By Grace John
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, has openly supported the disgraced Big Brother Naija’s housemate, Ekemini Ekerette.
Mr Ekerette, popularly known as Kemen was last week disqualified from the BBN show for alleged sexual harassment.
The organisers of the show had accused the Akwa Ibom born-fitness expert and model of fondling a fellow housemate, T-Boss, while she was asleep.
He is the first housemate to be disqualified from the show.
But speaking in support of the housemate, Mr Luke said Kemen made a mistake just like all humans and should not be crucified.
“We are all humans and are prone to mistakes,” the speaker wrote on his official Facebook page.
“Just after the celebration of our son, Kemen by fans and followers of BBN on the social media, his disqualification from the house changed the perspective of the public.
“Every social media now saturate with all manner of stories of Kemen and his downfall. Kemen is crucified by many, who had celebrated him earlier,” said Mr Luke.
The reality TV series was launched on January 22, with 14 contestants also known as “housemates”, after 10 years of holding its first edition in the country as Big Brother Nigeria.
Award-winning Nigerian singers Yemi Alade, Flavour and ‘K9’ performed live during the launch.
The host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, a former housemate, who introduced the housemates had said he remained one of the biggest supporters of the show.
“Ten years ago, I was a housemate, today I am one of their biggest supporters,” Obi-Uchendu said.
The winner of the 11-week contest will be given 25-million-naira cash prize and a brand-new Kia Sorento SUV car. The series will run for 78 days and end on April 9.
The show, which was introduced in 2006, is a special Nigerian version of the continental show Big Brother Africa.
It was specially coined to suit the viewing interest of the Nigerian viewers, who largely expressed displeasure over the controversial “shower hour” and nudity of the continental show.
Only Efe, Bally, Thin Tall Tony (TTT), T-Boss, Bassey, Derbyrise, Bisola and Marvis are still in the house.