Doyin Okupe, a prominent Nigerian physician, politician, and former aide to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has reportedly died at the age of 72.
There have been no official confirmation from his family as at the time of this report, though he is said to have been having a long and courageous battle with cancer, a struggle that had significantly impacted his health in recent years.
According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his death. His health had deteriorated rapidly, causing deep concern among his loved ones and supporters. Reports indicate that his death was linked to complications from cancer, a disease he had been fighting for over 16 years.
It will be recalled that in October 2023, Okupe was hospitalized due to prostate cancer and was subsequently flown to Israel for specialized treatment. Unfortunately, his condition did not improve as hoped. Okupe was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder, adding to his health challenges.
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Born in Iperu, Ogun State, Dr. Okupe was the son of Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe, a banker with Agbonmagbe Bank. He earned his medical degree from the University of Ibadan in Oyo State.
Dr. Okupe co-founded the Royal Cross Medical Centre in Obalende, Lagos, alongside his colleagues Dr. Seyi Roberts and Dr. Ladi Okuboyejo. He served as the Managing Director of the center, making significant contributions to healthcare delivery in the region.
Dr. Okupe transitioned into politics, where he became a notable figure. He served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) during the Third Nigerian Republic. He later held key positions under two Nigerian presidents, including Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2022, he briefly emerged as the vice-presidential candidate for the Labour Party before stepping down. He was subsequently appointed Director-General of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation. However, in January 2024, Okupe resigned from the party, citing ideological differences.
“Having been a rightist and liberal democrat all my life, it is difficult for me to remain in a party ideologically rooted in the left of the center,” he explained. He also referred to the Labour Party as a “Special Purpose Vehicle” used for contesting the 2023 presidential elections after abruptly leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Dr. Okupe was married to Aduralere Okupe, and they had children together, including Ditan and Bolu. In April 2020, he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19 but later recovered. In January 2021, his son Bolu publicly came out as gay, a revelation that sparked significant media attention.
Source: Ripples
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