- Tinubu Approves Fani-Kayode’s Redeployment to South Africa
- Says South Africa Better Aligns With My Pan-African Vision
- Says I Requested South Africa Posting, Not Germany
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the former minister made the disclosure in a post shared on his X handle, where he explained that his earlier posting to Germany was changed following a personal request he made to the Federal Government.
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According to Fani-Kayode, contrary to reports suggesting that Germany rejected his nomination, he was the one who requested a redeployment from the European country to South Africa.
He said after the initial announcement of his posting to Germany, he formally informed the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that he was not comfortable with the assignment for personal reasons
Fani-Kayode stated 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 had strong interest in.
He further explained that he wanted to serve in a country whose political and diplomatic outlook aligned more closely with his beliefs, values and Pan-African vision.
According to him, South Africa’s position as Africa’s biggest economy and its longstanding ties with Nigeria also influenced his decision.
The former minister said he submitted his request for redeployment two days after the original ambassadorial postings were announced, adding that Tuggar considered his reasons favourably before forwarding the request to President Tinubu for approval.
“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 remains grateful to President Tinubu and the former foreign affairs minister for granting his request.
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