Cubana Chief Priest urges President Tinubu to act on Nnamdi Kanu’s sentence to secure Southeast support ahead of 2027 elections.
Celebrity nightlife promoter Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has reacted strongly to the recent Federal High Court verdict sentencing Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism.
Justice James Omotosho convicted Kanu on all seven counts but refrained from imposing the death penalty, citing scriptural guidance on mercy.
The court also ordered that the sentences run concurrently, placed Kanu in protective custody, and barred him from using digital devices.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Cubana Chief Priest criticized President Bola Tinubu and key Southeast ministers and governors for their perceived complicity in Kanu’s sentencing.
He warned that unless the government addresses the Nnamdi Kanu issue decisively, Tinubu’s political prospects in the Southeast for the 2027 elections would be severely jeopardized.
“President Bola Tinubu, as long as Nnamdi Kanu remains in jail, you cannot and will never secure up to 10,000 votes in the Southeast in 2027.
“Nnamdi Kanu is the supreme leader of the region, and his detention has caused significant setbacks. Southeast ministers cannot even speak the truth—they are all cowards,” Cubana Chief Priest stated.
The nightlife promoter further warned that no All Progressives Congress (APC) governor could salvage Tinubu’s prospects unless Kanu’s detention was resolved.
While praising the Governor of Imo State for some achievements, he cautioned that without securing Nnamdi Kanu’s release, those efforts would be in vain.
“As for governors, they will all disappoint you. What can they tell the people? Absolutely nothing.
“Only Nnamdi Kanu’s release can save you. Seyi Tinubu, those present at the Delborough Hotel are just bags of deceit, including me.
“They cannot help you. They can’t even visit their hometowns because of MNK’s detention. Only Nnamdi Kanu can guarantee real votes from the Southeast,” he added.
Cubana Chief Priest also highlighted Governor Alex Otti of Abia State as a rare leader capable of influencing public opinion in favor of President Tinubu.
He criticized the President for missing Otti’s invitation to commission projects in Abia, Kanu’s home state, sending instead “an incompetent minister,” whom he described as a failure and betrayal to the Southeast.
Addressing Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Cubana Chief Priest acknowledged his tactical skills but stressed that Nnamdi Kanu’s imprisonment overshadowed all accomplishments.
“Governor Uzodimma has performed well, but without MNK’s release, all achievements are fragile. The detention of Nnamdi Kanu diminishes the value of every progress made in the Southeast,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Cubana Chief Priest expressed personal gratitude to President Tinubu for granting him access to the Presidential Villa and for their first handshake.
However, he emphasized that personal gratitude would not stop him from advocating for Kanu’s release.
“Your legacies will be swept under the carpet if you don’t get this right. Appeal this judgment and free Nnamdi Kanu, or prepare to vacate the Villa by 2027.
“The Southeast belongs to MNK. These are not just words—they are warnings from the gods. Act wisely,” he warned.
Cubana Chief Priest’s comments highlight the growing political tension in the Southeast, where Nnamdi Kanu commands substantial influence.
Political analysts note that Kanu’s imprisonment is no longer solely a legal matter but a critical factor shaping electoral calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Interestingly, Cubana Chief Priest’s criticism comes just seven months after he publicly endorsed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
During a visit to the Presidential Villa in May, accompanied by singer Davido and artiste manager Ubi Franklin, he had confidently declared, “We will succeed again in 2027.”
At the time, the purpose of the visit was unclear, but the endorsement signaled support for Tinubu’s ambition.
The contrast between his previous endorsement and current criticisms underscores growing frustration among Southeast leaders and influencers over what they perceive as neglect of Nnamdi Kanu’s plight.
Cubana Chief Priest’s insistence that Tinubu’s political fortunes are tied to Kanu’s release reinforces the activist’s continued symbolic and practical significance in the region.
Observers suggest that the public intervention by Cubana Chief Priest could influence both grassroots opinion and elite negotiations.
By directly challenging the President and highlighting local governors’ shortcomings, he signals that Nnamdi Kanu’s detention is both a legal and political matter with far-reaching consequences.
Cubana Chief Priest concluded by urging President Tinubu to take immediate action, stressing that failure to do so could alienate the Southeast entirely.
“Appeal the judgment and release Nnamdi Kanu. Without MNK, all your achievements are at risk. The Southeast will not forgive negligence. MNK must be freed to protect your legacy,” he reiterated.
The public reaction to Cubana Chief Priest’s statement has been mixed. Supporters applaud his courage in speaking truth to power, while critics argue that he is overstepping his role as a celebrity influencer.
Nonetheless, his remarks highlight the intersection of celebrity influence, politics, and regional loyalty in contemporary Nigerian political discourse.
As of now, no official response has been issued by the presidency regarding Cubana Chief Priest’s statement or any immediate plans to appeal Nnamdi Kanu’s sentence.
Political commentators predict that the issue will dominate Southeast discourse for months, influencing governance, political alliances, and the trajectory of the 2027 elections.
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