Hon. Godson Odiniya, father of former Big Brother Naija winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, has broken his silence over the physical altercation involving the reality TV star,.
NPO Reports recall that a live instagram video showed Ilebaye in tears while being assaulted in the early hours of Saturday.
She was heard shouting, “Come and help me” and “Please open the door,” during the incident said to have occurred at her family house.
Reacting, Odiniya alleged that his daughter became difficult to advise after gaining fame from the reality TV show and associating with certain friends.
According to him, he had repeatedly encouraged Ilebaye to publicly appreciate supporters who stood by her throughout the competition.
“I told her to give a public appreciation to those who supported us till she won BBNaija, but she refused. Her fans began to move backwards and we were not getting support like we expected,” he said.
The father of the reality star also accused her of ignoring advice about her spending habits and lifestyle choices.
He alleged that Ilebaye underwent cosmetic surgery at a young age and often reacted aggressively whenever he attempted to counsel her.
“A child of 24 or 25 went for surgery to beautify her face, body and backside. Each time I talk to her, she insults me. I swallowed the insults and continued advising her until she started seeing me as her number one enemy,” he claimed.
Odiniya further stated that he had encouraged the reality TV personality to invest in projects that could benefit less privileged people instead of living extravagantly.
“The way she spends money, I told her several times that we should develop something that would help the poor and the less privileged, but she would not listen,” he added.
Narrating his version of the incident, he alleged that Ilebaye attacked him during an argument.
“I decided to sit her down and talk to her because she was disappointing me too much. She took an AC hanger and hit me. She also used an electric lantern and broke it on my head. You can see the wound here,” he alleged.
He also claimed that after undergoing surgery, “anything that touches her, no matter how little, becomes serious.”
Defending his actions, Odiniya said he reacted out of frustration and concern for his daughter’s future.
“I hit her out of provocation to scold her because I cannot watch her destroy her life,” he stated.
The Kogi State politician also claimed he played a significant role in supporting Ilebaye’s journey on Big Brother Naija which prompted her win in 2023.
“When she told me she wanted to join Big Brother, I accepted it and I began to work towards it,” he stated.
According to him, he mobilised political associates, supporters, and Nigerians both within and outside the country to vote massively for the reality TV star.
“I contributed a lot using my relationship with Nigerians all over and outside to vote my daughter massively. It’s well over 75 percent,” he claimed.
He further alleged that governors, political colleagues, and supporters from Kogi State contributed financially to sustain her stay in the competition.
“Even governors of some states and my colleagues donated money which was used in buying the IUC,” he alleged.
The politician, who reportedly receiving treatment in Abuja, expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of appreciation following Ilebaye’s victory.
“What I was expecting from her wasn’t coming,” he said, alleging that she stopped listening to him and rarely gave him audience despite several attempts to reach her.
“I would book Ilebaye five to six times in a week; she would never give me audience,” he alleged.
NPO reports that the incident had generated widespread reactions on social media.