Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, met with former presidential challenger Peter Obi of the Labour Party and ex-Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi during Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass in Rome on Sunday.
According to Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the meeting occurred when Fayemi spotted President Tinubu seated among other world leaders and invited Obi to accompany him to greet the President.
“Fayemi initiated the conversation by saying, ‘Mr. President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honoring the Pope with your presence,'” Onanuga recounted on social media platform X. President Tinubu responded with characteristic wit: “I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation.”
The lighthearted exchange prompted laughter from Obi, who readily acknowledged, “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation.”
Both Obi and Fayemi are devoted Catholics and hold the distinguished title of Papal knights.
Later, in his own social media post, Obi mentioned sharing warm greetings with President Tinubu and expressed appreciation for the diverse assembly of global leaders and pilgrims who gathered in faith and unity for the significant Vatican ceremony.
“Today, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and I stood once again beneath the majestic dome of St. Peter’s Basilica for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, evoking memories of our presence here as governors in 2013 for the inauguration of Pope Francis – a deeply significant moment for the Church and the world,” Obi wrote.