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The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has challenged Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya over his denial that President Cyril Ramaphosa intervened in the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s newly accredited High Commissioner, Femi Fani-Kayode.
The diplomatic disagreement arose during Friday’s presentation of letters of credence in Tshwane, where Fani-Kayode reportedly expressed displeasure over the omission of his address from the South African Presidency’s YouTube livestream.
The Nigerian envoy, who was the last diplomat to present his credentials, said he spoke with Ramaphosa about the incident and that the South African President apologised and assured him that everything was fine.
However, Magwenya accused Fani-Kayode of lying about the alleged presidential intervention, prompting a strong response from the Nigerian mission.
In a statement posted on X, the High Commission described Magwenya’s conduct as provocative and diplomatically inappropriate, insisting that Ramaphosa personally stepped in to resolve the disagreement.
“You are the disgrace and no-one else. Outside of that your insolence and ignorance knows no bounds,” the Commission declared.
Defending its account of the incident, the mission said the South African President intervened after Fani-Kayode raised concerns about the omission of his address.
“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,” it stated.
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 about xenophobia and Afrophobia in South Africa.
It said Nigeria had previously chosen not to escalate that disagreement but questioned Magwenya’s latest comments about Fani-Kayode.
“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,” the mission said.
The High Commission further disclosed that several newly accredited ambassadors witnessed the proceedings and that it had the complete video recording of events following the official photographs.
The controversy followed an apparent interruption of the South African Presidency’s YouTube livestream around the time Fani-Kayode was scheduled to present his credentials. The broadcast subsequently resumed while Ramaphosa was addressing the ambassadors.
Insisting that the disagreement should have been handled through diplomatic channels, the Nigerian mission urged Magwenya to exercise restraint and embrace reconciliation.
It stressed that its concern was to protect cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa, adding that it considered the matter closed.
“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.
