Reno Omokri: Tinubu Has Demonstrated Unprecedented Support for Nigeria’s Catholic Community
Reno Omokri: Tinubu Has Demonstrated Unprecedented Support for Nigeria’s Catholic Community
Former presidential aide and political commentator Reno Omokri has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as one of the strongest allies the Catholic community in Nigeria has had since the country’s independence, citing the President’s engagement with the global Catholic Church as evidence of his commitment to religious inclusion and peaceful coexistence.
In a statement shared on his social media platform, Omokri highlighted President Tinubu’s attendance at the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV on May 18, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City. According to him, Tinubu became the first Nigerian leader since independence in 1960 to personally attend the inauguration of a newly elected Pope.
He argued that the President’s presence at the historic event reflected his respect for the Catholic faithful in Nigeria and his commitment to strengthening relationships with the global Christian community.
Drawing from his own family history, Omokri explained that his ancestral home of Iwere (present-day Warri) has one of the oldest Catholic traditions in Nigeria. He noted that his ancestor, Olu Oyenakpagha, who was baptised as Antonio Domingos, was among the earliest traditional rulers in West Africa to embrace Roman Catholicism and formally request Catholic missionaries from the Vatican.
He further stated that the Catholic faith has existed in Iwere for more than four centuries and that St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, built in 1692, remains one of Nigeria’s oldest Catholic church buildings.
Based on this historical background, Omokri maintained that President Tinubu’s relationship with the Catholic Church represents a significant gesture of goodwill toward the Christian community.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has demonstrated a commitment to promoting religious harmony, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths.
Omokri concluded by expressing confidence that President Tinubu would continue to support policies that encourage religious tolerance, national unity, and inclusive governance, describing him as a leader who has extended a hand of friendship to the Catholic Church and the broader Christian community.
Source: Statement by Reno Omokri.
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