Nigerian High Commission, Magwenya Clash Over Fani-Kayode’s Credentials

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has faulted Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya over his denial that President Cyril Ramaphosa intervened in the controversy surrounding the presentation of credentials by Nigeria’s new High Commissioner, Femi Fani-Kayode.

The commission, in a strongly worded response on X, accused Magwenya of provocative and diplomatically inappropriate conduct, insisting that Ramaphosa personally intervened to resolve the disagreement during Friday’s credentials ceremony in Tshwane.

The controversy followed the apparent disruption of the South African Presidency’s YouTube livestream around the time Fani-Kayode was scheduled to present his letters of credence to Ramaphosa.

Fani-Kayode, who was the last diplomat to present his credentials, reportedly expressed displeasure over the omission of his address from the broadcast.

He said he subsequently spoke with Ramaphosa, who apologised and assured him that everything was fine.

However, Magwenya disputed the Nigerian envoy’s account, accusing him of misrepresenting what happened.

Reacting, the Nigerian High Commission rejected the accusation and defended Fani-Kayode, describing Magwenya’s comments as an attempt to portray the envoy as dishonest.

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

It insisted that Ramaphosa intervened after Fani-Kayode raised concerns over the omission of his address during the ceremony.

“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 also recalled an earlier controversy in which Magwenya reportedly described Nigerian 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 matter but questioned the spokesperson’s treatment of its newly accredited 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 added.

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

It urged Magwenya to exercise restraint and embrace reconciliation, stressing that its concern was to preserve cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

“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,” the commission declared.