It was all applause yesterday as this season’s winner of the reality TV show, Big Brother Nigeria emerged in 22-year-old Ilebaye Precious Odiniya, professionally known as Ilebaye.
She was crowned after emerging as No. 1 by an announcement by the show’s host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.
Ilebaye was declared the winner during the finale live show after she garnered the highest votes in the final week.
She triumphed over fellow finalists Mercy, CeeC, Cross, Adekunle, and Pere, to claim the N120 million grand prize in the Allstars edition of the reality show.
Twenty-four housemates, including four guest housemates, participated in the show, which premiered on July 23, 2023, and concluded on Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day anniversary yesterday, October 1, 2023.
The season finale show featured performances from popular Afrobeat stars, Skales and Bnxn.
As the show ended, it emerged that Ilebaye, the youngest housemate, was joining the exclusive list of past winners of the reality TV show.
These include Katung Aduwak, Efe Ejeba, Miracle Igbokwe, Mercy Eke, Olamilekan Agbeleshebioba (Laycon), Hazel Oyeze Onou (Whitemoney), and Ijeoma Josephina Otabor (Phyna) of seasons 1-7, respectively.
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Arguably the most entertaining of the Big Brother Naija All Stars series, with N120 million at stake, and running for about 10 weeks, expectations were high last night as to who would eventually carry the day.
While it lasted, the show was also described as being by far the most intriguing with twists and turns, in a ‘most unpredictable season’.
According to a narrative, “It is difficult to point out a likely winner, even hours before the finale.
From its inaugural season in 2006, to the six previous seasons that followed after its 11-year hiatus, Big Brother Naija’s fans are said to have been enamored with predicting the eventual winners, “but this season saw a change in that tradition”.
Another high point of this year’s take, according to watchers, is the tendency that the “reality show is (now) open to all the finalists”, contrary to trends in the past that controversy trailed whoever emerged.
Taking a bird-eye view, the participants in this year’s edition are of various backgrounds. The eventual winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, aka Baye, came into the House as an underdog. Many questioned the inclusion of the self-styled “Gen Z Baddie” in the All-Star edition since she was a three-week evictee of the most recent season, ‘Level Up’ 2022.
However, the 22-year-old’s game skyrocketed when she adopted the persona of “the bullied housemate”. Her strategy worked effortlessly since she was the youngest in the House.
Adekunle Olopade, a.k.a. ‘Bad Boy Deks’, was described as a no-pushover. “His exploits in the All-Star House testify to the beauty of second chances. He caught the attention of many when he emerged as the first Head of House of the All-Star season. Though a finalist in the ‘Level Up’ season in 2022, his first stint in Biggie’s house wasn’t rosy. On his second coming, Bad Boy Deks found his mojo and also found love with Venita.
Adekunle earned his spot in the final after surviving the last eviction that swallowed his love interest, Venita, and lovebirds, Soma and Angel.
Cynthia ‘CeeC’ Nwadiora, also known as the “queen of Spartans”’ really made a second coming, which fell a little bit short of glory. “She quickly emerged as one of the strongest housemates despite being an alumna of one of the oldest seasons. CeeC was the 1st runner-up of Big Brother Naija Season 3 ‘Double Wahala’ in 2018. She recorded a massive following while the show lasted, but not good enough to break her ‘jinx’.
Pere Egbi is known among friends as one of the Patriots. A strong force on the show, he was also a finalist during his season ‘Shine Ya Eye’ in 2021.
Pere survived the last eviction to book a place in the final after surprisingly topping strong names like Venita and Angel.
Ikechukwu Sunday ‘Cross Okonkwo is described as the only housemate “who was never up for eviction until the final voting”.
“After escaping nominations for possible eviction throughout the season, Cross bought immunity with Moneypoint coins in the eighth week to go straight to the final”
Despite his fans not flexing their muscles throughout the season until the final voting, the loyalty of his fanbase is never in doubt.”
The emergence of a winner climaxed what represented a media war between groups – The Tribe, Spartans, Mercenaries, Islanders, Crossers, and Patriots – all who eagerly waited for the diadem; N120 million!
At the end of a grueling and energy-sapping 10 weeks, it was obvious that only one winner could emerge. Step out, Ilebaye Precious Odiniya, the winner of Big Brother Naija All-Stars megastar prize for 2023.
