Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode to South Africa as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate.
Fani-Kayode disclosed the development in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, explaining that he personally requested to be moved from his initial posting to Germany.
According to him, he wrote to former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, expressing reservations about the Germany posting for personal reasons.
He said he preferred South Africa because of its strategic role on the African continent, its relationship with Nigeria, and its alignment with his pan-African foreign policy views.
“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.
“I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest.”
Fani-Kayode said Tuggar accepted the request and forwarded it to President Tinubu, who approved the redeployment.
He also thanked Senator Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa but later agreed to switch to Germany after the adjustment.
The former minister dismissed reports claiming German authorities rejected his appointment, describing the reports as false and defamatory.
“Germany NEVER rejected me,” he said.
“The story was irresponsible, insulting and a total fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip.”
Fani-Kayode added that petitions had been submitted to security agencies over the publication, while his lawyers had been directed to begin legal action against those responsible.
He maintained that his transfer to South Africa was based solely on personal preference and not diplomatic rejection.
