Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has publicly accused former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi of fabricating details about his recent visit to the Vatican.
The controversy erupted after Obi shared a statement about his return from the Vatican, where he attended Pope Leo XIV's inauguration ceremony. In his statement, Obi mentioned he did not attend the Papal Audience and therefore did not meet the Pope personally, explaining that "That honour was reserved for heads of state and accredited diplomats."
Responding to Obi's statement, Omokri strongly contested this account, describing it as "a blatant lie" manufactured to "cover your embarrassment at being a Papal Knight who could not even see the Pope."
Allegations of an Uninvited Appearance
According to Omokri, Obi attended the Vatican event without an invitation and attempted to access the VVIP section with assistance from Cardinal Arinze but was denied entry. Omokri claimed Obi's true intention was to secure a photograph with Pope Leo XIV to share with his supporters.
"The truth is that during his inaugural mass on Sunday, May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV met with not one or two but many ordinary people who were neither heads of state nor accredited diplomats," Omokri stated. "The difference between you and them is that they were invited, while you were not."
Omokri further alleged that the Vatican had concerns that Obi would politicize any meeting with the Pope, fears he claims were "vindicated" as Obi "returned to Nigeria to politicise the Pope's message and use it against the Tinubu administration."
Obi's Original Statement
In his initial post, Obi had described his Vatican visit as "deeply solemn and reflective" and emphasized that his participation was consistent with his previous attendance at inaugurations and official ceremonies worldwide. He stressed that the event "was never a political event and should remain untouched by politics."
Obi also highlighted the Pope's call to fight poverty and promote brotherhood across ethnic, political, and religious boundaries, adding that the fight against corruption is "the essential first step toward building societies where resources are directed to what truly matters."
As of the time of reporting, Peter Obi has not publicly responded to Reno Omokri's allegations regarding his Vatican visit.
