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

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