The Presidency and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad have challenged Peter Obi’s account of an airport encounter with Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, insisting that security and administrative procedures should not be interpreted as political persecution.
Titiansloaded reports that Obi had alleged that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting the players when he encountered them at an airport on Monday.
According to him, the officials warned that they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to approach the team.
Reacting in a statement, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, accused opposition politicians of attempting to bring political divisions into national sports activities.
Olusegun argued that the Flamingos and other national teams represent Nigeria as a whole, rather than any political party or individual.
He explained that protocols governing national teams were intended to shield young athletes from political interference, commercial distractions and unnecessary media attention while carrying out official assignments.
The presidential aide dismissed Obi’s interpretation of the incident, describing it as an attempt to portray routine security and administrative arrangements as political victimisation.
He also accused the former Anambra State governor of relying on unverified information to present himself as a victim, urging politicians to allow the players to concentrate on their national duties.
Ahmad, who serves as the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boy Movement, also criticised Obi’s description of the encounter as another example of toxic politics.
He maintained that the refusal to grant access to the team did not necessarily establish that the decision was politically motivated.
“Protocol, security and administrative considerations must have been involved,” Ahmad said.
He urged Obi to approach the matter with greater attention to facts and responsibility, stressing that national interests should take precedence over individual or party ambitions.
Obi had explained that he was at the airport on Monday, preparing to travel to Enugu, when he noticed the Flamingos arriving and getting ready to board a vehicle.
He said he instructed his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to enquire whether he could greet the players but was subsequently informed that NFF officials had objected.
According to Obi, the officials feared losing their positions if they permitted him to meet the team.
The NFF had not issued a public response to Obi’s account as of the time this report was filed.
