The Executive Chairman of Bayelsa United, Tarilaye Amankwe, has dismissed claims that Head Coach Monday Odigie tendered his resignation. Speaking early on Wednesday, Amankwe insisted that he has not been informed of any such development, emphasising that Odigie remains in charge.
“At this moment (Wednesday morning, 8 October 2025), I’ve not received any communication from him whatsoever,” the chairman stated firmly. He reiterated: “So, as far as I’m concerned, Monday Odigie remains the Head Coach of Bayelsa United.”
Reports emerged suggesting that Odigie, a former Assistant Coach of Nigeria’s U‑17 Golden Eaglets, stepped down following a 1‑1 draw with Ikorodu City in Matchday 7. That result came after another stalemate a 1‑1 draw with Bendel Insurance at Samson Siasia Stadium. In the wake of the alleged resignation, assistant coach Meremu Okara was reported to have taken over on an interim basis.
When pressed on whether the club would now begin the process of appointing a new boss, Amankwe declined to comment further, citing absence of any formal resignation letter or notice. “I’m the chairman of Bayelsa United. Nobody has told me he’s left. Also, there’s no record of any correspondence available to the club that the coach has resigned,” he said. “I cannot begin to pre‑empt anything. Odigie remains our coach for now.”
Investigations by Yohaig NG, however, suggest that Odigie’s employment may have ties to the Bayelsa State Government, leaving the club’s management in a tricky position. The source claimed that even though Odigie’s contract was supposed to run for two years, he might have left under a scenario similar to his predecessor, Ladan Bosso, despite having a year remaining.
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Editorial
We cannot help but view the unfolding saga at Bayelsa United as a symptom of deeper structural ambiguity in Nigerian club football. The chairman’s denial of any resignation, juxtaposed with reported insider sources claiming government involvement in the coach’s appointment, reveals uncertainty about who holds genuine authority.
We believe that such opacity undermines professionalism. If a coach is effectively an employee of a state government rather than the club, the club’s board is handicapped in decision making. Conflicts of interest, divided loyalties, and blurred chains of accountability inevitably follow.
Supporters deserve clarity. The team’s performance is harmed when management and technical staff operate in silos, uncertain of mandate or reporting lines. Stability comes from transparent systems clear contracts, clear communication, clear chain of command.
At Bayelsa, if Odigie has indeed resigned so informally that even his chairman was unaware, the precedent is worrisome. It signals that major decisions might be made behind closed doors, bypassing formal processes. That erodes trust and sets a dangerous tone.
We assert that for progress, clubs must insist on contractual discipline and autonomy. Government support is valuable, but when it supplants club authority, trouble follows. Those who run Nigerian football from club chiefs to state actors should champion structure over improvisation, responsibility over ambiguity.
We stand by the view that until Bayelsa United, and others like it, enforce clarity in their leadership arrangements, episodes like this will repeat. Stability and success begin with accountability.
Did You Know?
- Bayelsa United, nicknamed the “Restoration Boys,” won the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) title in 2009.
- Monday Odigie was once part of the coaching setup for Nigeria’s U‑17 Golden Eaglets, giving him youth development credentials.
- Ladan Bosso, Odigie’s predecessor, had left the club under controversial circumstances, leaving a precedent for coach turnover.
- Ikorodu City, against whom Odigie was said to have resigned after a draw, is a club based in Lagos State and participates in the lower tiers of Nigerian football.
- The Samson Siasia Stadium, where Bayelsa United played Bendel Insurance, is located in Yenagoa and is named after a former Nigeria national team coach.
