Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation of preventing him from congratulating the country’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, following their historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup victory.
Obi described the incident as a manifestation of what he called the growing culture of “toxic politics” in Nigeria, alleging that the officials warned they could lose their jobs if he was allowed to interact with the players.
The former Anambra State governor, in a statement shared on his X handle, @PeterObi, on Monday, said he encountered the team at the airport around 7am while preparing to board a flight to Enugu.
He said the players had just arrived in the country and were preparing to leave the airport.
According to Obi, he was excited to see the young footballers and asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could welcome them. However, he said he was informed that NFF officials had declined the request because of possible consequences for their jobs.
“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs,” Obi said.
He recalled a similar incident on March 25, 2025, when he travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Obi said the state governor had warmly received him at the VIP stand, but he was subsequently prevented from greeting the players after the match.
The politician said government officials were allowed to approach the players, while he was allegedly stopped on the grounds that those involved could lose their jobs if he proceeded.
Expressing concern over what he described as the worsening political climate, Obi said the situation reflected the extent to which partisan divisions had affected national life.
“It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration,” he said.
Obi urged Nigerians to embrace a political culture that prioritises unity and mutual respect over party affiliations, insisting that political differences should not lead to hostility or discrimination.
“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 added.
The Flamingos returned to Nigeria on Monday after defeating Japan 2-1 in the final of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday.
The victory made Nigeria the first African country to win the competition, marking a historic achievement for the nation’s women’s football and youth sports development.
Obi had earlier congratulated the team on their triumph, praising their resilience, talent and dedication, and describing their success as a source of pride for the country.
He concluded his Monday statement with his familiar declaration, “A new Nigeria is possible.”
