The South African Presidency has released the full recording of the speech delivered by Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, during his presentation of letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The video was published on the South African Presidency’s YouTube channel on Friday, November 13, hours after Fani-Kayode complained that his address was excluded from the official livestream of the ceremony.
The ambassador had earlier alleged that the speeches and introductions of representatives from 14 other countries were broadcast, while Nigeria’s segment was omitted, with the livestream resuming after he had concluded his remarks.
However, the subsequently released footage captured his full address, in which he pledged to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and South Africa.
Speaking during the ceremony at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, Fani-Kayode said his diplomatic assignment would focus on rebuilding relations between both countries.
“Part of my job here is to reset that relationship, to come and build that bridge, and to ensure that whatever concerns we have mutually, we can work them out and move forward together,” he said.
He recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the apartheid era, stressing the historical ties between the two countries.
“We fought together. We stood by you. We gave our blood and our treasure for you during your dark days. And you have reciprocated in so many ways,” the ambassador stated.
Fani-Kayode described Nigeria as South Africa’s biggest trading partner on the African continent and urged both nations to strengthen their cooperation for the development of Africa.
“Without South Africa and Nigeria working together, closely together, the destiny of our great continent may well be affected,” he said.
He also praised South Africa’s position on international affairs, particularly the Gaza conflict, its membership of the BRICS bloc and its advocacy for the Global South.
The ambassador further commended Ramaphosa for supporting Nigeria’s inclusion in the Group of 20 (G20).
He also conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Tinubu, describing the Nigerian leader as a close friend of both South Africa and its president.
The ceremony also featured the formal presentation of Fani-Kayode’s letters of credence and the letters of recall of his predecessor. It marked the appointment of a substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa for the first time in four years, according to Fani-Kayode.
Earlier, the ambassador disclosed that he confronted Ramaphosa over the omission during a post-ceremony photo session.
According to him, the South African leader summoned relevant officials and instructed them to investigate and address the matter, although the intervention came after the initial livestream had ended.
Fani-Kayode also revealed that he turned down an interview request from the South African Broadcasting Corporation, citing what he described as the unacceptable treatment of the Nigerian delegation.
While expressing appreciation for Ramaphosa’s intervention, he maintained that he would not accept any perceived disrespect towards Nigeria or its citizens.
