A video a former government minister in Nigeria berating a journalist for asking him a question he did not like has been condemned by many on Twitter.

Femi Fani-Kayode, who served as the aviation minister, took umbrage at being asked about the source of funding for his week-long tour of the Southern Cross Rivers State.

A journalist from the Daily Trust newspaper had asked him who "bankrolled" him, and it led to an angry response from Mr Fani-Kayode:

“I could see from your face before you got here how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that. I’m not a poor man and will never be, bankroll who? A former minister, a lawyer, don’t ever try that with me again, see me well, don’t ever. You are very rude, it’s not the standard of Daily Trust at all and I will report you to your publisher.

“What kind of stupid question is that? Bankrolling who? Do you know who you are talking to? I will not take any further questions from this man. Who you do think you are talking to? Go and report yourself to your publisher. I don’t want to take questions from this man, very stupid."

Fani-Kayode harangues journalist for "bankrolling" question pic.twitter.com/Gi5b9TCLcv

— Daily Trust (@daily_trust) August 25, 2020

Mr Fani-Kayode went to say that "I spend, I don't take", suggesting that he had the financial wherewithal to fund his political activities.

The journalist can be heard apologising repeatedly.

Several people on Twitter have defended the journalist, while criticising Mr Fani-Kayode:

Ordinary bankrolling accusation, he fled up this way. Wow! Other people must have thick skin with the kind of below-the-belt jab he throws recklessly when expressing his opinion on national issues every now and then. So @realFFK has integrity to protect. That is surprising.

— Muhammed Murtala (@murtalamoha) August 25, 2020

@NUJofficial and the Guild of Editors must condemn Chief Femi Fani Kayode's arrogance and use of foul language on a @daily_trust journalist who was merely doing his job. If he cannot take probing questions because he had a "short fuss" like he declared, he should stay at home!

— Husseini Shaibu, Ph.D (@igalaman) August 25, 2020

Great question! Asking the difficult questions is becoming a lost art in the face of "brown envelope" as claimed by Fani-Kayode. Kudos to the young man but he shouldn't have apologised. Waiting to hear @daily_trust response if @realFFK does call the publisher as threatened.

— Kunle Adewale (@Kunleonnaijatv) August 25, 2020