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TINUBU, OBI, FAYEMI MEET AT POPE LEO’S INSTALLATION MASS IN ROME
President Bola Tinubu, Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate, and former Ekiti governor Kayode Fayemi met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass on Sunday in Rome.
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.
Obi said: “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation”.
Peter Obi and Fayemi are staunch Catholics and Papal knights.
The new Pope, who is the 267th Bishop of Rome and the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was elected following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday of 2025.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, in a post on his X handle, shared pictures of the President in a handshake with the new Pope.
The tweet reads, “President Bola Tinubu exchanging pleasantries with Pope Leo XIV at the installation mass for the new Pope in Rome on Sunday. Photo: State House.”
