By Peter Omopo
Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that he persuaded former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a handshake during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in May 2025.
Fayemi made the revelation during an interview on Edmund Obilo’s YouTube channel, explaining that Obi initially hesitated over concerns that the gesture could be misinterpreted in Nigeria’s political space.
The encounter between Tinubu, Obi and Fayemi had earlier attracted public attention after presidential aide Bayo Onanuga shared photographs of the meeting on social media platform X on May 18, 2025, noting that Fayemi encouraged Obi to greet the President after spotting him among world leaders.
Speaking on the incident, Fayemi said both he and Obi attended the papal inauguration as Catholics and were seated close to President Tinubu’s delegation after arriving from a breakfast meeting with Cardinal Lazarus.
He explained that the moment of interaction began when Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, who was part of Tinubu’s delegation, approached them to exchange pleasantries.
According to him, he then suggested that Obi accompany him to greet the President, but Obi initially resisted, expressing concern that the action could be politically misconstrued.
Fayemi said he reassured Obi that the gesture was appropriate, noting that both of them were Nigerians at an international religious event and that the President was representing the country.
He added that Obi eventually agreed, and both men proceeded to greet Tinubu.
Fayemi recounted that upon greeting the President, he welcomed him to the Vatican, while Tinubu responded humorously by saying he should be the one offering the welcome as leader of the Nigerian delegation.
He further stated that Obi also exchanged pleasantries with the President, acknowledging his position as Nigeria’s leader, and that the brief interaction remained cordial and light-hearted.
The former governor said the exchange ended shortly afterwards as Tinubu proceeded to other engagements at the Vatican.
When asked if the handshake marked their first direct interaction since the 2023 presidential election, Fayemi said he could not confirm but noted that the two political figures did greet each other at the event.
Fayemi and Obi, both Catholics and Papal Knights, had previously attended the inauguration of Pope Francis in 2013 while serving as governors.
President Tinubu’s presence at the Vatican ceremony was earlier described by him as part of Nigeria’s representation at a global religious gathering, underscoring unity and diversity within the country.
