Reps Ogah Demands Apology From Cubana Chief Priest Over Alleged Remarks Against Gov. Nwifuru ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from businessman and socialite, Paschal Okechukwu Chibuike, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, over alleged disparaging remarks against Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

‎ ‎Ogah made the demand on Friday in Abakaliki while addressing journalists, describing the alleged remarks as unacceptable and insisting that disagreements over governance should be addressed through democratic and legal channels rather than personal attacks. ‎

‎The lawmaker questioned the basis upon which Cubana Chief Priest allegedly spoke on behalf of the people of Ebonyi State. ‎ ‎“Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What is his address that gives him the impetus to speak against our governor, the most performing governor in Nigeria?” Ogah asked. ‎ ‎He said the alleged comments were not merely criticism of the governor but also an affront to the people and political stakeholders of the state. ‎

‎“He should withdraw that statement and apologise to Ebonyans. He is insulting Ebonyans. ‎ ‎" He is insulting us as National Assembly members and other well-meaning stakeholders of this state,” he said. ‎ ‎Ogah also questioned the businessman’s political influence, arguing that public popularity should not be equated with electoral legitimacy. ‎ ‎“If he said he is popular, why is it that he could not win the primary of the election he contested in Imo State?” he queried. ‎ ‎The lawmaker further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to scrutinise Cubana Chief Priest’s financial and business activities, stressing that no individual should be above lawful investigation. ‎ ‎“I am urging EFCC to thoroughly investigate him, investigate his bank accounts, investigate all the things he does,” Ogah said. ‎ ‎He alleged that some political actors were sponsoring activities aimed at discrediting the Nwifuru administration and weakening the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. ‎ ‎According to him, such activities could have implications for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC’s political fortunes in the South-East. ‎ ‎“Those people are making Mr President not to win the election in 2027, because they won’t stand to work with the President,” he said. ‎ ‎Ogah also defended the state’s security agencies, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Hope Okafor, against what he described as an alleged campaign for her removal. ‎ ‎He maintained that Ebonyi had enjoyed relative peace under the current security arrangement and called on the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to investigate anyone suspected of violating the law. ‎ ‎“All of us can attest to the peace and security we enjoy in Ebonyi State. The Army, the police, the Civil Defence and the DSS are doing marvellously well in Ebonyi State,” he said. ‎ ‎The lawmaker also alleged that former governor Charles Otu mobilised people from outside Ebonyi State for a protest in Abuja against the state government. ‎ ‎He challenged the relevant authorities to establish the identities and origins of the protesters. ‎ ‎“He went and mobilized fake people claiming they are Ebonyians to demonstrate in Abuja. I would have asked the police: why can’t you investigate and audit those people that he mobilized?” Ogah asked. ‎ ‎Ogah further alleged that some of those involved were from outside Ebonyi State, including Benue, Kaduna, Kano and Nyanya, and argued that this should be investigated by the appropriate authorities. ‎ ‎He disclosed that his lawyers had previously petitioned the DSS over allegations concerning Otu and urged the agency to investigate the matter. ‎ ‎“My lawyers have written a petition against Charles Otu before now to the DSS, and they have not investigated that matter,” he alleged. ‎ ‎Reacting to Otu’s appearance on Arise Television, Ogah challenged him to substantiate any allegations made against him. ‎ ‎“When Charles Otu went to Arise to cast aspersions on me, I only requested him to come and prove his case. Come and prove your case to know whether what you are saying is true or not,” he said. ‎ ‎Ogah stressed that allegations should be subjected to investigation and due process. ‎ ‎“Whosoever defaults the law, we take it legally. I cannot mention who I have not known. But when we get there, it is for the security agencies to investigate,” he added. ‎ ‎Defending the Nwifuru administration, Ogah cited scholarship programmes, road construction, school projects and other development initiatives as evidence of the governor’s performance. ‎ ‎He said Ebonyi indigenes had benefited from postgraduate scholarship opportunities within and outside Nigeria, while infrastructure projects were being executed across the state’s 13 local government areas. ‎ ‎The lawmaker also described Nwifuru as politically tolerant, citing the activities of opposition politicians and parties in the state. ‎ ‎He maintained that the electorate should ultimately determine political leadership through democratic processes rather than media campaigns, protests or personal attacks. ‎ ‎“Ebonyi people will choose who is their leader. They should stop using the media to castigate the governor,” he said. ‎ ‎Ogah also questioned the reported exclusion of Governor Nwifuru from President Tinubu’s campaign council, arguing that the issue deserved clarification. ‎ ‎According to him, Nwifuru’s position as an APC governor and the party’s electoral strength in Ebonyi make him an important stakeholder in President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. ‎ ‎The lawmaker warned against attempts to exploit political disagreements and media platforms to create tension in the state, urging political actors to channel grievances through lawful and democratic institutions.