As South African Presidency Releases Fani-Kayode’s Speech After Livestream Controversy, Ambassador Thanks Ramaphosa
The South African Presidency has released the full video of Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, delivering his address during the presentation of letters of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa, following the Nigerian diplomat’s public protest over the exclusion of his speech from the ceremony’s original livestream.
The recording, which was uploaded to the South African Presidency’s official YouTube page at approximately 4:23 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026, came about two hours after Fani-Kayode publicly complained that the Nigerian delegation had been omitted from the broadcast.
The development followed a diplomatic ceremony at the South African Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, where Fani-Kayode and 14 other ambassadors presented their letters of credence to President Ramaphosa.
Fani-Kayode, who is Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, had earlier alleged that although all 15 ambassadors were formally introduced and delivered speeches, the South African Presidency excluded his introduction and address from the original livestream.
According to him, the broadcast was interrupted when it was Nigeria’s turn and resumed only after he had finished speaking.
“Every single one of the 15 ambassadors who were present was introduced formally and gave a speech. Curiously, the South African Presidency refused to air the introduction of my good self and the Nigerian delegation or to air my speech,” he stated.
“They went a step further by cutting us out of the livestream completely and only resumed the livestream after my speech was concluded. Of all the 15 introductions and speeches that were made and delivered this morning, only Nigeria’s was cut out.”
The diplomat described the ceremony as historic, noting that it marked the first posting of a substantive Nigerian ambassador to South Africa in four years.
He expressed disappointment that Nigeria was allegedly the only country excluded from the original broadcast despite the participation of ambassadors representing 14 other nations.
Fani-Kayode disclosed that he raised the matter directly with President Ramaphosa during the official photograph session, while both were still at the venue.
According to him, the South African leader responded promptly by taking him to the officials responsible for the broadcast and directing them to address the situation.
“I raised the issue with President Ramaphosa directly during the course of the photo session and while we were still on the premises and, in fairness to him, he took me to the relevant officials and acted with dispatch,” he said.
“Right there in my presence, he questioned them and directed them to resolve the issue immediately. Sadly, by then, it was too late and Nigeria had been left out. To be clear, I repeat, we were the ONLY ones that were left out.”
Although the intervention did not restore Nigeria’s participation in the original livestream, the South African Presidency subsequently uploaded the full recording containing the Nigerian ambassador’s address.
In the released footage, Fani-Kayode emphasised the importance of strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and South Africa, describing the two countries as longstanding partners whose cooperation remains essential to Africa’s future.
Addressing Ramaphosa, the Nigerian diplomat explained that one of his principal responsibilities was to rebuild bridges between the two nations and address outstanding concerns through dialogue and cooperation.
“Nothing can come between the two of us. And 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,” Fani-Kayode declared.
He recalled Nigeria’s historical support for South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, stressing that the relationship between the two countries had been built on shared sacrifices, solidarity and cooperation.
“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,” he stated.
The ambassador maintained that the history of cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa provided a foundation for resolving present disagreements and strengthening future relations.
He described Nigeria as South Africa’s largest trading partner on the African continent and emphasised the importance of closer economic engagement between both countries.
According to him, cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa extends beyond their bilateral interests because of the influence both nations exercise on the continent.
“Without South Africa and Nigeria working together, closely together, the destiny of our great continent may well be affected,” he warned.
Fani-Kayode consequently urged both countries to strengthen their diplomatic relationship and work towards common objectives.
“It is in our mutual interest and the interest of our people, indeed the interest of the world, for us to ensure that we stand tall, we stand strong, and we build that bridge,” he said.
The Nigerian diplomat also commended South Africa’s positions on international affairs, particularly its stance on the conflict in Gaza, its participation in the BRICS grouping and its advocacy for the interests of countries in the Global South.
He praised President Ramaphosa’s efforts towards securing Nigeria’s inclusion in the Group of 20 (G20), describing the South African leader’s involvement as noteworthy.
Fani-Kayode further conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Ramaphosa, emphasising the cordial relationship between the two leaders.
“Your brother, our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a great friend of South Africa and is a great friend of yours personally,” he stated.
The ambassador also extended his goodwill to Ramaphosa, the ruling African National Congress and the people of South Africa.
He subsequently presented his letters of credence and the letters of recall of his predecessor, completing the diplomatic formalities associated with his posting.
Despite the conciliatory message contained in his address, Fani-Kayode had earlier expressed strong dissatisfaction with what he described as the exclusion of Nigeria from the official livestream.
He suggested that some individuals in South Africa were uncomfortable with Nigeria’s presence or the views expressed by its representatives.
“Clearly, some elements in South Africa do not want to hear what we have to say or see our faces, but we are here to stay as long as we are welcome and have the confidence of President Ramaphosa, which I am sure we do,” he stated.
The ambassador, however, did not attribute the incident directly to Ramaphosa. Instead, he praised the South African President for promptly responding to his complaint.
Fani-Kayode also disclosed that at least two Nigerian television stations had recorded his address during the ceremony.
“Luckily for us, there were at least two Nigerian television stations at the event, and all that I had to say was fully recorded by them and will be released to the Nigerian public,” he explained.
He further revealed that he declined an interview request from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) following the ceremony.
According to him, the decision was a protest against what he considered the disrespectful treatment of the Nigerian delegation.
“While still on the premises, when offered an interview by @SABCNews (the South African State Broadcaster), I turned them down as a consequence of the deplorable way we were treated, and I told them to go and listen to my speech instead, which their Presidency officials had refused to air,” he stated.
Fani-Kayode, who has previously criticised South African authorities over xenophobia, maintained that his affection for South Africa and its people would not prevent him from objecting to conduct he considered disrespectful to Nigeria.
“One thing is clear, I have immense respect and affection for South Africa and the South African people, but I will not be anywhere or tolerate anyone that disrespects or treats our Government or our people flippantly,” he declared.
Nevertheless, he concluded his account by expressing appreciation to President Ramaphosa for his intervention and reaffirming his goodwill towards both countries.
“My thanks go to President Ramaphosa for his concern and timely intervention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God bless the Republic of South Africa,” he said.
The subsequent release of the full recording made Fani-Kayode’s diplomatic message publicly available following the controversy over its omission from the original broadcast.
His address emphasised reconciliation, stronger trade relations, historical solidarity and cooperation on international issues, even as he protested the handling of Nigeria’s participation in the ceremony.
While Fani-Kayode alleged that the initial exclusion was deliberate, the information provided does not establish why the original livestream omitted his address or whether the omission resulted from a technical problem or an intentional decision.
The South African Presidency’s subsequent publication of the full video nevertheless ensured that the Nigerian ambassador’s speech was made available to the public.
Post Title: “Only Nigeria’s Speech Was Cut Out” — Fani-Kayode Accuses South African Presidency Of Excluding Him From Livestream Of 15 Envoys By Naijaonpoint.