Peter Obi Accuses NFF Officials of Blocking Him From Greeting Victorious Flamingos at Abuja Airport

Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from meeting and congratulating Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s 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 influence of political rivalry and intolerance in the country.

The former presidential candidate said he arrived at the Abuja airport around 7am on Monday ahead of his 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 seek permission for him to greet and welcome the players.

However, Obi claimed he was informed that NFF officials had rejected the request and asked that he should not approach the team. “I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation had refused and had requested that I not approach,” he stated.

He further alleged that the airport incident was not the first time he had been prevented from interacting with Nigerian footballers. Recalling a similar experience on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Obi said he was stopped from greeting players after the match despite being welcomed by the state governor at the VIP stand.

According to him, other government officials were allowed to meet the players, while those who stopped him claimed they could lose their jobs if they permitted him to proceed. Obi described both experiences as examples of what he called the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.

He lamented what he considered a decline in political tolerance since 2025, arguing that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from sharing public spaces or celebrating national achievements together. He called for greater unity, mutual respect and recognition of the country’s shared identity above party affiliations.

Meanwhile, the NFF had not publicly responded to Obi’s allegation as of the time of filing this report. The Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday following their historic 2-1 victory over Japan in Saturday’s final in Morocco, securing Nigeria’s first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title and making the country the first African nation to win the competition.