Government Defends Officials Over Obi's Meeting Claim

The Federal Government has defended officials from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against claims that they prevented Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, from meeting the U-17 women's team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport. NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko stated that the decision to decline Obi's request was based on the players' welfare, as they had just arrived at 5:30 a.m. from Morocco and were exhausted.

Dikko noted that two individuals wearing Obi's campaign attire approached officials to request a meeting, but there had been no prior arrangement for such an event. He dismissed claims of political intimidation and urged Obi to apologize to the players for politicizing the situation.

Dikko emphasized the need to protect the minors and manage their interactions responsibly, stating that the Flamingos were celebrated by other passengers at the airport.