Okupe explained his decision to back Peter Obi, attributing it to consultations with notable figures such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo. “Chief Adebanjo advised that I should support the South-East. At the time, the best candidate from the region in the PDP was Peter Obi. That’s why I decided to support him,” he said.
Reflecting on his broader approach to politics, Okupe emphasized his consistent commitment to justice and fairness. “When I was in the NRC, I served as one of the campaign directors for Bashir Tofa. Despite our efforts, we lost the election. When the military annulled the June 12, 1993 election, I resigned from the NRC and joined NADECO. I made that choice because it was just and fair, even though my colleagues were being made ministers,” he recounted.
Okupe noted that this principle-driven approach also guided his decision to support former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1998. “I believed Obasanjo had the strength and capacity to lead better than any other candidates. Without knowing him personally, I publicly declared my support and eventually met him at Ota Farm to solidify my commitment.”
Okupe was critical of both Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi, asserting that neither offered a better alternative for Nigeria. He dismissed their claims that the election was rigged, stating, “It is easy to cry foul, but the election reflected the will of the people. Politics is about reform and action, not just rhetoric.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
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