Popular Big Brother Naija director, Gbenga Kayode, has dismissed claims that the reality television show was designed to divert the attention of Nigerians, particularly young people.
The show’s organisers have repeatedly faced accusations of using the programme to distract the public, especially during election seasons.
Speaking on a recent episode of the CreativiTea podcast, Kayode rejected the allegations, insisting that Big Brother Naija was never created with the intention of distracting Nigerians.
He emphasised that the reality TV show is apolitical and is not intended to be a tool for political distraction.
“To be very honest, we never approach Big Brother Naija show from the angle of politics or distraction. People definitely have assumptions that are not true.
“The ideas are basically if you put people in this space under these conditions, what will happen? How the people would react, we don’t know. It has nothing to do with politics or distracting people,” he said.
Kayode also rejected claims that BBNaija is part of the “Olodo uprising” that promotes illiteracy, arguing that all the past winners of the show were graduates.