NSC Faults Peter Obi's Account of Flamingos Airport Incident, Demands Apology

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has disputed Peter Obi's account of an alleged attempt to meet Nigeria's victorious Under-17 women's football team, the Flamingos, at Abuja airport. NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, stated that Obi was not seen around the players and that the request for him to meet and take photographs with them was made by two individuals wearing Obi's campaign attire.

According to Dikko, the two individuals approached NSC and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials, requesting that Obi interact and take photographs with the team, possibly involving campaign materials. The officials declined, citing the players' exhaustion after their journey and participation in the competition, and the lack of prior notice for a special airport reception.

Obi had accused NFF officials of preventing him from congratulating and welcoming the Flamingos, who returned to Nigeria after their 2-1 victory over Japan in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final. He claimed he was at the airport to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the team and instructed his Protocol Officer to enquire about greeting the players, but was allegedly rebuffed.

However, Dikko disputed Obi's account, noting that the former governor's explanation of his presence at the airport did not align with the location where the Flamingos arrived. Obi had said he was at the domestic terminal, while the team arrived through the international terminal. Dikko also stated that Obi was not captured among those who welcomed the players.

The NSC chairman criticised Obi for portraying the incident as political victimisation without seeking clarification from the NSC or NFF. He argued that the controversy had shifted attention from the players' achievement to a political disagreement. Dikko urged Obi to apologise to the players, accusing him of using their moment of glory to advance a political narrative.

Dikko defended the officials' decision, stressing that the Flamingos were minors whose welfare and protection must take precedence over requests for political interactions and publicity. He highlighted the extensive preparations behind the team's World Cup success, including over seven months of training, qualifiers, and the WAFU tournament.

The NSC chairman invited Obi and other Nigerians interested in meeting or hosting the players to channel their requests formally through the NSC or NFF to enable the authorities to make appropriate arrangements. He also called for sustained support for Nigeria's national teams, rather than attention focused solely on their achievements.

Key points

• The NSC demands an unreserved apology from Peter Obi for politicising the Flamingos' World Cup triumph.
• Obi's account of the airport incident is disputed by the NSC, which claims he was not seen around the players.
• The controversy has shifted attention from the players' historic achievement to a political disagreement.