Fmr Presidential Spokesman, Okupe Dies

By Ayodele Oni

Former Nigerian presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe has passed away. His death was confirmed on Friday.

Sources hinted that the 72-year-old politician  may have passed away late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

Details surrounding the alleged cause of death are yet to be substantiated, with speculation ranging from natural causes to health complications.

Dr. Okupe, a medical doctor by training, had been a prominent figure in Nigeria’s public sphere, known for his fiery rhetoric and strategic political maneuvers.

Okupe had a long and distinguished career in politics, serving as the Director-General of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign, although he was forced to step down after being convicted of money laundering .

After the 2023 general election, Okupe resigned from the Labour Party and surprisingly became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Prior to this, he had served as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Okupe’s career was marked by both achievements and controversies. He was a medical doctor by training and had also worked as a publisher and politician. Okupe had been open about his personal struggles, including his battles with cancer, which he had overcome twice .

Throughout his career, Okupe held various roles, including serving as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was also a governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.