On Friday, March 07, 2025, Nigeria lost one of its most prominent political strategists and outspoken voices, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who passed away at the age of 72. The news of his death, confirmed by close sources, has left the nation reflecting on the life of a man whose career was as illustrious as it was contentious. While the circumstances surrounding his passing remain shrouded in uncertainty at the time of this report, Okupe’s legacy as a political heavyweight and polarizing figure is indisputable.
Dr. Okupe’s political journey was a rollercoaster of triumphs and tribulations. A trained physician who co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre, he first rose to national prominence as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) during Nigeria’s turbulent Third Republic. His eloquence and strategic acumen paved the way for a storied career in public service. Okupe served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, roles in which he shaped public narratives with a blend of charisma and candor.
Perhaps his most high-profile political engagement came in 2023 when he took the helm as Director-General of Peter Obi‘s presidential campaign under the Labour Party. Okupe’s bold leadership and unfiltered opinions invigorated the campaign, earning him both admirers and critics. However, his tenure was cut short in December 2022 when he stepped down following a money laundering conviction—a scandal that cast a shadow over his reputation. Undeterred, Okupe resigned from the Labour Party after the 2023 election fallout and reinvented himself as a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, engaging in fiery political debates until his final days.
Okupe’s life was marked by resilience. Once detained under General Sani Abacha’s regime, he faced disqualification from the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries and later ran as a governorship aspirant for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. His ability to weather storms and remain relevant in Nigeria’s cutthroat political arena made him a formidable figure. Yet, controversy was never far behind. His conviction and subsequent political shifts fueled accusations of opportunism, though his supporters hailed his adaptability as a testament to his survival instincts.
Beyond politics, Okupe’s contributions as a physician and media maven underscored his versatility. His unapologetic stance—whether defending Tinubu’s policies or sparring with opponents—cemented his reputation as a man unafraid to speak his mind, even at the cost of alienation. To some, he was a patriot who navigated Nigeria’s complex landscape with finesse; to others, a symbol of its murky political underbelly.
As the nation awaits further details about his passing, tributes and critiques alike will undoubtedly pour in, reflecting the duality of Okupe’s legacy. Dr. Doyin Okupe lived as he spoke—boldly, unfiltered, and unforgettably. His death closes a chapter on a career that mirrored Nigeria’s own contradictions: brilliant, flawed, and relentlessly dynamic.
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