Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Adetomiwa Adetilewa has emerged as the All Progressives Congress, APC, consensus candidate for the House of Representatives seat for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency.

This development was announced by the Chairman Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC, Oluneye Okuboyejo, shortly after he handed over Adetilewa to the party following the consensus reached after a meeting on Wednesday.

Those present at the event include the Chairman of the Ogun East/Ijebu Political Structure of the APC, Arowolo Adebola, and other party stakeholders.

The Ogun East APC leaders described the decision as a reflection of confidence in Adetilewa’s leadership qualities, political experience and commitment to grassroots development across the constituency.

Reacting to his emergence, Adetilewa expressed gratitude to the leadership of the party, members and supporters for the confidence reposed in him. He equally commended fellow aspirants who had shown interest in contesting for the position, describing them as critical stakeholders in the growth and unity of the APC.

“This is a victory for all of us. In this consensus option by our party members, there is no victor and no vanquished — we are all winners.

“I sincerely invite my brothers and sisters who aspired for this same position to join hands with me as we work together for the progress of our constituency and our great party. I assure everyone that I will carry all stakeholders and party leaders along in this journey,” he said.

The aspirant appreciated President Bola Tinubu for what he described as exemplary leadership and commitment to national development.

In the same vein, Adetilewa thanked the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, APC leaders, party members and his supporters for their support and trust.

The APC consensus candidate assured party faithful that their confidence in him would not be misplaced, pledging to remain accessible and committed to delivering quality representation for the people of Ijebu Central Federal Constituency.

He added, “I will continue to listen to the wise counsel of our leaders, engage our people, and work tirelessly to justify the trust placed in me. Together, we will achieve greater progress for our constituency and our party.”

2027: Adetilewa emerges APC consensus candidate for Ijebu Central Reps seat

The lawmaker representing Oredo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Esosa Iyawe, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC, following alleged irreconcilable differences between him and the Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo.

DAILY POST reports that the federal lawmaker who was elected on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, in 2023, defected to the APC on December 5, 2024.

Iyawe has now left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

In a letter dated May 6, 2026 and addressed to the leadership of the APC in Ward 1, Oredo Local Government Area, attributed his resignation to the irreconcilable differences between him and Okpebholo.

While stating that he would be aligning himself with the NDC, he added that he has withdrawn his expression of interest to contest for the House of Representatives election on the platform of the APC.

The lawmaker stated that his resignation is with immediate effect.

“I write to formally notify you that I hereby withdraw my expression of interest to contest for the position of House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections and to resign from the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective immediately.

“This regrettable decision has been made after careful reflection and consideration. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been associated with the party and for the experiences gained during my membership.

“However, due to personal and political reasons, I have decided to withdraw my membership and align myself with another political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC). I believe this move is in line with my current convictions and aspirations.

“It is imperative to state that this decision is a result of the irreconcilable difference between me and my Governor His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor of Edo State.

“I kindly request that my resignation be duly noted in your records and INEC records and that I be relieved of all rights, responsibilities, and obligations associated with membership in the party,” the letter read.

2027: Edo Rep, Iyawe dumps APC for NDC over alleged rift with Okpebholo

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have unanimously endorsed Hon. Adetomiwa Adetilewa as the party’s consensus candidate for the House of Representatives seat representing Ijebu Central Federal Constituency.

This was announced by the Chairman Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Oluneye Okuboyejo, shortly after he handed over the candidate to the party following the consensus reached on Wednesday in the State.. Also present at the event was the party Chairman of Chairmen in the Ogun East/Ijebu Political Structure of the APC,Arowolo Adebola and party stakeholders.

The development is described as a major milestone for the party in Ogun State amid growing support from party stakeholders and members across the constituency.

The Party leaders described the decision as a reflection of confidence in Adetilewa’s leadership qualities, political experience, and commitment to grassroots development across the constituency.

Reacting to his emergence, Hon. Adetilewa expressed gratitude to the leadership of the party, members and supporters for the confidence reposed in him.

He also commended fellow aspirants who had shown interest in contesting for the position, describing them as critical stakeholders in the growth and unity of the APC.

“This is a victory for all of us. In this consensus option by our party members, there is no victor and no vanquished — we are all winners,” he said.

“I sincerely invite my brothers and sisters who aspired for this same position to join hands with me as we work together for the progress of our constituency and our great party. I assure everyone that I will carry all stakeholders and party leaders along in this journey.”

