Former Minister of Aviation and Ambassador-designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed his redeployment to South Africa as Nigeria’s envoy, dismissing reports that Germany rejected his nomination as ambassador.
The clarification followed reports claiming Fani-Kayode, popularly known as FFK, was removed from the Berlin posting after German authorities allegedly declined to accept him as Nigeria’s representative.
A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier disclosed that the diplomatic reshuffle was concluded about two weeks ago ahead of the induction programme for newly appointed envoys.
According to the source, some ambassadorial nominees were allegedly rejected by their initially designated host countries, leading to last-minute redeployments by the Federal Government.
Fani-Kayode was initially assigned to Germany before he was later redeployed to South Africa, while former presidential aide, Ita Enang, was moved to Berlin.
Diplomatic sources had also linked the alleged rejection to concerns over Fani-Kayode’s controversial public profile, outspoken political commentary, and past legal controversies.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Fani-Kayode insisted that the redeployment was voluntary and initiated by him shortly after the original postings were announced.
According to him, he formally informed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, that he preferred South Africa for personal and ideological reasons.
“This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons,” he stated.
Fani-Kayode said he wanted a diplomatic posting outside Europe, noting that South Africa’s Pan-African outlook and economic significance aligned more closely with his convictions.
“I would rather serve in 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,” he said.
The former minister added that Tuggar considered the request and forwarded it to President Bola Tinubu, who approved the redeployment.
He also thanked Ita Enang for agreeing to what he described as a “straight swap” between the two postings.
Fani-Kayode strongly rejected claims that Germany refused to accept him as ambassador, describing the reports as “irresponsible,” “malicious,” and aimed at damaging his reputation.
According to him, the controversy emerged after diplomatic correspondence relating to his South African posting was leaked and misinterpreted.
“What actually happened was that the day an agreement was sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was on March 13, it was leaked to them and they falsely and maliciously reported that it was sent only because I had been formally rejected by Germany,” he said.
He challenged those behind the reports to provide documentary evidence showing that Germany formally rejected his nomination.
The former minister also disclosed that petitions had been filed with security agencies, while his lawyers had been instructed to begin civil proceedings against those responsible for the publication.
“Our findings after a preliminary investigation was that the story was not only sponsored but was also written with malicious intent and designed to hurt and destroy my career and bring me into both national and international opprobrium and disrepute,” he stated.
Fani-Kayode served as Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo before becoming Minister of Culture and Tourism and later Minister of Aviation.
He later served as spokesperson for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 presidential campaign before joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The redeployment comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa over concerns surrounding xenophobic attacks, migration tensions, and bilateral cooperation between both countries.
Michael Olugbode
