Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the South African Presidency of deliberately excluding his introduction and speech from a livestream of a diplomatic ceremony in Pretoria.
Fani-Kayode said the incident occurred on Friday at the South African Presidential Guest House, where he presented his Letters of Credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa alongside ambassadors from 14 other countries.
He described the ceremony as historic, noting that it marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa in four years.
In a statement, the former Minister of Aviation alleged that Nigeria was the only country whose ambassadorial introduction and address were excluded from the broadcast.
“Every single one of the 15 ambassadors that were present was introduced formally and gave a speech. Curiously, the South African Presidency refused to air the introduction of my goodself and the Nigerian delegation or to air my speech,” he said.
“They went a step further by cutting us out of the livestream completely and went back on livestream only after my speech was concluded.”
He added: “Of all the 15 introductions and speeches that were made and delivered this morning only Nigeria’s was cut out.”
The ambassador said he subsequently raised the matter directly with Ramaphosa during the photo session, prompting the South African President to summon the officials responsible for the broadcast.
“I raised the issue with President Ramaphosa directly during the course of the photo session and whilst we were still on the premises and, in fairness to him, he took me to the relevant officials and acted with dispatch concert.
“Right there in my presence he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately. Sadly by then it was too late and Nigeria had been left out,” he stated.
Fani-Kayode suggested that some individuals in South Africa were uncomfortable with Nigeria’s presence but insisted that the incident would not discourage him from carrying out his diplomatic responsibilities.
“Clearly some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces but we are here to stay as long as we are welcome and have the confidence of President Ramaphosa, which I am sure we do,” he said.
He also disclosed that at least two Nigerian television stations recorded his speech in full and would release the footage alongside recordings of his complaint to Ramaphosa and the President’s intervention.
The ambassador further revealed that he declined an interview offered by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) following the incident.
