The National Sports Commission (NSC) has refuted claims by Peter Obi that he was stopped from celebrating with the Flamingos, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Peter Obi had said he was prevented from meeting and celebrating with the victorious side because officials told his protocol lead that they could lose their jobs if they allowed him near.
In a statement, chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko said that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) who accompanied and received the team, reported that they did not see Obi near or around the players at the airport.
According to the officials, two individuals wearing Obi campaign face caps and other campaign attire came to them to request that the former Anambra governor meet and take photographs with the players.
The NSC said the proposed arrangement was also likely to involve campaign materials.
“The players had just arrived early that morning on an Air Maroc flight at about 5.30 a.m. and were tired after their journey and a demanding competition,” the statement reads.
“The officials exercised their judgment in declining the sudden meeting and photograph request at that time, taking account of the players’ welfare and the circumstances of the request and without any prior notice of any arrangement for airport reception for the team.
“Nothing in the account provided by the officials supports the suggestion that their jobs were at risk.”
Obi had said he was at the airport to board a flight to Enugu, which would normally depart from the domestic terminal, while the Flamingos flew into Nigeria through the international terminal.
Dikko stated that airport officials and passengers welcomed and celebrated the team without discrimination on grounds of political or other affiliations.
“This moment of joy and national pride was duly captured by the media present to cover the team’s arrival and Mr. Obi was never captured anywhere near the team and or at the vicinity of the international wing of the Airport,” he said.
The NSC chairman said the commission takes strong exception to Obi’s decision to present the incident as evidence of political intimidation without first seeking clarification from the NFF or the NSC
According to him, turning a request for an unscheduled interaction into a toxic narrative of political victimisation shifts attention from the players’ achievement to an individual political grievance.
“These young champions should not be drawn into that controversy and never deserved this from Mr. Obi,” he said.
He appealed to the NDC presidential candidate to reflect deeply and offer an unreserved apology to the players “for souring their moment of glory with his regrettable actions, subsequent statement and media interviews deliberately weaponising a non-issue for political gain”.
“Their welfare, dignity and protection from undue pressure must remain central to every engagement,” he stated.
“This responsibility includes managing access to the players and ensuring that interactions including planned photograph sessions are appropriate and within the regulations.”
He acknowledged Obi’s congratulatory messages during the closing stages of the competition but said such gestures were different from sustained engagement with the team’s preparation, welfare and development.
“Our national teams deserve consistent support from everyone through preparation, competition and setbacks, as well as when they return with trophies,” he said.
