Diaspora Group Urges Germany To Reject Fani-Kayode As Nigeria’s Ambassador

A diaspora group under the Global Coalition for Security & Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN) has called on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to reject the nomination of former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.

In a letter dated March 16, 2026, and addressed to Steinmeier, the group described Fani-Kayode as a “misfit” for diplomatic service, alleging that his appointment was politically motivated and aimed at rewarding him for actions during Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

Fani-Kayode, who was assigned to Germany by President Bola Tinubu as the Nigerian ambassador, was among the ambassador-designates recently released by the Nigerian government.

But in the letter signed by the group’s global coordinator, Frederick Odorige, GCSDN claimed that Fani-Kayode’s conduct during the past Nigerian general elections had drawn criticism from the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria.

“We are writing to notify you that Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate, who has been posted to your country, Germany, is a misfit and must be rejected by your country,” the group wrote.

The group alleged that the former minister spread disinformation during the 2023 elections, referencing reports by the European Union observers, which criticised certain political actors for spreading false information.

“In 2023, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Nigeria reported that Femi Fani-Kayode peddled fake news during the elections, where he desperately played the politics of incitement and division among Nigerians,” the letter stated.

The group also cited a February 11, 2023, claim made by Fani-Kayode alleging that Atiku Abubakar, then-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held a secret meeting with military generals in Abuja to provoke a coup, an allegation widely disputed at the time.

According to the group, the EU observers had also raised concerns about violence during the elections and questioned the credibility of the polls, which reportedly received €39 million in funding from the European Union.

The GCSDN further criticised the process leading to Fani-Kayode’s diplomatic nomination, claiming he was not subjected to thorough scrutiny by Nigeria’s National Assembly before being cleared.

“To pursue the agenda of his sponsors, this character was not screened by Nigeria’s National Assembly. He was hurried through the process and asked to take a bow and go, to avoid genuine scrutiny,” the group alleged.

The group also described the former minister as “temperamental” and referenced a past confrontation between him and a journalist in which he admitted having a “short fuse.”

It further referenced previous allegations of domestic violence and corruption raised by political opponents.

The group cited accusations made by former transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, who had previously alleged that Fani-Kayode misappropriated about N2 billion meant for the construction of an airport runway during his tenure as aviation minister.

However, the group acknowledged that the accusations remain disputed.

In the letter, the group urged the German government to decline the diplomatic posting on the grounds of “diplomatic sensitivities, security concerns, political considerations, and administrative preferences.”

“We respectfully urge you to decline acceptance of Femi Fani-Kayode as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany,” the letter stated.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz; the country’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul; the President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner; and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther. (SaharaReporters)