The father of Big Brother Naija All Stars winner, Ilebaye Odiniya, Emmanuel Godson Odiniya, has broken his silence over the viral family altercation involving his daughter, alleging that he was provoked before the confrontation escalated.
Odiniya made the claims in an audio recording shared on social media by Kogi-based journalist, Jeremiah Promise Enemona Ocheme, on Sunday.
The incident had generated widespread reactions after Ilebaye appeared in an emotional livestream video crying for help, with visible swelling on her face, following a confrontation at the family’s residence in Royal Anchor Estate, Wuye, Abuja.
Speaking in the audio recording, Odiniya said the incident was not because he hated his daughter, insisting that Ilebaye remains one of his most loved children.
“I want to put the records straight that what led to that incident was not that I don’t love my daughter. She is one of my best children,” he said.
He claimed that he played a major role in mobilising support for Ilebaye during her time in the Big Brother Naija All Stars house, saying he used his influence and connections to encourage people to vote for her until she emerged winner.
“During her time in the Big Brother Naija house, I contributed a lot. I stood by my daughter and made sure people voted for her massively. I used my influence and connections, including governors and other people, to support her until she won,” he stated.
Odiniya alleged that his relationship with Ilebaye began to deteriorate after she won the reality show, accusing her of becoming disrespectful and difficult to reach.
According to him, he expected her to appreciate those who supported her, especially people from Kogi State and others who contributed to her success, but claimed she failed to do so.
He said, “I saw a lot of things going wrong with her when it comes to the issue of appreciating what they did for you when you were in Big Brother. I used my influence seriously to make people of Kogi State and all over vote massively for my daughter. Even governors of some states and my colleagues donated money which was used in buying the IUC.”
He further alleged that Ilebaye stopped giving him attention after the show.
“After she came out and won, she changed. Ilebaye stopped listening to me. I would book her appointments five to six times in a week and she wouldn’t give me audience. She stopped regarding me as her father,” he alleged.
The father also criticised some of her lifestyle choices, particularly alleged cosmetic procedures.
“I warned her against getting cosmetic surgery, face reconstruction with fillers and BBL. She’s too young for that,” he said.
Odiniya further alleged that Ilebaye had physically attacked him on previous occasions, claiming that one of such incidents left him bleeding.
“She has hit me twice, and I didn’t do anything to her. One day she took an AC hanger and hit me with it till blood started gushing out of my body,” he claimed.
Speaking on the latest confrontation, he alleged that Ilebaye insulted him and attacked him first before the situation escalated.
“In this recent incident, she insulted me, hit me first with a sea hanger, causing bleeding, pushed me, and then broke an electric lantern on my head,” he alleged.
Odiniya also accused his daughter of neglecting him financially during a period when he needed medical attention.
He said he had asked Ilebaye to assist him with money for a planned medical check-up in Dubai, promising to refund her when expected funds arrived, but alleged that she told him she had no money.