Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has apologised for his recent outburst on a journalist of Daily Trust.

This follows widespread condemnation he received for verbaling assaulting the journalist who asked him if he was being bankrolled by any politician or political group on his recent tours to some South-South and South-East states.

In a trendy video that circulated on social media, Fani-Kayode described the journalist as "very stupid" while raining other unprinted words on him.

In a series of tweets, however, Fani-Kayode said: "I hereby withdraw the word “stupid” which I used in my encounter with a journalist in Calabar."

His tweet read:

I met with my advisors till late last night and 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 and 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.

I would never seek to physically harm a journalist. For the last 30 years I have defended and worked with journalists and 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 yet another state today!

FFK

..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 exiression. I am also very close to many in that profession. I would be the last to seek to disparage those that are..3/4

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) August 26, 2020

...and established who was behind this whole incident and attempt to embarrass me, who paid for it and how much they paid before going to press. Nevertheless I still hold you in high esteem.

— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) August 25, 2020