Again, journalists have shown solidarity to Eyo Charles, Daily Trust reporter verbally assaulted by Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation in Calabar, Cross River State during a press conference.
Journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Monday boycotted a media briefing called by Fani-Kayode.
Demola Babalola, Oyo State NUJ Chairman announced on Fresh 105.9 FM in the morning, directing journalists invited for the briefing to stay away in solidarity with the profession which was recently debased by FFK, Oyo Today reports.
Some selected journalists had received a closed invitation to attend the planned event at 11am but the leadership of the state council of the NUJ, ruled against attending the event.
The earlier invitation sent to journalists reads: “You are specially invited to a media parley with Femi Fani Kayode(FFK)
Venue-Chalton Gate Hotel, Ibadan.
Time -11am
Note: strictly by invitation.”
The situation in Ibadan comes on the heel of the recent FFK’s violent and insulting outburst against Daily Trust’s Charles Eyo at a similar media parley in Calabar, Cross River State.
It would be recalled that journalists in Akwa Ibom State had also shunned a planned press conference in solidarity with their colleagues in Cross River State.
Though FFK had voiced out an apology, journalist across the nation still regard the Calabar episode as a deliberate attack on free press and his apology, an after thought which was only carried out to ensure full completion of his tour of some states, a tour many believe is still too hazy to understand its purpose.