Umahi, Cubana Chief Priest Trade Fresh Blows as Minister Asks ‘How Much Money Do You Have?’

Umahi, Cubana Chief Priest Trade Fresh Blows as Minister Asks ‘How Much Money Do You Have?’

 

Minister of Works, David Umahi, and popular socialite and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, have reignited their public feud, exchanging sharp words over wealth, political influence and development in the South-East.

 

The latest exchange began after Umahi questioned the socialite’s repeated declaration that “money na water”, challenging him to demonstrate the impact of his wealth through meaningful contributions to society.

 

Cubana Chief Priest, however, responded by describing the minister as the “Pharaoh of our time” and demanding that he allow the people of the South-East to enjoy meaningful development.

 

The controversy has attracted considerable attention on social media, particularly as both men have brought the region’s political interests and infrastructure development into the dispute.

 

Umahi fired his latest salvo during a recent public engagement, where he criticised what he described as excessive public display of wealth.

 

Taking a swipe at Cubana Chief Priest’s popular “money na water” catchphrase, the minister questioned how much money the businessman actually possessed and challenged him to demonstrate what he had achieved with his wealth.

 

“We have become very noise-making. Every time, money na water. How much do you have? Have you ever seen water that have money? Have you ever seen children that say I have money?” Umahi queried.

 

The former Ebonyi State governor argued that genuinely wealthy individuals do not constantly advertise their financial status, citing prominent Nigerian business figures such as Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola and Abdul Samad Rabiu of BUA Group.

 

According to him, wealth should be measured not merely by public declarations but also by its positive impact on society.

 

“Money speaks for itself. Money speaks for itself, not to say money na water. Every time, money na water with your small bar business. What have you done with the money? How many people are on scholarship through you?” he asked.

 

Umahi’s remarks came after Cubana Chief Priest publicly criticised his performance as Minister of Works, describing him as the second-worst minister the South-East had ever produced.

 

The businessman questioned the benefits the region had derived from having one of its indigenes occupy the strategic position of Minister of Works.

 

He also called on President Bola Tinubu to replace ministers he considered ineffective, arguing that the South-East had little to show for Umahi’s appointment.

 

His comments generated reactions among social media users, with some supporting his assessment and others questioning his qualifications to evaluate the minister’s performance.

 

Responding to Umahi’s latest remarks, Cubana Chief Priest returned with another blistering attack, describing the minister as a modern-day Pharaoh and demanding that he stop making political promises on behalf of the South-East without tangible development to show for them.

 

In a video recorded aboard a boat, the businessman challenged Umahi to identify projects he had delivered in the region.

 

He also accused the minister of making promises to President Tinubu about securing votes from the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections without doing enough to convince the people through infrastructure development.

 

“Honourable Minister of Works, Pharaoh of our time. Please let the people of the South-East go. Stop giving Mr President fake promises on votes,” he said.

 

Cubana Chief Priest further questioned Umahi’s alleged political succession plans in Ebonyi State, accusing him of positioning his son to succeed the incumbent governor, Francis Nwifuru.

 

He criticised what he described as attempts to turn governance into a family affair, questioning whether the minister was satisfied with the level of development in Ebonyi State and the wider South-East.

 

The allegation about the minister’s son’s political ambition has not been independently established.

 

Beyond the political succession controversy, Cubana Chief Priest also challenged Umahi over infrastructure development in the South-East, alleging that a bridge in the region had deteriorated following the minister’s intervention.

 

“Our bridge is no longer bridging since you touched it. Let us go,” he said.

 

The businessman insisted that the people of the region deserved visible development rather than political promises and repeated assurances of support for the Tinubu administration.

 

The latest confrontation has once again brought attention to the relationship between political officeholders and influential social media personalities, particularly over the performance of public officials and the expectations of their constituencies.

 

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the exchange has also added another dimension to the debate over political representation, infrastructure delivery and the South-East’s relationship with the Federal Government.

 

Umahi, Cubana Chief Priest Trade Fresh Blows as Minister Asks ‘How Much Money Do You Have?’