The reactions followed Obi’s account of an incident at an airport on Monday, where he claimed that NFF officials stopped him from approaching the players, allegedly warning that they could lose their jobs if he was allowed to greet the team.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, accused opposition figures of attempting to politicise national sports teams and institutions.
Olusegun maintained that national athletes, including the Flamingos, represented all Nigerians rather than any political party or individual political interest.
He said established protocols governing national teams were intended to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions and unnecessary media attention while carrying out official duties.
The presidential aide described Obi’s account as an attempt to portray 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,” Olusegun said.
He further accused the former Anambra State governor of relying on unverified information to create a narrative of victimisation, urging him to allow the players to concentrate on their responsibility of representing Nigeria.
Similarly, Ahmad, the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boy Movement, rejected Obi’s description of the incident as another example of toxic politics in the country.
In his statement, Ahmad argued that being denied access to greet the players did not automatically amount to political persecution.
“Protocol, security and administrative considerations must have been involved,” he said.
Ahmad urged Obi to exercise restraint and prioritise facts and responsibility when commenting on public issues. He also stressed that the country’s collective interest should take precedence over individual and partisan considerations.
“A new Nigeria is possible, but not through perpetual political antagonism,” he added.
Obi had earlier explained that he encountered the Flamingos at the airport on Monday while preparing to board a flight to Enugu. According to him, the players had just arrived in the country and were preparing to board a vehicle when he noticed them.
He said he subsequently asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet the team.
However, Obi claimed that he was informed that NFF officials had objected to the proposed interaction and allegedly threatened that those responsible could lose their jobs if he approached the players.
The incident has generated reactions, with the Presidency and Ahmad defending the importance of established protocols around national teams, while Obi’s account has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the alleged restriction.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Football Federation had not publicly responded to Obi’s allegation.
