They say “money can’t buy you love,” if money can, Kiddwaya, son of one time London socialite, billionaire Terry Waya, would still be in the Big Brother Naija Lockdown house. Kiddwaya was evicted two weeks before the end of the show to the dismay of BB-Naija fans all over Nigeria and Africa. He was prepared before he came to the house with online managers working for him on the outside laundering his image and canvassing for votes. One cannot say that with the other housemates. Fans and housemates alike thought he would make the last five, but he didn’t. Money can’t buy you love I guess.
Kiddwaya’s participation in the BB-Naija house suddenly re-launched Terry Waya, his father, who has been out of the limelight since he fell out with London Metropolitan Police after he bailed Governor Alameshiyegha from prison and the man dressed up like a woman and skipped bailed from London, escaping to Nigeria. Mr. Versace as they called Terry Waya, is not known for philanthropy but some of the biggest parties back in the early 2000s for governors and money bag Nigerians in London, covered mostly by Dele Momodu’s Ovation magazine. Incidentally, one of the major interviews he granted recently to talk about his son Kiddwaya, the new celebrity in town, was by Dele Momodu.
But this is not about Kiddwaya, the son, but much more about Terry Waya, the billionaire father. It simply looks like a deliberate re-launch of a limelight man who has been out of the limelight back to the front-page. Terry Waya is enjoying every bit of it, basking in the euphoria of the attention, suddenly talking about how he made money through the discovery and marketing of Banana Island. He is talking to BBC pidgin English and using any opportunity to launder his image.
Before Kiddwaya was evicted, Terry Waya bragged about giving half the winning money to Erica, Kiddwaya’s girlfriend in the BB-Naija house. Erica was disqualified from the show for breaking rules and regulations of the BB-Naija house. It seems anything to say to make headlines Terry Waya would say. He seems happy from the videoclips I have watched of him these few days with all the attention he is getting. It must be terrible being completely out of the headlines for years. Terry Waya doesn’t want to lose this opportunity to be back, riding on the back of his son’s BB-Naija fame.
I am now hearing from the grapevine that Terry Waya is planning a comeback into the limelight through politics. He has a political ambition. It could be the senate or the governor of Benue State, and there is no better time than now to ride on his son’s popularity, which his own popularity helped, to come back to the stage.
Venturing into politics wouldn’t be an easy one in a clime like Nigeria where politicians fight very dirty. Terry Waya would have to be ready to divulge more about how he became the billionaire than just that story about selling Banana Island and making fortune. He has been linked to some of the major money laundering racketeering for Nigerian politicians by London Police. He had two convictions in England for a couple of financial crimes and also had a run-in with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Right now Mr. Versace is enjoying the moment. Kiddwaya may be the new celebrity on the block, but Terry Waya was the real deal back in the days and now he is trying to steal the show from his son.
*** Written by George Onmonya Daniel.
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