Interview

How I Spent My 200,000 Dollars – Uti Nwachukwu

UtiUti Nwachukwu is the winner of Big Brother Africa (BBA) Season 5. His sudden appearance at the last BBA Hotshot electrified the house to the delight of many. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON, the showman speaks about that cameo, romance and what he did with his $200,000 BBA prize money. Excerpts:

Many people were surprised at your sudden appearance at the last Big Brother Africa (BBA).What could have prompted that?

Well, as a BBA alumnus, you could be called upon any time for an assignment, and you can’t say no to such task. So, when I was called, I asked what it was about and I was made to understand that BBA actuallywanted me to help in carrying out a prank on the housemates. I confirmed my availability and was asked to return to the house to cause commotion; just to stir up the dramas a bit because the housemates were playing too safe. They were all acting too nice because they were all conscious about Africa. ‘Oh, how will Africa perceive me? I’ve got to be perfect’, were some of their thinking. So, all the fun elements were thrown out in a bid to be too good. We had to bring out the ugliness in these amazing characters and cause some drama. And we did just that. But, we were actually supposed to target our countrymen, and that was a tough one for me. You know how difficult that could be; if you overdo that, people will accuse you of going in there to jeopardize the chances of your compatriot. So, I went in to just be an instigator and before leaving the house, I was expected to also be a motivator, mentor and all of those I did.

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Nigerians expected Tayo Faniran to win the grand prize but that was not to be. Would you say the judges were fair in their choice?

Well, Faniran is my countryman and friend and naturally, I would have wanted him to win but people must come to understand that the show is Big Brother Africa and not Big Brother Nigeria. It’s one thing to charm your country and another to charm other nationals. Idris won and when I was inside that house, there was something I noticed about Idris; he was a charmer. He thrilled the ladies almost effortlessly.

I guess that as well shone through the screen.And you know that the BBA winners get more votes from women, men only vote with their mouths. So, if it was up to Nigerians, Tayo would win but Idris won Africa’s heart. Going by the chart, Idris won by three countries more. We always try to sensitise Nigerians not to feel cheated all the time. We should remember that other countries voted for people like me, Karen Igho and Kelvin Chuwang-Pam. It boils down to the individual at the end of the day. BBA has spent so much money and time than to endanger its credibility. I’m a product of the show, if there was anyone they wouldn’t have allowed to win, it would have been me. Come on, Kelvin had just won the previous year, I had a serious battle with Munia, so if there was anyone they were going to cheat, they would have cheated me. I can vouch for BBA’s credibility.

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You won after 91 days of grueling experiences in the BBA house with a mouth-watering sum of $200,000. How did you spend that money?

That’s actually a very personal question. Do you want to start asking me to list everything I’ve had to do with the money? Obviously, a chunk of it has gone into my career and that’s all I am going to say; l secured my future with that money. By God’sgrace, there is no going back.

Dillish Matthews was once quoted as saying that the BBA Hotspot was boring. Could that have been part of why you were invited?

It wasn’t boring. The housemates were just playing too safe. There was no drama and BBA needed that element but that obviously, was missing. There was no fighting and the rest. I would have given you my opinion on this, but honestly, I was too busy to watch it. When I was invited to BBA to stir thatdrama, I had to cut a whole lot of things. I am a veryloyal person, so I’m loyal to the brand because it set off my career. I was supposed to do two things that week, but I cancelled them. When BBA calls, it’s like your dad’s calling you. It’s difficult to say no nothing could be accepted as an excuse. Matthews actually meant that the house lacked drama because all the crazy people had been evicted. The only person that was left in the house as far as many were concerned was our own Faniran. He was the one bringing all the drama and many housemates were not allowing him to be as dramatic as he wanted to be. But if you notice, when we were in the house for that one week, a lot of people came out of their shell.

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And that’s what the BBA is all about. You have to bring the drama in as much as you want to please Africa. In a wise way, you must stir your drama.

Nearly every weekend, you compere at wedding receptions. When willyou invite your fans to yours?

When it happens, you’d know. That’s if I even want you to know. For all you care, how do you even know I’m not married already?

It’s a very personal thing. I’m keeping my personal things private now because he mistake I made in the past was addressing such issues.

Let’s leave that side. Whenever it happens, it happens