Pope’s inauguration: Tinubu, Obi, Fayemi share light moments

R-L: Tinubu, Obi and Fayemi in Rome

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, shared a moment with the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and a former Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, during Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass in Rome.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a post on X on Sunday.

The meeting between Tinubu and Obi comes almost two years after the fiercely contested February 2023 presidential election, in which Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Obi and other contenders.

Their encounter at the Vatican on Sunday, though brief and cordial, drew attention, given the political rivalry and heated debates that surrounded the election.

The moment, marked by humour and civility, offered a rare glimpse of camaraderie amid Nigeria’s often polarised political landscape.

Onanuga captured the moment, saying: “Fayemi sighted President Tinubu, where he sat with other leaders and asked Obi to follow him to pay homage to the Nigerian leader. Obi agreed.

“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 quick-witted, 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. He said, ‘Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation.’ Both Obi and Fayemi are devout Catholics and Papal knights.”

Speaking on the Vatican meeting on his X handle, Obi said, “Today’s event was particularly special, as it marked the beginning of a new papacy.