Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, has expressed regret over his altercation with a journalist in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, last week.
Fani-Kayode in a Twitter post on Wednesday said he had withdrawn the word “stupid” which he used to describe the journalist, following a meeting with his advisers.
The former minister had verbally attacked Eyo Charles, a journalist with the Daily Trust, who asked him a question at a press conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, last week.
Eyo had asked Fani-Kayode if his recent trips were being bankrolled, a question which made the ex-minister furious and immediately tongue-lashed the former.
The comments and action by the former minister led to throngs of criticisms directed at him, especially from the media.
Reacting to the backlash he had received, Fani-Kayode noted that he has worked with various professionals in the media for over 30 years and will never do anything to disparage the profession.
He, however, insisted that Eyo was never threatened physically at anytime.
He tweeted: “I met with my advisors & I wish to say the following. I hereby withdraw the word “stupid” which I used in my encounter with a journalist in Calabar. I have many friends in the media who I offended by losing my cool & using such words. I hereby express my regrets for doing so.1/4
“..I do however wish to state categorically that no threat of physical harm was ever made to the journalist in question and neither did I send anyone to threaten him. Anyone that says otherwise is lying and I challenge them to bring the proof. 2/4
“..I would never seek to physically harm a journalist. For the last 30 years I have defended & worked with journalists & fought for the right of freedom of exiression. I am also very close to many in that profession. I would be the last to seek to disparage those that are..3/4
“…honorable and noble within its ranks. I hope that this will assuage the pain and anger of anyone that was hurt or offended by this ugly episode. I have now put this matter behind me and moved on. Now my tour of the South continues. Moving to another state today!”
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