Feature Story: My observations on Obi Cubana's socialite event in honor of his late mum

Obi Cubana with now-late mum, Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu

Don't just build and maintain good relationships with people; cultivate and nurture people to growth. Give yourself wholeheartedly to investing into the progress of others around you and propelling them to success within your means. That is my greatest take-away from the entire events that took place last weekend at Oba in Anambra State.

Obi Cubana (whose real name is Obinna Iyiegbu) buried his late mum, Ezinne Uche Mabel Iyiegbu (aka Odoziakụ), in carnival-style burial ceremony at their home town of Oba in Idemili-South LGA of Anambra state. She died in December 2020 at age 75 according to BBC reports. 

For Obi Cubana, the burial was a celebration of his mother's life, whom some have said played a huge role in his success as a businessman. So, it was to be filled with wealthy pomp and pageantry. There was huge display of wealth at that burial, mostly by the attendees. Almost every big name in entertainment was there, as Premium Times reported that up to 67 private jets brought various attendees headed for the event. 

Even before the burial proper, it was already reported that almost 300 cows had been bought and sent to Obi Cubana by "his friends" who were going to attend. By the D-day, the number of cows received was edging to 400. Almost every big name in entertainment and showbiz was there, and many were spraying lots of cash. 

It was described as a "naira rain" by the media. Politicians didn't miss out on the action too. Even a Deputy Commissioner of Police and leader of the Inspector-General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, was there too, and later praised Obi Cubana as being "one of the most hardworking entrepreneurs" he has known for many years via his verified Facebook page. 

In Kyari's words, "For his good nature and Good heart, Today I had to Squeeze out time from my busy schedule to Honor him, by Attending the burial of his Beloved Mom In Oba town Anambra State".

I believe that it was the same desire to accord such "honor" to Obi Cubana that also brought many other attendees to the occasion. However, I am also quick to observe that not all attendees are quite in that category. 

MY OBSERVATIONS:

There were three main categories of people who attended the burial:

Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu (Left), aka Cubana Chief Priest, is a Celebrity Bar Man known to be one of Obi Cubana's long-term, closest associates and protégé. He is the nightlife entertainment and showbiz mogul-owner of Xhrine in Owerri, Imo state.

1.  Those Obi Cubana cultivated: These are the people whom he mentored, gave supplies for growth, and who now form the core of his business and social connections as a person. These people, interestingly, are almost just as rich as he himself, if not as much, or more. I believe they are the ones that really made the event resounding with media buzz about their gifts to their captain, and their flagrant display of wealth. Since most of these people are also in showbiz, it was also a major publicity stunt for them.

2.  Obi Cubana's connections: These include those that maintain a good relationship with Obi Cubana as friends, business associates, as well as politicians, public servants, and socialites who value him highly because of their encounters and relationship with him. Essentially, these are people he has built relationships with at various points in his lifetime, who hold him in good repute so much that they feel the need to honor him with their presence. People answer to value!

3.  People who came to look for connections: Any smart mind knows that one good reason to be at the venue of a gathering of socialites is the opportunity to see and connect with those whom you would ordinarily not get to meet with (at least not as easily as you would at the event). Many of those in this category do not know Obi Cubana, nor have they related with him before. They're mostly people that are friends with any of those in categories 1 and 2 above. Like it or not, business pitches happened at that event last weekend. Complimentary cards exchanged hands, introductions were made (either for business deals or for other purposes), and appointments were made. Some people traveled from far, just to get a chance to see someone they've been unable to get into their offices hitherto for the many hindering protocols they couldn't surmount to get to them.

Of course there are many others too who came just for the fun and opportunity to party with their fellow (or not) rich, but they aren't my focus here.

My focus is just to ask you what you can learn from the three main categories of people that I have highlighted above.

As for me, the greatest lesson I picked up is how good it is to not just build and maintain good relationships with people, but to also cultivate and nurture people to grow and succeed.

Cheers!

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Chukwubuikem Paul Anunaso is a civil/structural engineer based in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also the editor of The Paul Anunaso Blog, and can be reached at anunaso.cp@gmail.com