Seyi Tinubu Slammed by Reno Omokri Over ‘Fake’ Vatican Snub Claim

Seyi Tinubu Slammed by Reno Omokri Over ‘Fake’ Vatican Snub Claim

Seyi Tinubu didn’t face any Vatican snub, says Reno Omokri — and he’s not holding back. The former presidential aide launched a fiery defence after reports claimed that the president’s son was blocked by Vatican security during Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration.

The story, first reported by Daily Trust, alleged that Seyi Tinubu was prevented from greeting the Pope as his father, President Bola Tinubu, exchanged pleasantries with the Catholic leader. But Reno Omokri says that’s simply not true — and he’s got the footage to prove it.

Omokri, known for his outspokenness on social media, took to Twitter to call out the report as “dishonest” and “regionally biased.” According to him, there was no attempt by Seyi to approach the Pope. Instead, Vatican security merely directed the president’s son along another path after his father completed the greeting.

“There was never any moment Seyi tried to go to the Pope,” Omokri said. “Anyone who watches the video on my page or speaks with eyewitnesses knows that.”

The former aide didn’t stop there. He accused the news outlet of deliberately pushing a narrative that targets Southern leaders and their families. “This is the same media platform that once claimed the SAMOA agreement signed by the Tinubu administration was an LGBTQ pact,” Omokri said, “and they had to retract it.”

He believes the aim of such stories is to damage reputations under the guise of investigative reporting. In his view, it’s less about truth and more about clicks — and regionally tilted agendas.

Seyi Tinubu, who joined his father as part of the presidential delegation to Rome, became the centre of unwanted media attention after the Vatican visit. But Omokri insists his presence was normal. He pointed to international examples, such as Chelsea Clinton accompanying her father, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, or Sir Mark Thatcher, who often appeared beside his mother, Margaret Thatcher, during her tenure as UK Prime Minister.

“Presidents’ children travel with them around the world. This isn’t news. It’s normal practice,” Omokri argued.

At the heart of his response was a plea for responsible journalism — and an end to what he sees as harmful stereotypes. “They publish, then apologise. But by then, the damage is done,” he said, warning that continuous false narratives only sow deeper divisions across regions.

The report from Daily Trust had quickly gone viral, stoking debates online. But Omokri’s rebuttal drew support from several eyewitnesses who attended the event and confirmed that there was no incident involving Seyi being blocked.

The Pope’s inauguration was meant to be a moment of unity and global faith, drawing leaders and dignitaries from various nations. But for Nigeria, the spotlight shifted quickly from religion to politics. And at the centre of it all was a young man who, according to Omokri, didn’t ask for this attention.

“He stood there quietly. He followed protocol. And suddenly, he’s the headline for all the wrong reasons,” said one online commenter who claimed to have attended the event.

Omokri’s tone was firm but emotional — a call for fairness in reporting, and a defense of a young man who was just part of his father’s official entourage. “We shouldn’t destroy people’s children in the name of press freedom,” he said.

Although Seyi Tinubu has not spoken publicly about the report, his defender’s words are spreading fast. Reno Omokri, never shy about confronting misinformation, has now placed the media house in the hot seat, once again raising questions about how Nigerian news outlets handle political coverage, especially when it concerns Southern leaders.

The Vatican has not released any official statement on the claim. But with video evidence circulating and testimonies pouring in, the tide seems to be turning against the initial report.

While the Pope continues his work as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, the events in Rome have sparked a very different conversation in Nigeria — one about truth, bias, and the consequences of careless reporting.

And for Seyi Tinubu, what was supposed to be a quiet role in a historic moment has become the latest example of how quickly narratives can spiral in the digital age.