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“I Have Never Criticized Bola Tinubu in My Life” – Doyin Okupe Claims
Former presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe has made it clear that he has never criticized President Bola Tinubu at any point in his political career.
Okupe, who spoke in Lagos on Sunday, was responding to reports claiming he had once been a vocal critic of Tinubu but is now among his strongest supporters.
Okupe dismissed the claims, emphasizing that there is no evidence to support such allegations.
He stated, “You can go and check my records during my time in the Labour Party and the PDP.
I have never in my life criticized Bola Tinubu, even though we have never belonged to the same political party.”
Okupe shared insights into his long-standing relationship with Tinubu, which he attributed to their shared experiences during Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle under the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
He recalled how they both worked tirelessly, albeit from different locations, during the fight against military rule in the 1990s.
While Tinubu was in exile abroad, Okupe and others were coordinating efforts within Nigeria.
These shared challenges, he said, created a bond between them that transcended political affiliations.
“A good man does not spoil another good person,” Okupe remarked, mentioning the mutual respect that developed between them during those turbulent times.
He further explained that the hardships they endured while “running from place to place” during the NADECO era forged a connection that politics could not break.
Okupe also reiterated his belief in Tinubu’s leadership abilities, stating that he has always maintained that Tinubu would perform well if given the opportunity to lead.
He revealed that during the buildup to the 2023 general elections, he chose to follow the advice of Yoruba elders by stepping down his political ambitions to support a South-East candidate in the interest of national unity.
However, since his preferred candidate did not win the election, Okupe saw no reason not to align with the President and work towards the success of his administration.
Reflecting on his interactions with Tinubu, Okupe described the President as a patriotic and visionary leader who is deeply passionate about Nigeria’s development.
He noted that Tinubu’s commitment to progress and his ability to bring people together have made him a leader worth supporting, regardless of political differences.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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