TDFormer Aviation Minister and Ambassador-Designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has clarified the circumstances surrounding his redeployment from Germany to South Africa.
Fani-Kayode insisted qthat he was never rejected by the German government as widely speculated in sections of the media.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his redeployment to South Africa after he personally requested a change in posting from Germany for what he described as “personal reasons.”
According to him, he had written to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, shortly after the initial ambassadorial announcement, expressing discomfort with the German posting and requesting redeployment to South Africa instead.
Fani-Kayode explained that he preferred serving in South Africa because of the country’s strong ties with Nigeria, its strategic role as Africa’s largest economy, and what he described as its alignment with his “Pan-African vision” and foreign policy convictions.
“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 expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Ambassador Tuggar for granting his request, while also thanking Senator Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa, for agreeing to swap postings and proceed to Germany instead.
Fani-Kayode strongly denied reports that Germany rejected his appointment, describing such claims as “false,” “malicious,” and “a complete fabrication.”
He accused an unnamed online publication of spreading misinformation designed to embarrass him, the Federal Government, and President Tinubu, adding that the report was based on “hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip.”
According to him, investigations revealed that the report was deliberately sponsored to damage his reputation and career.
He further disclosed that petitions had already been submitted to relevant security agencies, while his legal team had been instructed to commence civil action against those responsible for the publication.
Fani-Kayode maintained that the diplomatic communication sent to South Africa on March 13 was merely part of the redeployment process and not evidence of a rejection by Germany.
He challenged those behind the reports to produce documentary proof of any official rejection.
The ambassador-designate said he remains committed to serving Nigeria in South Africa, a country he described as admirable and inspiring because of its historic struggles and achievements.
