Eyo Charles, the journalist attacked by former Aviation Minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has narrated what transpired between them at a press conference in Calabar.
Femi Fani-Kayode has appeared in a viral video attacking Eyo Charles and calling him ‘stupid’
The ex-minister had visited Cross River last week during a tour of states in the South-South region controlled by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He held a press conference after inspecting some ongoing projects by Governor Ben Ayade, one of which is the superhighway that would stretch from the Atlantic ocean in Bakassi to the boundary of Benue State and the proposed deep sea port.
A video of his press conference was leaked to the public on Tuesday.
The journalist Eyo who works with Daily Trust asked the ex-minister if his recent trips were being sponsored.
Fani-Kayode said the reporter was “very stupid” and that he did not need anyone to bankroll his tour.
The Daily Trust reporter, Mr Eyo Charles, in an interview said that he was “more disorganised” and had to apologise to Mr Fani-Kayode 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 jump” 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.
Daily Trust would be issuing a statement on the incident as learnt.
Judex Okoro, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, in Cross River state, said the journalists’ union was yet to meet over the incident.
Governor Ayade’s spokesperson, Mr Ita, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that what the Daily Trust reporter said to the former minister was not a question.
“The guy didn’t even ask a question. The guy said ‘even though you have not told us who is bankrolling your trips’.
“When he said that the man now erupted, he was very upset,” Mr Ita said. “I was trying to pacify both sides.”