It’s no longer news that President Bola Tinubu led a Nigerian government’s delegation to Rome to witness the inaugural mass of the new Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican on Sunday.
A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described Tinubu’s presence at the occasion as unprecedented by any sitting Nigerian President or Head of State, which showed a greater greater expression of religious tolerate, mutual respect and warm gesture that Nigerians can all be proud of.
However, from a closer perspective, a presidential media aide has provided another story of Tinubu’s presence in Rome on a lighter note.
Taking to his social media handles on Sunday evening, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, narrated how President Tinubu met two prominent Nigerians at the inaugural mass.
According to Onanuga, Labour Party candidate and Tinubu’s rival in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, and former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass.
“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.'”
Onanuga said the President’s response cracked up Peter Obi, who agreed with the President.
“Obi said: ‘Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation’.”
Onanuga added that both Peter Obi and Fayemi are staunch Catholics and Papal knights.
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