Cubana Chief Priest: ‘Money Na Water’ Means Abundance, Not Vanity

Celebrity nightlife promoter Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has defended his popular catchphrase “Money Na Water,” describing it as a symbol of abundance and flow — not wastefulness.

His comments came in response to billionaire industrialist and Coscharis Group Chairman, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who recently criticised what he called the “lavish spending culture” among young Nigerians, saying he avoids events where people “throw money around.”

In a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday, Cubana Chief Priest said the phrase was being misunderstood, arguing that it reflects a new economic reality where attention and visibility are key forms of capital.

“With all due respect to the motivational-speaking older generation who built wealth quietly, the world you thrived in is not the one we live in today,” he wrote.
“In your time, capital was factories, fleets, and real estate. In our time, attention is the main capital.”

He stressed that in today’s digital economy, visibility drives success.

“Visibility has become the new currency. In a digital economy, obscurity is bankruptcy. What you don’t show doesn’t sell,” he said.
“We are the noise — that’s why you know us. You used us as a reference in your speech because you want to trend without paying us.”

The socialite added that “Money Na Water” is not a statement of vanity but a metaphor for “excess liquidity, abundance, and relevance.”

“When I say ‘Money Na Water,’ it’s not vanity – it’s a revelation of excess liquidity, abundance, and flow. Water moves, and so does relevance and influence,” he explained.
“A man with massive attention today has more leverage than one with quiet billions but no presence.”

Taking a swipe at Maduka, Cubana Chief Priest urged him to “remove his name” from the list of celebrated Nigerian billionaires such as Tony Elumelu and Femi Otedola, whom he praised for giving Africa “proper visibility.”

“Your generation built fences to protect their wealth; ours builds platforms to project it. Silence once symbolised power, but today, presence does,” he wrote.
“Elumelu and Otedola live the ‘Money Na Water’ philosophy — they use their wealth to uplift Africa. Remove your name from their list; you belong to the Nnewi billionaires list.”

He concluded by reaffirming that his mantra represents prosperity and confidence, not recklessness.

“As I said in my last interview on Channels TV, ‘Money Na Water’ is a prophecy that connotes wealth overload. That’s my story — and my brand. Na my business be this, na my lamba. Make nobody try spoil am.”

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