The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has responded to Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya's accusation that Nigeria's newly accredited High Commissioner, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, lied about President Cyril Ramaphosa intervening in the controversy surrounding his diplomatic credentials presentation. The Commission described Magwenya's conduct as provocative and diplomatically inappropriate.
According to the Nigerian High Commission, President Ramaphosa personally intervened to resolve the matter after Fani-Kayode raised concerns over the omission of his address during Friday's credentials ceremony in Tshwane. The Commission rejected Magwenya's attempt to portray the Nigerian envoy as dishonest and accused the South African spokesperson of bringing his country into disrepute.
The controversy began when the South African Presidency's YouTube livestream was disrupted just as Fani-Kayode was to present his letters of credence to President Ramaphosa. The live broadcast was back online when President Ramaphosa addressed the ambassadors. Fani-Kayode, the last diplomat to present his credentials, expressed displeasure that his speech had been deliberately omitted and said he spoke with Ramaphosa, who apologized and assured him that everything was fine.
The Nigerian High Commission recalled an earlier controversy in which Magwenya reportedly described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ghanaian President John Mahama as peddlers of fake news following their concerns about xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa. Nigeria had previously refrained from escalating the matter. The Commission questioned Magwenya's conduct towards Nigeria's newly accredited envoy.
The Commission asked if Magwenya expected Fani-Kayode to simply stomach his ill manners and keep quiet, adding that Nigeria cannot be easily cowed. It also disclosed that several newly accredited ambassadors witnessed the proceedings and that it possesses the full video recording of events following the official photographs.
The Nigerian High Commission urged Magwenya to exercise restraint and embrace reconciliation, stressing that its concern was the preservation of cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa. The Commission declared that the matter is closed but if Magwenya wishes to escalate it, they are welcome to do so and are up to the task.
The disagreement between the Nigerian High Commission and Magwenya has raised concerns about the diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa. The Commission's response has been seen as a strong rebuttal to Magwenya's claims, and it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved.
Key points
- The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa disputes Magwenya's claim that President Ramaphosa did not intervene in the Fani-Kayode row.
- The Commission described Magwenya's conduct as provocative and diplomatically inappropriate.
- The disagreement has raised concerns about the diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
