Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has retracted “stupid” word from Daily Trust Journalist.
The Herald earlier reported that the former Aviation Minister went ballistic on Eyo Charles for questioning him about the sponsors of his recent trips round the country.
Angered by the question, Fani-Kayode called Eyo stupid amid a barrage of other insults.
Daily Trust released a statement notifying the Police to hold the former Minister responsible should any harm befall their reporter, Eyo Charles.
However, Fani-Kayode has retracted the “stupid” word used in describing the Journalist initially.
“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.
“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.
“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 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!”