President Bola Tinubu, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and ex-Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi had a brief but notable interaction at the Vatican on Sunday during the installation mass of Pope Leo XIV.

The moment, which sparked social media reactions after it was shared by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, occurred during the high-profile religious event attended by global dignitaries.

According to Onanuga’s post on X, Fayemi first noticed Tinubu seated among other international leaders and encouraged Obi to accompany him in greeting the Nigerian President.

“Fayemi sighted President Tinubu, where he sat with other leaders and asked Obi to follow him to pay homage to the Nigerian leader. Obi agreed,” he wrote.

As they approached, Fayemi made a friendly remark to lighten the moment, saying, “Mr. President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence.”

In response, Tinubu offered a playful comeback: “I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the head of the Nigerian delegation.”

Obi joined in the exchange with a chuckle, replying, “Yes, indeed. We are members of your delegation.”

The scene carried symbolic weight given the intense rivalry between Tinubu and Obi during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, which ended in Tinubu’s victory under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Both Obi and Fayemi are devout Catholics and hold the distinction of being Papal Knights, an honour awarded by the Vatican to members recognized for their service to the Church.

Veteran politician and elder statesman Alhaji Tanko Yakasai has stated that, as things stand, President Bola Tinubu faces no significant challenger ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In an interview granted to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, Yakasai addressed speculation regarding northern support for a future candidate. He emphasized that no official decision has been taken by the region’s leadership.

“I haven’t heard anybody making any proposition about the 2027 presidential election from Arewa Consultative Forum,” he said.

“What is tagged the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders Forum’s position is mere individual opinions, because all sections of the north have not taken a stand on this.”

According to Yakasai, discussions surrounding a consensus northern candidate are currently premature, as there has been no collective meeting or endorsement from northern leaders.

Commenting on Tinubu’s political strength, he noted that the president remains a dominant figure in the Nigerian political space.

“In Nigeria today, Bola Tinubu is the president. He has his ministers and governors who are backing him,” he said.

“Who else has all what it takes to move into the contest with the kind of stamina and strength to be more successful comparatively with Tinubu?”

Yakasai added that even some governors from opposition parties are aligned with Tinubu, a factor he believes could influence the political landscape in 2027.

“We should all wait and see if the picture will change drastically, otherwise for now, the odds are in his (Tinubu’s) favour because I have not seen anything that will prevent him from winning the next election,” he added.

He dismissed concerns that Tinubu might be losing ground in the north.

“He hasn’t done anything against the north in my understanding and the north alone cannot decide who becomes the president of the country,” Yakasai said.

He also pointed to internal issues within opposition parties, saying their internal conflicts have weakened them and diminished their chances in the next general election.

Looking beyond electoral strategy, Yakasai called on politicians to prioritize ideology and national vision over personal ambition.

“Our politicians should see politics as a dynamic game and what I will advise is for them to play the game on the basis of ideology and programmes,” he said.

“Let them envision the way they want the country to be and not targeting to be ministers, governors and president.”

Yakasai also cautioned against the use of ethnic and religious politics, which he said has hindered Nigeria’s growth.

“After becoming all these and nothing is done in the interest of the country, we will not get better.”

“They should eschew politics of ethnicity and religion because not making our country the focal point of our politics has held us down for so long,” he said.

Nearing his 100th birthday this December, Yakasai attributed his longevity to both divine grace and family genes.

“My children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are more than 80 and still expanding. I give glory to God for these,” he said, adding that his father lived to 107 years, while his mother was close to 100.

Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, a former Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly, has officially parted ways with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a resignation letter addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ezeugwu cited growing discontent with the party’s internal dynamics as his reason for leaving.

He pointed specifically to developments leading up to the 2023 general elections, expressing dismay at the direction the party had taken.

According to him, “merit was frequently sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity and deceit.”

Reflecting on his decision, Ezeugwu stated, “I thank God for giving me the wisdom to reject a gift of a Trojan Horse then. I was slated to have been economically grounded and politically ridiculed but they forgot that my name is IKECHUKWU.”

He further emphasized the importance of integrity in politics, saying, “For me, trust is a fundamental aspect of any relationship and without it, relationships can become challenging to maintain.”

Hon. Ezeugwu represented his constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly from 2011 until 2023 and held the position of Assembly Leader between 2015 and 2023.

Governor Yusuf And Sen. Kwankwaso,

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has suspended Ibrahim Rabi’u, a Senior Special Reporter (SSR) assigned to the Ministry of Transportation, for making what officials called “unguarded” remarks about Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The suspension, announced Saturday by Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, takes immediate effect.

In addition, the aide is to receive a formal query over the comments described as inflammatory.

A statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the administration “has distanced itself from the purported claim,” stressing that the remarks were “solely coming from the author for reasons best known to him.”

The release also reminded officials that “only the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Wayya, is authorized to speak on behalf of the government, while the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature, speaks for the governor.”

It cautioned all political appointees against making “unauthorized comments, especially outside their jurisdiction,” adding, “Any political appointee must get clearance before making public comments on issues that have to do with the position of the government on matters of public importance or of sensitive political decisions.”

North-West leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have thrown their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their choice for the 2027 presidential race, issuing a vote of confidence after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna on Saturday.

Present were all seven governors from the zone, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Senate President, former governors, the APC national chairman, state party chairmen, federal and state lawmakers, ministers, agency heads and other senior appointees.

Reading the communiqué, APC North-West Coordinating Governor Senator Uba Sani said the zone “reaffirmed its loyalty to the APC and pledged full support for President Tinubu’s vision to deliver prosperity, equity, and lasting change for all Nigerians.”

“We thank and commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his purposeful leadership, bold reforms, and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress, especially in the North West zone,” he declared.

“Under President Tinubu, security in the North West has significantly improved, enabling farmers to return to their fields and communities to regain peace and stability.”

The communiqué added that the region now enjoys “unprecedented federal representation with 12 ministers, key National Assembly positions, and top security appointments, a clear sign of inclusiveness and recognition.”

It also cited “major infrastructure projects… being completed or underway across the North West, marking a new era of development.”

The gathering concluded that “APC continues to grow in strength, unity, and national appeal, due to Nigerians’ appreciation of the President and our APC governors.”