“What Have You Built in Your Own City?” — Cubana Chief Priest Sparks Fresh Imo-Anambra Debate

By Staff Reporter

Popular businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, has once again taken his campaign for Imo State to social media, this time with a pointed comparison of the state’s hospitality, real-estate and power infrastructure with those of other Igbo states.

Speaking during a recent live video, Cubana Chief Priest presented Owerri as a city with growing commercial and leisure opportunities and challenged other South-Eastern states to match what he described as Imo’s increasing economic capacity.

“Anything that wants to happen, let it happen. I have reached the stage where I can say what I want and no one can do anything about it.”

He then turned his attention to the question of investment and development, challenging critics to assess their own contributions to their home states.

“As someone who has built a hospitality empire in my city, Owerri, what have you built in your own city? What is your staking power?”

‘Where in Igbo land will you see that?’

One of his most striking claims centred on real estate.

According to the businessman, land values in parts of Imo have risen significantly, which he cited as evidence of the state’s growing economic appeal.

“Lands in Imo State are more expensive than in Anambra State and other parts of Igbo land,” he claimed.

He further alleged that land opposite his hotel is being offered for as much as ₦3 billion for 1,000 square metres, asking:

“Where in Igbo land will you see that?”

The claim has not been independently verified, and land values can vary substantially depending on location, title, accessibility, zoning and commercial potential. It should therefore be treated as Cubana Chief Priest’s assertion, rather than an established statewide real-estate benchmark.

‘You will come to Imo State to spend that money’

Cubana Chief Priest also pointed to electricity generation and the hospitality sector as areas where he believes Imo has developed a competitive advantage.

“We have power plants in Imo State to generate our energy. Do you have that in your own state?”

He went further, arguing that people from other South-Eastern states travel to Imo to enjoy the leisure and hospitality facilities available in Owerri.

“That’s why if you make money in Anambra State, finish, you will come to Imo State to spend that money because you don’t have the places to enjoy your money in your state.”

His comments have once again placed Imo versus Anambra at the centre of an online conversation about which South-Eastern states are doing more to attract private investment, develop urban centres and create an environment for businesses to thrive.

‘What we’re doing, you guys cannot do’

The businessman ended his argument with an unapologetic challenge to his critics:

“I will continue to pressure you people. We Imo people are doing so well for ourselves, and what we’re doing, you guys cannot do.”

The latest remarks are consistent with Cubana Chief Priest’s increasingly public advocacy for Imo and his own political ambitions in the state.

In June, he declared that he intended to be “in charge of Imo someday,” a statement that generated sharply divided reactions online. Some users praised his determination, while others questioned his political experience and suitability for leadership.

His political journey has already generated substantial online debate. In May, after the APC primary for the Orsu/Orlu/Oru East Federal Constituency, reports said he secured only 14 votes, while Cubana Chief Priest subsequently disputed accounts that he had actually contested the primary, saying he had withdrawn from the race.

That episode also produced competing reactions. Delta State Governor’s media aide, Ossai Ovie Success, publicly defended him against online mockery, writing: “Why are people mocking Cubana Chief Priest? Not nice… it’s ok to try and try again.”

Other social-media users were considerably less sympathetic, with some questioning whether wealth, celebrity status and popularity should automatically translate into political influence.

Development debate or interstate rivalry?

At the heart of the latest controversy is a broader question: Is competition among South-Eastern states helping to drive development, or is it creating unnecessary rivalry among neighbouring communities?

Cubana Chief Priest’s argument is straightforward: states should compete through investment, infrastructure, hospitality, entertainment, energy and business opportunities, while individuals should also be challenged to contribute to the development of their home communities.

Critics, however, may argue that comparing states solely through luxury hospitality, property prices or entertainment infrastructure does not provide a complete picture of economic development. Employment, industrial output, healthcare, education, infrastructure, security, internally generated revenue and the overall business environment are also important measures.

For now, his remarks have reopened the conversation—and one question is likely to dominate the debate:

Is Owerri genuinely pulling ahead of other South-Eastern cities, or is Cubana Chief Priest simply turning regional rivalry into another social-media spectacle?

What do you think? Is Imo State currently ahead of Anambra and other South-Eastern states in terms of private investment, hospitality and urban development? Or are these comparisons being exaggerated?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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