IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Embattled politician, Doyin Okupe has penned down a message to the supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, known better as Obidients.
Okupe, the party’s former campaign Director-General, said he has been wounded on the frontlines but he will heal quickly and resume at the rear guard.
He made this statement via his Twitter page on Thursday, 22 December, 2022.
He said: “Dear Obidients.Many are d afflictions of d righteous but God delivers him frm them all. I hv been wounded on d Frontlines. By God’s Grace, I will heal quickly &resume @d rear guard.Our mission to Aso Rock in ’23 is irreversible & unstoppable, God being our helper. Merry Xmas ALL.”
Okupe stepped down from his position as the Director General of the Obi-Datti Campaign Organization after he was found guilty.
He was jailed for two years over money laundering offences.
Okupe was also a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Delivering the judgment on Monday, the judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, held that Mr Okupe was guilty of contravening sections 16(1) and (2) of the Money Laundering Act, for receiving cash payments without going through a bank, in excess of the threshold statutorily allowed.
Okupe was found guilty on a total of 26 counts – from counts 34 to 59 of the charges.
He made his decision known in a terse letter addressed to Peter Obi, LP Presidential candidate on Tuesday.
“Dear Peter, You will recall that I briefed you yesterday about my personal travails in seeking justice and clearing my name using the Nigerian Legal System to pursue same.
“I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction.
“In the circumstances, I have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new Campaign DG who can continue the assignment with zero distractions. God bless you and family,” he said in the letter.
Nigerians have since reacted to the latest tweet by Okupe.
A tweep, @muyiwa_50138 said: “Who dey afflict you?? When they stole money meant for all of us and caught,u then want to hide under the pretense of being afflicted. You are Ole, thief, Barawo. U deserve to be in jail, sir.”
Real Matters tweeted: “Sir we don’t have time to do any pity games, we’re Pan-Africanist and we will never allow any politician partake in stealing our common wealth. Sir you know very well that the office of the NSA is not responsible of payment of Salary like you claim, you know it’s finance ministry.
“God is indeed patient and merciful.
“Do as you wish, use his name for cover up and he spares you. We all shall meet somewhere someday and give account. Inevitable!,” @MUSHEEN reacted to Okupe’s tweet.
@SaintAnosike appreciate Okupe and said history will be kind to him and his generation.
“Thank you Sir. History will be kind to you and your generation. You played a father’s role and continue to support the OBIdient movement despite the attacks of the enemy.
“We would never forget, Nigerian youths will never forget, Nigerians will never forget!!! God bless.”
@nkemtosure demanded to know if he collected the money he has been found guilty of from Dasuki.
“Righteous? Did u collect money from Dasuki or not. Please explain to us.
“Any plan to appeal the judgement, since the funds weren’t for you as an “individual” but for the office of the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Media to the President which should be classified as a corporate body.
“I believe this can be argued in court,” @ayemojubar said.