Politicians Join The Craze, As BBNaija Reaches Peak

In January when the second edition of Big Brother Naija reality TV show kicked off, it was greeted with apprehension from certain quarters. One of the criticisms was that it is being recorded in faraway South Africa.

However, few weeks later, the show began to whip up sentiments.
The first out cry was the fact that a country as large as Nigeria, with all its resources and manpower, could not muster the wherewithal to host the show.

That dust was yet to settle when the organisers were again hit with a petition to the National Broadcasting Commission, calling for the stoppage of the show.

However, indications that some politicians are fans of the show emerged when one of the strong contenders for the top prize, Kemen, was booted out of the house.

Kemen was said to have been disqualified from the game for fondling his co-housemate, TBoss without her consent.

Against the general perception, the sacking of Kemen proved to Nigerians that the Big Brother Naija competition stood for something.

Prior to his disqualification, a billboard canvassing votes for Kemen emerged in his home state, Akwa Ibom State.

From then on, the popularity rating of the show shot up and people began to show more interest such that even the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke shared a thought on Kemen’s disqualification.

He wrote: “Many who before now had celebrated Kemen are in a hurry to crucify him for his mistake(s).
“My take here is not to hold brief for Kemen and whatever he might have done to merit his disqualification (which I am yet to know) but to reflect on how difficult it is to be in the spotlight in our clime –the fear of failing–the fear of making mistakes–the fear of mockery and the most dreaded of them all –the fear of Inua Uyo. We are all humans and are all prone to mistakes but when we are not the affected, we engage sanctimonious disposition that tends to confer sainthood…”

With barely a few days to the end of the show, it has transmogrified into a battle of the tribes.
The buzz is no longer about where the show is being held or its morality; it is now a question of who wins it.

Back home, Nigerians are taking a stand for their favourite finalists consisting of Bisola, TBoss, Debie-Rise, Marvis and Efe.

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, for instance, is drumming support for its candidate, Marvis Nkpornwi who hails from Onne, Eleme in Rivers State.

“By the special grace of god, she has moved to the final stage in the Big Brother Naija House competition. Let us give her all the support she needs to make Rivers State proud,” a statement by Michael Ejiohuo, Permanent Secretary for Hon. Commissioner reads.

It the same vein, it was said that Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is campaigning for Debie-Rise who hails from that State.

Delta State is not left out as Gov. Okowa is speaking highly of Efe the last male contestant in the house.
May the odds be in their favour.


The Nation