Akwa Ibom NUJ Rebuffs FFK’s Visit Over His Verbal Assaults On Journalists

The Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council has directed its members to boycott the press conference and other activities of a one-time Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode in the state.

FFK arrived Akwa Ibom State Thursday night via Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo in continuation of his controversial states tour of PDP states in the South South Region and was received into Akwa Ibom Government House by the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel.

This is coming days after Fani-Kayode had insulted Eyo Charles, a journalist with Daily Trust newspaper, for asking him a question: “Who is bankrolling your tour of the states?”

Reacting, Kayode described Eyo’s question as “very stupid”, and hurled insults on him. Though Femi had since then apologised to the press community and asked his friends in the media industry to forgive him, he is yet to apologise to the journalist whose ego was bruised.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Mr Amos Etuk and Dominic Akpan respectively, the decision to back out of FFK’s activities in the state is in line with the disposition of the national leadership of the body.

“In line with the disposition of the national leadership of our great Union, the State Council has directed that no journalist should attend a media parley with Femi Fani-Kayode or any of his activity at any location in Akwa Ibom State,” the release noted.

Fani Kayode was seen in a viral video hurling verbal attack on the correspondent of Daily Trust newspapers in Cross River state, during a media to cap his guided tour of projects in Cross River state.

Meanwhile, Journalists and other concerned individuals in the society have since FFK’s arrival in Akwa Ibom State called on the union to order a boycott of his activities in the state in protest of his unguarded and uncouth utterances on the journalist.

For Abasifreke Effiong, an Uyo-based journalist who wrote on his Facebook timeline calling for a boycott of FFK’s activities in the state, said “injury to one is injury to all.”

His comment goes “FFK’s attack on the journalist has been widely condemned by NUJ, and millions of right-thinking Nigerians. His action, to say the least, was the height of insult anyone has meted out on a journalist and a member of NUJ in Nigeria in recent times.

“Barely 72 hours after the video of FFK’s attack on that Correspondent in Cross River surfaced on social media, photos have been served up on Facebook showing that the former minister is in Akwa Ibom state for the same purpose he was in Cross River State for.

“As much as the government of Akwa Ibom state has received him, I use this medium to call on the Akwa Ibom state leadership of NUJ led by Comrade Amos Etuk, the leadership of Correspondents’ chapel in Akwa Ibom state led by Idongesit Ashameri, and indeed all journalists in Akwa Ibom state to boycott all events in the State that will be convened by FFK or have him in attendance.

“FFK has clearly shown that he does not respect journalists. The Daily Trust correspondent is not the only journalist FFK has abused, insulted and shouted at for asking him a question. On Thursday, Premium Times reported another case of verbal assault on a journalist by FFK.

“FFK may also come to Akwa Ibom well prepared to insult yet another journalist. Journalists in Akwa Ibom should protect themselves from this chronic abuser and other forms of abuse from weak -minded persons like FFK by boycotting activities lined up for his personal- interest-driven visit to our state,” Abasifreke remarked.