Germany has rejected Femi Fani-Kayode’s ambassadorial nomination, citing concerns over his past controversial and divisive statements.
Germany has rejected the nomination of former Nigerian minister Femi Fani-Kayode as ambassador over concerns about his past statements and conduct. President Bola Tinubu had approved his posting to a Central European country on March 6, but the German government declined the nomination on March 13.
According to officials, Germany cited Mr Fani-Kayode’s “erratic behaviour, controversial past statements, particularly his divisive ethnocentric, tribalistic, and religious fundamentalist comments in Nigeria”, which it described as “destabilising”. The decision followed a recent incident in which the former minister reportedly clashed with the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, at a Ramadan dinner in Abuja.
A senior administration official said Mr Fani-Kayode may be redeployed to South Africa as an ambassador. The politician, known for controversial public remarks, previously faced backlash in 2020 after calling a journalist “stupid” during a press conference, before later apologising.
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