Victor EzejaThe 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to focus on the message of the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, during his inauguration on Sunday at the Vatican in Rome, not engaging in unnecessary political gestures.
The pope, whose installation ceremony took place on Sunday, 18 May 2025, called for world peace, unity and concerted effort in fighting poverty.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa reports that key political figures from Nigeria, including President Bola Tinubu, former Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, Peter Obi, and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, attended the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
Responding to his critics online who asked why he was not pictured having an audience with the Pope as President Tinubu did, Obi, who is a Papal Knight clarified that he only attended the inauguration ceremony as he had done in the past and did not have the opportunity of meeting the pope personally as such honour was reserved for heads of state and accredited diplomats.
He pointed out that the event has deep moral and spiritual significance and should not be tainted with politics.
“This was never a political event and should remain untouched by politics. Some moments are best reserved for quiet contemplation,” Obi stated via his X handle.
“After the inaugural Mass, I did not attend the Papal Audience and therefore did not have the opportunity to meet the Holy Father personally. That honour was reserved for heads of state and accredited diplomats.
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“For those who desire such an encounter, the Papal Audience continues traditionally,” he added.
Obi cautioned that attention should be on the content of the pope’s message during the mass “particularly his urgent call to fight poverty and promote a spirit of brotherhood that transcends ethnic, political, and religious boundaries.
“The deeper meaning of the gathering lies not in ceremonial gestures, but in whether those present internalised his message and will return with the resolve to act.”
He emphasised that the concern of the people should be on taking the message home and taking steps to tackle corruption and building a society that prioritises investment in education, healthcare and economic empowerment to bring the citizens out of poverty.
“The fight against corruption is the essential first step toward building societies where resources are directed to what truly matters – education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure.
“These should be our major concern and the lasting message we carry home from the Vatican. May we, in whatever station we occupy, rise to the task of building a more just, compassionate, and prosperous nation,” Obi further stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