Adetilewa further appreciated the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for what he described as exemplary leadership and commitment to national development.

He also thanked the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, alongside APC leaders, party members and supporters in Ogun State for their unwavering support and trust.

The APC consensus candidate assured party faithful that their confidence in him would not be misplaced, pledging to remain accessible and committed to delivering quality representation for the people of Ijebu Central Federal Constituency.

“I will continue to listen to the wise counsel of our leaders, engage our people, and work tirelessly to justify the trust placed in me. Together, we will achieve greater progress for our constituency and our party,” he added.

Adetilewa Emerges Consensus Reps Candidate For Ijebu Central is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the National Examinations Council (NECO) to ensure that its services remain accessible and affordable to every Nigerian child, regardless of background.

Shettima, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja during NECO’s Silver Jubilee celebration, described the milestone as “a profound testament to collective national resolve and our enduring faith in the Nigerian child.”

Shettima, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Compliance Matters, Barrister Bashir Maidugu, commended the council for embracing digital solutions to improve transparency, result processing, and operational efficiency, and for aligning with global best practices in educational assessment and governance.

While acknowledging NECO’s progress, he urged the council to deepen its commitment to integrity in examination administration, strengthen security mechanisms to protect the sanctity of assessments, and ensure the transparent and timely release of results to candidates and institutions.

Shettima also stressed the need to expand professional development opportunities for educators and examiners, and to leverage technology and strategic partnerships to improve access and innovation, particularly in the era of artificial intelligence.

Also speaking in his keynote address, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, stated that the council has performed exceptionally well and reduced examination malpractice by 90 per cent.

He noted that the achievement reflects years of deliberate reforms in examination administration and security.

He restated that NECO is set to commence Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) later this year to further strengthen integrity and provide real-time monitoring of candidates.

“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading – and that is the Computer-Based Examination (CBE), which is to commence this year.

“This will go a long way in curbing the menace of Examination malpractice due to its ability to track and detect suspicious activity and also provide real-time monitoring of Candidates,” he said.

He said the council’s early focus on secure examination processes, reliable scoring and timely release of results had helped restore public confidence in national certification, while investments in examiner training, item development, psychometrics and quality assurance had laid the foundation for rigorous standards.

“Today, we pause to reflect on a remarkable journey—one that has shaped our educational landscape, strengthened accountability, and reinforced the promise of equal opportunity for all learners in our nation,” he said.

According to him, NECO has also expanded its examination centre network to give students in diverse regions fair access, diversified its subject offerings to suit different learning stages, and adopted technology-driven processes such as secure data management and electronic results to improve efficiency and transparency.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s oversight role in setting standards, safeguarding fairness and aligning NECO’s examinations with national curricula and development objectives.

In his own remarks, NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, said the council had evolved from its early challenges of limited public trust and infrastructure gaps to become an internationally recognised examination body now conducting examinations in eight countries.

He attributed the progress to transparent procedures, the introduction of online registration and internet-based release of results, and sustained collaboration with stakeholders both within and outside Nigeria.

Wushishi noted that NECO had undertaken the construction of offices in 10 states and a standard science laboratory at its headquarters, while also procuring 50 Mitsubishi single-cabin trucks, 24 Toyota Hilux double-cabin trucks, two Isuzu mini trucks and two 18-seater buses to improve logistics.

He said the council had also developed the NECO e-verify application for result confirmation, an e-library, e-granary, a Statistics and Data Analysis studio, and created additional departments and six zonal directorates to enhance staff mobility and development.

The Registrar paid tribute to former Presidents General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo for their roles in establishing and consolidating the council, as well as to the Niger State Government and the Gidan Mangoro and Baganakwo communities for hosting NECO’s headquarters.

He also acknowledged the contributions of past Ministers of Education, Governing Board members and former Registrars, including Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Prof. Promise N. Okpala, Prof. Abdulrashid Garba, Prof. Charles B. Uwakwe and Mallam Abubakar M. Gana, for building the foundations on which NECO now stands.

Outlining plans, Wushishi said NECO would continue to enhance security protocols, item banking and anti-cheating measures, expand e-services and data analytics, align with international best practices through partnerships with global examination bodies, and broaden access for learners in underserved communities through targeted outreach and fee strategies.

NECO Must Remain Affordable For Ordinary Nigerian Child—-Shettima is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has disclosed that Section Two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to be completed by November, while Section One is substantially completed and ready for inauguration.

