Flamingos: Presidency, Ahmad urge Obi to keep politics out of sports

The Presidency and former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, have urged former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to avoid politicising national sports following his allegation that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials prevented him from greeting members of the victorious Flamingos team at the Abuja airport.

The reactions came after Obi accused NFF officials of stopping him from approaching the Nigeria Under-17 women’s team, claiming they threatened to lose their jobs if they allowed him to greet the players.

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said national athletes represented the country rather than individual politicians or political interests.

In a statement on Monday, Olusegun said the Flamingos “represent the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, not any specific political party or individual ambition”.

He argued that protocol arrangements for national teams were intended to shield young athletes from political interference, commercial distractions and unnecessary media attention while on official duty.

Olusegun accused Obi of presenting routine security and administrative procedures as political victimisation.

“To spin standard security and administrative protocols into a narrative of political victimisation is a disservice to the unity that sport is meant to foster in our country,” he said.

The presidential aide also accused the opposition politician of relying on “unverified hearsay to build a victim narrative”, urging him to allow the players to concentrate on representing Nigeria.

Similarly, Ahmad, the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boy Movement, said the alleged restriction should not automatically be interpreted as political persecution.

“Protocol, security and administrative considerations must have been involved,” he said.

Ahmad urged Obi to approach the matter with facts and responsibility, stressing that the country was bigger than any politician or political party.

“A new Nigeria is possible, but not through perpetual political antagonism,” he added.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, had earlier described the incident as another example of what he called the growing culture of toxic politics in Nigeria.

In a statement titled A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said he arrived at the Abuja airport at about 7am on Monday to catch a flight to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos preparing to leave after returning from Morocco.

He said he instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could welcome the players but was informed that NFF officials had objected.

“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation had refused and had requested that I not approach,” Obi said.

He alleged that the officials warned they would lose their jobs if he proceeded to greet the team.

The former governor also recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to him, the state governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, but officials prevented him from greeting the players after the match.

“Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded,” he said.

Obi described the incidents as evidence of the country's worsening political divisions, saying the situation had deteriorated 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.

He called for a country where political differences would not translate into hostility or discrimination, urging Nigerians to prioritise “unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity”.

The NFF had yet to publicly respond to Obi's allegation as of the time of filing this report.

The Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday after defeating Japan 2-1 in Saturday's final in Morocco to win their first FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup title.

The triumph also made Nigeria the first African country to win the competition.