Acclaimed socialite Pascal Okechukwu, known as Cubana Chief Priest, urged residents of the South-East region on Wednesday to rally behind President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, arguing that such support could secure the release of jailed separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu and pave the way for an Igbo presidency.
The businessman made the appeal in response to a video of a local monarch pressing Tinubu to free Kanu or repatriate him to Kenya, praising the royal’s direct approach in Abuja.
“God bless you, Your Royal Highness for partaking in Nigeria. If Your Highness did not participate in Abuja, how Asiwaju wan take hear this message,” Okechukwu wrote in Pidgin on social media.
“If to say dem no record this video play for una, them for call his royal highness sell out say him don go collect money.”
Emphasizing pragmatism over confrontation, he added: “Alignment is key, we no fit fight government, Asiwaju go free MNK. His Royal Highness don put am for Baba body. Let’s get along with Nigeria.”
Okechukwu highlighted Tinubu’s 2023 victory without strong South-East backing, suggesting reciprocity could yield dividends. “Last election, Tinubu won without South-East, it’s clear he will win again. So why not give him the votes so he can do what we ask of him in return,” he said.
“Hopefully, he will hand over power to an Igbo man. He made Buhari president, a Hausa man. He made himself, a Yoruba man president. What makes you think he won’t make an Igbo man president if we clearly support him for one more term?”
He framed the strategy as optimal: “Igbo best stake is on Asiwaju. Just think it out. Man has the best political structure in the country to win election make we no waste our votes.”
The comments follow Enugu monarch Dr Lawrence Agubuzu’s plea for Kanu’s freedom, warning that his detention fuels regional unrest. Kanu, head of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, has been held since 2021 on terrorism charges.
