Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of Dr. Doyin Okupe, the former Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.
He described the demise of Okupe, a physician and co-founder of Royal Cross Medical Centre, who passed away at 72 years, as a great loss to Nigeria, especially the people of Ogun State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Okupe, the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign and former National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC), was an accomplished politician and strategist known for his bold positions and unfiltered opinions on political and national issues.
Sanwo-Olu, who is the Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, also commiserated with his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, over the passing of one of the political icons in the State.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the people, and the government of Lagos, I mourn the passage of a renowned political and media strategist and former presidential aide, Dr. Doyin Okupe.
“Dr. Okupe was an accomplished politician and strategist who had been involved and played an active role in Nigeria’s politics for over three decades. He was actively involved during the Third Republic as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He also served passionately as Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo; Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, and Publicist for Senator Bukola Saraki and Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“As a medical doctor, Okupe also impacted many lives positively in his chosen profession. He worked in both public and private hospitals in different parts of Nigeria before co-founding Royal Cross Medical Centre in the Obalende area of Lagos State.
“Dr. Doyin Okupe’s departure is a great loss to Nigeria, particularly the political class. I pray that Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest and his family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.