Admin l Wednesday, August 26, 2020
LAGOS, Nigeria – Former Minister of Aviation on tour of the South South states has apologized over his emotional outburst after a Daily Trust reporter in Calabar asked who is bankrolling his tour.
The former minister said he decided to withdraw the word stupid after meeting with his advisor but said he never threatened to physically harm the affected reporter but that his utterance offended his friends in the media.
“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.
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“..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 expression. 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!
