Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of hypocrisy following his account of an alleged incident involving the Nigeria Under-17 girls’ team at the airport.
Obi had earlier taken to his X handle to condemn what he described as a new dimension of toxic politics in Nigeria, alleging that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, prevented him from greeting the young players for fear of losing their jobs.
In his post titled “A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria,” Obi recounted how he arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. to board a flight to Enugu and spotted the Under-17 girls’ team preparing to leave the airport.
According to him, he asked his protocol officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could greet the players but was informed that NFF officials had refused his request, allegedly warning that they could lose their jobs if he approached the team.
The former Anambra State governor also recalled a similar incident on March 25, 2025, in Uyo, where he claimed he was prevented from greeting players after a World Cup qualifying match.
Describing the incidents as evidence of worsening political hostility, Obi called for a Nigeria where unity and mutual respect take precedence over political differences.
However, reacting to Obi’s post, Keyamo questioned why the former presidential candidate was eager to associate himself with what he described as a success story of the President Bola Tinubu administration despite frequently criticising the state of the country.
In a post on his X handle, the minister accused Obi of hypocrisy, asking whether his interest was merely for photo opportunities.
Keyamo wrote: “Mr Peter Obi @PeterObi, in all your public vituperations, you often say things akin to the fact that ‘Nigeria is finished’. So, why are you now so anxious to associate with a success story of the country or this government? Just for photo ops? You see the hypocrisy?”
“Nigeria is finished, yet you want photo ops - Keyamo tackles Peter Obi