I regret not playing emotional game to win BBNaija prize — Ex-housemate Ike Onyema

Ike Onyema, a former housemate on the Big Brother Naija "Pepper Dem" season, has expressed regret over his strategy during the 2019 competition. Onyema stated that he believed winning tasks would be sufficient to win the grand prize and now wishes he had adopted a more emotional approach.

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I regret not crying. If I knew what the show was, guy, I’d have been in that house doing emotional displays, crying up and down. But I thought if I went in there, won all my challenges and kept winning, I’d win the money.

"I regret not crying," Onyema said in a recent interview. "If I knew what the show was, guy, I’d have been in that house doing emotional displays, crying up and down. But I thought if I went in there, won all my challenges and kept winning, I’d win the money." He revealed that his earnings from his first appearance were less than ₦4 million, with rewards coming in smaller increments.

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For me, it was a normal relationship. I even think I tried because, normally, like I said, I’m not really a relationship person. I’m focused on business. How can I make this? How can I do that?

Onyema also reflected on his relationship within the house, asserting that it was genuine and not a strategic move. "For me, it was a normal relationship," he explained. "The only thing I would change is I would try to win that money... But other than that, I wouldn’t change anything."

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See, I would try different ways. I would win that money. But other than that, I wouldn’t change anything.

The entrepreneur further elaborated on his decision to relocate to Nigeria from the United States, citing greater business freedom. He found obtaining a liquor license significantly easier in Nigeria compared to the US, where his applications were repeatedly rejected. However, Onyema acknowledged that generating income in Nigeria requires considerably more effort and a stronger work ethic, stating, "It was when I came to Nigeria that I realised I thought I used to struggle. I didn’t know. It’s here I learned how to struggle."

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I sell drinks here. To get my liquor licence, I just had to talk to a few people, make some good contacts at the government office and do one or two things. I got my liquor licence and my store quickly.