Call it an invasion if you will and you won’t be totally wrong as this aptly describes how the chairman of Cubana Group, Obi Iyiegbu, otherwise known
Call it an invasion if you will and you won’t be totally wrong as this aptly describes how the chairman of Cubana Group, Obi Iyiegbu, otherwise known as Obinna Cubana, held down the sleepy town of Oba in Anambra State with opulence, as he bade a final farewell to his late mother, Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu, in a ceremony that has kept people talking, over a week after it was done and dusted.
The man Obi Iyiegbu A graduate of political science from the University of Nsukka, Obi plays big in the entertainment sector and owns the Cubana chain of night clubs that spans across Abuja, Lagos, Owerri and Port Harcourt. He recently added another night club to the chain situated in Abuja called Hustle and Bustle. He represents international brands of wines and spirits in the country, one of which is Glenfiddich. A philanthropist, he also plays big in the real estate sector via his real estate company, Casa Cubana as well as in other sectors of the economy.
Why he got over 300 cows, N500m donation from friends Besides being a philanthropist, Obi is known to be a people’s man, one who finds delight in uplifting members of his clan. He teaches them ‘how to fish’, patronizes their business and refers people and business to them.. His friends and associates therefore thought it necessary to reciprocate his kind gestures over the years by donating over 300 cows and N500m towards the lavish burial ceremony which spanned four days. A particular group know as Pinnacle, a group of young men he had helped, donated 96 cows in addition to the 246 cows already donated by his friends and associates.
A commotion of private jets With the absence of an airport in Anambra State, venue of the burial ceremony, over 50 private jets with passengers all heading to Oba, struggled for parking space both at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State and Asaba International Airport, Delta State. The passengers would later travel in various convoys to the one destination that mattered, Oba.
649 suites was the place to be Most of the guests who came in from Lagos through the Asaba International airport, lodged at 649 suites, a luxury hospitality outfit owned by businessman and real estate mogul, Dr Kennedy Okonkwo. Besides the showdown at Oba, the hotel was a must place to be at, all through the burial ceremony, from the days leading to it and days after. It hosted the largest concentration of elites, 2nd to Oba, as many struggled to get accommodation at the outfit on discovering the caliber of people it hosted.
The burial proper According to Obi, himself and his siblings had planned to celebrate his late mum’s 80th birthday in a carnival like manner. Unfortunately, death came knocking and so all that was planned for the birthday was done for the burial ceremony. The ceremony began on Thursday July 15 with a service of songs and later in the evening, a Christian wake held at his late mother’s home in Aboji, Oba. On Friday, the dust to dust rites happened shortly after a service at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, Oba. Reception followed immediately after at the school field of Merchants of Light, where politicians, entertainers, businessmen etc. turned out in large numbers to celebrate the life and times of Ezinne Iyiegbu. The ceremony continued until Saturday and on Sunday, the Iyiegbu family alongside their friends and extended family members, appeared at the Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Oba, for an outing and thanksgiving service.
The casket Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu was laid to her final resting place in a gold steel plated casket worth N30m. The casket was flown into the country by funeral undertakers, Apams, reputed for handling high profile funerals in the South East. It was driven to her graveside by a chariot with two horses as outriders.
About Obi’s engraved pendant As a reflection of his love for his late mother, Obi got luxury jeweler, Efobi Stephen to engrave his mother’s face on a pendant using encrusted diamonds. The luxurious piece cost $100,000. The pendant was specially flown to Oba in a chartered flight on the day of the burial just in time to present it to Obi.
A large concentration of security personnel Bearing in mind the poor state of security in the country, Obi was compelled to engage the services of security operatives for the smooth running of the lavish ceremony. From police officers, to army personnel to private security outfits, all of the areas where the ceremony extended to was cordoned off by stern looking security operatives whose mandate was to ensure that no harm, disturbance or inconvenience marred the four day event. He would later thank Monday Bala Kuryas, the Anambra State police commissioner for his huge support towards ensuring a hitch free ceremony.
