By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
Reality TV star Kiddwaya is under heavy fire on social media following his recent appeal for donations to support victims of the killings in Benue State.
Through the Kiddwaya Foundation, the former BBNaija housemate urged Nigerians to contribute funds, amplify the message, and offer advocacy for what he described as a “national emergency.”
However, instead of receiving support, the initiative drew a wave of backlash online, with many accusing Kiddwaya of hypocrisy and “performative generosity.”
The outrage was triggered by a tweet from user @MrMekzy_, who posted:”That brother gave White Money $30k for one plate of jollof rice. It has reached time to help his own people now and he’s dropping account number and asking us to donate. Smh.”
The tweet quickly went viral, sparking a heated conversation on X (formerly Twitter). Another user, @BabyWhale___, didn’t mince words:”Thunder fire everyone involved in creating this nonsense I just read. From the designer of the logo, to the social media handler and the werey Kiddwaya. Thunder fire all of you.”
The criticism continued to mount with @blazeepascal tweeting:”Kiddwaya this format don cast naa. You are now out of ideas.”
Many Nigerians questioned why someone known for extravagant gestures, like gifting fellow ex-housemate White Money $30,000 for a single meal, would now turn to the public for funds.
They argued that Kiddwaya, the son of a billionaire, should be leading by example with a substantial personal contribution rather than relying on ordinary citizens.
The Kiddwaya Foundation’s post, which referred to the crisis in Benue as urgent and deserving of national attention, asked for financial support and help spreading awareness.
But for many, the message was overshadowed by what they saw as a lack of personal accountability. As of now, Kiddwaya has not responded to the criticism surrounding the donation appeal.
Social media remains abuzz with opinions, with many Nigerians demanding more sincerity and less showmanship from public figures, especially when addressing matters as serious as humanitarian crises.
Kiddwaya, son of Benue billionaire, Terry Waya appeared in the Big Brother Naija reality TV show season titled “Lockdown” which had music artiste, Laycon as the eventual winner.
