Obi Cubana, Nigerian Businessman, has defended the spraying of naira notes at his mother’s burial held in Oba, Anambra State.
Dismissing criticism that trailed the spray of cash at his mother’s burial in an interview with BBC Pigin, Obi Cubana argued that no one should decide for his guests how to spend the their money.
Obi Cubana said “How would I have arranged for people to come to the event and spray money. Is it to bathe with it? The money belongs to them, so it is their choice to spend it anyhow they like.
“All those that came for the burial are bigwigs across various industries, so they’re basically there to show love for my family. Some of them were my friends and colleagues from school several years back.
“Therefore, the burial offered them the platform to come and show their love and support. That’s what happened that day.
“I don’t have time for people who want to tell me how to spend the money that I made through my own efforts. It’s waste of time replying to such people. They’re only criticising me because they don’t want others to succeed.
“We didn’t plan it (the burial) this way. It’s not about money. Money couldn’t have gotten us such a huge crowd, it was out of the goodwill that I enjoy from the public.”
Obi Cubana, speaking on why he threw such an elaborated funeral for his late mother, he said “My mother’s burial was like that because we had already promised her that whenever she clocks 80, we’ll organise a unique carnival, which is the first of its kind in the world, to celebrate her.
“We joked about it and agreed. But thereafter, she died before she clocked 80. Due to that, we dissipated all our energy and initial plans to celebrate her 80th birthday into organising a befitting burial for her. That’s why it is the talk of the town.
“This year (2021) makes it 15 years that our father passed away. After my father’s death, we gave our mother all the love because she was always there for us. She was the one playing the role of a father and mother for us before her death.
“Whenever you visit her, she must pray for you before leaving. Even in your absence, she still prays for you, so when she died, it was as if they collected part of my energy.”