Reality TV star and Big Brother Naija season 7 winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has ignited a fierce national conversation after drawing a painful comparison between the treatment her late sister received and the swift medical response afforded to world champion boxer, Anthony Joshua, following separate accidents.
A Heartbreaking Comparison Sparks Outrage
Taking to her official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Phyna expressed deep-seated frustration and anguish. Her emotional outburst was triggered by viral reports of Anthony Joshua's road accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which resulted in two fatalities. While Joshua sustained injuries, he was promptly flown out for medical care.
This development stood in stark contrast to Phyna's personal tragedy. She revealed that her younger sister, Ruth, died after being hit by a truck reportedly linked to the Dangote Group. Phyna alleged a glaring disparity in how the two cases were handled, pointing to a deep-seated inequality between the rich and powerful and ordinary citizens in Nigeria.
The Alleged Neglect and a Demand for a 'Certificate'
In her detailed post, Phyna recounted the harrowing ordeal her family faced. She claimed that despite desperate pleas to have her critically injured sister flown abroad for advanced medical treatment, the family was met with bureaucratic obstacles.
"Anthony Joshua was flown out immediately, but Dangote kept my sister for 21 days saying she needed a certificate to fly," Phyna wrote. This alleged delay and the requirement for unspecified documentation, according to her, contributed to the tragic outcome. Her statement paints a picture of a system that prioritizes the influential, leaving regular families to navigate insurmountable hurdles during crises.
Nigerians React: A Nation Divided on Privilege and Grief
Phyna's tweet quickly went viral, splitting public opinion and fueling a heated debate across social media platforms. Many Nigerians echoed her sentiments, expressing anger at the perceived systemic bias.
One user, anasuachara, commented: "This is exactly why people feel hopeless. The system rewards the rich and powerful while ordinary families struggle for basic decency." Another, WomenRightsOrg, offered condolences but urged her to find a way to move forward.
However, others challenged her comparison. User tboysquare argued: "A global boxer with British and American passports and lots of money was flown out in a private jet... it's like comparing Donald Trump to the likes of Tinubu." Another commenter, Mario9jaa, questioned the logistics, asking if Phyna expected a similar private jet evacuation for her sister.
The debate underscores a recurring tension in Nigerian society regarding access, privilege, and justice.
This incident is not Phyna's first recent viral commentary. Legit.ng also reported that she previously called out Davido’s aide, Isreal DMW, in a separate online post. She accused him of maliciously targeting his ex-wife, Shelia, by attempting to discredit her with her business associates.
The conversation started by Phyna continues to resonate, forcing a national introspection on the value placed on human life within the country's socio-economic framework. Her painful loss has become a catalyst for discussing a much larger issue of perceived inequality in emergency response and healthcare access.
