THE Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has urged restraint and reconciliation after remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, about Nigeria’s High Commissioner, Femi Fani-Kayode.
The Mission said on its verified X handle that it wants cordial relations between both countries preserved.
The row followed a disruption of the South African Presidency’s YouTube livestream when Fani-Kayode was due to present his letters of credence to Ramaphosa in Tshwane.
The broadcast was restored while Ramaphosa was addressing the ambassadors.
Following the disruption, Fani-Kayode accused South African officials responsible for the livestream of deliberately excluding his speech from the broadcast. He, however, praised Ramaphosa for intervening after he brought the disruption to his attention.
Magwenya consequently accused Fani-Kayode of lying about Ramaphosa intervening in the controversy.
Reacting, the Nigerian Mission said the disagreement should have been handled through diplomatic channels and urged Magwenya to show restraint.
The Mission described Magwenya’s conduct as provocative and diplomatically inappropriate.
It rejected what it called Magwenya’s attempt to portray Fani-Kayode as dishonest and damage Nigeria’s image.
“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 Mission said.
It commended Ramaphosa for intervening.
“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 said. (NAN)