Lanre Issa-Onilu, former spokesman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) says Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, needs a reputation manager.
Mr Issa-Onilu stated this while reacting to the outburst of the former minister when queried by a journalist in Calabar, Cross River State capital.
The journalist, Eyo Charles, had asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain who was bankrolling his tours and travels to states of the federation. The question angered Fani-Kayode who then described him as being very stupid.
He, however, has apologised and withdrew the derogatory words he used on the media practitioner.
In his reaction, the former APC spokesman advised the PDP chieftain to employ someone to help him manage his reputation just like it is obtained in the western world.
“There’s a place for adversarial questioning in journalism. And you won’t accomplish much in investigative reporting if you cannot frame provocative questions. Eyo Charles’ question might as well be the best question of that press briefing,” Mr Issa-Onilu said in a Wednesday statement.
“I have had the privilege of asking and being asked. In other climes, public figures get assisted for a fee for four things; namely, management of funds, reputation, legal needs, and health.
“In Nigeria, most public figures retain financial experts to manage their funds, lawyers for contractual obligations, and doctors for their health. I guess their image is not that important, so, they don’t retain a reputation manager.
“FFK could have done better for himself with such a manager who could help him bridge the gap between what he thinks of himself (identity) and who much of the public thinks he is (image),” he added.
