As the main day of the official re-launch of the much
awaited Big Brother Nigeria is set to hit the screen many controversies and
tongue are wagging. The Reality Show, suffered a setback in 2006 when it debut,
many viewers accused the organisers, MultiChoice of partiality and favouritism;
this was after the winner Katung Aduwak was investigated and proven to be a
close pally to the organizers of the reality TV show. When the truth found the
light of the day, many viewers felt bad and boycotted the second edition; this
made the concept fizzled out and died a natural death.
As the second season after a decade is about to go on air, different
questions have been arising and different controversies erupting on ‘What moral
values the reality TV show adds to its viewers whom are mostly youths’. This
made CITYSPY team took out time to take a critical look by speaking with some
of the viewers who watched the Big Brother Nigeria debut edition in 2006. Some
of the viewers from different walk of like were objective about their views, as
they spoke extensively on the topic.
Mr Olatokunbo Adeosun,
is an Accountant in his mid 50‘s, He spoke extensively on the moral values the Reality
show added to him, He recount his experience, He said ‘Sincerely ,I have been
looking for an opportunity to say this, but, there was no platform to make myself
heard. When I saw the advert for the auditions last year, I was happy because I
followed the first edition for start to finish in 2006. I know the turnout for
the audition was going to be much but I blame the Nigeria Government, if they
had created jobs for these youths, will they think of going to one audition?,
they camp them for months doing tasks and all, of what value does that add to
we the audience?. We just watch some people sleep, wake and jist, sincerely, it
has not added any value to my life. when you call something reality show it
should pass a message not just entertain. There should be a moral message it
should pass not just create a concept for viewing sake just to make money. We
know MTN Project Fame showcases Musical
Talents, likewise, some few other reality shows, but, ever since I watched the
Big Brother Nigeria years back, I lost interest totally. I pray it does not die
the way it did years back’.
Miss Folashade Ogunlewe, is a Philosophy graduate from the
University Of Lagos, when we asked Her about what she learnt from the Big
Brother Nigeria reality Show, when it debut over a decade ago, Shade said ‘ I
am not a religious person, but sincerely, I am a Lady and I am well exposed. The
concept Big Brother, I learnt was a franchise and personally it was created
inline with the culture and tradition of the original owners of the concept. When it was adapted to Nigeria market, we
should know we Africans have our ways of dressing, culture and way of life, there
are some part of the things being done in the house that needs to be reviewed,
because it’s not inline with our tradition here in Nigeria. But on the moral
aspect well its zero. For me, personally,
and most of my friends, we just watch for the sake of it. I have not learnt
anything. I see it as a waste of resources’.
Olabisi Adekanbi, is an entrepreneur based in Abuja, she
claimed to have been a huge follower of the Big Brother Nigeria when it debut
in 2006. She spoke about her experience with the reality show and what morale
values she learnt, she said ‘ I want to be blunt with you, I have learnt
nothing. Big Brother Nigeria is just a waste of time. Multichoice, should have just let the Big
Brother Nigeria concept fade off like it did several years ago. The first edition
was a total flop. I managed to see it
till the end, they went to bring one guy from no where to win the competition,
that alone got me annoyed me most. Talking about what moral values it adds to
we the youths, well, the show it’s self has no value. Not to talk of morale. I
just view to pass away time that’s all.
Hadiza Aminu is a blogger and a journalist from Northern
Nigeria, a graduate of mass communication from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira.
Hadiza, has been a huge follower of Big Brother Nigeria. Recounting her own
experience and what she learnt after watching the reality TV show, She said, ’See
without mincing words, me, I have not learnt anything. Infact, I get angry at
some point. I prefer watching movies or other programmes that will impact me
positively rather than stay glued to waste my precious time watching some set
of people in one house, faking their lifestyles, after that, they will declare
one person the winner. The most annoying thing is, there is nothing to learn.
No theme, no message. I don’t want to over emphasise this issue there is
nothing the show is adding to we as Nigeria youths,’.
Oluchi Ebere, is a writer and social critic, when asked her
own view about the Big Brother Nigeria concept on what values it gives to the
youths or it’s viewer’s, She said ‘I think the programme should be scrapped. For
me, I have been on the fore front of stepping down the reality Show. The
annoying part is you called something made for Nigeria, and yet, you take the
camp to South Africa claiming there is no electricity here in Nigeria. Why call
it Big Brother Nigeria? Why, not Big Brother South Africa?. It shows that Multi
Choice is just using the Nigeria audience because nobody would question them,
they can do things without being checked balanced. Nigeria has the Highest
numbers of subscribers for DSTV. A programme meant for Nigeria should be held
on our home soil. I see the excuse as lame and shallow. With this current
economy recession Nigeria is facing, I can’t sit and watch a programme that can’t
impact my life. When you stage a programme that has no content and message, so
you expect us to watch when I can use my time to do things that are worth it. Like
the words of Late Poet, and writer, Chinua Achebe, said, ‘A writer that neglects
his socio- political issues will be like that proverbial man that neglects his
burning house chasing rats escaping from the flame. Well, let DSTV and Multi Choice
be serious enough to give us inspiring programmes and not time wasting programme
like Big Brother Nigeria’.