Flamingos Airport Drama: NSC Gives Peter Obi Fresh Reason to Apologise

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has demanded an unreserved apology from Peter Obi following the controversy surrounding his alleged attempt to meet Nigeria’s victorious Flamingos at the Abuja airport.

NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko accused the former Anambra State governor of turning the team’s historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph into a political controversy.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, Dikko disputed Obi’s claim that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials prevented him from greeting the players and threatened to lose their jobs if they allowed him near the team.

According to the NSC chairman, officials who received the players said they did not see Obi around the team at the airport.

He explained that two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign clothing approached officials to request a meeting and photograph session between the politician and the players.

Dikko said the request was declined because it was unexpected, no prior arrangement had been made, and the players were tired after travelling from Morocco.

He also stressed that the Flamingos are minors and that their welfare and protection must be considered when arranging meetings with members of the public.

The NSC chairman accused Obi of presenting the incident as political victimisation without first seeking clarification from the commission or the NFF.

He consequently urged the politician to apologise to the young players, saying their World Cup achievement should not be overshadowed by political disagreements.

Obi had earlier said he was at the airport to travel to Enugu when he saw the returning team. He alleged that his protocol officer was informed that NFF officials would lose their jobs if he approached the players.

The Flamingos recently made history by defeating Japan 2-1 in Morocco to win Nigeria’s first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

The disagreement has now placed the team’s airport reception at the centre of a wider public debate.

Source: https://x.com/DailyPostNGR/status/2120110699439649088?a=drSYlYpCbA9gn6w9gk8&s=19