A Pentecostal pastor has publicly apologised to a popular Nigerian nightlife entrepreneur, Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Obi Cubana over a controversial comment.
Mr Cubana, a few days ago, thrust himself, his brand, his friends, and his Oba community in Anambra State, Nigeria’s South-east, into limelight when he buried his late mum with style and glamour that seemed unheard of in any part of Nigeria.
Aside from numerous celebrities, amazing gift items, including hundreds of cows, wads of naira notes were frequently thrown into the air by Mr Cubana’s friends during the burial.
Clips of the ceremony, posted on the Internet, got Nigerians talking – several people who attacked Mr Cubana, questioned his source of money, while others defended him as “a good and generous man”.
“The place where you are standing to spray money, the road is not tarred…. Can’t you see the stupidity of illiteracy,” Ntia Ntia, the pastor of Full Life Christian Centre, Akwa Ibom State, reportedly said of Mr Cubana.
Mr Ntia’s remark attracted outrage from several Nigerians who said Mr Cubana was a better man and “more godly” than many Nigerian pastors.
The pastor retracted his statement and apologised to Mr Cubana, after the backlash.
Mr Ntia said, in a clip that is being circulated on Facebook, that he immediately changed his perception about Mr Cubana after watching a BBC interview where the celebrity businessman talked about his humble beginning, his struggles, and how he made his first N1 million.
The pastor said his comments on Mr Cubana were “very harsh and unkind”.