BBNaija Viewers Split as HOH Orders Prayer
Big Brother Naija Season 11 Head of House Chimsom Chuka has drawn mixed reactions after asking fellow housemates to observe a prayer before the start of a house meeting on Sunday.
The pharmacist and actor from Anambra, who emerged as the first Head of House of the season, made the request while addressing the group. In a video that has since circulated widely, Chimsom gathered the housemates and said, “One person should pray for us… quickly.” When murmurs rose from the gathering, he added, “It is my meeting; I decide what happens.”
The moment has divided viewers. Some described the request as inappropriate for a reality television show, while others defended it as a common practice in many Nigerian settings.
Since becoming Head of House, Chimsom has enforced a strict leadership style. He has insisted on punctuality, called regular meetings, addressed hygiene and kitchen issues, and warned housemates that he could report them to Big Brother for disciplinary action if they failed to follow house rules. His approach has earned both praise for organisation and criticism for being overly controlling.
Reactions on X reflected the split. User #Feyisparkles wrote, “I hope Big Brother addresses this, this is not a religious show fgs.” Another, #the_Lawrenz, asked, “You carry prayers enter worldly 18+ show? I’m crying.” User #lynda32333 commented, “He is gradually losing it. Na prayer house una dey?” while #aharikeh01 said, “Why praying? Imagine tomorrow Yusuf says he wants to pray. Is that not part of the rule? You can pray alone but not generally.”
#CeleDelene wrote, “At that moment I switched off my TV because I knew that meeting go long. He can’t win HOH again. Imagine commanding someone to pray. I can’t deal.” Mayokun and others under #Olatu125 added, “If this boy becomes Nigeria president, we no go fit drink water drop cup. Idi Amin go dey learn work. It’s the hypocrisy for me. One minute you are asking for a fornication partnership, the next ‘one person pray for us.’ Reflective of the Nigerian society as a whole.” User #bigwinp_ simply stated, “Hopefully he leaves the house soon. Mumu HOH. Makes the show boring af.”
Supporters took a different view. Tersoo Adorowa (#king_tersoo) noted, “It’s BBNaija, not Sunday service. Asking for a quick prayer before a meeting is very Nigerian and common in a lot of African spaces, but the way he shut down the grumbles with ‘it’s my meeting, I decide’ is where it crosses into forced vibes. Not everyone in that house is religious.”
Nsidibe (#j_papegm) argued that the request was inclusive. “Christians and Muslims can pray. When he said someone should pray, he didn’t say it must be a Christian. Guys are easy-flowing beings. I have gone to watch guys play football where there are Muslims and Christians, and the team leader will ask someone to pray before training starts.”
User #callmepopp said housemates should be allowed to handle such situations themselves. “This is a show of humans from different backgrounds coming together and some humans are religious. Those who are not can excuse themselves. Big Brother must not dictate how they coexist. They’re not kids.” Blogger #bloggerosas_ added, “I don’t really see a problem with what he did here. If Big Brother actually addresses it, then it just says a lot about the show.”
The prayer incident has become one of the early talking points of BBNaija Season 11. Viewers remain divided over whether Chimsom’s firm leadership brings needed discipline to the house or reduces the entertainment value of the reality show. As the season continues, his style is likely to remain under close watch both inside the house and among the audience outside.