President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, after attending the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in Rome.
Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday evening, where he was received by top government officials including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume. Also present at the airport to welcome the President was the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
During his visit to Rome, President Tinubu described the occasion as historic, noting the significance of being the Nigerian President at the inauguration of the new Pope. He used the opportunity to emphasize the importance of national unity through diversity.
“If we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress,” Tinubu stated during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Rome.
The President also hosted the bishops, urging leaders at all levels to prioritize the welfare of citizens and work towards national development.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, who is the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, expressed gratitude to Tinubu for facilitating the bishops’ trip to attend both the burial of Pope Francis and the installation of Pope Leo XIV.
“You are always there for us. Now that you have come to the Vatican, whenever we have our conference in Nigeria, we will also invite you,” Ugorji said.
Other notable clerics present at the meeting included Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.