Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has sparked controversy after stating that Igbo people should reconsider their ambition to produce Nigeria’s president because they were defeated in the Nigerian Civil War.
He made the remark on March 15, 2026, during a City Boy Movement empowerment programme in Owerri, Imo State, where items including sewing machines and freezers were distributed to residents. The event was organised to mobilise grassroots support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Cubana Chief Priest argued that the South-East Nigeria should seek political influence through cooperation with the federal government rather than confrontation.
However, his comment has generated criticism, with many arguing that referencing the civil war to discourage Igbo presidential aspirations is insensitive and undermines democratic equality.
Analysts say every region in Nigeria has the constitutional right to aspire to the presidency regardless of historical conflicts, adding that political participation should remain open to all groups within the country’s democratic system.
