Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, has alleged that officials of the South African Presidency deliberately excluded his introduction and speech from the livestream of a credentials presentation ceremony held in Pretoria on Friday.
In a viral statement on Friday, Fani-Kayode said he presented his letters of credence to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Guest House, alongside ambassadors from 14 other countries.
He described the occasion as historic, noting that it marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa in four years. The ceremony was livestreamed by the South African Presidency.
According to the ambassador, all 15 ambassadors were formally introduced and given the opportunity to deliver speeches, but he and the Nigerian delegation were the only ones excluded from the broadcast.
He alleged that the livestream was interrupted during the Nigerian delegation’s segment and resumed only after his speech had ended.
Fani-Kayode said he raised the matter directly with President Ramaphosa during a subsequent photo session at the venue.
He claimed that Ramaphosa immediately questioned the officials responsible and directed them to address the issue, although the exclusion had already occurred.
He added that at least two Nigerian television stations recorded the entire event and disclosed that footage of his conversation with Ramaphosa would be released.
The ambassador maintained that he would not tolerate any treatment he considered disrespectful to the Nigerian government and its citizens.
Recall that a total of 2,037 Nigerians were evacuated from South Africa in recent months following xenophobic and anti-migrant attacks.
