Tinubu Could Back Igbo Presidency If South East Supports Him, Says Cubana Chief Priest

Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has said President Bola Tinubu has the political influence to support the emergence of an Igbo president if the South East backs him for a second term.

Cubana Chief Priest made the remarks on Wednesday while reacting to a viral video of a South East traditional ruler who appealed to President Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, or return him to Kenya, where he was arrested.

Commending the monarch for taking the appeal directly to Abuja, the socialite said the traditional ruler’s physical presence in the nation’s capital was significant, as it ensured the message reached the highest level of authority.

In a post written in Pidgin English, he praised the monarch’s engagement in national issues, suggesting that direct participation in governance processes was more productive than remaining on the sidelines.

He also urged the South East to align with the current administration rather than maintain an oppositional stance, expressing confidence that such cooperation could yield positive outcomes for the region, including Kanu’s release.

According to him, President Tinubu secured victory in the 2023 presidential election without substantial support from the South East, and could do so again. He argued that offering stronger electoral backing in future elections would position the region to negotiate political concessions.

Cubana Chief Priest further claimed that Tinubu played a key role in the emergence of former President Muhammadu Buhari and later succeeded him, adding that the President could similarly support an Igbo candidate in the future if given sufficient backing.

He encouraged the South East to strategically consider its political alliances, noting that Tinubu possesses what he described as the strongest political structure in the country.

Earlier, a South East monarch, Dr. Lawrence Agubuzu, the Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Olo Kingdom, had called on President Tinubu to either release Kanu or return him to Kenya.