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Peter Obi alleged that NFF officials prevented him from greeting the victorious Flamingos players at the Abuja airport on Monday, despite his desire to congratulate the team following their historic U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph.
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The former Anambra State governor revealed that he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to catch a flight to Enugu when he spotted the Flamingos contingent preparing to leave and asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to arrange a meeting with the players.
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Obi claimed that his protocol officer informed him that NFF officials had refused his request, allegedly warning that the players and officials could lose their jobs if they allowed him to approach the team.
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Recalling a similar incident during Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in Uyo in March 2025, Obi condemned what he described as the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria, insisting that the country should embrace unity, mutual respect and freedom from political discrimination.
November 9, (THEWILL) – The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has alleged that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting members of the national Under-17 women’s football team at the Abuja airport.
THEWILL recalls that the victorious Flamingos contingent arrived in Nigeria on Monday following the historic 2-1 win over Japan on Saturday to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy for the first time.
Obi made the allegation in a statement released on Monday titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria” while criticising the decision not to allow him to greet the girls.
The former Anambra Governor said he arrived at the airport at about 7 a.m. on Monday to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the team preparing to leave the airport.
Subsequently, Obi revealed that he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet and welcome the players but was told that the NFF officials had refused his request.
He wrote: “With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. 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.”
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Obi recounted a similar experience on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when the governor had welcomed him at the VIP stand, but he was later stopped from greeting the players after the match while other government officials were allowed to greet the players.
Obi described the incidents as an example of the growing culture of “toxic politics” in Nigeria.
He added: “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. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected.
“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.”
THEWILL also recalls that Obi congratulated the Flamingos on social media on Saturday night following their victory in the final.
