by Wilfred Okiche

With the double eviction of South Africa’s Angelo and Ethiopia Bimp Sunday, the stage is set for a showdown as Big Brother The Chase enters it’s final weekend. Nigeria’s double entries Melvin and Beverly, Ghana’s Elikem, Namibia’s Dillish, and Zambian Cleo are the five finalists and one of them will emerge winner come Sunday night. The final 5 are indeed strong contestants to have made it this far but who stands the best chance?

Nigeria remains the country to beat at these things, having posted 3 wins in as much as 7 seasons. This season is no different as Nigeria is also the only country to register both of it’s contentastants at the finals. While Melvin and Beverly are as different as 2 Nigerian languages, their green passport enables them to remain strong contestants.

Voters seem to have gotten over Melvin’s slow pacing and are now fawning over him. His Karen-like stint of not saving himself while he was Head of House must have endeared him further to Africa and ladies who like their men decent and well-behaved must surely be rooting for him. And let us not forget the little matter of his nationality. Folks who are ticked by the Nigerian ‘domination’ may withhold their votes and even others who do not mind may have to choose between he and Beverly when the chips are down. Can he outlast her?

Vivacious and passionate, Beverly remains the life of the party and definitely one of the most controversial characters this season. Just as scandal prone but not quite as beloved as Karen Igho, a past winner, sister Beverly may go on to be the prophet with no honour at home if she wins. Much maligned at home for daring to go all the way with her South African boyfriend Angelo, and her knack for sharing stories (that may or may not be true) about domestic violence and terminated pregnancies, Beverly may have it tough securing Nigeria’s all important vote.

Her fellow housemates do not see her as a threat however and have shied away from nominating her all season so her appeal across Africa has never been really tested. Will she make it when it matters most?

Ghana’ s Elikem seems to be the man to beat. Cocky and confident, the big bodied Ghanaian tailor/designer was the final Head of House this season and put out one of his biggest competition. Flying high on his good luck and Africa’s graces, Elikem may be the one to finally wipe Ghana’s tears away as far as Big Brother Africa is concerned.

Africa’s sweetheart Dillish may have coasted along on account of her good looks but it will only be fool hardy to count her out at this point. In this season’s final eviction episode, she emerged winner amongst seemingly stronger male competition and prior to that, has been playing the game like crazy. Everyone loves a beautiful girl but one with a sob story is just irresistible. Dillish has been telling her out of love family story to anyone who cares to listen and has even pandered to Nigerian sentiments, name dropping Aliko Dangote and Adama Oshiomhole in the process. Will her pity card work?

It is hard to imagine a scenario where Zambia’s Cleo wins The Chase but it is not impossible either. Initially one of the most lowkey contestants, Cleo may be the most surprising of the finalists but she has managed to gather fans of her own and folks still wistful of her brief romance with Hakeem may want to see her go all the way.

All kinds of contestants have won Big Brother. From raunchy, zany Karen to boring Wendall Parsons, Keegan to Uti Nwachukwu and so any one can indeed take this one. May the best mate win.