The Presidency and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad have faulted the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, over his claim that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation stopped him from greeting members of the national Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos.

The reactions followed Obi’s account of the incident at an airport on Monday, where he said he was prevented from approaching the players by NFF officials, who reportedly warned that they could lose their jobs if he greeted the team.

In a statement released on Monday, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, accused the opposition of attempting to politicise national sports teams and institutions.

He said the national athletes, including the Flamingos, “represent the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, not any specific political party or individual ambition.”

Olusegun said protocol guidelines for national teams were designed to protect young athletes from “political exploitation, commercial distractions, and unnecessary media circuses while on official duty.”

He described Obi’s account as an attempt to turn standard security and administrative procedures into a case of 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,” he said.

The presidential aide also accused Obi of using “unverified hearsay to build a victim narrative”, urging him to allow athletes to focus on representing the country.

Similarly, Ahmad, the National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response of the City Boy Movement, disagreed with Obi’s description of the incident as a new dimension of toxic politics.

In a statement, Ahmad said being denied access to greet the team did not automatically amount to political persecution.

“Protocol, security and administrative considerations must have been involved,” he said.

He urged the former Anambra State governor to prioritise facts and responsibility, adding that Nigeria was bigger than any individual or political party.

“A new Nigeria is possible, but not through perpetual political antagonism,” Ahmad added.

Obi had earlier said he arrived at the airport on Monday for a flight to Enugu when he noticed the Flamingos preparing to board a vehicle after arriving in the country.

He said he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet the players but was told that NFF officials had objected, warning that they would lose their jobs if he approached the team.

The NFF had not publicly commented on Obi’s account as of the time of filing this report. (PUNCH)