“Yes sir, I’m a member of your delegation:” Peter Obi tells Tinubu in Rome

President Bola Tinubu and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, shared lighthearted moments in Rome on Sunday.

 

The two political rivals met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass on Sunday in Rome.

 

Tinubu was one of the world leaders officially invited to the event by Pope Leo XIV. The Nigerian president who arrived Rome on Saturday, was received at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and officials from Vatican City and the Nigerian Embassy after the plane touched down at 6pm local time.

 

Tinubu had in his entourages the Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Mathew Hassan Kukah.

 

Peter Obi on his own is a staunch Catholic who may have felt the need to be in Rome for the mass.

 

Tinubu’s Special Adviser (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, in a social media post, narrated the hilarious conversation that ensued between the President and Obi who was in company with the former Minister of Solid Minerals and ex-Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.

 

Onanuga wrote: “President Bola Tinubu, Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate, and former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass on Sunday in Rome.

 

“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.’

 

“The President’s response cracked up Obi, who agreed with the President.

 

Obi said: ‘Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation’.

 

Peter Obi and Fayemi are staunch Catholics and Papal knights.

 

—PMNews

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