Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved his redeployment from Germany to South Africa after he personally requested the change.
Fani-Kayode made the disclosure in a post shared on his X handle on Thursday, clarifying reports surrounding his ambassadorial posting.
According to him, he was initially assigned to Germany as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate but later wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, expressing discomfort with the posting.
He explained that after spending most of his life in Europe, he preferred to serve in South Africa, a country he had never been to and which he said aligns more closely with his political and pan-African views.
“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 wrote.
Fani-Kayode added that he wanted to serve in a country with “closer ties to Nigeria,” describing South Africa as Africa’s biggest economy and a nation more aligned with his convictions on world affairs.
He further disclosed that the redeployment was made possible through a swap arrangement with Senator Sam Enang, who was initially posted to South Africa but later opted for Germany.
The former minister also dismissed reports claiming Germany rejected his appointment, describing the allegations as “false and malicious.”
According to him, no official rejection was ever communicated by the German government, insisting that the reports were fabricated to damage his reputation and embarrass the Federal Government.
Fani-Kayode said he has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against the publication responsible for the report and has also reported the matter to security agencies.
He thanked President Tinubu and the Foreign Affairs Minister for approving the redeployment, adding that he looks forward to representing Nigeria in South Africa.
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