By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has responded to celebrity barman and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, after the latter described him as the second-worst minister the South-East had ever produced.
Umahi, in his response on Sunday, questioned the growing culture of public display of wealth, challenging wealthy Nigerians to demonstrate their financial success through meaningful contributions to society, particularly by empowering and supporting others.
Speaking during an engagement, the minister lamented what he described as an increasing tendency among Nigerians to loudly proclaim their wealth rather than allow their achievements and contributions to speak for them.
The exchange followed an Instagram post by Cubana Chief Priest in which he called on President Bola Tinubu to replace what he described as underperforming ministers from the South-East.
He accused Umahi of failing to deliver meaningful benefits to the region despite occupying the strategic position of Minister of Works.
“Always blabbing, the second-worst minister South-East ever had. We have nothing to show for it as a region that had minister of works,” he wrote.
He also criticised an unnamed female minister from Imo State, describing her as a “fluke of a minister”, while accusing some South-East ministers of using their appointments for personal gains rather than creating opportunities for the people.
Responding to the criticism, Umahi questioned the tendency of some wealthy Nigerians to constantly flaunt their financial worth, challenging them to show what they had done to improve the lives of others.
“We have become very noise-making. Every time, money na water. How much do you have? Have you ever seen that water that I have money? Have you ever seen children that say I have money, or say I have money, or poor?” he said.
The former Ebonyi State governor argued that genuine wealth should be measured by the positive impact individuals make on the lives of others rather than public declarations of financial success.
“Money speaks for itself. Money speaks for itself, not to say money na water. No, but I be me then. Money, what have you done? How many of the people scholarship?” he asked.
Umahi further expressed concern that Nigerians were becoming increasingly preoccupied with flaunting their wealth instead of focusing on their achievements and contributions to society.
“We are becoming very loud. We should go back to our strategy,” he added.
The exchange has brought renewed attention to the performance of South-East ministers in the Tinubu administration and whether their appointments have translated into tangible benefits for the region.