Cubana Chief Priest (Pascal Okechukwu) recently stirred significant online backlash after a video surfaced showing him kneeling and bowing to greet Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, during a meeting. In the video, he also declared his support for Shettima and President Bola Tinubu’s administration, referring to Shettima as “Enyi Ndi Igbo”—meaning “Friend of the Igbos” .
This gesture and his accompanying comments sparked criticism, especially among some Igbo Nigerians and political observers. Many accused him of using ethnic identity for personal gain, arguing that his public endorsement of the current administration—amid economic hardship and political tension—was opportunistic. Some also questioned his sincerity, given his previous support for Peter Obi during the 2023 elections .
Notably, Ekuma Jeremiah Iziogo, a former street hawker sponsored by Obi Cubana, publicly criticized Cubana Chief Priest’s post, suggesting that the VP’s body language in the photo didn’t reflect genuine friendship toward the Igbo people .
This incident has reignited broader conversations about the role of celebrities and business elites in Nigerian politics, especially regarding their perceived silence or alignment with power structures amid national hardship .
