By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Aviation Minister and Ambassador-Designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved his redeployment from Germany to South Africa as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate.
Fani-Kayode disclosed this in a statement released Thursday on his Facebook page, explaining that the approval followed a formal request he made to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, shortly after his initial posting to Germany was announced.
According to him, he requested redeployment on personal grounds, noting that having spent most of his life in Europe, he preferred a posting to South Africa, a country he said he had never visited but deeply admired.
He also stated that he wished to serve in a country whose worldview, political outlook and Pan-African vision aligned more closely with his convictions on international affairs.
Fani-Kayode described South Africa as Africa’s biggest economy with stronger historical and diplomatic ties to Nigeria, adding that the country was more compatible with his ideological perspective on foreign policy.
The former minister expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Tuggar for granting his request, while also thanking Senator Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa, for agreeing to a mutual swap that saw him redeployed to Germany.
He used the statement to dismiss reports alleging that Germany rejected his nomination, describing such claims as “false, malicious and fabricated.”
Fani-Kayode accused an unnamed online publication of spreading misinformation aimed at tarnishing his reputation and embarrassing both the Federal Government and President Tinubu.
He said the publication relied on “hearsay, gossip and sensationalism” in alleging that his nomination was rejected by German authorities, insisting that no such rejection ever occurred.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the report was sponsored and deliberately crafted to damage his career and public image.
The Ambassador-Designate disclosed that petitions had already been submitted to relevant security agencies, while his legal team had also been instructed to commence civil action against those responsible for the publication.
Fani-Kayode explained that confusion arose after a diplomatic agreement sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 13 was leaked and falsely interpreted as evidence that Germany had rejected him.
He challenged those behind the report to provide documentary evidence of any formal rejection from Germany.
The former minister urged media organisations to exercise greater professionalism and caution in handling sensitive diplomatic matters.
He added that the clarification became necessary following concerns raised by friends, associates and supporters over the controversy.
Fani-Kayode expressed optimism about his new diplomatic assignment, saying he looked forward to serving in South Africa, a nation he described as remarkable and inspiring because of its history.
