Fayemi made the revelation during an interview on Edmund Obilo’s YouTube programme uploaded on Thursday. According to him, Obi initially hesitated because he feared the interaction could be misinterpreted or politicised by the media.
The encounter first became public on May 18, 2025, after presidential aide Bayo Onanuga shared photos of Fayemi, Obi and Tinubu together at the Vatican ceremony.
At the time, Onanuga explained that Fayemi spotted President Tinubu seated among global leaders and encouraged Obi to join him in greeting the Nigerian president.
In his latest account, Fayemi confirmed the story but added that Obi needed persuasion before agreeing to walk over to Tinubu.
Fayemi explained that both he and Obi attended the inauguration as devoted Catholics and had earlier shared breakfast with Cardinal Lazarus before heading to the event.
“Peter and I attended the inauguration because we are Catholics. That morning, we had breakfast with Cardinal Lazarus before proceeding to the venue, where we sat a few rows behind the president,” Fayemi recalled.
According to him, the moment began after Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, left the presidential section to greet them.
He said her gesture encouraged him to suggest that they should also extend greetings to President Tinubu despite political differences.
“The foreign affairs minister came over to greet us, and I felt it was only proper to also greet the president. I told Peter we should go,” Fayemi stated.
However, Fayemi said Obi expressed concerns that the interaction could later be twisted in the media.
“He was worried the moment might be misused politically, but I told him it did not matter because we were there as Nigerians and Catholics. I reminded him that the president honoured the occasion even though he is not Catholic,” Fayemi said.
He added that Obi eventually agreed and both of them approached the president together.
Fayemi said he welcomed Tinubu to the Vatican and thanked him for attending the event on behalf of Nigeria.
According to Fayemi, Tinubu responded humorously by saying he should be the one welcoming them because he led the Nigerian delegation.
Obi also reportedly acknowledged Tinubu’s position during the exchange.
“Peter responded respectfully, saying, ‘Yes sir, you are our leader. Thank you for coming to honour us in Rome even though we are not officially part of your delegation,’” Fayemi narrated.
The conversation ended on a friendly note before both sides continued with separate activities at the Vatican event.
When asked whether it was the first handshake between Obi and Tinubu since the fiercely contested 2023 presidential election, Fayemi simply replied that they greeted each other there.
Fayemi and Obi are both recognised Papal Knights within the Catholic Church.
The two politicians had previously attended the inauguration of Pope Francis together in 2013 while serving as governors.
Following the ceremony, Obi also reflected on the moment in a post shared on X.
President Tinubu later told members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria that his attendance at the Vatican reflected Nigeria’s spirit of unity despite religious and political differences.
“If we use our diversity for prosperity instead of division, Nigeria will continue to enjoy stability and progress,” Tinubu said.
The photos shared online by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga sparked mixed reactions from supporters of both political figures, especially in relation to the 2023 election rivalry.
— Naija Street Matters
