The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen and eminent Nigerians, led by foremost diplomat, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has described the death of a former Presidential Spokesman, Dr Doyin Okupe, as a sad end of a very eventful political life.

The group’s Secretary-General, Mr  Olawale Okunniyi, reacted to the death of the former Director-General of Mr Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, on Saturday, in Lagos.

“This is a sad end of a very eventful political life for Dr Doyin Okupe, who played so many roles in Nigeria’s political space, from the National Party of Nigeria to the National Republican Convention (NRC), where he was the spokesperson.

“He was a conservative politician, not a progressive.

“He (Okupe) will be remembered for his doggedness in defending what he believed in, even when people saw things differently,” Okunniyi said.

The prominent Nigerian politician passed away on Friday at the age of 72 in a yet-to-be-disclosed Lagos hospital.

Okupe served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo and later served as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan.

He later served as the Director-General of Peter Obi 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation, before he stepped down.

Okupe became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, after the winner of the 2023 presidential election was announced, frequently engaging in political debates and commentaries.

Okupe was the National Publicity Secretary of NRC during the Third Republic.

The impeached  Speaker of the  Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, says he was never removed.

Obasa also said that he had returned to the assembly to take charge.

Obasa spoke with reporters shortly after he arrived at the assembly complex with some security personnel on Thursday.

The visit was Obasa’s first appearance at the complex after his colleagues impeached him in January over alleged misconduct and financial impropriety.

The impeached speaker returned on a day the security details of Mrs Mojisola Meranda, elected by the lawmakers immediately after Obasa’s removal, were withdrawn.

Victor Ganzalo, Meranda’s media aide, who confirmed the withdrawal of his principal’s security aides in a statement, also said all personnel providing security at the assembly complex had been withdrawn.

Obasa told assembly correspondents that his security details had been restored and that he was back to his position as speaker.

He said: “I have resumed and I remain the speaker of the Assembly; I was never removed.

“Impeachment or removal is democratic and constitutional, but in doing that, you must follow the due process.

“I am not against my removal. I am a democrat, but if the process had been fair, then I would not  have gone against it.”

When asked why he was returning to the assembly when he had filed a suit challenging his removal in court, Obasa said there was no such suit in court.

Obasa said he was back at the assembly not to take revenge or victimise any lawmaker. 

He described Lagos lawmakers as great colleagues, committed to the progress of the state.

Mu’azu Jaji Sambo (CON), the immediate past Minister of Transportation, represented Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), at the book launch of the former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), ‘A Journey in Service’ in Abuja on Thursday, February 20, 2025. 

The event drew the top echelon of the nation’s elite gathering of past and present leaders who reflected on IBB’s legacy and democracy in West Africa. 

The event which was held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, attracted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, top members of his cabinet, former presidents of Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, former Nigeria Vice Presidents, State Governors, past and present, Ministers and heads of Parastatals, both retired and present, military leaders, Captains of Industry, and statesmen from Nigeria and beyond.

Muhammadu Buhari, who was unavoidably absent due to an earlier scheduled commitment, sent his warm wishes and prayed for a successful launching of the memoir, as it marks a watershed in the life of the former military president. He prayed for good health, long life, and satisfaction in all endeavours.

Sambo delivered a congratulatory message, expressing hope that General Babangida would continue offering valuable counsel to Nigeria’s leadership.

In his keynote address, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo emphasised the importance of multi-party democracy in Africa’s development. 

He warned against the growing wave of military takeovers, calling them a setback to democratic progress. “Multiple parties are good for our continent,” Akufo-Addo said, urging leaders to protect democratic institutions.

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), lauded Babangida’s rise from aide-de-camp (ADC) to head of state, describing him as a “boss of bosses.”

Gowon also expressed gratitude for Babangida’s decision to restore his rank of General after it was stripped, following the 1976 coup.

 “Thank you for restoring my rank,” Gowon said, reflecting on how Babangida’s leadership impacted his life.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar, another former military president, shared anecdotes about his over 80-year-long relationship with Babangida.

He recalled a childhood prophecy foretold Babangida’s rise to power and commended him for documenting his life’s journey.

“Your memoir will enrich the country,” Abdulsalami remarked.

The book launch, set against the backdrop of a presidential library fundraising event, marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s political history. 

Babangida, known for his role in the country’s military and political landscape, shares his journey through his memoir, offering insights into his years of service and the complexities of Nigeria’s past.

The IBB Presidential Library Foundation, which oversees the event, expressed that the memoir’s launch is not just about commemorating Babangida’s legacy but also a call for support to preserve and promote Nigeria’s political history through the foundation’s library.

Sambo’s former Senior Special Assistant, Media, Sam Idiagbonya noted that as the event unfolded, a unique blend of nostalgia, reflection, and forward-looking dialogue filled the air, drawing attention to the enduring influence of the country’s past leaders in shaping the present.