Popular businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has urged the South-East to politically align with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that such cooperation could pave the way for the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and improve the region’s chances of producing a future president.
Reacting to a viral video in which a traditional ruler from the region appealed directly to the President, the celebrity barman commended the monarch for taking the message to Abuja, saying direct engagement with the Federal Government was necessary to draw attention to the concerns of the South-East.
In a post written in Pidgin, Okechukwu stressed that confrontation with the government would not yield results, insisting that “alignment” remained the most effective path to achieving political and regional objectives, including Kanu’s freedom.
He also called on the region to reassess its political strategy, noting that Tinubu secured victory in the 2023 presidential election despite limited support from the South-East, and could replicate the feat in future polls.
According to him, offering electoral backing to the current administration could strengthen negotiations and position the Igbo for greater political inclusion at the national level, including the possibility of producing a president in the future.
Okechukwu further argued that Tinubu’s political structure and influence across the country make him a formidable force in Nigerian politics, urging the South-East not to remain isolated from national power dynamics.
His comments followed an earlier appeal by traditional ruler Lawrence Agubuzu, who had urged the President to release Kanu or return him to Kenya, where he was arrested, warning that his continued detention was fueling agitation among youths in the region.
