Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has accused Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi of hypocrisy regarding a recent encounter with the Flamingos, Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team. The dispute centers on Obi’s allegation that officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prevented him from greeting the players upon their return to the country.
In a post on the X platform on Monday, Keyamo questioned why Obi was eager to associate with what he described as a success story of the country and the current administration, despite the candidate’s frequent criticisms of the nation. Keyamo suggested that Obi’s primary intention was to seek publicity through photographs with the victorious players.
“Mr Peter Obi, in all your public vituperations, you often say things akin to the fact that ‘Nigeria is finished’. So, why are you now so anxious to associate with a success story of the country or this government? Just for photo ops? You see the hypocrisy?”
Obi had earlier claimed that NFF officials stopped him from greeting the Flamingos at the airport on Monday, stating that the officials feared losing their jobs if they allowed him to approach the players. The former Anambra State governor said he arrived at the airport around 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu when he sighted the team, which had just returned to the country.
Obi stated that he asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to inquire whether he could welcome the players, but was informed that NFF officials had rejected the request. He also recalled a similar incident on March 25, 2025, when he traveled to Uyo for a World Cup qualifying match and alleged that he was prevented from greeting members of the national team after the game.
Expressing concern over what he described as a growing culture of toxic politics, Obi argued that political differences should not prevent Nigerians from showing mutual respect and celebrating national achievements. He maintained that the Nigeria the country aspires to build should have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination based on political affiliation.
The Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday following their 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in Rabat, Morocco.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
