Peter Obi, Presidency Clash Over Alleged NFF Ban On Greeting Flamingos
Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at Abuja airport.
Obi alleged that the officials rejected his request to approach the players because they feared losing their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the team.
The politician disclosed this in a statement published on his official X account on Monday, November 9, describing the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of political intolerance in Nigeria.
According to Obi, he arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he spotted the Flamingos, who had just returned to Nigeria after winning the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
He said he subsequently instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the players to congratulate and welcome them.
However, Obi claimed he was informed that NFF officials had rejected the request and warned that they would lose their jobs if he was allowed to greet the team.
The former Anambra governor expressed disappointment over the development, arguing that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from celebrating the achievements of their compatriots.
He also recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, when he travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to watch Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
Obi said he was received by the state governor and welcomed at the VIP stand before the match but was subsequently prevented from greeting the players after the game, despite other government officials being allowed to interact with them.
According to him, officials again cited fears of losing their jobs as the reason for preventing him from approaching the players.
Obi described the alleged incidents as evidence of what he considered an increasingly hostile political environment, calling for a Nigeria where political affiliations would not determine how citizens relate with one another.
Presidency responds
However, the Presidency has faulted Obi’s interpretation of the airport incident, accusing him of attempting to politicise the country’s national sports teams.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the Flamingos represented the entire country rather than any political party or individual.
Olusegun argued that administrative and protocol arrangements surrounding national teams were designed to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions and unnecessary media attention while on official assignments.
He described Obi’s account as an attempt to turn what he considered standard security and administrative procedures into a narrative of political victimisation.
The presidential aide also questioned the basis of Obi’s allegation, describing it as unverified hearsay.
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad similarly disagreed with Obi’s characterisation of the incident, arguing that being prevented from greeting the players did not automatically amount to political persecution.
Ahmad maintained that protocol, security and administrative considerations could have informed the decision.
Flamingos make history
The controversy followed the Flamingos’ historic achievement at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Nigeria defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Rabat, with goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku securing the country’s first title in the competition.
The victory also made Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The team returned to Abuja on Monday following the triumph, attracting congratulations from Nigerians and football stakeholders.
As of the time of this report, the NFF had not publicly addressed Obi’s specific allegation.
