Former Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of the country’s Under-17 women’s team at an airport, allegedly over fears of political repercussions.
Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for the 2027 presidential election, said the incident reflected what he described as a growing culture of political intolerance in Nigeria, where perceived political affiliations influence even routine public interactions.
In a statement issued on Monday, the former Anambra State governor recounted encountering the young footballers at the airport while preparing to travel to Enugu.
He said he arrived at approximately 7 a.m. and noticed the team had just landed and was preparing to leave.
Wishing to congratulate and welcome the players, Obi instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could approach the team.
However, he alleged that NFF officials declined the request because they feared allowing him to interact with the players could jeopardise their positions.
According to Obi, the officials were concerned about possible professional consequences if they were seen facilitating an encounter with him.
The politician said the incident illustrated how political divisions had extended into public institutions and interactions involving national sporting teams.
Obi recalls similar incident involving Nigeria’s national team
Obi also recounted a similar experience in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifying match.
He said that although the state governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, he was later prevented from greeting the players after the match.
According to Obi, government officials stopped him from approaching the team, citing concerns that they could lose their jobs if they permitted the interaction.
Drawing parallels between the two incidents, the former presidential candidate expressed concern that public officials were increasingly reluctant to engage with individuals perceived to belong to opposing political camps.
He warned that political intolerance was worsening in Nigeria and could affect areas beyond politics, including sports.
Obi argued that national teams should remain above partisan divisions and that interactions with the country’s athletes should not become a source of political tension.
