Fani-Kayode
The recent uncurt attitude of the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode towards a journalist has been described as an assault on journalism profession and as such all media houses have been asked to black out the minister in all future coverage.
The Centre for Media, Policy and Accountability has observed with dismay the disposition of former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode towards a journalist working with Daily Trust and considered the action as an assault on the journalism profession.
In a 2 minutes 35 seconds video that went viral on social media, the assaulted journalist asked the former Minister: ‘who is bankrolling the South-South tour?’
Fani Kayode was furious for being asked this question and rained insults on the reporter. Well, there are no stupid questions and such questions are in line with good journalism: ‘digging the unknown facts’.
In a release signed by the Executive Director, Dr Suleiman A. Suleiman Yusuf and the Director of Media , Ibrahim Uba, the Centre for Media, Policy and Accountability said it strongly believed that the question asked by the affronted journalist was in the public interest and is part of journalists’ role in holding power to account, a role enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore, the Centre believes that the former Minister has no right to assault any Nigerian citizen, let alone a journalist on constitutional duty on behalf of Nigerians.
This public assault is a clear violation of the constitutional rights of journalists in line of duty. This is unacceptable. Unfortunately, the Daily Trust reporter and other journalists present at the press briefing did not stand up for their rights.
As an organization, we felt it is incumbent to advise journalists and media houses to give a total black out to such characters, who have no respect for journalists and their profession.
We also urge the Nigerian Union of Journalists to intervene on this matter. Above all, the Centre for Media Policy and Accountability demands a written apology.
In a related development, the International Press Centre (IPC) has also condemned the verbal assault inflicted on a Journalist by a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani Kayode.
The journalist, Eyo Charles, who reports for the Daily Trust Newspaper, was seen in a video posted by The Cable, an online newspaper. asking the former Minister at a press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria, if he was funded to embark on a tour of projects in the state to which he responded with verbal attacks.
The Minister was also seen threatening to deal with Journalist Eyo Charles, who has since claimed that a security detail in the entourage of the former Minister confronted him after the press conference.
In a press statement signed by its Communication Officer, Olutoyin Ayoade, IPC viewed this development as repulsive and unacceptable since there was nothing wrong with Journalist Eyo Charles wanting to know if the tour was an independent initiative or a sponsored one.
“The former Minister had the option of not answering the question and the abuses were totally out of place in the context of the event”, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said.
IPC therefore demands that the former Minister should apologise to the Journalist and give an assurance of his safety in view of the alleged further threats.
IPC is of the view that journalists who are saddled with the constitutional obligation of monitoring governance and holding the government accountable to the people should not be subjected to harassment in the course of their duties.
