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Fayemi Reveals How He Convinced Peter Obi To Greet Tinubu At Vatican

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Fayemi Reveals How He Convinced Peter Obi To Greet Tinubu At Vatican
Kayode Fayemi, Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu

Fayemi Reveals How He Convinced Peter Obi To Greet Tinubu At Vatican

Former Ekiti State Governor and ex-Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi, has opened up on how he persuaded former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to greet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in May 2025.

Fayemi disclosed this during a one-on-one interview with Edmund Obilo on State Affairs, offering fresh insight into the now widely discussed encounter between Obi and Tinubu in Rome.

According to Fayemi, he and Obi, both practising Catholics, attended the papal inauguration after having breakfast with Cardinal Lazarus before proceeding to St. Peter’s Square, where the event took place.

“We had breakfast that morning with Cardinal Lazarus and proceeded from his apartment to the venue, where we sat four rows behind the president,” Fayemi said.

The former governor explained that the interaction began after Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was part of the presidential delegation, approached him and Obi to exchange greetings.

Fayemi said he immediately felt it was appropriate for both of them to acknowledge the presence of the Nigerian leader at the international religious event despite political differences.

“I told Peter, ‘Please, let us go and greet him,’” Fayemi recounted.

However, Fayemi revealed that Obi initially hesitated because he feared the gesture could be politicised or misrepresented in the media.

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According to Fayemi, he convinced Obi by stressing that the occasion transcended politics and was about national unity and courtesy.

“I told him it really didn’t matter. You are a Catholic, you are a Nigerian, and you are here. Our president has honoured us by attending. He is even a Muslim, yet he came to represent all Nigerians at this Catholic event. We should extend basic courtesies,” Fayemi stated.

He disclosed that Obi eventually agreed and accompanied him to meet Tinubu.

Fayemi said Obi greeted the President warmly, saying: “Mr President, welcome to the Vatican. Thank you for honouring us with your presence.”

According to him, Tinubu responded humorously by reminding them that he was the leader of Nigeria’s official delegation to the Vatican ceremony.

“The President said, ‘I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation,’” Fayemi added.

Obi reportedly replied: “Yes sir, you are our leader. So thank you for coming to Rome to honour us, even though we are not part of your delegation.”

The former minister said the atmosphere remained cordial throughout the exchange, with both politicians sharing light jokes and pleasantries before the brief meeting ended.

The Vatican encounter between Tinubu and Obi had earlier generated reactions across social media after presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga shared details and photographs from the event.

At the time, reports indicated that Fayemi played a central role in facilitating the interaction between both political figures during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu also later clarified that the meeting was merely an exchange of courtesies at a global religious gathering and should not be interpreted through political or ethnic lenses.

When asked whether the Vatican meeting was the first interaction between Tinubu and Obi since the 2023 presidential election, Fayemi said he could not confirm but noted that both men shook hands during the occasion.

The development has continued to spark conversations among supporters of both politicians, with many describing the encounter as a demonstration of political maturity and civility despite Nigeria’s intense political rivalry.

Fayemi Reveals How He Convinced Peter Obi To Greet Tinubu At Vatican

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2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

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2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

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Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

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Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

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2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

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2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, have reiterated their plan to reduce the cost of petrol if elected in the 2027 presidential election.

The pair made the remarks during a brief stop at an NNPC filling station in Guzape, Abuja, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, where they were approached by members of the public.

Amaechi was driving the vehicle with Atiku seated beside him when they stopped at the filling station. The encounter attracted a small crowd, with the politicians responding to questions about fuel prices and their proposed policy.

Amaechi said an Atiku-led government would reduce the cost of petrol through what the ADC ticket describes as a production subsidy, rather than simply returning to the previous system of subsidising imported petrol.

Atiku also addressed the crowd briefly in Hausa, saying, “Zan dawo da tallafi insha Allahu,” which translates to, “I will bring back the subsidy, by God’s grace.”

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The encounter came a day after Amaechi challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce petrol to ₦600 per litre.

Amaechi said he would withdraw from Atiku’s presidential ticket and campaign for Tinubu if petrol was brought down to that price. He made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The former Rivers State governor has continued to criticise the impact of the petrol subsidy removal on households, particularly the effect of higher fuel prices on transportation and the cost of goods.

Atiku has separately outlined a proposed domestic production subsidy under which government support would be directed at locally refined petroleum products.

The proposal is intended to reduce production costs for domestic refineries and, according to Atiku, allow the savings to be reflected in lower petrol prices for consumers.

The former vice president has argued that the intervention would be structured, capped and subject to public disclosure and independent auditing. Imported petrol would not qualify under the proposed arrangement.

The fuel subsidy debate has remained a major issue in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election, following the removal of the petrol subsidy by the Tinubu administration in May 2023.

The Federal Government has defended the removal, arguing that the former subsidy regime imposed a significant burden on public finances. Opposition figures, including Atiku, have instead linked the policy to higher living costs and have proposed alternative measures to reduce the impact on consumers.

The Abuja filling-station encounter therefore provided Atiku and Amaechi another opportunity to restate their position on petrol prices, fuel subsidy and the cost of living as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 election.

 

2027: Atiku, Amaechi Reiterate Plan to Cut Petrol Prices

 

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