By Lizzy Chirkpi
Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the South African Presidency of deliberately excluding Nigeria’s delegation from the livestream of a ceremony for the presentation of letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria.
Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, alleged that Nigeria was the only country among 15 whose ambassador’s introduction and address were omitted from the livestream of the ceremony held on Friday at the South African Presidential Guest House.
In a statement shared on his social media handles, the ambassador described the incident as disturbing, claiming that the South African Presidency cut off the Nigerian delegation from the broadcast and resumed the livestream only after he had delivered his speech.
He described the ceremony as historic, noting that it marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa in four years.
“It was a beautiful and historic occasion which witnessed the first posting of a substantive Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of South Africa in four years,” he said.
According to him, the event was livestreamed by the South African Presidency and watched by Nigerians, South Africans and members of the international community.
“Curiously, the South African Presidency refused to air the introduction of my goodself and the Nigerian delegation or to air my speech,” he alleged.
“They went a step further by cutting us out of the livestream completely and went back on livestream only after my speech was concluded.
“Of all the 15 introductions and speeches that were made and delivered this morning, only Nigeria’s was cut out.”
Fani-Kayode said he personally brought the matter to Ramaphosa’s attention during the photo session while both delegations were still at the venue.
He, however, acknowledged the South African President’s intervention, saying Ramaphosa immediately summoned the relevant officials and directed them to address the matter.
“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 despatch,” he said.
“Right there in my presence he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately.”
The ambassador regretted that the intervention came too late to reverse the omission, insisting that Nigeria had been singled out among the 15 countries represented at the ceremony.
He further suggested that some elements in South Africa were uncomfortable with Nigeria’s presence and message.
“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 stated.
Fani-Kayode disclosed that Nigerian television stations present at the event recorded his speech and would make the footage available to the Nigerian public.
He also said footage of his complaint to Ramaphosa and the President’s response would be released.
The ambassador further revealed that he declined an interview request from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), citing the treatment of the Nigerian delegation.
“Whilst still on the premises, when offered an interview by @SABCNews (the South African State Broadcaster), I turned them down as a consequence of the deplorable way we were treated and I told them to go and listen to my speech instead which their Presidency officials had refused to air,” he said.
Despite his complaint, Fani-Kayode expressed respect and affection for South Africa and its people, while insisting that he would not tolerate any form of disrespect towards Nigeria.
“One thing is clear, I have immense respect and affection for South Africa and the South African people but I will not be anywhere or tolerate anyone that disrespects or treats our Government or our people flippantly,” he declared.
He thanked Ramaphosa for his intervention and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
“My thanks goes to President Ramaphosa for his concern and timely intervention,” he added.