Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has clarified what transpired during the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the Vatican.
Writing on her verified Facebook page on Thursday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu shared what she described as “The Inside Story: How It All Went Down In Rome.”
According to the former Nigerian ambassador and beauty queen, she had sighted Obi and former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, and went over to exchange pleasantries.
Shortly after, the duo decided to accompany her to greet President Tinubu, who was already seated.
She wrote: “The President very warmly and graciously received them both in a relaxed and humorous mood, after which they returned to their seats.
“Thankfully, no ‘Scusi’ from any ushering priests like the scenario during the funeral mass of Pope Francis. Our delegation kept things nice and orderly.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu criticised the social media storm that followed, describing the reaction as an unnecessary politicisation and ethnicisation of a simple act of courtesy.
Her words: “I was taken aback by all the buzz and flak something as simple as a polite greeting to one’s elder — not to mention the President — generated across the social media space, with all manner of innuendos and interpretations.
“Let’s just agree that many people just had the casual urge to create a giant mountain out of a mini molehill, so let’s let this one chill.”
She emphasized that the moment should be seen as a symbol of unity, not division.
Bianca also praised President Tinubu’s comportment at the Vatican ceremony, describing him as “dapper and debonair” in his power suit — a departure from his usual traditional attire.
“I found it amazing that President Tinubu effortlessly sat and stood through the entire mass, observing every rite as it should — sans partaking in Holy Communion — for close to three hours under that flaming sun, even declining a sun shield when we offered to search for one,” she wrote.
She added that the president took time to engage with young Nigerian priests and seminarians after the Mass, even taking selfies with many of them despite his aides suggesting he take a break.
“A Muslim being present at a historic mass in St Peter’s Basilica, home of the Catholic faith — a symbolic demonstration of the values of coexistence and a potent demonstration of the fact that religious differences do not necessarily lead to conflict,” she added.
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