The Presidency and prominent political figures have strongly criticized Peter Obi following his public claims that officials from the Nigeria Football Federation barred him from greeting the national under-17 women football team, the Flamingos, at an airport.
The controversy began when Obi shared an encounter he experienced while at the airport to catch a flight to Enugu. Upon noticing the youth team preparing to board transport following their arrival, he stated that he instructed his protocol officer to check if he could approach and congratulate the players. According to Obi, the request was rejected because football federation officials allegedly feared professional repercussions or job loss if they allowed him to interact with the athletes. He characterized the restriction as an unfortunate display of toxic politics and unnecessary division.
In response, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media strongly condemned the opposition's reaction, accusing them of trying to politicize national sports institutions. He emphasized that national athletes belong to the entire federation rather than any specific political camp or individual ambition. According to the presidential aide, standard administrative and security procedures exist specifically to shield young athletes from commercial distractions, political exploitation, and media circuses while executing official national duties. He argued that transforming routine security protocols into a narrative of political victimisation undermines the unifying power of sports and relies on unverified claims.
Similarly, the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response for the City Boy Movement dismissed the narrative that the incident amounted to political persecution. He maintained that security, administrative protocols, and logistical frameworks must have dictated the movement of the team. He called for greater responsibility and factual accuracy from political leaders, stressing that national interests and unity supersede individual ambitions or partisan friction.
As of the reporting time, the Nigeria Football Federation has not issued an official response regarding the airport incident.