How my family neglected me growing up — BBNaija Abi

By Nehru Odeh

Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemate Abi has opened up about what she described as years of neglect by her family, revealing that she was treated differently from her siblings while growing up.

Abi made the emotional disclosure during a conversation with fellow housemate Oyin, where she spoke about her strained relationship with her family and painful experiences surrounding her education.

According to her, she is the only one among her siblings who experienced such treatment.

“I was neglected by my family, so I’m not too close to them. In their own eyes, they didn’t see anything wrong in it,” Abi said.

When Oyin asked how many siblings she had, Abi said she was the fourth child in a family of five, comprising three older sisters and a younger brother.

She explained that while her siblings were allowed to attend university, her parents allegedly told her there was no money when it was her turn.

“Honestly, it’s only me. While all of them went to the university, when it got to my turn, my parents said there was no money. They said I am too stubborn and they have removed hand from my matter,” she explained.

Abi said the situation became even more painful when her parents later denied making the statement.

“When I reminded them later, they said they never said that. Then I asked them, why didn’t I go to the university then? If you never said that and my brother just finished university,” she recounted.

The BBNaija housemate also recalled a similar experience during her secondary school years.

According to her, she had wanted to attend a private school because she considered herself academically gifted, but her parents reportedly told her they could not afford it.

She said she was deeply hurt when her younger brother was later enrolled in a private school.

“They did the same thing in my secondary school. I wanted to go to a private school because I am so smart and they said they didn’t have the money. But guess who they later took to the private school? My younger brother,” she said.

Expressing her frustration, Abi added: “The thing vexes me. Don’t justify that.”

She further shared an experience that she said captured how differently she felt she was treated within her family.

Abi recalled that the only time she went on an excursion while growing up was because her mother did not want her younger brother to go alone.

“The one time I ever went for excursion was because my mother didn’t want my younger brother to go alone, so she said I should join him. Is this fair?” she asked emotionally.

Abi concluded by suggesting that there were many more painful experiences behind her strained relationship with her family.

“There’s a lot. My story is too deep,” she said.

Her revelation has added not just another emotional dimension to Abi’s journey in the BBNaija house, but also how the female gender is treated in a patriarchy, as she continues to share personal experiences and challenges that have shaped her life.