Umahi disclosed this while speaking with journalists during an inspection tour of the highway project on Wednesday evening in Lagos.

He said that some ongoing works, including flyovers, underpasses and interchanges being observed on the corridor, belonged to section two of the project.

“Some of the works you are seeing, such as underpass, overpass and the interchange, belong to section two.

“Section one does not have any flyover. You may be asking why we say it is ready while flyover construction is still ongoing. Those works belong to section two,” he said.

The minister also said that about 200m of pavement had been intentionally left unfinished due to soil settlement concerns.

“We have been checking the settlement there, and it is settling very fast. We do not want to take chances.

“If after two weeks we are not satisfied with the settlement, we will put flexible pavement there temporarily for one year before replacing it with rigid concrete pavement,” he said.

According to him, rigid concrete pavement does not tolerate settlement because it can crack.

Umahi said that only minor works such as shoulders and landscaping remained on section one.

He expressed satisfaction at the quality of work by the contractor, Hitech Construction Company, and praised President Bola Tinubu for initiating legacy infrastructure projects across the country.

“We are doing the same in Sokoto, Kebbi, Badagry, Oyo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Jos, Gombe and Biu.

“These legacy projects are spread across the six geopolitical zones, and it shows that the president is fair,” he said.

Umahi added that by November, the coastal highway construction would have reached the Ogun/Lagos border.

He noted that the highway construction was also progressing on the Ogun/Ondo axis.

“Before this time next year, motorists will be able to drive all the way to Ondo, while work on the Edo section will commence,” he said.

He assured Nigerians that roads constructed under the current administration were designed to last for between 50 years and 100 years.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engineer Olufemi Dare, said that 47km Section One of the coastal highway was 98 per cent completed.

“The remaining works within the next two weeks are mainly tree planting and walkways.

“I can confidently say that this project is completed and ready for commissioning,” he said.

The Director of Bridges and Design in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Musa Saidu, said that the construction met all engineering standards of the ministry.

“As you can see, from Victoria Island to Chainage 47, engineering-wise, the project is complete.

“What remains are aesthetics such as tree planting, solar installations and about 100 metres of continuously reinforced concrete pavement awaiting settlement,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Mrs Moremi Ojudu, described the highway as a major economic corridor for the South-West and Nigeria at large.

Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Mrs Chioma Nweze, commended the Federal Government for extending legacy infrastructure projects to the South-East.

She cited ongoing work on the Trans-Saharan Road as evidence that no geopolitical zone was left out.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, described the project as a dream come true.

He recalled that the coastal highway was envisioned by Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos State.

He commended the president, Umahi and the National Assembly for supporting the project through funding and oversight.

Also, Senator Osita Ngwu, a member of the Senate Committee on Works, said that initial doubts about the project had disappeared following visible progress on it.

“It is difficult for anybody to come here and not be impressed.

“This is what we call a legacy project, and I encourage Nigerians to visit and see what the government is doing,” he said.

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Ready By November, Says Umahi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A rare hantavirus case involving a foreign traveller has triggered an international public health investigation involving the World Health Organisation (WHO), multiple countries, and cruise ship passengers travelling between continents.

A 69-year-old Dutch woman collapsed on arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on April 25 after travelling on Airlink flight 4Z 132 from the British island of St Helena. She died the following day.

South African authorities confirmed on May 3 that she died of hantavirus, a rodent-borne disease rarely recorded outside the Americas, Europe, and parts of Asia.

The diagnosis, confirmed by Johannesburg’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), prompted a multinational investigation involving the WHO, national health authorities, and the operator of the cruise vessel MV Hondius.

The woman’s 70-year-old husband had died two weeks earlier aboard the same cruise ship.

A British passenger who fell ill on board was evacuated to a private hospital in Johannesburg and remains in intensive care, though officials say his condition is improving.

Virus Rare In Africa

Hantavirus is carried by rodents and spreads to humans through contact with infected urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated particles in the air.

The disease is most commonly linked to parts of the Americas, Europe, and Asia where the rodent hosts are found. No sustained local transmission has been recorded in Africa.

The virus drew global attention in 1993 after deaths in the southwestern United States were traced to a strain carried by deer mice. Since then, cases have been reported in South America, particularly Argentina and Chile, and in Europe.

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament: “Local rodents in South Africa are not known to carry hantavirus.”

He said the strain identified in the current cases, the Andes virus, originates in South America and is among the few hantavirus strains with documented, though limited, human-to-human transmission.

