Nigerians embarrassed, frustrated as Tinubu did not know whom he met at Vatican

Nigerians kick

Nigerians have expressed a whole sense of embarrassment and frustration after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could not identify whom he met at Vatican on May 17, 2025.

President Tinubu had falsely claimed he was “received and graciously hosted to dinner by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State to the Vatican”.

Tinubu made the claim on his social media “X” handle on May 17, 2025, wherein he posted:

“Upon my arrival in Rome ahead of the solemn Mass marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, I was warmly received and graciously hosted to dinner by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State to the Vatican.

“Our dialogue was marked by a spirit of fraternity and a shared vision for the future, focusing on common values such as peace, mutual respect, and global solidarity.

“I expressed Nigeria’s deep appreciation for the Vatican’s longstanding goodwill and reaffirmed our commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and cooperation in an increasingly polarised world.

“As always, Nigeria remains a nation open to friendship, grounded in faith, and committed to building bridges of understanding across the world.” End.

See picture below:

(Find a screenshot of the post beneath.)

However, a quick check revealed that “the cardinal in the picture is NOT the Secretary of State to the Vatican Cardinal Pietro Parolin”.

Rather, it has been revealed that Tinubu’s host was Cardinal Farrell, “one of the individuals serving in the honorary capacity of Papal Chamberlain”.

Observers wonder how a president of a country could not properly identify who his host really was.

On their part, Nigerians are leaking the wounds of embarrassment and frustration with President Tinubu.

Nigerians react

Serah Ibrahim @TheSerahIbrahim:

As a Catholic I am really upset that you are trying to denigrate my religion

First of all, this is NOT His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Secondly this is not Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Stop making a mockery of my religion just because you want snaps and pics.

You are there on official duties as every nation is.

All countries especially those with huge catholic faithfuls are invited to the inauguration, you’re there to represent the country’s Catholics and this is what you do with it, denigrate our religion with lies and FAKE NEWS.

The Vatican is a sacred place.

Are you so out of touch with your surroundings that you don’t even know who you ate with?

Or you were in just such a rush to post pictures in Rome that you didn’t even bother to get the name of the person that granted you audience.

Wait for the inauguration and then you can take all the pictures you want. There’s no rush. Don’t be so much in a hurry to look relevant and then post FAKE NEWS

Why the terrible hunger for international relevance?

This is the same stunt you pulled when you brought fake bishops to denigrate on Christianity. Respect every religion.

His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin who was so dear to Pope Francis has been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013.

This is Secretary of State, His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin⬇

His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Stop the fake news, Bola Tinubu.

Again Serah Ibrahim @TheSerahIbrahim wrote:

And yes, Tinubu posted fake news, and for those asking, the person on the left is Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

His position is the second highest position in the Catholic Church after the Pope.

He has been the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013. The person Tinubu met with is on the right.

He is also a Cardinal and I wonder why Tinubu didn’t just use his real name but tried to deceive Nigerians.

He is Cardinal Farrell, one of the individuals serving in the honorary capacity of Papal Chamberlain.

They assist to ensure all the traditions and ceremonial aspects of the Vatican’s events are well organized.

The role is majorly to assist during significant events and ceremonies at the Vatican like this inauguration.

He is also the current Camerlengo.

His role as Camerlengo is to officially verify the death of the Pope and presides over the funeral rites and other events when the Pope’s seat is vacant after death.

The role of Camerlengo is during the mourning period before a new pope is announced.

Concerned🇳🇬Nigerian @lagospikin:

So na the chief Catholic undertaker host T-pain? Wuhala!

Stanley @Stanley2063698:

This is not 1950 we are Internet generation, every lie will be expose immediately, it called operation no soft landing.

I still ask again, oga who did you said you have dinner with, how many times have I asked you?

Bob Loco @BobLoco1:

Even a simple meeting has to lied about. Maybe the new pope doesn’t even care whether or not Tinubu is in the audience.

Everything about Tinubu is characterised by the words fake, lies, propaganda.

Ericochidex @Ericochidex1:

If Tinubu can gather group of people in Abuja and call them bishop, I wonder what Tinubu and his boys cannot do.

Nigerians is under darkness of Tinubu, APC, may God help Nigerians.

Alleged fake bishops used by Tinubu at an APC event in Abuja

Moron motion @SylvesterIdoga:

Serah Ibrahim if no be you wey expose these bunches of liars today na so them for de shout upandan like say na achievement.

Tinubu is not a Xtian so I don’t know why he’s rushing this life anyhow.

Wilson NOT Oruma @OjukwuWils17544:

How reliable are the economic data that are daily being churned out by Tinubu if he could lie with a cardinals name.

How reliable are those economic data?

Wizwealth Wisdom @WizwealthW:

The only thing APC knows how to do is LIE, GRAB,STEAL, RUN AWAY with the peoples mandate! In their political calendars, is all about agendas, propagandas and Bigotry’s!

Concerned Citizen @TimedFrank:

I’m still confused on why they had to tell this very obvious lie.

Everyone knows no one rates Tinubu at home and most especially on the World (International) stage so why the constant need to feel relevant?

This is really embarrassing!

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