Doyin Okupe opens up on why he left Peter Obi’s camp to support Tinubu. Discover the real reasons behind this political shift.”
The cause behind Dr. Doyin Okupe’s departure from Peter Obi and Labour Party (LP) has been clarified by the former Director-General of Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organization.
Okupe declared in a statement issued on Monday that his endorsement of Obi was motivated by an unwavering commitment to fairness and justice, rather than any self-interest or political agenda.
Okupe emphasized that his support for Obi was rooted in his conviction regarding the importance of having a southern, ideally Igbo leader as president to ensure equity.
Nonetheless, in January of this year, his exit from the Labour Party was largely attributed to divergences in ideological beliefs post-2023 election.
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After being found guilty of money laundering that involved N700 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja, he left soon after in December 2023.
The allegations are connected to the unlawful receipt of funds meant for arms acquisition, that were originally allocated by former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
Okupe was given a two-year prison sentence but opted to pay a N13 million fine instead, in order to avoid being imprisoned.
After being convicted, Okupe declared his departure from Obi’s campaign but assured that he would persist in backing the LP’s nominee for president.
He made it clear that he had not received any monetary compensation from Obi during the campaign and instead relied on his personal funds as well as support from a mutual friend.
Okupe’s recent statement conveyed his respect for the election results and portrayed them as being in accordance with God’s will.
After spending 46 years in Nigerian politics, he pointed out that while he no longer holds any political party affiliation, President Bola Tinubu has his personal backing.
He commended Tinubu for his political and administrative expertise, calling on Nigerians to endorse the current government in order to secure national stability and promote citizens’ well-being.
Okupe reiterated his dedication to the prosperity of Nigeria and encouraged its inhabitants to prioritize the nation’s welfare above any political or religious affiliations.