Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has criticised the popular Big Brother Nigeria reality show that is currently airing in the country.
The Ooni shared his thoughts about the show on Wednesday, August 12 when he played host to a number of youths under the aegis of the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Ile-Ife, Osun state in celebration of International Youth Day.
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He condemned the prominent show, which he said has been misrepresenting the goodness and integrity of the Nigerian youths.
During his speech, the Ooni of Ife compared how millions of youths vote during BBNaija to how they do during the general elections.
The monarch called for the replacement of the show with a better programme that brings development, stressing that youths are the country’s untapped immeasurable wealth and resources.
The royal father, who stated the need for participation of more youths in leadership, lamented that the youths have misplaced their priorities and must redress it as a matter of urgent public importance.
He said;
Nigerian youths are fond of accusing and abusing our leaders, stop abusing them contribute your own quota. Let’s wear our thinking caps and begin to act like the real future leaders that we are.
In the last general election, the total number of vote cast was around 27 million while over 170 million people voted during the 2019 Big Brother Naija reality show. This is a practical reality of who Nigerian youths are and where our priorities lie as Nigerians. The funny side in all of these is that we still go to bed, have a good sleep and wake up with the hope to meet a Nigeria we didn’t create.
The Ooni added;
Unfortunately, every time I talk about this kind of attitude, everyone just laugh and move on. What kind of nation are we building?
When people say this country, or what kind of country is this, they are indirectly saying these people – it is the people that make a country; so what kind of Nigerian youths are we?
Speaking further, the monarch offered a suggestion for a better reality show, which he said will project the country’s values, cultures and traditions.
He urged leaders of the National Youth Council of Nigeria to work out plans on the show which will be called, “The Big Nigeria Reality Show”.
The Ooni expressed;
The proposed show will be structured in a way that young professionals, talented individuals and others across several field of endeavour will be showcased and helped to reach their peak. This would help the participants and also help viewers to have access to people that can be seen as role models.
The BBNaija reality show is loved by a great number of Nigerians but it has also come under the radar of critics for the sexual activities that sometimes takes place in the house.
A number of political and even religious leaders have condemned the show and asked that it be scrapped.
