BREAKING: After terminating Germany posting, Tinubu post Femi Fani-Kayode to South Africa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the redeployment of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, from Germany to South Africa as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate.

Fani-Kayode confirmed the development in a lengthy statement on Thursday, explaining that the decision followed his personal request to be posted to South Africa instead of Germany.

According to him, he formally wrote to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, shortly after his initial posting to Germany was announced, expressing discomfort with the European posting and requesting a transfer to South Africa.

“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, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons,” he stated.

Fani-Kayode said he preferred South Africa because he had lived most of his life in Europe and wanted to serve in a country he had never visited but had strong interest in.

He also said South Africa’s political and diplomatic posture aligns more closely with his convictions and pan-African vision.

“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 added.

The former minister disclosed that President Tinubu approved the redeployment after Tuggar forwarded his request.

He also thanked Senator Ita Solomon Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa but later agreed to swap postings and proceed to Germany instead.

The development comes amid earlier reports by some online platforms claiming Germany had rejected Fani-Kayode as ambassador.

However, the former minister dismissed the reports as “false”, “malicious” and “fabricated.”

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

According to him, the reports were designed to embarrass him, the Federal Government and President Tinubu.

He alleged that the publication was based on “hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip,” adding that legal and security actions have already been initiated against those behind the reports.

“We have reported the online magazine and the individuals that are behind it with a petition to the relevant security agencies for necessary action.

“I have also briefed my lawyers to take up the matter and we shall be suing them in a civil action for defamation,” he stated.

Fani-Kayode explained that what actually happened was that an agreement sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 13 was leaked and wrongly interpreted as proof that Germany had rejected him.

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

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and Ambassador Tuggar for approving his request and said he looks forward to serving Nigeria in South Africa.

“God-willing, I look forward to serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history,” he said.