Peter Obi accuses NFF officials of blocking him from greeting U-17 girls’ team
Abdullateef Fowewe
Former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting the national Under-17 girls’ football team at the airport, describing the incident as evidence of a “new dimension of toxic politics” in the country.
In a statement on Monday, Obi said he arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he spotted the team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town.
“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,” he wrote.
Obi noted that this was not the first such experience.
He recalled a similar incident on March 25, 2025, in Uyo during a World Cup qualifier. Although the state governor warmly received him at the VIP stand, he was later stopped from greeting the players after the match.
“I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” Obi stated.
He expressed concern over what he described as the deepening political hostility in Nigeria since 2025.
“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 called for a different national approach.
“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.
