{"id":126939,"date":"2026-05-07T20:58:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=126939"},"modified":"2026-05-07T20:58:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:58:46","slug":"ffk-confirms-posting-to-south-africa-denies-germany-rejection-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/ffk-confirms-posting-to-south-africa-denies-germany-rejection-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"FFK Confirms Posting to South Africa, Denies Germany Rejection Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Oscar Okhifo<\/div>\n
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Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed his appointment as Nigeria\u2019s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa, describing the development as a personal choice and dismissing reports that Germany rejected his posting as false.<\/div>\n
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In a statement on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said President Bola Tinubu approved his redeployment to South Africa after he formally requested a change from his initial posting to Germany.<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria\u2019s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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According to him, the decision followed a representation he made to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, citing personal reasons and his preference for a posting within Africa.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI had lived in Europe most of my life. 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,\u201d he stated.<\/div>\n
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Fani-Kayode added that he sought to serve in a country aligned with his ideological leanings on global affairs and pan-Africanism.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs\u2026 that has the biggest economy in Africa, closer ties to Nigeria and is more proximate to my political thinking,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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He disclosed that his request for redeployment was made two days after the initial announcement and was favourably considered by Tuggar, who then relayed it to the President for approval.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration,\u201d he added.<\/div>\n
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Fani-Kayode also acknowledged the role of Sam Enang, who was initially posted to South Africa but agreed to a \u201cstraight swap\u201d with him to Germany.<\/div>\n
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Addressing reports that Germany rejected his nomination, the ambassador-designate firmly denied the claim, describing it as fabricated.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI take this opportunity to once again confirm that this was my choice and that Germany NEVER formally rejected me,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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He accused an unnamed online publication of publishing \u201cirresponsible and insulting\u201d content.<\/div>\n
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\u201cTheir story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a total and complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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FFK, further alleged that the report was sponsored and written with malicious intent to damage his reputation.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur findings after a preliminary investigation was that the story was not only sponsored but was also written with malicious intent to hurt and destroy my career,\u201d he stated.<\/div>\n
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He disclosed that a petition has been filed with security agencies, while his legal team has been instructed to initiate a defamation suit.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI have also briefed my lawyers to take up the matter and we shall be suing them in a civil action for defamation,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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Providing clarification on the sequence of events, he explained that a diplomatic communication sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 13 was leaked and misrepresented.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThey falsely and maliciously reported that it was sent only because I had been formally rejected by Germany, which they knew to be false,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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Challenging the publication to substantiate its claim, he added: \u201cIf there was such a formal rejection, I challenge them to bring the proof with documentary evidence. I repeat, this never happened.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He said the statement became necessary to address concerns raised by associates and to set the record straight.<\/div>\n
\u201cGod-willing, I look forward to serving as Nigeria\u2019s Ambassador to South Africa, a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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