Breaking
Odegbami Appeals for Aide for Stricken Ex- Nigeria Goalkeeper Fregene
Odegbami Appeals for Aide for Stricken Ex- Nigeria Goalkeeper Fregene
By Tobouke JEMINE
Segun Odegbami, a Nigerian football legend, is seeking financial help for Peter Fregene, a former Nigerian goalkeeper struggling with severe health issues.
Fregene, who played for the Nigerian national team for over two decades, is currently hospitalized in Sapele, Delta State, and urgently needs medical attention and financial support.
Odegbami revealed that Fregene is waiting for help to be transferred by ambulance to the Ohara Teaching Hospital, but more funds are required despite Tony Ojesina covering the ambulance costs .
This situation highlights the need for a comprehensive welfare scheme for Nigerian athletes, both active and retired, to ensure their well-being in old age and ill health.
Fregene’s plight has sparked concerns about the lack of support for retired athletes in Nigeria, with Odegbami emphasizing the importance of establishing a functional welfare system
This is not the first time Fregene has faced health challenges; in 2001, he was critically ill, and billionaire Femi Otedola covered his medical bills.
The statement reads in full;
I am frustrated because I am publishing this ‘horror’ picture (a picture of Fregene in a hospital bed), wishing I could do what needs to be done for a colleague without having to resort to yet another public appeal to the same few Nigerians that have, through the years, intervened in the matter of ill-health of a few retired, suffering Nigerian football heroes.
By now, we must have exhausted any remnant of ‘goodwill’ we have with Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Babatunde Fashola, Benson Ejindu, Allen Onyema, and a few other Nigerians who often came to the aid of a few lucky sports heroes several times in the past.
Even if they have not complained, we are ashamed to go back to them again.
Why don’t we have, or why can’t we set up, even on our own, a simple welfare scheme for active and retired athletes across all sports in the country, to take care of our declining health in old age, long after our sports careers?
Doing so does not require knowledge of rocket science. What is needed are the will, hard work and a few good and committed people of integrity.
The danger now is that the number of retired ageing sports heroes languishing in poverty, neglect and ill health is legion already, and growing. Their stories are ugly and shameful.
The government has demonstrated time and again that sport is not a priority. 64 years after Independence they cannot and will not see it differently, period.
So, Peter Fregene is a reminder to us all again. As I look at him lying comatose on a hospital bed in Sapele and experiencing the suffering he must be going through, my frustration is mounting.
It appears doing something for, and beyond, Peter is a responsibility that ‘fate and metaphysical aid’ seem to have put around my neck. So, we shall see, as our people would say when they do not know what’s coming next.
So, what is the situation with ‘Apo’ now? He is still waiting for help to come in order to be moved by ambulance to the Ohara Teaching Hospital, Ohara, Delta State. He has been waiting since yesterday.
I hope Globacom that have been taking care of his every need in the past year would respond once again and come to his aid.
A friend sitting next to me yesterday as I discussed Peter with his wife on the telephone last night, Tony Ojesina, immediately paid for the cost of the ambulance that would convey him there. But he still has other bills to pay before he can be moved.
Fregene was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Nigeria national football team from 1968 to 1971. He was then recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals. He also represented Nigeria at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
By: Divine Perezide
As the countdown begins for the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference Volume 2, the organizers, Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has announced that the President of Egbema Brotherhood, Alaowei Promise Lawuru, has accepted the role of Guest of Honour come December 2025.
IPF had earlier announced the second edition of its annual event, with the Christined “Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations.”
Chief Lawuru, the young Ijaw businessman and politician, received a delegation of the Central Working Committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo last Monday, where the invitation was extended to him.
Akemotubo explained that this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters. The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the forum wants to strengthen public understanding, support honest reporting, and encourage leaders to protect the resources of the Niger Delta for generations to come, adding that Lawuru’s antecedence of service to humanity and unwavering commitment to community development made him a natural choice for the role.
Chief Lawuru welcomed the invitation and spoke warmly about the need for shared responsibility among stakeholders and groups such the IPF. He commended the Forum for using media to defend the region’s interests and promised full support for the conference.
Lawuru further urged other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to throw their weight behind efforts that safeguard the resources and environment of Ijaw nation in particular and the larger Niger Delta region.
As the train continues to galvanise leaders across the region, IduwiniVoice can report that the who is who in the Niger Delta from business to political sphere are marked to be in attendance.
