Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has taken a jab at Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, following the circulation of a video that purportedly shows Obi being denied access at the inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican.
The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows Obi in conversation with Cardinal Francis Arinze and a Vatican security officer, while other dignitaries were observed entering the VVIP section of the venue. According to unconfirmed reports, the former Anambra State governor was allegedly stopped for not presenting the required official invitation pass.
Reacting via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Fani-Kayode mocked the incident, describing it as Obi being “beautifully bounced” until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly intervened.
“Despite Cardinal Arinze’s noble efforts, it appears that @PeterObi was not allowed in to see the Pope. He was beautifully bounced until @officialABAT put in a word for him and he was later allowed in to pay homage,” Fani-Kayode wrote.
He further claimed that even after the alleged intervention, Obi was still kept at a distance from the Pope and ended up paying homage to President Tinubu instead.
“Obidients take note: only go where you are accepted and appreciated and not where you are tolerated,” he added.
As of press time, Obi has not issued a formal response to the incident or the claims made by Fani-Kayode. Vatican authorities have also not commented on the viral footage.
The video has sparked mixed reactions online, with some critics accusing Fani-Kayode of politicizing a diplomatic event, while supporters of Obi argue that the narrative being pushed lacks official verification.
