Popular Nigerian socialite and barman Paschal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has publicly urged the South-East region and the Igbo people to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. Okechukwu argued that such strategic support would enhance the prospect of an Igbo president emerging in subsequent elections, citing Tinubu’s proven political influence and electoral track record.
The appeal was made via an Instagram post reacting to a viral video featuring Lawrence Agubuzu, the traditional ruler of Ezema Olo Kingdom in Enugu State. In the footage, the monarch directly pleaded with President Tinubu to facilitate the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Responding to the video, Cubana Chief Priest commended the royal father for speaking out and relayed the message to the president, writing: “Mr President, we will do all we can, but please hear our cry… His Royal Highness has placed it before Baba.” He also suggested the monarch’s appeal should be taken seriously, stating, “Alignment is key. We cannot fight the government. Asiwaju should free MNK,” using the president’s popular nickname.
Okechukwu contended that Tinubu secured victory in the 2023 presidential election with minimal support from the South-East. He asserted that aligning with the president ahead of the next electoral cycle would strengthen the region’s bargaining power. “Let us move along with Nigeria. In the last election, Tinubu won without the South-East; it is clear he will win again. So why not give him the votes so he can do what we ask of him in return? Hopefully, he will hand over power to an Igbo man,” he stated.
He drew parallels to Tinubu’s past political interventions, noting the president played a pivotal role in the 2015 election of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a Hausa man, and in his own 2023 victory as a Yoruba candidate. “What makes you think he will not make an Igbo man president if we clearly support him for one more term?” Okechukwu added. He concluded that the Igbo political interest is best served by aligning with Tinubu’s “best political structure in the country to win an election.”
The comments have generated mixed reactions on social media. Some observers have supported his pragmatic strategy, viewing it as a realistic calculation for regional advancement. Others, however, maintain that broader issues of equity, justice, and federal inclusion must be resolved before any political alignment is considered. The discourse underscores ongoing debates about Nigeria’s power rotation and the South-East’s role in the nation’s political future as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
