THE NICETIES HE HAS BEEN PUTTING ON DISPLAY IN SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THEY CONSTITUTE HIS MARKETING TOOLS & ARE MERE FACADES; AND AGAIN IF BY ANY CHANCE FFK GETS POWER, HE CAN ALSO BE JUST AS BRUTAL AS INDIGENES OF THE DEFUNCT WESTERN REGION WILL NOT FORGET THE ORIGINATOR OF “OPERATION WETIE” IN A HURRY.
SO LET EVERYONE BE WARNED THAT THE OFFSHOOT OF THE AUTHOR OF “OPERATION WETIE” IS ON THE PROWL AGAIN AND “OPERATION WETIE” IN THE DEFUNCT WESTERN REGION WOULD BE A CHILD’S PLAY IF FFK EVER MOUNTS THE SADDLE OF POWER ANYTIME, ANY DAY.
THE FACT THAT FFK CAN BOASTFULLY PUFF OVER A FELLOW NIGERIAN & BLARE SUCH QUESTIONS AS “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” LEAVES MUCH MORE THAN A SOUR TASTE.
NIGERIA & NIGERIANS BEWARE!!!
I think FFK apologized because he got scared. He said it himself that the journalist is a bishop of Olumba Olumba Obu (OOO). Don’t forget he had previous opportunities to apologize and he refused. I think he just found out about the journalist’s membership of OOO, and therein lies the rationale behind his public apology!