Socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu remains cautious of him due to his support for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 general election. Chief Priest, who currently serves as the Imo State Coordinator of the Pro-Tinubu City Boys Movement, made the remarks during a livestream session with popular streamer Peller.
In a video circulating online on Wednesday, the socialite spoke about what he described as continued suspicion from the presidency, which he linked to both his ethnic identity and his political stance during the last election.
“President Bola Tinubu no really trust me as an Igbo man that I am. He look me with one eye because he believed that this one worked for Peter Obi, before at the last election,” Chief Priest stated.
According to him, his decision to switch allegiance to Tinubu cited a desire to back a winning side and avoid repeated political losses.
Asked why he left Peter Obi, he said, “Because I don’t want to lose again because they say first fool no be fool, na the second fool be proper fool.”
He dismissed the prospects of Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election, describing the Nigeria Democratic Party aspirant as “not serious” and asserting that “the serious people will win.”
The remarks, which rapidly gained traction across social media platforms, triggered mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some accusing Pascal Okechukwu of political opportunism and questioning his commitment to the Igbo political cause.
Others, however, argued that his comments reflected the realities of Nigeria’s highly competitive political system, where allegiance often shifts after elections.
Chief Priest had been an outspoken supporter of Peter Obi and the Labour Party in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
Since then, the socialite has publicly aligned himself with the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu.
He recently obtained the APC nomination form to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives but later withdrew from the race on the morning of the primary election held on Saturday.