Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Bemigho Reno Omokri, has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, over his reported complaint that he was prevented from meeting and congratulating Nigeria’s victorious Under-17 national football team at the airport.
Omokri accused Obi of attempting to place his personal interests, itinerary and convenience above established national protocol, arguing that sporting achievements should not be politicised or used to advance individual political ambitions.
The Nigerian ambassador, who made his position known in a post on his verified Facebook page, described the reported incident as an example of what he called “toxic politics”, insisting that the established convention in Nigeria and other countries is for victorious national teams to first pay courtesy visits to the country’s Head of State.
To support his argument, Omokri recalled that he was physically present when former President Goodluck Jonathan received the victorious Super Eagles at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on February 12, 2013, following Nigeria’s triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He noted that neither former President Muhammadu Buhari nor former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, despite their political differences with Jonathan and presidential ambitions ahead of the 2015 election, attempted to circumvent the protocol or disrupt the national celebration.
Omokri also cited the historic victory of Nigeria’s Baby Eagles, now known as the Golden Eaglets, at the inaugural FIFA Under-16 World Championship in China in 1985, noting that the team first met the then military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, despite the financial and moral support it had received from the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
He recalled that Abiola, who was recognised as the Pillar of Sports in Africa in 1980 by the African Sports Journalists Union, did not insist on receiving the victorious team ahead of the country’s leader.
According to Omokri, the practice reflects an established convention in responsible societies governed by the rule of law and respect for constituted authority.
He argued that placing personal interests above such conventions could give the impression that national interest was being sacrificed for individual political considerations.
“Placing yourself above such conventions and wanting them circumvented because of your personal agenda, itinerary, and convenience could be interpreted by reasonable people as you not putting national interest first,” he stated.
The ambassador further accused Obi of seeking to associate himself with a national sporting achievement to which he allegedly made no contribution, describing the move as opportunistic and below the standard expected of a statesman.
He warned against dragging sports into partisan politics, insisting that national sporting victories should be protected from political controversies, particularly when such achievements provide an opportunity for unity among Nigerians.
The controversy followed Obi’s allegation that officials of the National Sports Commission prevented him from meeting the Under-17 players at the airport, claiming that he was informed that officials could lose their jobs if they allowed him access to the team.
The National Sports Commission, however, disputed his account, explaining that the request for access was unexpected, had not been formally arranged and was declined to protect the welfare of the players after their long journey.
Omokri maintained that political actors should respect established institutions and protocols rather than turn national celebrations into platforms for personal political interests.
He reiterated that sports should remain a unifying force for the country and not become a tool for advancing individual political ambitions.
