During a Vatican ceremony, Seyi Tinubu was denied a handshake with Pope Leo XIV, igniting public scrutiny over entitlement and the growing role of Nigeria’s first family on the global stage.
- Seyi Tinubu was barred by Vatican officials from approaching the Pope.
- President Tinubu was formally welcomed and greeted the Pope with protocol support.
- Online backlash followed, with Nigerians criticising Seyi for appearing entitled and unofficial.
As Seyi Tinubu stood behind his father in Rome, cameras caught the awkward moment Vatican security quietly redirected him away from Pope Leo XIV. The symbolic rebuff touched a nerve at home. Critics see the incident as a reflection of what they describe as growing overreach by Nigeria’s first family, especially amid ongoing concerns that Seyi lacks any constitutional role but enjoys privileges of office.
This moment may reinforce calls for clearer boundaries between public service and familial access to state power. In a season where public trust is fragile, symbolic gestures, like who gets a handshake can become lightning rods for deeper discontent.
