Politics
By Anthony Isibor
PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has said officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team at the airport on Monday, pleading with him not to approach the players for fear of losing their jobs.
In a statement signed by Idris Zekeri, Obi had described the in a statement posted on his X account, as “a new dimension of toxic politics in Nigeria”.
According to Obi, he arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the Flamingos, who had just returned from their international campaign.
He said he instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players.
However, he was informed that NFF officials had refused his request and pleaded with him not to approach the team because they could lose their jobs if he did.
“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor recalled that a similar incident occurred on March 25, 2025, when he attended a World Cup qualifying match in Uyo.
He said although the governor warmly received him at the VIP stand, he was prevented from greeting the players after the match.
According to him, other government officials were allowed to interact with the players, while he was stopped on the grounds that the officials involved could lose their jobs.
Obi expressed concern over what he described as the growing influence of toxic politics in Nigeria since 2025.
He said the country needed to move beyond political divisions and build a society where citizens could interact freely, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“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. A new Nigeria is possible,” he said.
Obi is the presidential candidate of the NDC for the January 16, 2027 election.
A.I
Nov. 10, 2026
Tags: Idris Zekeri Jackie Wayas Peter Obi