Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, met with Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, and Kayode Fayemi, former Ekiti state, met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass in Rome.
I’m the head of the Nigerian delegation; Nigerian president Tinubu was reported to have joked with Obi at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration.
In a rare public interaction, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi met in Rome on Sunday for Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass.
The high-profile event, held at the Vatican, saw global leaders and dignitaries gather to honour the new pontiff.
Among them were President Tinubu, who led Nigeria’s official delegation, and two prominent Catholic figures in Nigerian politics— Peter Obi and Kayode Fayemi, both known as Papal Knights.
According to a statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the moment of camaraderie unfolded when Fayemi spotted President Tinubu seated among other international leaders. He invited Obi to join him in paying respects to the Nigerian leader.
As they approached, Fayemi reportedly said: In a post on X, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, said Fayemi sighted the president where he sat with other leaders and asked Obi to follow him to “pay homage” to Tinubu.
“On getting to the President, Fayemi broke the ice between Obi and Tinubu. He said: ‘Mr. President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence.’ President Tinubu, ever quickwitted, responded, ‘I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation.’ The President’s response cracked up Obi, who agreed with the President,” Onanuga wrote.
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