President Tinubu, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former governor Kayode Fayemi met at Pope Leo XIV’s installation mass in Rome, sharing a warm exchange that lightly acknowledged Nigeria’s political tensions and reaffirmed national representation.
- Fayemi invited Obi to join him in greeting President Tinubu during the Vatican ceremony.
- Tinubu welcomed them with humour, saying he was the Head of Nigeria’s delegation.
- Obi responded jovially, acknowledging Tinubu’s leadership of the Nigerian contingent.
The cordial exchange between political rivals drew smiles, offering a rare moment of unity on the global stage. Observers saw it as a symbolic pause in Nigeria’s often divisive political rhetoric—rooted in shared faith and national identity.
Could such symbolic gestures of respect foster more civility in Nigeria’s political discourse? As global events continue, how leaders interact abroad may shape perceptions of unity at home.
