Socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has renewed his criticism of Minister of Works, David Umahi, challenging him to identify infrastructure projects delivered for the South-East and questioning his political influence in the region ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a strongly worded social media post reported on Monday, November 9, 2026, the businessman questioned Umahi’s appeal for political support for President Bola Tinubu, arguing that residents of the South-East should be convinced through visible development projects.
“Minister of Works, show us project wey you do for your region; our bridge is no longer bridging since you touched it. Let us go,” he wrote.
Cubana Chief Priest also alleged that Umahi was positioning his son to succeed Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, criticising what he portrayed as an attempt to turn political leadership into a family affair.
He further called on the minister to allow the South-East to move forward, writing: “Pharaoh, let our people go, honourable Minister of Works; Pharaoh, let the people of the Southeast go.”
The criticism comes amid an ongoing public disagreement between the two men over Umahi’s performance as Minister of Works and the benefits of his position to the South-East.
In an earlier criticism, Cubana Chief Priest reportedly described Umahi as one of the region’s worst-performing ministers and called on President Tinubu to replace ministers he considered ineffective.
Umahi, however, has also defended the Federal Government’s infrastructure record in the South-East. During a project inspection in Ebonyi State in May 2026, he highlighted ongoing road and bridge projects, including the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway and other federal road interventions.
The minister had also urged South-East residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that continued federal infrastructure investment would benefit the region.
In a separate development on Sunday, November 8, Umahi appeared to respond to criticism from the businessman by questioning his public display of wealth and challenging him to demonstrate how he had used his resources to support people in his community.
According to reports, Umahi asked how many people Cubana Chief Priest had placed on scholarships, while arguing that wealthy individuals should demonstrate their contributions rather than constantly publicise their financial status.
The exchange has added another dimension to the public debate over infrastructure delivery, political accountability and the role of prominent individuals in shaping political conversations in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.
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