Obi could have waved at Flamingos like other Nigerians — NIS DG

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, has said the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, could have stood at the airport and waved at the victorious Flamingos like other Nigerians.

Shaibu said this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, while reacting to the controversy over claims that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation prevented Obi from greeting the Nigeria Under-17 women’s team at the Abuja airport.

The former Edo State deputy governor said he did not consider waiting at the airport to greet the players necessary, arguing that the support given to the team before and during the competition was more important than celebrating its victory afterwards.

“You know, the President will not play to the gallery. And the First Lady will not play to the gallery. Going to the airport to want to see them is playing to the gallery, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Shaibu said President Bola Tinubu personally called the players before, during and after the tournament, adding that such gestures were more significant when the team faced difficult moments in the competition.

“I consistently tell Nigerians, the President makes personal calls before, during, and after. And those calls are more important than after the victory.

“Because when the spirit is down and you get a call from the President telling you, look, forget about the last match, focus on the next match, I think that is more important than after winning coming to do a popularity show of showing affection,” he said.

Shaibu said President Bola Tinubu personally called the players before, during and after the tournament, adding that such gestures were more significant when the team faced difficult moments in the competition.

“I consistently tell Nigerians, the President makes personal calls before, during, and after. And those calls are more important than after the victory.

“Because when the spirit is down and you get a call from the President telling you, look, forget about the last match, focus on the next match, I think that is more important than after winning coming to do a popularity show of showing affection,” he said.

He said the players deserved to be celebrated but stressed that attention should also be paid to the support and preparation that contributed to their success.

These girls deserve to be received, these girls deserve all the accolade that they need. But what is key is the foundation preparatory to that victory,” he added.

The NIS boss, who said he was a former player and had served as deputy governor in charge of sports in Edo State, described the President’s direct communication with athletes as an important source of encouragement.

He said it was often difficult to get governors to speak to players in dressing rooms, contrasting that experience with what he described as Tinubu’s willingness to call the Flamingos.

“To get a governor to even speak to players in the dressing room was difficult. And here you are not even compelling or appealing or begging the President to make a call. He’s on his own. Says, ‘I want to talk to the girls. How are they doing? Fine. I want to talk to them.’

And you know, you understand what it means? I was a player. You are in a dressing room and you are hearing from your President talking to you. That, for me, is more important. That’s what the President does,” Shaibu said.

When asked whether NFF officials did the right thing by preventing Obi from welcoming the players, Shaibu said, “Mr Obi can stand at the airport and wave to them like every other person did.”

Shaibu also recounted an encounter with Enyimba players at an airport, saying he waved at them and allowed them to continue their journey after being told they were travelling.

He explained that teams sometimes have instructions restricting players from interacting with people while travelling, adding that such arrangements should be respected.

“When I was actively involved in sports, there are times that our system will say, look, don’t talk to anybody, just wave. And so when such instructions come, we have to follow,” he said.

Shaibu added that teams had different ways of managing interactions with players, depending on the circumstances.

The controversy followed Obi’s allegation that NFF officials stopped him from greeting the Flamingos when they returned to Abuja on Monday after winning the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Obi said he arrived at the airport at about 7 am to board a flight to Enugu and asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet the players. He alleged that he was told the officials had refused his request and warned that they could lose their jobs if he approached the team.

However, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, said officials who received the team reported that they did not see Obi near the players or around the international terminal where the team arrived.

Dikko said two individuals wearing Obi’s campaign face caps and other campaign attire approached officials to request a meeting and photographs with the players. He said the request was declined because the players had just arrived after a demanding competition and needed to be considered.

The NSC chairman also urged Obi to apologise to the players, saying their achievement should not be overshadowed by the controversy.

The Flamingos defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final in Morocco to win their first FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title, becoming the first African country to win the competition.