By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has embarrassed a journalist with the Daily Trust Newspaper who asked him a question on the allegation that he was being bankrolled to do public relations for some governors.
Fani-Kayode was recently in Cross River State where he commended the state governor, Ben Ayade, for super performance in office.
The minister, instead of addressing the question, came hard on the journalist, describing the question as stupid, threatening to report the journalist to his publisher and bragging about his social standing in the society.
A video of the incident was shared by human rights activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu on his twitter timeline with the caption ‘short fuse.’
The incident happened during a press conference which the former minister called. It is not clear why Fani-Kayode called the press conference and would decide what question was good and which was ‘stupid.’
“What type of stupid question is that?” Fani-Kayode fumed at the journalist who remained standing during the verbal and emotional onslaught on him.
The journalist’s colleagues looked on during the attack against one of their own. The one tried to calm the situation, blamed his colleague for asking the question.
The former Aviation Minister continued: “Do you know who you are talking to? I will not take any question from this man. 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? Bankroll what. Go and report yourself to your publisher,” he said.
Fani-Kayode came even harder. “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 are talking to. You have a small mind. Don’t judge me by your own standards.
“ I’ve been in politics since 1990. I’ve been locked up, persecuted unlike most of those politicians you follow for brown envelopes. Don’t you ever make that kind of suggestions to me. Bankroll who. A former minister! a lawyer! Don’t ever try that with me. Don’t ever. I have a short fuse. If anyone gives you brown envelope to ask that question, tell them you got more than you bargained for. Very rude. Its not the standard of Daily Trust at all, and I will report you to your publisher,” he concluded.
Here’s the video