Peter whines over NFF refusal to allow access to victorious Flamingos girls

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, at an airport.

Obi said the incident occurred on Monday morning when he arrived at the airport at about 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu and spotted the team preparing to leave for town after their arrival.

In a statement, he said he instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players but was informed that NFF officials had objected to his approach.

According to him, the officials reportedly warned that they would lose their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the team.

Obi said the incident was not the first time he had experienced such treatment, recalling a similar occurrence on March 25, 2025, during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

He said although the governor warmly welcomed him at the VIP stand, he was prevented from greeting the players after the match, with officials allegedly giving the same reason that they could lose their jobs.

“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation. It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences,” he said.

He described the incidents as evidence of how deeply political divisions had affected the country since 2025, warning against allowing political affiliations to undermine national unity and mutual respect.