Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa following his request to be moved from Germany.
Fani-Kayode disclosed that he personally requested the redeployment shortly after his initial posting to Germany, explaining that he preferred to serve in a country that aligns more closely with his political convictions, pan-African ideals, and worldview.
According to him, South Africa’s position as Africa’s largest economy and its strong historical ties with Nigeria influenced his decision to seek the diplomatic reassignment.
“I expressed that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs,” he stated.
The former minister said he submitted the request just two days after the original announcement and credited Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, for conveying the request to President Tinubu, who subsequently approved it.
Fani-Kayode also thanked Senator Sam Enang, who was initially posted to South Africa, for agreeing to a direct swap that would see him take up the ambassadorial role in Germany instead.
The former minister strongly dismissed reports claiming that Germany rejected his appointment, describing the allegations as false, malicious, and politically motivated.
According to him, no formal communication rejecting his appointment was ever issued by the German government.
“Germany never formally rejected me. That story was a complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip,” he said.
Fani-Kayode accused an unnamed online publication of deliberately spreading false information to embarrass him, the Federal Government, and President Tinubu.
He further revealed that the matter has been reported to security agencies and that his legal team has been instructed to commence a defamation suit against the publication responsible for the report.
The ambassador-designate expressed optimism about his new diplomatic assignment, describing South Africa as a country he deeply admires because of its “remarkable and inspiring history.”
