Fayemi reveals how Tinubu reacted when Obi approached him at Vatican

Former governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state has revealed how he persuaded Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to approach President Bola Tinubu for a handshake during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican last May, recounting a moment he said was lightened by the president’s quick humour.

Speaking in an interview on Edmund Obilo’s YouTube channel uploaded on Thursday, Fayemi said Obi initially hesitated, worried the meeting could be misrepresented politically.

The encounter first drew public attention on 18 May 2025 after presidential aide Bayo Onanuga shared photographs of the meeting on X.

According to Fayemi, both he and Obi attended the papal inauguration as Catholics. They had earlier shared breakfast with Cardinal Lazarus before proceeding to the ceremony, where they sat four rows behind Tinubu and his delegation.

“Peter and I are Catholics. We were at the Vatican for the inauguration of the new pope. We happened to have had breakfast the morning of the inauguration with Cardinal Lazarus. We came from his apartment to the venue of the inauguration and we sat four rows behind the president,” Fayemi said.

He explained that Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu first crossed over from the presidential delegation to greet them, prompting him to suggest they extend the same courtesy to Tinubu.

“The current minister of foreign affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, was on the president’s delegation and she came to say hello to us. And I felt, well, our president is there regardless of our politics. Peter, please let us go,” he said.

Fayemi said Obi was initially reluctant.

“He had his concerns that this might be misused in the media. I said, Peter, it really didn’t matter. You are Catholic. You are a Nigerian. You are here. Our president has honoured us,” Fayemi recalled.

He said Obi eventually agreed and both men walked up to greet the president.

“I said, ‘Mr President, welcome to the Vatican. Thank you for honouring us with your presence,’” Fayemi narrated.

According to him, Tinubu immediately responded with a joke.

“The president is quick-witted, you have got to give him some credit for that as well. He immediately retorted, ‘Kayode, what are you saying? I should be the one welcoming you because I am the leader of the Nigerian delegation,’” Fayemi said.

Obi then acknowledged the president’s role.

“Peter kindly said to him, ‘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, but you are our leader,’” Fayemi added.