The Presidency has accused opposition politicians of attempting to politicise national sports teams and institutions following controversy over the alleged prevention of former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from meeting the victorious Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at an Abuja airport.
Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, made the remarks in a post on X while reacting to Obi’s account of the incident.
Obi had alleged that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stopped him from approaching the players, despite his intention to congratulate them following their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
However, Olusegun described attempts to use national sporting events for political purposes as distasteful, insisting that national athletes represent the entire country rather than any political party or individual.
“The constant attempt by the opposition to politicise our national sports teams and institutions is highly distasteful,” he wrote.
He said protocol guidelines governing national teams were designed to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions and unnecessary media attention while performing official duties.
“Our national athletes, including the Under-17 girls’ team, represent the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, not any specific political party or individual ambition,” he stated.
The presidential aide accused Obi of portraying what he described as standard security and administrative procedures as political victimisation, arguing that such narratives could undermine the unity that sporting achievements should promote.
“To spin standard security and administrative protocols into a narrative of political victimisation is a disservice to the unity that sports are meant to foster in our country,” he said.
Olusegun further urged the former governor to stop relying on what he described as unverified information to create a narrative of victimisation.
“Mr Peter Obi, I hope you will reflect on your manipulative way of life and stop weaponising unverified hearsay to build a victim narrative. Let our athletes focus on winning for Nigeria, free from political theatre. Thank you,” he added.
The reaction followed Obi’s earlier account of an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday morning.
The NDC presidential candidate said he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos preparing to leave the facility.
According to him, he instructed his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to approach the relevant officials to find out whether he could meet the players and congratulate them on their achievement.
Obi claimed that he was later informed that NFF officials had objected to the proposed meeting because they feared they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the team.
He described the incident as unfortunate, expressing concern that political divisions were increasingly affecting relationships among Nigerians.
The former Anambra governor also recalled a similar experience on March 25, 2025, when he visited Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a World Cup qualifying match.
He said that although the state governor welcomed him at the VIP stand, some government officials allegedly prevented him from greeting the players after the match for fear of losing their jobs.
“Regrettably, this is not the first time I have been subjected to such treatment,” Obi said.
He argued that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from interacting with one another, insisting that the country needed an atmosphere of mutual respect and national unity.
“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.
The controversy comes after the Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, November 7, 2026, to claim Nigeria’s first-ever title in the competition.
Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku secured the historic victory, making the Flamingos the first African team to win the tournament.
President Tinubu had earlier congratulated the team, describing the triumph as a landmark achievement for Nigeria and African women’s football.
In a statement issued on November 7 through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised the players for their determination, discipline and teamwork throughout the competition.
He also commended Bashiru and Umejiaku for scoring the decisive goals, while congratulating the coaching crew, the NFF and the National Sports Commission for their contributions.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots sports development and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians, particularly girls, to pursue careers in sports.
