The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from welcoming Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport.
Obi made the allegation in a statement issued on Monday, titled, “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria,” where he expressed concern over what he described as the growing politicisation of national affairs and the increasing intolerance of political differences.
According to the former Anambra State governor, he arrived at the Abuja airport around 7 am on Monday to catch a flight to Enugu when he encountered the Flamingos, who had just returned from Morocco after winning the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
He said he instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the players to congratulate them on their historic achievement.
However, he alleged that he was informed that NFF officials had declined his request and warned that he should not approach the team.
Obi described the incident as another disturbing example of how political differences were allegedly being allowed to interfere with ordinary national interactions.
He recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when he was allegedly prevented from greeting Nigerian players after the match.
He said although the state governor had earlier welcomed him at the VIP stand, officials subsequently stopped him from approaching the players, claiming they risked losing their jobs if they allowed him to do so.
Expressing disappointment over the incidents, Obi said Nigeria was increasingly being consumed by what he termed toxic politics, warning that the situation was undermining national unity and mutual respect.
He called for a country where political affiliations would not determine how citizens relate with one another, stressing the need to prioritise shared humanity, mutual respect and national cohesion.
The NFF had yet to publicly respond to Obi’s allegation as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday following their 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco, which secured Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.
The triumph also made Nigeria the first African country to win the competition.
