FCT Minister's aide Lere Olayinka and Influencer Japhet Omojuwa have slammed presidential candidate Peter Obi for lamenting that he was prevented access to greet the Flamingos who just won the U-17 Women's World Cup.

Obi, in a statement on Monday, said he saw the Flamingos team at the airport while he was waiting for his flight.

He said his attempt to approach and greet them for their success was kicked against by officials of the Nigerian Football Federation.

He described the situation as the new dimension of toxic politics that Nigeria has developed since 2025,

Obi wrote, "I arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. this morning to board my flight to Enugu. There, I saw the Nigeria Under-17 girls' team, which had just arrived and was preparing to board its vehicle into town.

"With genuine joy and enthusiasm, I asked my Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether I could greet and welcome the team. I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs.

"Regrettably, this is not the first time I have been subjected to such treatment. On March 25, 2025, I was in Uyo for the World Cup qualifier. The governor warmly received me and welcomed me at the VIP stand. Following the match, other government officials went to greet the players, but I was again prevented from doing so. I was told by the officials that they would lose their jobs if I proceeded.

"It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025. Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected.

"The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation. It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences."

Reacting, Lere Olayinka described Obi as a packaged fraud who would have taken photos with the Flamingos and sounded a different take online.

He said on X, "That's how the Packaged Fraud would have taken pictures with the girls and the Trophy they won, rushed to Social Media to post the pictures and claim that he had to go to the airport to receive them when he heard that no top federal govt official was available to receive the girls. LIEnus."

In his remark, Omojuwa wondered why Obi expected a sitting President to allow the opposition welcome a victorious team his administration sponsored.

He shared on X, "You wanted a photograph with the team. The officials said no. Now you are online crying about it.

"In which world does a government hand an opposition candidate a victorious national team to campaign with?

"And spare us the idea that you would have greeted the girls quietly. The photos and videos would have been online within the hour.

"This is the same Peter Obi whose campaign visit to Uke in 2013 ended in a stampede that killed twenty-four people, after the crowd started chanting Ngige’s name. He was a governor. He knows exactly how these games are played.

"You wake up, baff, cream body, dress up, go airport to go receive the World Champions. As per who are you? President of Nigerians on Twitter?

"Okay PONOT. Wait for the President of Nigeria POTRON, C-in-C and GCFR to lift the trophy. When it is time for content creators, you will lead the crew.

"Turns out he had no business being at the airport at that time. The girls landed at 5:30am. There are no local flights at that time.

"He clearly had arranged with someone who promised him they’d let him use the world champions are prop. Offside. Red card. Game over."


ASA