2027 :  Tinubu won’t get up to 10,000 votes in South-East if Kanu remains in jail – Cubana Chief Priest 

Cubana Chief Priest, the well-known nightlife promoter, has issued a pointed warning to President Bola Tinubu after the court sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment.

Kanu’s conviction on seven terrorism-related charges on Thursday has triggered widespread reaction, particularly in the south-east.

Responding to the judgment in a lengthy Instagram post, Cubana Chief Priest argued that keeping Kanu in custody poses a “direct threat to Tinubu’s political fortunes in the south-east,” insisting it would jeopardise any hope of meaningful support for the president in the 2027 elections.

He described Kanu as the “supreme leader” of the region and said the ongoing detention has created “so much setback” and resentment among residents.

The socialite also criticised political office holders from the south-east, accusing ministers and governors of lacking the influence and integrity needed to secure support for the administration.

“President @officialasiwajubat, as long as MNK remains in jail, you cannot and will never get up to 10,000 votes in the South East come 2027. I will not lie to you, Papa. As a friend of your government, I have no reason to whitewash you,” he wrote.

“MNK is the supreme leader of the South East. His detention has caused us so much setback, and I am surprised that all your useless ministers from the South East can’t even tell you the truth because they are all cowards.

“None of them has the capacity to do anything that will make the people love and respect you. As for the governors, they will disappoint you because they have nothing meaningful to present to the people. Only MNK’s release can save you.”

Cubana Chief Priest, who had visited Tinubu at the presidential villa in May, also directed comments at Seyi Tinubu, accusing several of those in the president’s inner circle of lacking public credibility in their communities.

According to him, many of the president’s south-east allies “cannot even visit their hometowns” due to public anger over Kanu’s imprisonment, alleging they are instead preoccupied with personal gain such as “land allocations.”

“@seyitinubu, all those people on that table with you at Delborough Hotel the other day are bags of deceit, including me. They can’t do anything for you. Most of them cannot even visit their hometowns because of MNK’s detention, so how can they help you? They only want land allocations to develop and sell. You know I don’t need anything from you,” he added.

He went further to say the presidency risks losing legitimacy in the region if the matter is not addressed urgently.

“The Villa is like a hotel — a few more days and checkout time will reach. Only MNK can guarantee you real votes from the South East.

“Look out for Gov. Alex Otti — he can genuinely convince the people. I was surprised when you turned down his invitation to commission his projects in Abia, where MNK hails from. Asiwaju sent the incompetent minister, a failure and a betrayal to the South East, to represent him.

“A man who has done nothing for us. To worsen it, the weak Deputy Speaker will not stop attacking our favoured Governor Otti.”

Reiterating his position, he urged Tinubu to “appeal this judgment and get it right,” warning that ignoring the issue could have consequences in the next election cycle.

“Appeal this judgment and get it right, or prepare to check out of the Villa come 2027. The South East belongs to MNK. These are the words of the gods. Ignore them at your own risk.”