Former presidential spokesperson Doyin Okupe has stated he would never disparage Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), due to a deep sentimental attachment and involvement in Obi’s political journey.
Appearing on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Monday, Okupe expressed his commitment to supporting Obi, saying, “I cannot hate Peter Obi; I am sentimentally attached to him. Peter Obi was my project, and I helped build him up. I can’t publicly denigrate or bring down that foundation.”
Okupe’s comments followed recent reactions to Obi’s statement regarding the popular “emi lokan” slogan used by President Bola Tinubu. Okupe clarified that he wasn’t attacking Obi but felt obligated to address inaccuracies for the sake of truth.
He explained that Obi’s interpretation of the slogan was misguided, emphasizing that Tinubu’s “emi lokan” remark was directed specifically at All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Ogun State, urging them to support him during the party’s convention.
“When Bola Tinubu said ‘emi lokan,’ he wasn’t addressing the nation or a rally; he was speaking to APC delegates in Ogun State, asking for their votes,” Okupe said.
As a Yoruba elder statesman, Okupe added that he felt a responsibility to clarify the context, especially when it involves regional sentiments. “If I cannot speak the truth at my age, then there is no point to live,” he said.
Naija News notes that Okupe previously served as the director of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign until stepping down following a court conviction for money laundering. He later resigned from the Labour Party after the election.