Peter Obi | File Image
‘Even in football, a sport meant to unite us, politics has been weaponised’
By Maazi Ezeoke
Every time His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, speaks about how the system tries to silence him, I listen.
But I never imagined I would witness it firsthand—until Saturday May 31, 2025.
Let me walk you through what happened.
I accompanied Mr. Obi to London Business School, where he engaged in a Fireside Chat hosted by the Africa Business Club. The theme: “From Promise to Prosperity: Charting Africa’s Development with Political Will and Vision.”
A powerful and inspiring session with Q & A.
After the event, we boarded an Uber to Brentford Community Stadium, where Nigeria faced Jamaica in the Unity Cup Final.
At the entrance, we ran into D’Banj, who came to perform at the event. We slipped in and sat near the Nigerian team.
The match ended 2-2 and went into penalties. As it got intense, the crowd—mostly young Nigerians—started chanting: “Obi! Obi! Obi! Obi!”
Some players began noticing him too.
To avoid becoming a distraction, Obi quietly stepped back, cheering the team from a distance during the penalty shootout.
Also read: Alia in politics of bloodbath
But after Nigeria won, some officials invited him to join their post-match photo session.
True to form, he politely asked them to get clearance from the officials.
Suddenly, everything changed.
One of the officials, after a phone call, returned with a hardened face and shouted: “He is not allowed to take pictures with the team!”
Just moments earlier, the same officials were visibly excited about Obi’s presence.
The transformation was disturbing. It was clear someone had given a directive.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
One player, still determined, tried to greet him after the photos. But from the pitch, a voice thundered:
“You have been told not to greet him!”
Security physically blocked the player from reaching Mr. Obi.
The player, visibly upset, walked off the pitch straight to the dressing room. It was shocking to witness. Even efforts to see the team even in the dressing room was met with same instructions from above. Unbelievable!
Meanwhile, both Nigerian and Jamaican fans continued swarming Mr. Obi for photos. They didn’t care about politics—only the man they respect.
I left the stadium thinking:
Even in football, a sport meant to unite us, politics has been weaponised.
That moment deepened my resolve: In 2027, we must build a country where no one is silenced based on party affiliation. A nation where everyone is equal.
@MaaziEzeoke
