By Kelechi Opara, in Abuja
The Labour Party (LP), on Friday, reacted to the death of its former Presidential campaign director, Dr. Doyin Okupe who reportedly was an passed on in the early hours of Friday, after a brief illness.
In his tribute via a statement he personally signed, the National Chairman of the LP, Barr. Julius Abure said the late Okupe was an inspirational and charismatic leader who would be missed not just by the party but by the entire nation.
Abure regretted that the physician turned politician, passed away at the age of 72 after battling a protracted illness suspected to be cancer.
He noted that before joining the Labour Party in 2022, Okupe had played key roles in Nigerian politics, having served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
“He was once detained under General Sani Abacha and subsequently disqualified from participating in the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) primaries. He later served as a senior adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“However, his active participation in the Labour Party’s push for the presidency in 2023 clearly revealed his inspirational and charismatic self as well as his statesmanship. He loved the nation and he believed that a new Nigeria is possible.
“Before being appointed the DG of the Labour Party presidential campaign, he first served as a place holder for the party’s Vice Presidential candidacy, a position he honorably relinquished, with the understanding that such position should go to the North. As the DG of the Campaign Organisation, he was a team player, focused, assertive but also diplomatic in the discharge of his duties”.
Abure added that despite the fact that Okupe later resigned his membership of the party last year based on principles, his fraternity with the party didn’t cease, neither did he stop giving them his invaluable advices.
“We cherished his short but impactful association with the party leadership. He was lively, energetic, honest and creative; great virtues we will be missing in him.
“Certainly, Nigeria has lost an astute politician whose desire for a great nation was unquestionable. We believe that though he still has so much to offer this nation, but death has brutally forced him to write the last chapter of his life. As is often said, death is a necessary end that must come when it must come, for Doyin, it was time to bid him a tearful farewell”.
The LP boss on behalf of the leadership and members of the party across the world prayed that his immediate family and Nigerians will bear his shocking demise.
