Winner of Big brother Naija season 7, Ijeoma Josephine Otarbor, popularly known as Phyna? has shared how giving money to family members after winning BBNaija left her financially drained and struggling with family relationships.

Speaking during a live session, Phyna explained that after gaining fame and money from the reality show, she believed helping relatives financially was the right thing to do.

According to her, she constantly responded to requests from family members without thinking about saving or investing for herself.

“I thought I was helping my family sort out things. I thought I was normal. No money they call, na so I dey share am like mumu,” she said.

She claimed that none of the older people around her advised her to manage her finances wisely or invest part of her earnings for the future.

“All of them, all the adults, nobody say, ’Ah, Phyna come now. How much be that wey dey your hand? Come do small thing! Nobody was interested in me investing.”

Phyna said different relatives approached her with several financial demands, including requests for business support and personal projects.

“This one say her husband de, make I give her 1 million for her husband. This one say he want do borehole. I know how many boreholes I did for them?”

She added that issues allegedly started when she began turning down some requests because her money was reducing.

“The moment I started saying no like this, na there I have a problem. That’s been the beginning of my problem.”

Phyna also recalled one of her earliest disagreements with her father, which happened after she refused to pay for an expensive roofing material for a building project.

“No, I cannot buy this particular roofing, it’s too expensive, Daddy. Let’s buy another roof.”

The reality star explained that she later realised she could not continue spending at the same rate and decided to reduce the amount of money she gave out.

“Somebody will ask for 1 million, I’II say, ’Okay, wait, let me give you 500,000!”

Reflecting on her life before fame, Phyna said many people around her doubted she would become successful.

“They go dey say to me, I won't reach the river before I fetch water. Say I go carry Belle. Nothing good.” She said, (Nigerian Tribune)