The Big Brother Nigerian Game Show: My Thought, By Tobenna Obiano

I recently read about the Sultan of Brunei, a man who swims in wealth and affluence. I would share what I read about him at a later time, but a little for the purpose of this article. 

This Sultan has the world's largest and costliest living palace in the world with about 85 rest rooms and over 200 rooms and the palace sits on over 500hectares of land. He owns the highest number of cars in the world as a single individual, owning about 7000 Porsche cars including 187 bentleys, 200 Mercedes Benz, 187 Lamboginis, 170 Ferraris and over 250 Rolls Royce collections with one completely gold-plated. He owns the world's third costliest private jet with the outside gold plated and inside furnished with pure-good and the jet costs over USD200million and he owns the largest housing estate in Las Vegas, USA.

Now, the Sultan is lavish in spending and we may think that he must be a psycho for owing all those affluence and wealth. You may add that he is craze-like for owning about 7000 cars, instead of using those monies to impact on the people, particularly less privileged. First, in Brunei his kingdom, assess to healthcare is totally free for children, the elderly, the police, the military and the less privileged. Most of their education system is free for these class of persons too and no tax for all nationals.

What about his acquiring fantasies of the world. It is said that he makes about USD100 every second, incredible right? Well, that's how rich he is. The Sultan in acquiring all those wealth is indirectly impacting also on the society. These companies he makes those purchases from all have families and his spending on those puts monies back into their purses and grows their bank digits.

So lately, a few of my friends have engaged me near-endlessly to write or speak about my thoughts regarding the ongoing Big Brother Nigeria TV Show. I choose to ignore because a lot has been said already by many either for or against the show. What more therefore can I say that has not been said. I would try, I often respond to those requests.

Firstly, while I am open to making inputs whenever I deem it fit or the demand comes up, I am usually making those inputs on a personal stand or mindset. We can always disagree but we must respect each other's choices or opinions to the later.

The, I think annual TV game show has in recent time, unlike years past gathered a momentous dissenting voices speaking loudly and unapologetically against the show. Many insist that it yields no good returns to the psyche, mindset and general wellness of the nation, neither does it impact positively on the lives of the people. A chunk percentage call it a pornography show redefined. Well, a huge folllowership and fan base supports the program and delight in watching it, even in the deepest times of the night. Whichever side of divide you stand, you are right!

This show isn't new and most of us understand or are made to understand that it's basically a game and where a select few are put together to live their lives and camera fixed at various corners follow their daily activities. These persons, usually young adults of mixed sexes do virtually everything. I tell you what, there is no way you house young adults, particularly who are sexually active together for so long that those scenes wouldn't play out. It may only take sometime, but it surely will.

Now, most people make their points based on the usual near-gory sights that follows. I know the station must pre-warn 18+. I also know that one must pay a subscription to view it. And even if your subscription is maximum, one can decide not to tune into the channel. Those said, one has a choice to watch it or not to. We all must agree on this one atleast.

It is true that there are acts that take place in the house which one often gets crazed-up with, tell me, how does one describe the very passionate French-kisses, the somewhat of breast suckling competitions, the mixed bath-together and somewhat of foul-play that follows in bathtubs, the other habitual sexual undertones, if not even the real deal. But yes, these guys are adults and if they choose to play by the rule of the game and it makes them happy, it's okay, atleast for and to them.

You see, a whole lot of companies sponsor the show. They pay a huge amount of money to be part of the sponsors and the organizes themselves make a whole lot of money in return. So, somehow, while Nigerians are voting at an agreed cost, monies are also flooding into the accounts of the organizers. It's like usual beauty pageants where contestants purchase forms, sale to attendants and sponsors come in also, purchasing a car and meager monetary rewards are nothing when compared to huge sums made as returns. So, just like the affluent lavish Sultan, monies are generated and people are making gains out of it. It's business and people always have a choice to either key-in or opt out.

Now, my only worry isn't even the game proper, it's not just the moral decadence it's bringing on the people and our nation, it's actually what a misplaced voice of what is and what we are in. Now, it's not my business of whatsoever that happens in that house. I know that I am not interested in it, would not be willing to participate and I do not even log unto the channel. There are even more pressing needs that I am preoccupied with, instead of the day to day lives of others under the guise of game for a reward of N25million and a car. If it gives them happiness, goodluck!

You see, I am even more worried that a huge, if not over 45% of the Nigerian youth populace are often glued to their television stations or even through their gadgets on the internet to watch this show. You see, in Singapore, young Singaporeans are making advancement in their academic and scienctific know-how, they are demanding and are given scholarships to enhance their education and today, the hope of the nation keeps skyrocketing by a dedicated youth populace. Singapore used to import as little as sand, today they own the world's busiest seaport.

In India, formerly backward India, the youth are making honest inputs to the nation's growth and development. They are struggling with their studious choices and now, the in vogue method of advancement and breakthroughs in technological know how. The nation is gracefully very hopeful.

It was young Syrians that began the match from Allepo, speaking in unison against a dictatorial government. They made their voices heard, starting from writings on walls of their schools to what has grown to a full fleshed war to bring down a failing Government.

All over the world, young people remains the only hope of a prosperous and forward looking nation. If any group, people or country must grow, they must be willing to invest heavily in the wellness and tutelage of her young. While that is done less or not at all in our nation because of years of failure in leadership by our political class, what efforts are Nigerian young persons making. Ofcourse, at even 30years many employable Nigerian youth are unemployed, they cross their legs sitting by their parents lavish homes with eyes on their room's television watching the very popular TV series, the Big Brother Game Show. This is game yes, but it's more or less a big distraction to the reality of the present.

I have once called it a show of shame and I haven't changed my mind about that. And it doesn't mean that those who participate in the act, the guests who visit the house or the viewers themselves are shameless, no! It would be shameful on my own side if I become wholly free and totally jobless to take out time to watch it. Well, these are adults who can distinctively place quite clearly, what is right or wrong for them and so, if it gives them joy and unparalleled fulfillment, why not?

So, do whatsoever gives you joy. If the Big Brother Nigeria Game Show gives them, go ahead, but do not be so foolish to be wholly carried away from the realities of the present, that all is not well with our nation of Nigeria and that it isn't getting any better sadly. If Nigeria must work, its you and I, Nigerians and particularly the young that would make the dream come to fruition.

Ages, past and Government have failed us woefully, what efforts are we making to rescue the situation or not to fail ourselves and generations after us also. We don't need Jesus or prayers, we need dedication, focus, honesty. Infact, we need to get our acts together and prioritize intelligently.

This word called priority. Intelligently prioritize your options and choices.

Aren't there more worries or more pressing needs before us to discuss but this Big Brother Nigeria TV Game Show? Are we this jobless?

Tobenna Obiano.