Nigeria: Peter Obi says he was kept from the Flamingos at the airport
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
Peter Obi, the NDC candidate in the 2027 presidential election, says officials of the Nigerian Football Federation barred him from greeting the Flamingos at the airport, for fear of losing their jobs. The women's U-17 team was returning from their world championship title, according to his statement published on X.
Peter Obi, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, says officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting the Flamingos, the national women's U17 team, at the airport on Monday. He recounted the incident in a statement published on his X account, reported by Business Day Nigeria.
The former presidential candidate explains that he arrived at the airport at 7am to catch a flight to Enugu when he spotted the team, back from their historic triumph at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup. He asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, whether he could greet and congratulate the players. "I was informed that NFF officials had refused and asked that I not approach them, because if I did, they would all lose their jobs," he said.
Peter Obi sees this episode as a further example of the growing politicisation of public institutions and national events. He recalls a precedent: on 25 March 2025, at a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, the governor of Akwa Ibom State had welcomed him in the VIP stand, but officials had prevented him from greeting the players after the match, citing the same fear of losing their jobs.
