Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has described the death of Dr Doyin Okupe as a personal loss.

Abiodun stated this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Akinmade.

The governor said that Okupe’s passing came shortly after the demise of a revered figure, the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, Oba Adeleke Idowu-Basibo.

Abiodun, who paid tribute to Okupe’s lifelong service to Nigeria, noted that he remained a patriotic statesman and a committed member of the progressive political family until his final moments.

“Receiving the news of the passing of my elder brother, Dr Doyin Okupe has left me with a profound sense of personal loss.

“Without a doubt, Okupe’s departure leaves a void that will not be easily filled.

“Beyond his political and professional engagements, Dr Okupe was an easy-going and principled individual who, despite never flaunting his credentials, played a significant role in Nigeria’s resistance to military rule.

“Like many other democracy advocates, he endured detention and persecution under military regimes, standing firm in his convictions,” he said.

Abiodun acknowledged Okupe’s fluid political journey, emphasising that while his affiliations changed over time, his relationships with family, friends and associates remained intact.

“Although he shifted political alliances as situations evolved, aligning with the National Republican Convention (NRC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Accord Party, and the Labour Party.

“He never severed ties with his friends across political platforms. Even after the 2023 general election, he openly admired and aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s progressive vision,” Abiodun said.

The governor concluded his tribute with a heartfelt prayer: “It is my sincere prayer that Almighty God grants his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Okupe, from Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government area of Ogun State, died in the early hours of Friday in Lagos at the age of 72.

(NAN)