UPDATED DOYIN OKUPE DIES AT 72

But details of circumstances leading to his demise are sketchy as of now. He hailed from Ogun State.

Okupe, 72, was Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was also the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign.

However, his political journey was marked by controversies.

In December 2022, Okupe stepped down from Obi’s campaign after being convicted of money laundering.

He later resigned from the Labour Party following the 2023 general election fallout and later became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, frequently engaging in political debates and commentary.

In his tribute to the late Okupe, the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the medical doctor’s death as a “personal loss”.

“Receiving the news of the passing of my elder brother, Dr. Doyin Okupe has left me with a profound sense of personal loss, especially coming so soon after the transition of the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, Oba Adeleke Idowu-Basibo Without a doubt, Dr. Okupe’s departure leaves a void that will not be easily filled,” the governor said in a statement.

“Beyond his political and professional engagements, Dr. Okupe was an affable, easy-going, and principled individual who, despite never flaunting his credentials, played a significant role in Nigeria’s resistance to military rule. Like many other democracy advocates, he endured detention and persecution under military regimes, standing firm in his convictions.”

He condoled the Okupes over the incident and prayed that the “Almighty God grants his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.

Last year, the former presidential aide recalled his battle with cancer which he said led to weight loss.

“When I started chemotherapy, I was 127kg, and then I came down to 97kg… the chemotherapy ended and I went back to 103kg.”

As a medical doctor, the former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worked as a health practitioner before venturing into politics.

Okupe was known for his bold political stance and unfiltered opinions. His ability to navigate Nigeria’s complex political landscape made him both a respected and controversial figure. Okupe, was a physician and who co-founded Royal Cross Medical Centre and was the National Publicity Secretary of National Republican Convention (NRC). He was once detained under General Sani Abacha and subsequently disqualified from participating in United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries later on, he was once a governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

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