Cubana Chief Priest: I moved my business from south-east to Lagos due to insecurity

Pascal Okechukwu, the Nigerian socialite fondly called Cubana Chief Priest, says he relocated his business to Lagos from the south-east part of Nigeria due to insecurity. 

Cubana Chief Priest lamented the high rate of insecurity in the south-east during a recent interview with BBC Igbo.

The nightlife promoter also disclosed that the fear of kidnappings and killings drove away customers from the south-east.

“Why I came to Lagos to do business is that most of our siblings are scared to go home… cause if they come home, I will do my business,” he said.

“There is widespread hunger in the South-East. It is our own community members who provide criminals with information.

“Our people began targeting the wealthy, so the wealthy stopped returning home during festivities. That is why I moved to Lagos to conduct my business.”

Cubana is battling a case involving alleged abuse of naira. He is also known for his affiliation with Davido, the Afrobeats singer.

He served as the general manager of Cubana Groups but left the brand in September 2020 and established Club Xhrine in Owerri, Imo.

The nightlife promoter was honoured with a doctor of science in event and luxury hospitality management degree from the European American University in 2021.

In January 2022, Cubana was appointed as a social media aide to Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo state. The same year, he also dismissed claims that his convoy was attacked by gunmen in Imo state.

The south-eastern part of Nigeria has been in the news in recent times over repeated attacks by gunmen.

On Thursday, five soldiers were killed by gunmen at a military checkpoint in Obikabia junction in Abia.

The gunmen were said to have been enforcing the sit-at-home directive issued by IPOB when they attacked the soldiers.