Socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has declared Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as the undisputed leader of Nigeria’s Southeast region, while hailing a “divine” developmental partnership with Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the influential media personality dismissed political detractors of the two governors as “shoe shiners” and “jokers,” warning that those attacking the current regional leadership would be “taken out” of the political space in the 2027 general elections.
‘God-Sent’ Leadership
The endorsement comes amid shifting political alliances in the region. Cubana Chief Priest, who previously served as a social media aide to Uzodimma, emphasized that the visible growth in Abia and Imo states has set a new benchmark for governance.
”I was born and raised in Aba. All my life I have never witnessed the level of growth I have seen in Abia and Imo this past few years,” the socialite said. “Gov. Alex and Gov. Hope are the genuine forces we have here in Southeast; others are just shoe shiners, noise makers, jokers, and a bunch of thieves.”
He specifically described Governor Otti as “God-sent” to the Southeast, suggesting that the former banker’s technocratic approach in Abia, combined with Uzodimma’s political influence, is the engine behind the region’s current rise.
2027 Political Ultimatum
Chief Priest also took a sharp swipe at politicians he accused of insincerity, claiming some were only praising President Bola Tinubu to avoid prosecution for past financial crimes.
”We can’t listen to people who feel fake praising Tinubu is their only hope of not going to jail for embezzlement,” he stated. He further asserted that any politician challenging Otti’s administration is “evil” and would face a “political exit” by 2027.
The ‘Governor General’
The statement further reinforced Uzodimma’s standing as the “Governor General” of the region, claiming his influence extends to supporting other governors across the federation.
”Say Gov. Fubara don dey breathe small, na Gov. Hope dey supply am oxygen,” Cubana Chief Priest remarked, using local parlance to describe the political support provided by the Imo Governor, who currently serves as a key figure in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
As the 2027 election cycle begins to take shape, the socialite’s remarks signal a hardening of support around the Uzodimma-Otti axis, with a clear message to the electorate: “Time has past when we will accept nonsense.”
