The National Sports Commission (NSC) has denied claims that its officials prevented Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), from meeting Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport.
The commission said Obi did not personally approach officials to request a meeting with the players, insisting that two individuals wearing his campaign face caps and other campaign attire made the request.
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, disclosed this in a statement on Monday titled, “NSC Responds to Peter Obi: Flamingos’ World Cup Victory Must Not Be Politicised”.
According to Dikko, NSC and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials who received the team said they did not see Obi near the players or the international terminal where the team arrived.
He said the two individuals approached the officials and requested that Obi be allowed to meet and take photographs with the players, adding that the proposed arrangement could have involved campaign materials.
“The NSC and NFF officials who accompanied and received the team have reported that they did not see Mr Obi near or around the players at the airport.
“According to their account, two individuals wearing Peter Obi campaign face caps and other attire approached them to request that Mr Obi meet and take photographs with the players,” the statement said.
Dikko explained that officials declined the request because the Flamingos had arrived from Morocco at about 5:30 am...
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has denied claims that its officials prevented Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), from meeting Nigeria’s victoriou...