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Who is Dr Doyin Okupe?
Dr Doyin Okupe is a well-known Nigerian physician and politician who has served in various capacities in the Nigerian government. He is a man of many talents and achievements who has dedicated his life to making a difference in the lives of Nigerians.
Early Life and Education
Dr Doyin Okupe was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, on the 2nd of October, 1952. He attended the University of Lagos, where he obtained a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1979. He later went on to pursue a Master's degree in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.
Career
Dr Doyin Okupe has had an illustrious career in both medicine and politics. He began his career in medicine as a medical doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in 1979. He later became the Chief Medical Director of the same hospital. In 1999, he was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Dr Doyin Okupe has also served as the National Publicity Secretary of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Deputy Director of Publicity of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the early 1990s. He was also a founding member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and served as the National Publicity Secretary of the party from 1999 to 2003.
Political Ambitions
Dr Doyin Okupe has always been interested in politics and has contested for various political positions in Nigeria. In 2014, he contested for the position of Governor of Ogun State under the platform of the PDP but lost to Ibikunle Amosun of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
In 2018, he declared his intention to run for the presidency of Nigeria in the 2019 general elections under the platform of the Accord Party. However, he later withdrew from the race and endorsed the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
Controversies
Like many politicians in Nigeria, Dr Doyin Okupe has been embroiled in several controversies throughout his career. In 2018, he was accused of corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was subsequently arrested and detained for several days. He was later released on bail.
In addition to the corruption charges, Dr Doyin Okupe has also been criticised for his support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his policies during his tenure as President. He has been accused of being a sycophant and of putting his personal interests above those of the Nigerian people.
Personal Life
Dr Doyin Okupe is married to Esther Okupe, and they have four children together. He is a devout Christian and a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He is also an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys playing football and tennis in his spare time.
Final Thoughts
Dr Doyin Okupe is a man who has dedicated his life to serving the Nigerian people through his work in medicine and politics. He has had an illustrious career and has achieved a lot in his life. However, like many politicians, he has also been embroiled in several controversies throughout his career. Despite this, he remains a respected figure in Nigerian politics and a role model to many young Nigerians.
