David Umahi has fired back at Cubana Chief Priest. The Minister of Works was responding to comments made weeks ago. The socialite and businessman had labelled Umahi the second-worst South-East minister. He had called for his replacement. Umahi did not attack him directly. He mocked the culture of flaunting cash. He invoked the quiet wealth of Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola. True wealth, he said, speaks through impact, not noise.
Cubana Chief Priest, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, built his brand on public displays of affluence. His lifestyle is documented across Instagram and TikTok. He is part of a cohort of Nigerian influencers who monetise visibility. Umahi is a former governor of Ebonyi State. He has served as Minister of Works since 2023. His tenure has been marked by road construction and controversies. The exchange follows a pattern in Nigerian politics. Social media critics attack public officials. Officials respond with counter-narratives about substance over spectacle.
Umahi’s comments drew laughs at the event. He compared the critic’s lifestyle to the quiet wealth of Africa’s richest man. “You don’t see Dangote flaunting money,” he said. “You don’t see Otedola doing ‘money na water.’” The phrase “money na water” is associated with flashy spending. Umahi said real wealth is measured by what it builds. The minister has claimed credit for road projects across the South-East. He has also faced criticism over the pace of work and the quality of delivery.
Cubana Chief Priest has not responded. The socialite has built a following on the same platform he uses to critique public figures. The exchange is entertainment. It is also political. Ministers are increasingly subject to viral scrutiny. Their responses are shaped by the same logic as the attacks. Visibility matters. Perception matters more.
Winners: Umahi, who gained a platform to project substance. Cubana Chief Priest, whose brand thrives on attention. The audience, which gained spectacle. Losers: The discourse, which is reduced to wealth comparisons. Critics who wanted a debate on infrastructure. The public, which is distracted from policy. No serious losers if both sides benefit.
Bottom Line: A minister and an influencer traded barbs. The influencer flaunts money. The minister defends his record. Neither addressed the roads. The exchange was noise. The roads remain the test.