President Bola Tinubu, Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party on the last election, and former Ekiti governor Kayode Fayemi met at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass on Sunday in Rome.
Chief Bayo Onanuga, the spokesman of the president, said the former Ekiti governor spotted Obi and asked him to follow him to pay homage to Tinubu, which the former Anambra governor agreed to.
Onanuga said, “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.
Obi said: “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation”.
Peter Obi and Fayemi are staunch Catholics and Papal knights.
President Tinubu was among the world leaders who traveled to Rome to witness the installation mass, which officially marked the start of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy.
During the ceremony, the Pope delivered a pointed homily urging an end to the exploitation of nature and the marginalization of vulnerable communities.
In a message delivered before a congregation of international leaders, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the Church’s potential to be a force for unity in a world increasingly shaped by conflict and division.
“We must stop exploiting nature and marginalising the poor,” the Pope declared.
He also added that the Church should serve as “a transformational force in a world of division and hatred.”
Meanwhile, the event drew widespread global attention, underscoring the significance of the new papal leadership and its anticipated impact on global faith and policy.