IduwiniVoice
Breaking
NNAMDI KANU: INC CALLS FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION OVER KANU’S LIFE SENTENCE, WARNS AGAINST NATIONAL TENSIONS
By: Favour Bibaikefie
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) Global, has expressed concerns over the life sentence handed down to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, urging the Federal Government to pursue a political solution rather than rely solely on judicial outcomes.
In a statement issued from Ijaw House, Yenagoa, on November 22, 2025, the INC President, Professor Benjamin Ogele Okaba, emphasized that the ruling carries far-reaching implications for National Cohesion, democratic values, and the quest for justice in Nigeria, among other international considerations.
Read the full text of the press statement:
“PRESS STATEMENT BY THE IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC) ON THE RECENT JUDGMENT IN THE CASE OF MR. NNAMDI KANU
“IJAW HOUSE, YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA
“22 November, 2025
“The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw people worldwide, has watched with keen interest the developments surrounding the recent life sentence passed on Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“While we acknowledge the authority of the Nigerian judiciary and its right to adjudicate on matters before it, we are deeply concerned about the wider implications of this judgment. The INC, under my leadership, has consistently advocated for the strict adherence to the rule of law, constructive dialogue, and the pursuit of political solutions to address the deep-seated grievances that threaten our national fabric.
“In light of this, the INC hereby states as follows:
1. A Call for Calm and Non-Violence: We strongly urge the people of the South-East and all Nigerians to remain calm and law-abiding in the wake of this judgment. We must not allow this moment to be exploited by those who would lead us down a path of destruction and further bloodshed. The challenges we face require wisdom and intellectual engagement, not a descent into anarchy.
2. The Imperative of a Political Solution: The issues that gave rise to the agitations led by Mr. Kanu are fundamentally political in nature. They are rooted in long-standing feelings of marginalization, inequity, and a failure of national integration. A judicial ruling, no matter how definitive, cannot by itself extinguish these underlying causes. We therefore call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately explore and deploy a political solution to this matter. True and lasting peace is achieved not by silencing voices but by addressing the legitimate concerns they raise.
3. A Test of Our Democracy and Federalism: This moment presents a critical test for our democracy. A nation that thrives on the principles of justice and equity must be cautious in the application of laws that can be perceived as punitive rather than corrective. We remind the government that the strength of our federation lies in its ability to accommodate diverse opinions and address grievances through dialogue and inclusive governance.
“The Ijaw people, having ourselves been at the receiving end of a state structure that often disregards the principles of true federalism, empathize with any group that feels alienated and marginalized. We stand for a Nigeria where justice and fairness are not mere slogans but the guiding principles of statecraft.
“We conclude by reiterating our steadfast commitment to a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria, but one that is built on the foundations of justice, equity, and respect for all constituent nationalities
“Signed:
Professor Benjamin Okaba
President,
Ijaw National Congress (INC) Global”
Professor Okaba reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful and united Nigeria founded on true justice, equity, and respect for all nationalities. It called on the government to demonstrate leadership by choosing dialogue over force and by addressing the root causes of agitations across the federation. The INC maintained that only inclusive governance and genuine political engagement can guarantee lasting stability and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
– Invites all critical stakeholders of the Niger Delta to be in attendance
By: Daire Perez,
The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has unveiled plans for the second edition of its annual Ijaw Media Conference, scheduled for December 11, 2025. The event themed “Safeguarding Oil and Gas Natural Resources for Future Generations in the Niger Delta,” will be held at KFT Place, beginning at 12 noon.
In a statement issued by the IPF National President, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the Forum emphasized that the conference seeks to deepen public awareness of the dangers posed by oil theft, unchecked resources extraction, and worsening environmental degradation across the region. According to the organisation, these activities continue to devastate local ecosystems, disrupt livelihood, and impede sustainable development.
The statement further disclosed that the 2025 planning committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo, has been tasked with the honorous task of organising a successful and impactful event. Other members of the committee includes Tare Magbei (Secretary), Ezekiel Kagbala, Sunday Daniel, Mike Ugedi, Doctor Kegbe, Sam Dogitimi, and Tam Okunbiri.
The Forum called on regional leaders, community stakeholders, and young people to collaborate with relevant authorities and security agencies in promoting efforts to safeguard the Niger Delta’s natural resources. It stressed the importance of sustained public engagement in protecting both the environment and the wellbeing of the people.
The IPF encouraged all stakeholders and members of the public to participate in the conference, noting that additional information will be provided in subsequent updates.