Regional And International Response

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it is monitoring the situation.

South Africa’s NICD conducted laboratory confirmation, while Institut Pasteur de Dakar is analysing additional samples from symptomatic passengers with WHO support.

Health officials have begun contact tracing involving airport staff, airline passengers, hospital workers, and cruise ship contacts. Monitoring continues because the virus can incubate for up to six weeks.

Former NICD deputy director Lucille Blumberg described the rapid identification of the virus as “like finding a needle in a haystack,” saying confirmation was achieved within 24 hours of alert.

Authorities have also traced passengers from connecting flights, including KLM services, as part of precautionary monitoring.

Cases Linked To Cruise Vessel

Health agencies have identified about seven to eight cases linked to the vessel, including at least two to three laboratory-confirmed Andes hantavirus infections.

Three deaths have been reported, while one patient remains critically ill in Johannesburg..

Symptoms include fever, headache, and gastrointestinal distress. Severe cases can progress rapidly to respiratory failure and shock.

The MV Hondius vessel, which departed Ushuaia in March on an Antarctic and Atlantic expedition, is heading toward Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands after anchoring off Cape Verde. Several passengers have been evacuated to hospitals in the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.

The WHO said the global risk remains low, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission or wider community spread.

How Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Reached Africa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

As the 2027 elections draw near, former Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has called for active participation of Nigerian youths in electoral processes.

DAILY POST reports that Jonathan made the remark in Abuja on Thursday when a large number of youths stormed his residence, appealing to him to join the 2027 presidential race.

Addressing the crowd, Jonathan urged those advocating his comeback to get their Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, and actively participate in the election.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to carefully look at the growing apathy in Nigeria, lamenting that Nigerians are not interested in elections.

He said that young citizens of the country “must be involved in the electoral process”.

Lamenting the prevailing voter apathy in the country, Jonathan told the youths, “Probably 50% of you don’t even have voters card and you are asking me to go and contest the election”.

DAILY POST recalls that on 5th May 2010, upon the death of then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Jonathan was sworn in as Nigeria’s President.

On May 29, 2011, the Bayelsa-born politician was again sworn in after winning the April 2011 presidential election.

Although Jonathan, who lost the 2015 election to Mohammadu Buhari is yet declare his intention to join the 2027 race, a cross section of Nigerians are calling for his comeback.

Some political analysts, however, argue that the Nigerian constitution does not allow for a person to be sworn in as President three times.

2027: ‘You’re asking me to contest but 50% of you don’t have voters card’ – Jonathan to Nigerians

Nigeria has recorded about 24.1 million compromised user accounts since 2004, making it the third most affected country in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report by cybersecurity firm, Surfshark.

The report, which analysed global data breach trends for the first quarter of 2026, showed that Nigeria recorded 281,500 leaked accounts between January and March 2026, ranking the country as the 34th most breached nation globally during the period.

Globally, the report revealed that 210.3 million accounts were breached in the first quarter of 2026, representing a sharp increase compared to previous periods.

The United States accounted for 29 per cent of all reported breaches worldwide, followed by France, India, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

According to the report, cyber threats targeting Nigerian users have continued to intensify over the years, exposing millions of individuals to risks such as identity theft, account hijacking, extortion and financial fraud.

Surfshark disclosed that about 7.5 million unique email addresses linked to Nigerian users have been exposed since 2004, while approximately 13 million passwords were leaked alongside compromised accounts.

The report noted that more than half of breached Nigerian users remain vulnerable to cyber-related crimes.
“Statistically, 10 out of 100 Nigerian people have been affected by data breaches,” the report stated.

Further analysis showed that leaked data linked to Nigerian users included highly sensitive information such as Social Security-related records, payment card details, residential addresses, and personal contact information.
According to the report, about 3,900 Social Security-related records and 1,600 payment card details were exposed, alongside 1.9 million phone numbers and more than 925,000 residential addresses.

The cybersecurity firm warned that the growing scale of data exposure reflects increasing vulnerabilities in the global digital ecosystem as businesses accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.

Commenting on the trend, Surfshark’s Chief Security Officer, Tomas Stamulis, said the rapid integration of AI systems by companies has significantly expanded the volume of user data being collected and stored.
According to him, businesses are increasingly relying on AI-driven tools for automation, analytics and operational efficiency, leading to the accumulation of larger datasets that could become attractive targets for cybercriminals.

