Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from meeting Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The team arrived in Nigeria in the early hours of Monday following its triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, Obi said he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the players and their officials preparing to leave the airport.
He said he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and congratulate the team but was informed that NFF officials had objected to the meeting.
According to Obi, the officials reportedly feared they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to approach the players.
He described the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of political intolerance in Nigeria.
Obi also recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, when he attended a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He said that although the state governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, he was prevented from greeting the players after the match because officials allegedly feared professional consequences.
The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over what he described as a worsening culture of political hostility, arguing that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from celebrating national achievements.
He called for a political environment that promotes mutual respect and national unity, irrespective of party affiliation.
Obi said Nigeria should be a country where citizens can interact freely without intimidation or discrimination based on their political associations.
He added that national interest and shared values should take priority over political differences.
