Veteran Nigerian artist, Zakky Azzay has asked BBNiajastar, Venita Akpofure to show the world evidence to back her remark on Tiv or tender an apology to the Tiv people.
‘Na me go marry am’ crooner stated this on Monday when he called this reporter, following a comment credited to Venita where she allegedly said Tiv people have a culture where their men offer their wives to visitors for bedroom pleasures.
Azzay, who is a Tiv descendant disclosed that since the TV reality star made that comment in the house he has received several calls from notable Tiv people condemning such unfounded rumors coming from her and on a huge platform like BigBrotherNaija.
He said, “Why it became a bother for me and MyTiv kinsmen was because she was once married to a Benue man and has kids for him. It’s like someone from Benue saying something about Benue that is not true.
“There are two major things here, BBNaija is the highest and widest watched program in Nigeria. And for her to say it on that platform. Another thing is the fact that she was married to a Benue man and has children for him, it would make it look as if it is true. That statement is at the detriment of a tribe in Nigeria.”
Azzay has also debunked the age-long rumor, saying it’s false.
“I heard this as a rumor and I asked my parents and grandparents about it, and they said it’s not true. That a Tiv man guides his wife jealously, in fact, if a Tiv man catches you with his wife he can go to the extent of killing you.”
He added that Tiv people are not happy with the TV reality star and BigBrother. On the part of BBNiaja, Azzay said that they should not have let such a statement concerning a tribe as big as Tiv slide. He said, “She has to give us evidence, we don’t know what transpired between her and her ex-husband. Maybe her husband offered her to somebody. If that was the case, let her prove it to us.
“If she has no proof then we demand an apology from her and even Big Brother. I think BigBrotherNaija being a famous program shouldn’t allow such a statement that is intended to rubbish the image of a tribe slide.
“BBNaija should also have some guidelines, especially when somebody says something in the house that is defamatory, they can caution the person. There was something that Seyi said in the house about women and I saw how Big Brother cautioned him and he apologized. I am surprised that Big Brother allowed this to slide.”