Money rain without end The saying that there is Igbo money and there is Anambra money found true expression at the burial ceremony. Apart from their earlier monetary donation, many of Obi’s friends and business associates, struggled to outdo themselves in the spraying department. They all came ready in suitcases, cartons and ‘Ghana must go bags’ filled with mint local and foreign currency. And right there at the party, a new style of money spraying was born, midwifed by Obi. Rather than taking the notes one at a time to paste on the host’s forehead, as it is being done, everyone resorted to taking the money still packed in bundles and throwing it at the feet of the host. Others preferred to just pick the currency in bundles and drop on trays held by whomever they desire to be the recipient if their largesse. Still, others who wanted the feel of spraying notes rather than bundles, resorted to showering the host in whatever currency caught their fancy. Expectedly, this new display of money threw up mixed feelings among Nigerians. While many hailed Obi and this friends for raising the bar, others felt it bothered on the obscene and hoped that the Central Bank of Nigeria would prosecute all who ‘desecrated’ the naira note.
On Akin Alabi’s frugality The house of representative member representing Egbeda\Ona federal constituency under the ruling All Progressives Congress, was at the burial ceremony as a friend of Obi. While enjoying the hospitality of Igbo tradition, Akin felt the need to appreciate some praise singers who got him dancing to their melodious tune. However, instead of following in the footsteps of others, Akin took his time to spray the praise singers one note at a time. The businessman caught the flake for not acting accordingly. But he blamed his frugality to his political status and the need to not attract unnecessary attention to himself.
Is Valentine Ozigbo the annointed one?The former chief executive officer of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria now Anambra State governorship candidate on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party was at the ceremony as a guest of Obi. On approaching the table where the likes of businessmen, Kennedy Okonkwo, Emeka Okonkwo, law maker, Friday Osanebi etc were seated, shouts of ‘in coming, in coming’ filled the air as everyone on the table struggled to get a handshake with him or a hug. This affirmation brought a wide grin to his face as he immediately began to comport himself as an ‘in coming’ governor.
Abba Kyari’s surprise appearance Deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari made it to the ceremony as a guest of Obi. His presence elicited mixed feelings among Nigerians as many wondered why he was at the party rather than chasing after bandits and criminals. However, unknown to many, Kyari and Obi are very good friends and their friendship dates years back. So close are they that they are known to even attend functions together dressed in same attires.
Man like Peter Obi A former governor of the state, Peter Obi, made it to the ceremony as a guest of Obi. And in his characteristic manner, he refrained from spraying the host with money neither did he drop his widow’s mite for the host as was the custom at the ceremony.
Constituency support Members of Obi’s constituency, the entertainment industry where he operates, showed him overwhelming support as he buried his mum. Entertainers like Alex Ekubo, Kanayo o Kanayo, Junior Pope, Brown Iwuegbu, Ubi Franklin, Zubby Michael, Chukwuemeka Okoye, Poco Lee, DJ Big N, Williams Uchemba, Stephen Declan, Dike Osinachi and many more registered their presence.
The concert The burial ceremony culminated into a full blown free concert for the indigenes of Oba. The likes of DBanj, Davido, Kcee, Phyno, Patoranking, took turns to serenade the crowd from their repertoire of songs.
The guest list Some of those present at the ceremony were Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, Sir Emma Bishop Okonkwo, King Mohammed Adah, Olakunle Churchill, Honourable Shina Peller, Ehizogie Ogbebor, Ifeoma Stella Okonkwo, Karo Ekewenu, Chima Anyanso, Henry Mmerigwo, Joseph Eze Okafor, Pascal Okechukwu, Kingsley Okpala, Juliet Okonkwo, Babajide Balogun, Francis Nwaogwugwu, Ejison Oraukwu, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke etc.
Fallout of the burial ceremony Besides an uncompleted church building Obi, alongside some of his friends made a promise to complete by December 2021, Obi as he has done in times past, pledged to support 300 youths from different families in Oba with N1m each.
