President Bola Tinubu, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi met on Sunday in Rome during the installation mass of Pope Leo XIV, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga stated that Fayemi spotted President Tinubu seated among other world leaders at the Vatican event and invited Obi to join him in paying homage to the Nigerian leader. Obi agreed.
Upon reaching the President, Fayemi broke the ice by saying, “Mr. President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence.”
President Tinubu responded with characteristic humour: “I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation.”
According to Onanuga, the exchange drew laughter, and Obi concurred with the President’s remark, saying, “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation.”
Obi and Fayemi are both devout Catholics and Papal knights. The meeting was symbolic and took place in a religious context, away from Nigeria’s political arena.
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