Chukwudi Okafor
(Former Big Brother Naija contestant Natacha Akide, widely recognized as Tacha. Photo credit: The Sun Nigeria)
Natacha Akide, popularly known as Tacha, a reality TV personality and beauty influencer, recently sparked debate online by claiming that discrimination among Nigerians rivals racism.
Her statement came amid backlash against chess master Tunde Onakoya, whose social media post about playing chess at the Louvre Museum stirred mixed reactions.
“It’s amusing when Nigerians talk about racism,” Tacha remarked. “We are one of the most prejudiced and divisive people on earth.”
She continued, “I’ve faced discrimination, but what Nigerians do to each other daily on this app is far worse. Honestly, if roles were reversed, we’d likely be even more hostile.”
The controversy began when Onakoya posted a video of himself playing chess in an agbada outside the Louvre, framing it as a historic achievement for Nigerian culture.
While many celebrated the cultural representation, skeptics questioned the claim, noting the public accessibility of the location and the lack of official recognition.
Tacha praised Onakoya’s resilience, highlighting his past struggles with online harassment.
“I admire how Tunde handled this,” she said. “They’ve targeted him before, forcing him off the platform. But now, he’s standing his ground—and that’s powerful.”
She also condemned habitual online critics, accusing them of resenting genuine success.
“They thrive on negativity,” she added. “When they see people making real-world impact, their bitterness takes over.”
