Obi Says NFF Officials Barred Him From Greeting Flamingos

Peter Obi said Nigeria Football Federation officials prevented him from greeting the Flamingos at Abuja airport on Monday, an allegation the Presidency and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad disputed as evidence of political persecution.

Obi said he was at the airport to board a flight to Enugu when he saw the national under-17 women’s team returning from Morocco. He said he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to seek permission for him to greet the players, but was told NFF officials had refused and requested that he not approach them. Obi said he was also told the officials feared losing their jobs if he proceeded.

The account of what happened was relayed by Obi through his protocol officer. The NFF had not publicly responded to the allegation at the time of the reports, and the circumstances of the exchange were not independently confirmed.

Presidential aide Dada Olusegun said national-team protocols were intended to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions and media disruption while on official duty. He accused Obi of portraying security and administrative procedures as political victimisation and said national athletes represented...