Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has publicly attacked former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, describing him as a “liar” amid controversy surrounding his diplomatic posting under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The latest exchange followed reports surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambassadorial appointments and subsequent diplomatic reshuffling involving Fani-Kayode and former senator Ita Solomon Enang.
According to reports, President Tinubu recently approved the appointment of Ita Solomon Enang as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Germany after earlier diplomatic posting controversies linked to Fani-Kayode.
The controversy escalated after Fani-Kayode announced through social media that he had been redeployed from Germany to South Africa as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate, insisting that the reassignment happened at his own request and not because Germany rejected him.
In his public statement, Fani-Kayode claimed he preferred South Africa due to personal and ideological reasons, describing the country as more aligned with his “pan-African vision” and political convictions. He further alleged that reports claiming Germany rejected him were fabricated and politically motivated.
However, Sowore strongly dismissed the explanation, accusing the former minister of lying about the circumstances surrounding the diplomatic changes. In a reaction posted on X, Sowore stated: “If you trust claims like those from @realFFK, you’re likely to believe almost anything.” He further added that “no sane country would accept an unstable character like Femi Fani-Kayode as a diplomat.”
The exchange has generated widespread reactions across Nigerian social media and political circles, with supporters and critics of both men engaging in heated debates over the ambassadorial controversy and the credibility of competing claims.
Reports alleging that Germany rejected Fani-Kayode’s diplomatic posting had circulated online for days before the former minister publicly denied them. Some online publications and commentators claimed the alleged rejection was connected to concerns over his past controversial remarks and political history.
Despite those reports, no official statement from the German government publicly confirming a rejection had been independently verified at the time of reporting. Fani-Kayode himself challenged media organisations making the claim to provide documentary proof of any formal diplomatic refusal.
Fani-Kayode, a former minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo, has remained one of Nigeria’s most controversial political figures over the years due to his frequent political confrontations, strong public statements and shifting political alliances.
The latest dispute also adds to a long-running public rivalry between Sowore and Fani-Kayode. Earlier in 2026, Fani-Kayode distanced himself from remarks Sowore allegedly referenced during an ongoing criminal defamation case involving statements about President Tinubu.
Political observers note that the controversy highlights growing political tensions and image battles surrounding Tinubu’s diplomatic appointments as Nigeria gradually positions itself for the next electoral cycle and broader foreign policy engagements.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued any additional official clarification regarding the Germany posting controversy beyond the reassignment announcements already circulating publicly.
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