GUS Jungle Struggle Ends

As Chinedu Ubachukwu Carts home Grand Price

Uzo Chikere

The last week of Africa’s longest running reality TV programme elicited questions, doubts and agitations as to who the winner among the remaining four contestants in the Aguleri jungle will be. After roaming and wandering through the thick forest in search of the general’s helmet in “The Mission”, one of the fortune hunters, Chinedu Ubachukwu found the find and has emerged the Ultimate Man, winner of the 11^th edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search for 2014.

Twenty-four year old Chinedu Ubachukwu who is the latest last man standing in this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search. Hails from Anambra state.

Of the 14 contestants who were selected from over 40,000 applicants to enter the Aguleri jungle, only four remained as at last Tuesday. They were Otto Canon, a 25- year old undergraduate, Nne Cosy Joe, a 28- year graduate of Agric Science, Emmanuel Afolabi, a 29- year old undergraduate and 24- year old Chinedu Ubachukwu, also an undergraduate. 

For the millions of viewers of Gulder Ultimate Search 11, the anxiety and excitement over who is crowned the new ultimate champion assumed fever pitch towards the end as every viewer became anxious as to who will carry the shield. However, for the remaining contestants, the journey to the final stage of the show was long and tortuous.

They progressed through several phases on this year’s edition; including the precision phase, the survivor phase and the innovation phase. They were also inducted into the Elite Squad of the great General’s Army.

The remaining contestants werre also not leaving anything to chance as they kept assessing their fellow contestants’ strengths and weaknesses ahead of an epic battle to locate the helmet.

Chinedu said Otto is strong in solving riddles but weak in solving puzzles. Chinedu also pointed out that Emmanuel is not too good with puzzles. He further revealed that Cosy is better at solving puzzles and not very good with riddles.

Emmanuel said he never expected he would be among the four finalists for Gulder Ultimate Search 11. He also confessed that he was not good with puzzles. Emmanuel however said he was working on improving his puzzle solving skill. He said: “Over time, I’ve learnt to stay calm, paint a mental picture before I start working, and while I am working with my hands, my head is thinking ahead.”

Emmanuel described Chinedu as a proud and arrogant person. He hinted that these attributes might lead to his downfall. Cosy corroborated Emmanuel’s claims. He said: “Chinedu is erratic and the type of confidence he has may also be suicidal.”

Cosy assessed Emmanuel as a contestant who is good with riddles but not with puzzles. Cosy confessed that he could be easily beaten in riddles. He noted: “They can beat me in riddles. It’s always funny when someone uses his own knowledge to set a question for me and you expect me to get the answer.”

Otto also confessed that he was not too good with solving puzzles. Otto’s fate of continuing in Gulder Ultimate Search 11 hung in the balance as he failed Episode 25’s Code Box task.

The winner of Gulder Ultimate Search 11 will drive home a brand new SUV in addition to the N10 million grand prize money.

For the first time in three years, no female contestant was part of the final search. Samantha Appi, who emerged as the Last Woman Standing was evicted in Episode 25 after failing the Infinity task.

Her performance in the reality TV programme has been described as marvellous and even earned her respect from both her male and female contestants. Being the smallest of the seven female contestants did not deter her.

After emerging the Last Woman Standing, Samatha said she felt very good, adding that she thoroughly enjoyed her stay as a contestant. Speaking on her achievements despite her small frame, Samatha noted: “It’s not really about my size but about my thinking capabilities. And most of the time, my size was my motivation. People thought I would not be able to do some things because they thought I was fragile due to my small frame. But I look at myself and I tell myself, I know I can do this even though people think I can’t do it.”

For the first time in the history of Gulder Ultimate Search, the Last Woman Standing will drive home a brand new Ford Eco sport. This is in addition to the amount that will accrue to her as the fifth placed contestant.

Gulder has recorded another first as the beer brand will also give the contestant who emerges as the winner of the on-going Viewers’ Choice a brand new Ford Focus car.

Chinedu Ubachukwu who emerged the winner of this year’s edition of Gulder Ultimate Search edged out 28-year old Emmanuel Afolabi and 29 year-old Nne Cosy Joe. After more than three weeks in the jungle, only the three contestants survived the harsh weather conditions and the arduous tasks they were subjected to . The Anambra state indigene thus became the 11^th winner of Africa’s first and longest running reality TV show.

Incidentally, on the morning of the final search, both Emmanuel and Cosy Joe gave Chinedu their lanterns. They told him “this will light your path”, oblivious of the fact that that his light would shine the brightest at the end of the day. Both Emmanuel and Cosy talked about reducing their load.     

Their final task was to retrieve the great General’s War helmet which according to folklore, had been hidden in the belly of the Aguleri Forest of Anambra State

Ironically, when the contestants commenced their journey from Boat Landing, where they camped the previous night, Chinedu appeared the weakest of them. He even stated that he was not 100 per cent fit; adding that if the final search for the helmet became a purely physical task, it may be to his disadvantage.

Chinedu was the last to climb over a very high wall and the remaining contestants insisted that he should be the first to cross another rope ladder which was suspended between two trees because he appeared weak.

As the search neared its end, Chinedu appeared to regain his strength and the trio raced across a river which was at their waist-level, towards their work stations situated at the belly of the Aguleri forest. There they met an emissary of the Council of Elders who adorned a red cloak. His duty was to grant them right of passage only after correctly pieced together the tiles which they found during their very long trek.

Cosy was the first to solve the riddle, followed by Chinedu and then Emmanuel. They raced towards three canoes and paddled away in different directions. Both Emmanuel and Cosy Joe appeared to paddle their canoes aimlessly while Chinedu paddled towards a particular direction. It turned out Chinedu rowed his canoe towards a clay pot which was emitting fire.

At this point, Cosy Joe appeared frustrated and angrily hit the water with his bare hands. He had no paddle. As Cosy paddled his boat to shore and alighted on land, Emmanuel attempted to row his canoe in Chinedu’s direction.

Chinedu raced on land and retrieved the great General’s Helmet surrounded by three fire pots. Hence, he joins the Order of Heroes as the 11^th winner of Gulder Ultimate Search.

Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor man, soon arrived on canoe and congratulated Chinedu on his great feat. He said: “After 26 murderous days in the Aguleri jungle, after days and nights of pain and sorrow; thinking about the unknown, nursing your wounds with sweat, with blood, it is you Chinedu who made it here. It is you who has carved your name in history. It is you who has earned the bragging rights. It is you who has made it into the elite league of extra ordinary warriors. By the powers conferred on me by the Council of Elders, I now pronounce you Last Man Standing!”

Incidentally, when the relatives of the final four contestants paid them a visit in the jungle two days earlier, it was only Chinedu’s mother that urged him to return home as champion. Amidst tears, Mrs. Ubachukwu told her son “I know you will make me proud. Come home with the crown.”

For his feat, Chinedu will be rewarded with N10 million and a brand new SUV at a party fit only for royalty. Two other contestants will also receive brand new vehicles. They are Samantha Appi, who will drive home a brand new Ford Eco sport for emerging as the Last Woman Standing and the winner of the Viewers’ Choice, who will go home with a Ford Focus.

The contestants that were evicted earlier in the show were: Otto Canon, Ikenna Emedike, Addoh Evi, Iroh Noella, Blessing Eriata, Loretta Erijakpor, Sandra Nwagbagiro, Samantha Appi, Sharon Robinson, Joshua Nwagboso and Iwuoha Ikenna.