BBNaija loverbirds, Mercy Eke and Ike have opened up in an interview with Mediaroomhub about their lives before and after the Big Brother Naija House, love life and plans for their future.
During the interview, Mercy cautioned aspiring Big Brother Naija housemates to ensure they do not get disqualified because of anger issues.
Recall that Tacha was disqualified for being violent in the house, days before the end of the show.
Her advice has caused outrage on social media with some people insinuating that she is mocking Tacha who was disqualified in the BBNaija house,
See the video below;
Read the excerpt from the interview;
What’s the biggest lesson you guys learned in the Big Brother Naija challenge?
Ike: I learned about valuing other people, valuing different personality, and love. I came with the intention I know it all, but I discovered I still have a lot to learn.
You came with that gangster-like attitude to the house, but slowed down afterwards. It seems Mercy tamed that part of you, she influenced you and you mellowed a bit because you didn’t want to wrong her.
Ike: If the truth is 100% that’s like 40%. I realized that I was given strikes and the concept of the show from the beginning was not what I thought, the concept was to showcase and sell yourself. Come in there, act a fool and entertain. When I came in, I started to realize what the show was all about and I started changing, the strikes helped me change. Of course, Mercy did help me change too.
So how’s the journey for you?
Mercy: Ever since I left the house, I learned to be more patient, to respect people’s space. Before the house, I used to be with my friends. I was not used to being in a circle of 25 people and sharing the same bathroom, doing everything together, when you wake up someone is either to your left or to your right. I learned to accommodate people. It was really educative for me, during my stay in the house, there was no pen, no paper, everything we had to do, if you didn’t have it upstairs; then you were not going to perform. During our tasks, the house really shaped me in a positive way. The house helped me. I used to flip at every little thing before, the strikes too like he said mellowed us down, those are the things that I took away from the house.
Did you go to the house hoping you would meet your man?
Never! During my audition I said it, that I was single but not searching. I said to myself I can do it all alone, like I want to play this game alone. I am a big fan of Big Brother Naija. I used to watch the show back to back, I have a particular housemate then I want to be like, during that time I was single, I just want to play it alone and have fun. But when I met Ike, a whole lot of things changed, we started off as best friends, then the house… They started calling us boyfriend and girlfriend even when Ike hasn’t asked me out, they are already instigating, you know when you wake up, you gist and see this person, there are possibilities of falling in love.
Who approached the other first?
Ike: I think I approached Mercy first. I have met Mercy before the house, on actor, model business level but when I came into the house I looked at her as an ally. The house is about nomination, I looked at her as a strong ally.
Mercy: You were using me?
Ike: No, in the beginning we were just friends. I thought, let us do a team work. One time in the house, i said what’s up, I’m a fine boy and you are a fine girl. She told me everything that’s not what I came here for. After seeing everybody’s character in the house, you noticed this person that’s too fake, too annoying, but Mercy seemed like the person I could connect with. I saw some potential in her and I saw similarities in myself. So, I had to chase her and that was it.
Do you have girlfriend in America or Nigeria?
Ike: I have friends that are girls, i haven’t had a girlfriend since February 2018. I was happy being single, extremely happy. Like my first love was money, but when I met Mercy she really started helping me see a lot of things, she made me make some choices in the house that I normally wouldn’t make. I mean that’s love.
People said you were using her in the house. Would really say that you love her genuinely? At some point you forgot about the game, you became a lover boy.
Ike: I thought I was too strong, I wasn’t scared of eviction. I was comfortable with the confidence I have in myself. That’s kind of helping me focusing on Mercy. She’s a difficult lady, I had told her a lot of time to turn on the fire and all.
People felt you were also liking Tacha in the house before you and Mercy bonded
Ike: Throughout the house, everybody was my friend except Joe, especially Tacha. People came up with that idea because Tacha didn’t have a lot of friends. Mercy understands that we discussed it after the house. Me and My Tacha we are friends; Mercy is my number one.
Are you and Tacha still friends?
Of course, we are. I think a friend is a loose term, to me we are definitely cool.
There was a time in the house when Mercy and Tacha were fighting; you were worried but when Mercy reported to you, you became calm and smiling. Are you always like that?
Ike: I know I am too intelligent to know if someone wants to put me in a fight, if you have an issue with Mercy, deal with Mercy, the way I grew up, I like being calm and cool I knew not all that stuff should end up a fight. That stuff is funny, it is entertaining to me. I know Mercy can handle herself. I knew she was good. If I knew the stuff would affect her like that, I would have jumped it, I know she’s good.
At some point you were attracted to Tacha, at what point did Mercy take over your mind?
Ike: The second day in the house, Frodd, Jeff and Seyi were talking about the girls in the house and I just said they are cute, who was cute and all. Mercy was beautiful, it was Seyi that told me Tacha has a boyfriend. Mercy was my first choice.
Mercy: You were my first choice. I wasn’t ready for Ike. I could remember I was chasing him, go and meet other girls, then I meet someone, Ike was the first one, my first choice.
Are you guys considering marriage?
Ike: I think a lot of things happening in our lives, a lot of business and all, but I am holding on to Mercy. I don’t play with my things. So, let’s see how things go.
So, Mercy is that same with you?
Laughs… Yea, same with me.
While in the house, there was a particular day of the week you guys had the heart-to-heart talk and Mercy was all emotional…