What began as a historic morning for Nigeria in Pretoria took a controversial turn, as Nigeria’s new Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that the South African Presidency omitted Nigeria from the live broadcast of the credentials ceremony, making it the only one of 15 countries not aired.
For the first time in four years, Nigeria presented a substantive Ambassador to South Africa on Friday morning at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.
In a statement obtained on Friday by Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com), Fani-Kayode, alongside ambassadors from 14 other countries, presented his Letters of Credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa in a ceremony livestreamed to millions across Africa and the world by the South African Presidency, @PresidencyZA.
But according to the Nigerian envoy, what the world saw was not the full story.
“Curiously the South African Presidency refused to air the introduction of my goodself and the Nigerian delegation or to air my speech,” Fani-Kayode said in a statement after the event.
“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 stressed: “Of all the 15 introductions and speeches that were made and delivered this morning only Nigeria’s was cut out.”
The envoy said he did not let the incident slide. During the photo session, still on the premises, he raised the matter directly with President Ramaphosa.
“In fairness to him, he took me to the relevant officials and acted with despatch,” Fani-Kayode said.
“Right there in my presence he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately.”
But by then, he said, it was too late.
“Sadly by then it was too late and Nigeria had been left out. To be clear, I repeat, we were the ONLY ones that were left out.”
Fani-Kayode suggested the blackout was deliberate: “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 added that Nigerian television stations present at the event fully recorded his speech and will release it to the public — including footage of his complaint to Ramaphosa and the President’s intervention with his staff.
In protest, Fani-Kayode said he turned down an interview request from the South African State Broadcaster, SABC News, while still on the premises.
“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.”
Despite the row, the Ambassador struck a diplomatic note, expressing “immense respect and affection for South Africa and the South African people.”
But he issued a warning: “I will not be anywhere or tolerate anyone that disrespects or treats our Government or our people flippantly.”
He thanked President Ramaphosa for his “concern and timely intervention.”
“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God bless the Republic of South Africa,” he concluded.
As of press time, the South African Presidency has not publicly responded to the allegation.
