A new story is causing plenty talk in Nigeria.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has spoken out after he was allegedly prevented from greeting the Nigeria Under-17 girls' team at the airport.
According to the report by Thepointng on Nov 09, 2026, Obi said what happened shows a new dimension of toxic politics in Nigeria since 2025.
What happened?
Obi was said to be at the airport when the young girls' team arrived. Like any Nigerian elder and leader, he wanted to greet them, encourage them, and celebrate them for representing the country.
But according to the report, some officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) allegedly stopped him from greeting the team.
Obi was not happy. He said politics in Nigeria has now become too toxic. He said even something as simple as greeting young girls who have made the country proud is now being turned into politics.
And many Nigerians are asking the same question: Why would anyone stop a leader from greeting our own children?
These are U-17 girls. They are not politicians. They are children. They are athletes. They went out to represent Nigeria. They deserve love, encouragement, and celebration from everybody, no matter their party, no matter their tribe, no matter their religion.
If a leader wants to greet them and say "well done," is that a crime?
Some people who support Obi say this is clear evidence that politics in Nigeria has become too bitter. They say leaders are now being blocked, insulted, and treated as enemies, just because they belong to a different party.
Other people are saying, "Wait, let us hear from the other side." They say maybe it was a protocol issue. Maybe it was a security issue. Maybe the officials were just following airport rules. They say we should not rush to conclude until the NFF also tells their own side of the story.
And that is a fair point. In journalism, we must hear both sides.
But whether it was politics or protocol, one thing is clear: Nigerians are tired of toxic politics.
We are tired of politics where people fight, insult, block, and hate each other because of election. We are tired of politics where children, footballers, and innocent people are dragged into fights they know nothing about.
Politics should be about ideas. Politics should be about who can build better roads, better schools, better hospitals, better jobs. Politics should not be about who can block who, who can insult who, who can stop who from greeting children.
These U-17 girls did not go to play politics. They went to play football. They went to make Nigeria proud. They should not be used as a tool for political fight.
Obi said this is a new dimension of toxic politics since 2025. Whether you agree with him or not, many Nigerians will agree that the political atmosphere in the country has become very hot. People are angry. People are divided. Social media is full of insults. Even friends are fighting because of politics.
But is this how we want to continue?
My brother, my sister, we need to ask ourselves: What kind of Nigeria do we want?
Do we want a Nigeria where a leader cannot greet children because of politics? Do we want a Nigeria where we hate each other because of party? Do we want a Nigeria where we celebrate when our opponent is embarrassed?
Or do we want a Nigeria where we can disagree without hating each other? A Nigeria where we can support different candidates but still respect each other? A Nigeria where we put the children first, before politics?
These young girls are the future of Nigeria. Today they are U-17. Tomorrow they will be Super Falcons. Tomorrow they will be mothers, doctors, teachers, leaders. What we teach them now matters.
If they see that even greeting them can cause wahala, what will they learn about Nigeria?
If they see that leaders fight over them, what will they learn about leadership?
We must protect our children from toxic politics. We must allow them to be celebrated by everybody.
What should happen next?
First, the NFF should explain what really happened. Did they stop Obi? If yes, why? Was it politics or protocol? Nigerians deserve a clear answer.
Second, leaders from all parties should learn to be mature. Politics is not war. Election is not war. We can disagree and still greet each other. We can compete and still respect each other.
Third, we as citizens should refuse toxic politics. Don't insult someone because they support a different candidate. Don't block someone because they have a different opinion. Don't celebrate division. Nigeria is bigger than any party. Nigeria is bigger than any politician.
At the end of the day, this story is not just about Obi. It is not just about NFF. It is about us. It is about the kind of country we are building.
Will we build a country of love or a country of hate? Will we build a country of unity or a country of division?
The choice is ours.
What do YOU think? Was Obi right to call it toxic politics? Or was it just a misunderstanding?
Drop your opinion in the comment section, but please be respectful. No insults. No tribal abuse. Let us discuss like mature Nigerians.
Source: Thepointng, Nov 09, 2026. This article is a rewritten summary and commentary for discussion purposes.
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