“This was my choice”, Fani-Kayode confirms posting to South Africa, denies rejection by Germany

Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, has confirmed his appointment as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, dismissing reports that Germany rejected his earlier diplomatic posting as “false” and “malicious.”

In a statement on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his redeployment to South Africa after he formally requested a change from his initial posting to Germany.

“It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa,” he said.

According to him, the redeployment followed personal representations he made to Yusuf Tuggar, the immediate past minister of Foreign Affairs, shortly after the initial list of ambassadorial postings was announced.

Fani-Kayode explained that he preferred South Africa because he had spent most of his life in Europe and wanted to serve in an African country whose worldview aligned more closely with his convictions.

“I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest,” he said.

He added that he sought deployment to “a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan-African vision.”

The former minister said Tuggar considered his request favourably and forwarded it to Tinubu, who subsequently approved the change.

“I will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration,” he said.
Fani-Kayode also thanked Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa, for agreeing to swap postings and proceed to Germany instead.

Denies Germany rejection reports

The ambassador-designate rejected reports by an online publication claiming Germany had refused to accept him as envoy.

“I take this opportunity to once again confirm that this was my choice and that Germany NEVER rejected me,” he said.

He described the report as “a total and complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip,” alleging that it was designed to embarrass him and the Federal Government.

According to him, preliminary findings indicated that the report was “sponsored” and written with malicious intent to damage his reputation.

Fani-Kayode disclosed that petitions had been submitted to security agencies over the publication and that his lawyers had been instructed to commence civil proceedings for defamation.

“I have also briefed my lawyers to take up the matter and we shall be suing them in a civil action for defamation,” he said.
He maintained that no formal rejection was ever issued by Germany and challenged those behind the report to provide documentary proof.

“If there was such a formal rejection I challenge them to bring the proof with documentary evidence,” he said.

Fani-Kayode said the statement became necessary following concerns expressed by friends and associates over the reports.

He added that he looked forward to serving in South Africa, describing the country as “a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history.”