The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, at an airport.
Obi made the allegation in a post on his X account on Monday, describing the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.
According to the former Anambra State governor, he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos preparing to leave the airport for town.
He said he was excited to see the players and subsequently instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the team to congratulate and welcome them.
However, Obi claimed that his request was turned down by NFF officials, who allegedly expressed concerns that they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the players.
He said he was informed that the officials had specifically requested that he should not approach the team because of possible consequences for their positions.
Obi expressed disappointment over the development, describing it as an unfortunate situation in which political considerations appeared to have taken priority over sportsmanship and national unity.
The former governor also recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, when he attended a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He explained that although the state governor warmly welcomed him at the VIP section of the stadium, he was allegedly prevented from greeting the players after the match.
According to Obi, other government officials were allowed to approach and interact with the players, while he was denied the same opportunity.
Reacting to both incidents, the NDC presidential candidate said Nigeria should not allow political differences to create hostility, intimidation or discrimination among its citizens.
He maintained that the country must embrace an atmosphere where national interest, mutual respect and shared humanity take precedence over political affiliations.
Obi stressed that the Nigeria citizens aspire to build should provide room for unity and cooperation rather than allowing political disagreements to influence ordinary interactions, particularly in sporting activities that bring Nigerians together.
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