Okupe’s exit, good riddance to bad rubbish – Ogun PDP

From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the exit of the former Senior Special Assistant  to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, from the party as “good riddance to bad rubbish and a non-issue.”

The party equally said that Okupe’s departure would in no way have immediate or long term effect on the fortunes of the party, both in the state and nationally.

Okupe had, over the weekend, officially announced his exit from the PDP claiming the party had become “menopausal and can no longer bear fruits”.

But a release signed, in Abeokuta, on Tuesday, by the state’s Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Adeniji, a copy which was made available to our correspondent, said Okupe would not be begrudged for a personal decision noting no one would miss him for any fundamental ideology.

The Ogun State PDP further averred that his decision was aimed at embarrassing the party, particularly with his wild and unpatriotic remarks saying his reasons for dumping the party was hinged on self-serving decision adding “Okupe’s statements smacks of an elder who does not know the limits of talking and goofs irredeemably”.

The statement reads in part: “Okupe in his statement noted that the future of the party may not be significantly affected whichever way the judgement of the Supreme Court goes. We find this unfortunate because it shows that he is one of those who do not mean well for the party. It is shameful that at a time when relevant stakeholders such as governors, senators, BOT members and other loyal members, have resolved to forge ahead in unity irrespective of the Apex court decision, an Okupe is a lone voice, steeped in negativity and backwardness”.

On the claim that the party in Ogun was irredeemably factionalised, the statement punctured this noting that the leadership of PDP in the state remained incontrovertible and sacrosanct.

“The people are united and working hard towards electoral success in 2019. That some persons decided to form a social group to push the personal ambition of their sponsors, does not translate to factionalisation and we will not allow Okupe to legitimise the abberrant and rebellious activities of some of our members”, the statement added.