Mr. Felix Otabor, the father of Josephine Otabor, popularly known as Phyna and the winner of Big Brother Naija season 7, has come forward with claims that his daughter abandoned her family after clinching the N100 million grand prize.
In an interview with Vanguard, Mr. Felix revealed that the last time he saw his daughter was during the announcement of her victory in the reality TV show in 2022. Following her win, Phyna allegedly vanished and cut off ties with her family, communicating only through social media posts.
Mr. Felix recounted how Phyna had instructed him to sell his vehicles, suggesting that she would improve their living conditions. Acting upon her advice, he sold his old cars, only to receive no assistance or support thereafter, leaving him jobless and struggling.
He stated, “I haven’t seen Phyna, my daughter since she won BBNaija ‘Level Up’ edition last year. She hasn’t returned home since then… I sold all my four cars because at the time, my daughter won the show. I thought that God had finally answered our prayers.”
The funds from the vehicle sales were intended to uplift their family’s living standards, but instead, Mr. Felix faced significant hardships. He stopped his work as a professional hearse driver due to the lack of a vehicle, resulting in his replacement as the Vice-Chairman of their association.
Mr. Felix expressed his plea for help, emphasizing that he no longer wants to suffer in silence. He disclosed that he only sees Phyna through her posts on social media platforms, highlighting the disconnect and lack of direct communication with his daughter.