The report cited industry statistics indicating that 20.2 per cent of companies used AI technologies in 2025, up from 8.7 per cent in 2023.

“These AI-driven systems collect and log more detailed user information for automation, analytics, and model improvement,” Stamulis said.

He added that while artificial intelligence improves productivity and operational efficiency, it also increases the number of systems organisations must secure, thereby creating additional opportunities for cyberattacks and data leaks.

Stamulis further warned that compromised personal information often retains value for cybercriminals long after passwords or email credentials have been changed.

According to him, hackers frequently combine old and newly leaked information into so-called “combo lists,” which are repeatedly traded or deployed for fraudulent activities and identity theft schemes.

He advised internet users to minimise the amount of sensitive personal information shared online, use alternative email identities or masking services where possible, and provide confidential information only when necessary.

The report also showed that global breached accounts in the first quarter of 2026 tripled compared to the corresponding period of 2025 and rose by 22 per cent relative to the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks worldwide.

Nigeria Hit By 24.1m Data Breaches Amid Rising Cyberattacks is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

 

PRESS STATEMENT ON MY AMBASSADORIAL RE-POSTING. 

By Femi Fani Kayode 

It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa. 

This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons and given the fact that I had lived in Europe most of my life I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest. 

I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beilefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision. 

I therefore made an application for a redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial announcement was made and I am pleased to say that after the then Foreign Minister (H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar) heard my reasons he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President who graciously approved it. 

I will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration. 

I also take this opportunity to thank Senator Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa and who was pleased to go to Germany instead, to agree for a straight swap. 

I take this opportunity to once again confirm that this was my choice and that Germany NEVER formally rejected me, which was a fake report that was published in an irresponsible online magazine that thrives on sensationslism, lies and blackmail. 

Their story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a total and complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip and designed to embarass my goodself, the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Worse still they listed a number of clearly outlandish and absurd reasons for this purported and fake “rejection” which they patched together and concocted reflecting the malevolent condition of their perverse imagination. 

Our findings after a preliminary investigation was that the story was not only sponsored but was also written with malicious intent and designed to hurt and destroy my career and bring me into both national and international opprobium and disrepute.  

We have reported the online magazine and the individuals that are behind it with a petition to the relevant security agencies for necessary action. 

I have also briefed my lawyers to take up the matter and we shall be suing the them in a civil action for defamation.

What actually happened was that the day an “agreement” was sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was on March 13th, it was leaked to them and they falsely and maliciously reported that it was sent only because I had been formally rejected by Germany which they knew to be false. 

They attempted to establish falsehood as fact and this is unacceptable and far below the par of professionalism and proper journalism. 

If there was such a formal rejection I challenge them to bring the proof with documentary evidence.

I repeat this never happened and I urge the media to be far more circumspect with such reports. 

This statement has been made necessary due to the concern that many of my friends and loved ones have expressed over the matter and in an attempt to set the record straight. 

God-willing, I look forward to serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history. 

(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ambassador-Designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to South Africa)

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to the Republic of South Africa in a diplomatic reshuffle affecting several postings.

Fani-Kayode, who was initially listed in March 2026 among 65 ambassadorial nominees and posted to Germany, said Senator Ita Solomon Enang, originally assigned to South Africa has now been redeployed to Germany in what he described as a “straight swap” approved by the President.

In a statement on Thursday, he disclosed that he personally requested the change shortly after the initial announcement, citing personal and ideological reasons.

“I expressed that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs; a country that has the biggest economy in Africa, closer ties to Nigeria, and aligns more with my political thinking and pan-African vision,” he said.

He explained that he conveyed the request to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who reportedly forwarded it to President Tinubu for approval.

Fani-Kayode added that the President granted the request, and expressed appreciation to all parties involved in facilitating the adjustment, including Senator Enang.

The former minister also dismissed reports suggesting that Germany rejected his nomination, describing them as false and malicious.

“Germany NEVER formally rejected me. That story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip,” he said.

He further claimed that preliminary findings indicated the report was deliberately sponsored and said the matter had been reported to security agencies, while his legal team had been instructed to pursue a defamation suit.

Fani-Kayode said he looks forward to his new posting in South Africa, describing the country as “a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history.”

The Presidency is yet to issue an official gazette or formal statement on the reshuffle, though the ambassadorial postings remain subject to agrément from host countries before assumption of duty.

Fani-Kayode Redeployed As Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate To South Africa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper