National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, Olusegun Bamgbose, has claimed that former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode was under a spiritual attack when he verbally assaulted Eyo Charles, a reporter with Daily Trust in Calabar, Cross River State.
Bamgbose also pleaded with the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Nigerians in general to forgive the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chieftain.
Recall that Fani-Kayode had verbally attacked Eyo for asking him a perceived insulting question during a press conference.
Charles had asked the former minister ‘who was bankrolling his recent trips around Nigeria’, to which FFK flared up and rained insults on the journalist.
Giving reasons for his action, Fani-Kayode claimed the reporter was a front for his political enemies who were out to embarrass him.
His action was, however, condemned by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, which described the ex-Minister’s response as gangster-like.
But Bamgbose, a legal practitioner cum politician, said there was more than meets the eye in the verbal attack of Daily Trust correspondent, by Fani Kayode.
“I doubt if Fani Kayode had ever in his political history, intimidated any journalist. He is well known to be a very good friend of the Press,” Bamgbose said in a chat with Africa Today News, New York on Thursday.
“He could attack political office holders, if they err, but this presumably will be the first time, he will verbally attack a journalist. It’s really an unfortunate situation.
“The truth of the matter is that, many don’t seem to understand what may be going on behind the scene. Some politicians actually may not be comfortable with the rising profile of Femi Fani- Kayode.
“He has been on project monitoring tours and had visited about six States in Nigeria. This is a good development. Some have speculated that he possibly have presidential ambition, this may not be far from the truth.
“He remains one of the most prominent Yoruba man, still with the PDP. There could be that possibility that if PDP decides to favour the South West, he might be considered.
“His tours could be a way of preparing himself for the battle ahead. However unknown to FFK, some may not be comfortable with that. I strongly suspect that he was spiritually manipulated to ‘misbehave.’
“I urge the NUJ and Nigerians to forgive him. It’s never a crime for him to aspire to be President, the more the merrier. He is a lawyer like me, and he is qualified to contest if he so wishes. He is welcome on board,” he said.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK