The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at an airport on Monday.
Obi said the officials pleaded with him not to approach the players, warning that they could lose their jobs if he greeted the team.
The former Anambra State governor disclosed this in a statement on Monday, describing the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.
He said he encountered the team at the airport around 7 a.m. while preparing to board a flight to Enugu.
Obi said he subsequently asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and congratulate the players, but was informed that NFF officials had objected to the move.
According to him, the officials feared losing their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the team.
“This is a new dimension of toxic politics that Nigeria has developed since 2025,” he said.
Obi recalled a similar incident on March 25, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he attended a World Cup qualifying match.
He said although the governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, he was prevented from greeting the players after the match because officials reportedly feared losing their jobs.
The NDC presidential candidate expressed concern over what he described as the increasing politicisation of national activities, warning that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from interacting with one another.
He said the country needed to prioritise unity, mutual respect and shared humanity above political affiliations.
‘You have lifted the spirit of a nation,’ Akpabio hails Flamingos
“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation,” Obi said.
He added that national unity should take precedence over political differences, insisting that a new Nigeria was possible.
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