Former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has shared details of how he persuaded Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to approach President Bola Tinubu for a handshake during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican last year.
Speaking in an interview on Edmund Obilo’s YouTube channel, Fayemi said Obi was initially reluctant to engage with Tinubu publicly because of concerns that the moment could be misinterpreted in the Nigerian media.
According to him, both men were attending the papal ceremony in their capacity as Catholics and had even shared breakfast earlier that day with a senior church figure before proceeding to the event at Vatican City.
Fayemi explained that the opportunity arose when Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, crossed over from the presidential delegation to exchange greetings with them.
He said this moment encouraged him to suggest a reciprocal courtesy to the Nigerian leader.
“I felt we should go and greet the President,” Fayemi recalled, adding that Obi hesitated because of possible political backlash.
He quoted Obi’s concern as being rooted in public perception: that such a gesture might be “misused in the media.”
Fayemi said he reassured him, stressing shared national identity and faith. “Peter, please let us go,” he said, describing how he urged Obi to join him.
He added that he reminded Obi that Tinubu was representing Nigeria at the Vatican regardless of political differences.
Eventually, Obi agreed, and both men walked over to greet the president.
Fayemi recounted the exchange with Tinubu, noting the President’s lighthearted response. Tinubu reportedly said, “Kayode, what are you saying? I should be the one welcoming you.”
Obi also acknowledged Tinubu’s position, saying, “Yes sir, you are our leader. Thank you for coming to Rome to honour us.”
Fayemi said the interaction remained brief and cordial, describing it as a moment of mutual respect among Nigerian leaders outside the country.
The encounter has since drawn attention because of the political rivalry between Tinubu and Obi following the 2023 presidential election, though Fayemi insisted the meeting was purely social and tied to the Vatican ceremony rather than politics.
