South Africa Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech After Complaint Over Livestream

South Africa’s presidency has released a recording of Nigerian High Commissioner Femi Fani-Kayode’s speech after he complained that his address was left out of the livestream of his credentials ceremony on Friday, 13 November, News About Nigeria reports.

Fani-Kayode presented his letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria. He was among 15 heads of mission at the ceremony.

In a public statement after the event, Fani-Kayode alleged that his introduction and speech were deliberately omitted while the other envoys’ remarks were broadcast.

He said he raised the matter with Ramaphosa, who asked officials to address it.

The envoy thanked Ramaphosa for intervening and said he declined an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation over the way the Nigerian delegation had been treated.

The South African presidency later posted footage containing the speech. In his address, Fani-Kayode said he would work to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.

He recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the struggle against apartheid and said both governments should work through their differences.