•Fayemi (L), Peter Obi (C) and Tinubu (R)
President Bola Tinubu yesterday met with the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and a former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, during Pope Leo XIV’s installation service at the Vatican, Rome.
In a statement yesterday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga 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.’”
He said, “President Tinubu, ever quick-witted, responded: ‘I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation’.”
Responding, Obi was quoted as saying: “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation”.
Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, made his debut tour of St Peter’s Square in a popemobile, greeting tens of thousands of pilgrims and well-wishers before his inauguration mass, reports Channels TV.
Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, stood in the white vehicle as it drove through cheering crowds, smiling, waving, and making the sign of the cross.
US Vice President JD Vance was among the hundreds of dignitaries who attended the inauguration mass that began at 10:00 am (0800 GMT).
Leo presided over the ceremony, rich in rites and symbols, where he received his special papal ring before giving a homily that will set the tone for his papacy.
