Fr. Mbaka, Big Brother Naija And Youths

By Usman Issa

Last week, the social media was awash with tales and memes about Big Brother Naija’s eviction and disqualification of some of the housemates. Erica’s eviction was major hit that set the media on fire; she was disqualified for her sullen temper against Laycon. Minutes after she left the house, her fans took it upon themselves to raise funds for her and in couple of hours, she grossed millions of naira.

A day before Erica’s disqualification, Nigerian youths were calling for President Buhari’s head for the obnoxious hike in the price of petroleum and electricity tariff. Immediately the reality television show announced Erica’s disqualification, Nigeria’s ‘leaders of tomorrow’ swiftly forgot about petroleum and tariff, instead they chose to light-up their social media statuses hyping Big Brothers and sisters locked in the house.

What baffles me most is the prophecy of Reverend Father Mbaka about the Big Brother show. In a video posted on Facebook, Mbaka was heard saying: “Look at what she was calling the other young man, ‘idiot’ and the whole world was watching. And the person she was calling idiot gets more votes than all of them, the boy did not even respond to her. Look at Erica with all her beauty and all her beautiful dances, then look at her in the next 10minutes, she becomes cantankerous and pugnacious…she will lose that 85 million”.

So, our Reverend Father enjoys beautiful dances and other salacious moments on Big Brother show!

I could not but wonder about what has the show got to do with the ‘prophetic office’. Out of many woes betiding the country which require prophetic attention, imagine our prophet having time for the brawl, kerfuffle and misunderstanding going on in the nonsensical ‘lockdown house’!

Just as terrible are the celebrities also out dashing out money on twitter to canvass for their favourite housemates. Of course, many would say it is not a big deal, but they abandon the things that matter to the masses. Many actors are known to have died of severe illness they could have survived if they had money. They got no helping hands from their so-called colleagues who are now busy raising funds for housemates and doing giveaway for people to vote their favourites.

Many young minds have succumbed to poverty, hunger, and other ailments because raising funds for their survival is a big challenge.

At times, I try to figure out what really is our problem in Nigeria. We are much more relieved watching reality shows while adorning the gowns of our nightmare.

As for Nigerian celebrities, they have no equal. Instead of giving back to the society, they prefer giving to the Big Brothers and sisters, who to the best of my knowledge are well to do already before joining the house.

It is obvious that the youths are a part of the problems bedevilling the country. If the government is not doing it right, the youths and the so-called celebrities are also getting it wrong. I hope someday, we will all get it right. I mean both the government and the governed.

Usman Issa, writes from Offa, Kwara State.