Former Presidential Spokesman, Doyin Okupe, dies at 72
By Nnamdi Okosieme
Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has died.
Dr. Okupe, who also served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, passed on in Lagos in Lagos on Friday morning.
The medical doctor turned politician, who hailed from Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, had battled illness for a while.
Dr. Olusanya Awosan, Dr. Okupe’s long-time ally who served with him in the governments of Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan confirmed the politician’s death. Describing Okupe’s death as huge shock and personal loss to him, Dr. Awosan prayed for the repose of his soul,urging God to give his family and associates the strength to cope wuth his passing.
“Dr. Okupe was asset to the governments he served. An erudite individual, he bold, courageous and passionately defended whatever cause he promoted. He will be missed by students of Nigeria’s political history, Dr. Awosan said.
Dr. Okupe, who died just two weeks to his 73rd birthday burst inti national political reckoning in 1983 when he contested for a seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria(NPN). Ten years later he became the National Republican Convention(NRC),a right of centre party and one of two( the other being the Social Democratic Party, SDP) political party created by then Nigerian military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, as part of his transition to civil rule programme.
In the last two decades, Dr. Okupe remained an influential figure in the Nigerian political firmanent due in large part to his deep knowledge and use of the media as a strategic platform for engagement.
A mecurial politician, Dr. Okupe ran inti troubled waters in 2020 when the Muhamnadu Buhari admnistration charged him with money laundering in connection with the case of Col. Sambo Dasuki(Rtd), National Security Adviser in the government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, accused of diverting over $2 billion meant for the purchase of arms.
Dr. Okupe was convicted by the court in December 2022 for
violating the Money Laundering Act by accepting cash beyond the legally permitted limit without going through a financial institution.
In the 2023 presidential election, Okupe, who had previously resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), pitched tent with Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP) becoming the Director General of the party’s presidential organization. He subsequently resigned his position following disagreement with the leadership of campaign organization.
