Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, and the South African Presidency exchanged words over the alleged omission of his speech from a diplomatic ceremony’s livestream.
In Abuja, a presidential aide dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy was attacked after Friday prayers.
These and other developments feature in Saturday morning’s PUNCH Online news recap.
Here is the recap in full:
1. Diplomatic fireworks as Fani-Kayode, South Africa trade blows
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, accused the South African presidency of deliberately cutting the Nigerian delegation out of a livestream during the presentation of his letter of credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya rejected the claim, saying Ramaphosa did not intervene in the broadcaster’s operations and that Fani-Kayode misrepresented the incident.
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2. Tinubu’s aide dismisses reports of attack on presidential convoy in Abuja
Presidential aide O’tega Ogra rejected reports that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy was attacked by youths after Friday prayers at the Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Abuja.
He described circulating videos as misleading and shared footage of the President leaving the mosque peacefully amid supporters.
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3. How Ooni-Oluwo feud triggered Osun’s warning letter
The long-running rift between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, was a key factor behind the Osun State Government’s cautionary letter to the Oluwo over alleged inflammatory remarks.
Officials said the letter was a precautionary step to prevent communal tension between Iwo and Ile-Ife indigenes.
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4. UK protesters against INEC chair were rented – Lawyer
UK-based Nigerian lawyer Dayo Babalola alleged that some of the protesters who demonstrated against INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan outside Chatham House in London were paid.
He said the small group of about 10–15 people did not represent the Nigerian diaspora and that the protest occurred after the formal engagement.
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5. I woke up to N100m alert after APC campaign – Portable
Singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, claimed he woke up to a N100m credit in his account after participating in APC campaign activities linked to Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi).
The claim, made in a social media video, has not been independently verified.
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