Nigeria embassy Scolds S’Africa over Fani-Kayode diplomatic row

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has fired back at Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya over his allegation that Nigeria’s newly accredited High Commissioner, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, lied about President Cyril Ramaphosaintervening in the controversy surrounding his presentation of diplomatic credentials.

The commission, in a strongly worded response on X on Thursday, accused Magwenya of provoking a diplomatic dispute and acting in a manner it described as inappropriate, insisting that Ramaphosa personally intervened to resolve the disagreement.

The controversy followed Friday’s credentials presentation ceremony in Tshwane, where Fani-Kayode reportedly expressed displeasure over the omission of his address from the South African Presidency’s YouTube livestream.

The livestream appeared to have been disrupted shortly before the Nigerian envoy presented his letters of credence to Ramaphosa but subsequently resumed when the South African president was addressing the ambassadors.

Fani-Kayode, who was the last diplomat to present his credentials, said he spoke with Ramaphosa, who apologised and assured him that everything was fine.

However, Magwenya reportedly disputed the account, accusing the Nigerian envoy of lying about presidential intervention.

Responding, the Nigerian High Commission rejected the allegation and accused the South African spokesperson of bringing his country into disrepute.

“You are the disgrace and no-one else. Outside of that, your insolence and ignorance know no bounds,” the commission said.

It maintained that Ramaphosa personally stepped in to resolve the disagreement and directed the relevant officials and state broadcaster to address the situation.

“Thankfully your President had the decency and presence of mind to put out the fire and direct you and your state broadcaster to do the right thing. He literally saved the day,” the mission said.

The commission recalled an earlier controversy in which Magwenya reportedly described President Bola Tinubu and Ghanaian President John Mahama as peddlers of fake news following their concerns over xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.

It said Nigeria had previously refrained from escalating the disagreement, questioning Magwenya’s conduct towards the newly accredited Nigerian envoy.

“Did you really expect him to simply stomach your ill manners and keep quiet? If so, you have misunderstood the character and nature of the Nigerian. We cannot be easily cowed,” it said.

The mission disclosed that several newly accredited ambassadors witnessed the proceedings, adding that it had the full video recording of events following the official photographs.

It argued that the disagreement should have been handled through diplomatic channels rather than public exchanges, urging Magwenya to exercise restraint and embrace reconciliation.

Insisting that its priority was to preserve cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa, the commission said it considered the matter closed but was prepared to respond if the South African spokesperson chose to escalate it.

“To us, this matter is closed, but if you wish to escalate it you are welcome to do so, and we are up to the task. A word is enough for the wise,” it added.