Popular Nigerian socialite and businessman, Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, has responded to the backlash that followed his recent comments comparing the spending culture of billionaires from Imo State with those from other parts of Igbo land.
Chief Priest, who is known for his strong ties to Imo State, clarified that his comments were not about questioning the financial capacity of people from Anambra or other Igbo states, but rather about their willingness to display wealth through extravagant lifestyles.
According to him, having money is different from being willing to spend it on luxury and high-end possessions.
“I didn’t say you people don’t have money. What I said is that you don’t have the mind to do the kind of things we Imo people do,” he said.
He challenged those who disagreed with him to prove him wrong, citing a reported $500,000 wristwatch acquired by his associate, Vintage, as an example of the level of luxury spending he was referring to.
“If you people say I’m lying, then prove me wrong and buy that watch of $500K that my brother Vintage collected to celebrate his birthday,” he added.
Chief Priest maintained that his position was based on what he described as the distinctive lifestyle and spending culture associated with people from Imo State.
“I said what I said. We Ndi Imo have doings more than other parts of Igbo land. We own the lifestyle. It’s not about having money; can you spend it?” he stated.
He also claimed that Imo people have produced the highest number of superstars in Nigeria, further defending his assertion about the state’s influence in entertainment and popular culture.
His remarks have continued to generate debate on social media, with some Nigerians viewing them as playful banter between different parts of the South-East, while others criticised the comparison as unnecessary and divisive.
