Lagos, Nigeria – October 16, 2025 – Prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of the Coscharis Group, Cosmas Maduka, has stepped into the spotlight once again, directly addressing socialite and nightlife mogul Cubana Chief Priest amid a heated public spat over the viral phrase “money na water.” The controversy, which has gripped social media and sparked debates on wealth, modesty, and modern hustling, intensified this week following Maduka’s pointed critique of extravagant spending habits among the youth.
The exchange began on October 14 when a viral video surfaced showing Maduka, a self-made billionaire known for his automotive empire, lamenting Nigeria’s “dead value system.” In the clip, the 73-year-old business tycoon decried the culture of “making money rain” at events and using slang like “money na water” – a phrase popularized by Cubana Chief Priest, real name Pascal Okechukwu, to symbolize effortless abundance and lavish lifestyles. Maduka argued that he had “never met a truly wealthy person” who indulged in such displays, urging Nigerians to prioritize humility, discipline, and productive investments over fleeting showmanship. He emphasized avoiding parties where cash is thrown around, calling it a wasteful practice that misleads younger generations.
Cubana Chief Priest, a 40-year-old celebrity barman and influencer with a flair for opulence, wasted no time firing back on Instagram. In a lengthy, fiery post, he defended the phrase as a “prophecy of abundance and flow,” not vanity, arguing that in the digital economy, visibility and attention are the new currency. “What you don’t show doesn’t sell,” he wrote, likening social media engagement to the factories that built old-school fortunes. Chief Priest took a bold jab, urging Maduka to “remove [his] name” from the ranks of modern billionaires like Tony Elumelu and Femi Otedola, whom he praised for leveraging wealth to spotlight Africa globally. He teased an upcoming single titled Money Na Water, set for release on Friday, positioning it as an anthem for financial confidence.
The clapback drew mixed reactions online, with some netizens hailing Chief Priest’s “classy and intellectual” response as a masterclass in influence, while others warned him against disrespecting a elder statesman like Maduka. Comments flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter), with users debating generational wealth mindsets: one post quipped, “For Coscharis to even know the sentence ‘money na water,’ then CHIEF PRIEST’s explanation is justified.”
On Wednesday, Maduka responded via a WhatsApp message shared on Instagram by real estate mogul Stephen Akintayo, clarifying that his original remarks were not aimed at Chief Priest personally. “I have no issue with him,” Maduka stated, reiterating his broader concerns about societal values. However, in a sharper Facebook rebuttal, he didn’t hold back, labeling Chief Priest’s defense as misguided and calling him out for misunderstanding “the foundations of real wealth.” Maduka drew parallels to global tech icons like Mark Zuckerberg, noting that even they avoid reckless flaunting: “The investors whose liquid and equity built those digital businesses are men like Chief Cosmas Maduka, while the ‘chiefPriests’ are the slaves of the machines.” He also reminded Chief Priest of mentors like Aliko Dangote, who embody the modesty he champions.
The feud highlights a broader cultural clash in Nigeria’s booming influencer economy, where old-guard industrialists like Maduka – who rose from humble beginnings selling spare parts in the 1970s – advocate for quiet empire-building, while Gen Z tastemakers like Chief Priest celebrate bold, viral displays as pathways to opportunity. As the debate rages, with Chief Priest’s track drop looming, observers wonder if this could evolve into a teachable moment or further fuel the generational divide.
Neither camp has indicated plans for reconciliation, but Maduka ended his response on a somewhat conciliatory note, wishing Chief Priest well in his endeavors. For now, “money na water” remains more than slang – it’s the flashpoint for Nigeria’s evolving conversation on success.