Cubana Chief Priest, Umahi Clash Over South-East Development
Celebrity businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has engaged Minister of Works, David Umahi, in a war of words over the development of the South-East and the region’s political support for President Bola Tinubu.
The disagreement escalated on Sunday after Umahi appeared to take a swipe at the socialite over his repeated public display of wealth, weeks after Cubana Chief Priest criticised the minister’s performance in office.
Speaking during a recent engagement, Umahi criticised what he described as an increasing culture of noise-making and public display of wealth, questioning the impact of the socialite’s financial success on society.
The minister challenged Cubana Chief Priest to demonstrate what he had done with his wealth, particularly in supporting young people through scholarships and other empowerment initiatives.
“We have become very noise-making. Every time, money na water. How much do you have? Have you ever seen Dangote or Otedola saying that I have money? Money speaks for itself,” Umahi said.
He further questioned how many people the businessman had placed on scholarships, insisting that genuine wealth should be demonstrated through meaningful contributions to society rather than public declarations.
However, Cubana Chief Priest responded on Monday, describing the minister as a “Pharaoh” and demanding that he allow the South-East to enjoy meaningful development.
In a series of Instagram posts, the socialite challenged Umahi to showcase the infrastructure projects he had delivered in the region as Minister of Works.
He also questioned the minister’s efforts to secure political support for President Tinubu in the South-East, asking what achievements he intended to present to the people to convince them to support the President ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Hon. Minister of Works, Pharaoh of our time, please let the people of the South-East go. Stop giving Mr President fake promises on votes. What project are you using to convince the people of the South-East to vote Asiwaju?” he wrote.
Cubana Chief Priest further accused Umahi of allegedly preparing his son to succeed Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, warning against what he described as an attempt to turn governance into a family affair.
He also criticised the state of infrastructure in Ebonyi and other parts of the South-East, alleging that a bridge had stopped serving its purpose following work carried out under the minister’s supervision.
“Minister of Works, show us project wey you do for your region; our bridge is no longer bridging since you touched it. Let us go,” he added.
The latest exchange followed an earlier criticism by Cubana Chief Priest, who had described Umahi as the second-worst minister the South-East had produced, arguing that the region had little to show for having one of its own occupying the strategic Ministry of Works.
The socialite had also called on President Tinubu to replace ministers he considered ineffective in representing the interests of the region.
Umahi’s latest remarks and Cubana Chief Priest’s response have brought renewed attention to the debate over the performance of South-East political appointees in the Tinubu administration and the extent to which their positions have translated into tangible development for the region.
The exchange also highlights the growing political conversations surrounding the South-East’s voting direction ahead of the 2027 presidential election.