The 2023 Director-General of the Labour Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe has vowed never to support Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the election.
Okupe made the vow during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today.”
He claimed his response was in reaction to Obi’s recent remarks on the economic situation in Nigeria.
Obi had stated, “Let us talk about what is happening today. Rice is about N100,000. We are not even sure where we are going to be. ‘It’s our turn’, ‘he is a Yoruba man’ — ask the people in Ogun, here is there any place you people buy bread cheaper?”
This statement generated mixed reactions on social media, with some supporting Obi and others criticizing him.
Okupe however joined the critics, describing Obi’s remark as an “insult” to people in the South-West.
He emphasized that Obi’s statement publicly belittled the South-West, despite receiving support from prominent Yoruba leaders during his presidential bid.
“When Obi made that statement, it insulted us. I am a Yoruba man; I left everything and followed Obi,” Okupe said.
“For the first time, Obasanjo left his circle of influence and deviated to support Obi…
“I do not regret supporting Peter Obi. But now I cannot do it again.”
Okupe attributed his initial support to the agreement that a southern president should emerge, specifically from the south-east.
He however, said he feels betrayed by Obi’s public criticism of the South-West.
“If all these eminent Yoruba people supported you, why now bring us down publicly? It is wrong,” Okupe concluded.
This development comes amidst Okupe’s reported resignation from the Labour Party due to ideological differences.