An official of Ikorodu City FC, Olawale Quadry, has explained the club’s decision to delete a social media post welcoming former Anambra State governor Peter Obi to its Nigeria Premier Football League fixture against Rangers.

The clarification follows Obi’s appearance at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos on Sunday, where he watched Ikorodu City’s NPFL Matchday Six encounter against Rangers International.

The Lagos private club had initially posted a welcome message to the former governor on its social media account.  

Having brought down the post, Quadry said the decision was taken to prevent the club’s social media platform from becoming a vehicle for political discussions or partisan interpretations.

“I think the club has done the right thing by deleting the tweet,” Quadry said.

According to him, the reaction to the post had shifted attention away from football after supporters of Obi interpreted the club’s message in a political context.

Quadry maintained that Ikorodu City’s primary identity is that of a football club and not a political organisation.

“Peter Obi followers deliberately interpreted the tweet to score cheap political points,” he said.

“We can’t leave the tweet from the club to be used as a political tool by Obi followers,” he added.

Ikorodu City went on to defeat the defending NPFL champions 2-0, with Aderemi Adeoye opening the scoring in the eighth minute before Ikechukwu Junior added the second goal in the 63rd minute.  

Obi was photographed alongside Ikorodu City president Sanmi Doherty during the match and was also seen interacting with supporters at the stadium.  

The club’s decision to remove the post therefore appears to have been aimed at keeping the focus on the sporting event and avoiding further political debate around its official social media channels.