The Presidency has faulted the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, over his claim that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation stopped him from greeting members of the national Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos. The clash followed Obi’s account of the incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday, where he said he was prevented from approaching the players by NFF officials, who reportedly warned that they could lose their jobs if he greeted the team. In a statement released on Monday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, accused the opposition of attempting to politicise national sports teams and institutions. He said the national athletes, including the Flamingos, “represent the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, not any specific political party or individual ambition.” Olusegun said protocol guidelines for national teams were designed to protect young athletes from “political exploitation, commercial distractions, and unnecessary media circuses while on official duty.” He described Obi’s account as an attempt to turn standard security and administrative procedures into a case of political victimisation. “To spin standard security and administrative protocols into a narrative of political victimisation is a disservice to the unity that sport is meant to foster in our country,” he said. The presidential aide also accused Obi of using “unverified hearsay to build a victim narrative”, urging him to allow athletes to focus on representing the country. Similarly, Bashir Ahmad, the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boy Movement, disagreed with Obi’s description of the incident as a new dimension of toxic politics. In a statement, Ahmad said being denied access to greet the team did not automatically amount to political persecution. “Protocol, security and administrative considerations must have been involved,” he said. He urged the former Anambra State governor to prioritise facts and responsibility, adding that Nigeria was bigger than any individual or political party. “A new Nigeria is possible, but not through perpetual political antagonism,” Ahmad added. However, Obi said he arrived at the airport around 7am on Monday to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos preparing to board a vehicle after arriving in the country in the early hours of Monday following their triumph at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. “I arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. this morning to board my flight to Enugu. There, I saw the Nigeria Under-17 girls’ team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town,” he said. “With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs.” The former Anambra governor said the incident was not the first time he had been prevented from interacting with Nigerian footballers, recalling a similar experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on March 25, 2025. “Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” he said. Obi described the development as a sign of worsening political intolerance in the country, alleging that Nigeria had witnessed a growing culture of hostility since 2015. “It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected,” he said. He called for an end to political bitterness and discrimination, insisting that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from celebrating the country’s sporting achievements. “The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation,” he said. “It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences.” The NFF had not publicly commented on Obi’s account as of the time of filing this report.
