Tag Archives: OKUPE

Jonathan Ordered Dasuki To Give Me N100m– Okupe

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A former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, says the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), gave him N100m on the instruction of Jonathan.

Okupe, who served as Jonathan’s spokesman from 2012 to 2015, added that he received N10m monthly from Dasuki to pay salaries and run a weekly programme on NTA.

The former presidential aide said this in a Facebook post on Sunday while reacting to his arrest and interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC had alleged that Okupe received N85m from Dasuki at different times.

In his reaction, Okupe said, “The initial N50m was approved by the President (Goodluck Jonathan) to be paid to me from his security vote. N10m was to furnish my rented living apartment and another N10m for my office. The balance N30m was approved as take-off grant.

“The N10m I received from the ONSA monthly was to run my office, pay salaries of  members of staff, including overheads, pay expenses for our numerous press conferences, pay for publications in newspapers, magazines, local and foreign, television programmes, bulletins, and media consultants who assist and facilitate our work. I had about 23 (members of ) staff, 11 were graduates out of which five were Master’s degree holders.

“The second N50m was approved again by Mr. President when I reported to him that the monthly allowance had been cut from N10m to N5m and that I was no longer in  a position to keep running a one-hour NTA network programme called INSIGHT which was aired 9am to 10am every Friday.

“We paid NTA about N1.2m monthly for airtime. Two presenters were paid N600,000 monthly. The lead presenter on INSIGHT earned N400,000 and the second presenter earned N200,000. Total N600,000.

“We paid for tapes and editing per programme. Besides, we also paid honorarium for guests either directly or in form of hotel bills for those outside Abuja, or transportation.

“This cost averagely N500,000 weekly or about N2m monthly. All in all, we spent  about N4m monthly on the programme. Mr. President promised to help with the expenses. About a few months later when we had incurred some debts the NSA sent me this N50m which was to cover the cost of the programme for 12 months.”

Okupe further clarified that his monthly allowance was not his salary but meant for the running of his office. He said out of the N10m given to him by Dasuki monthly, 40 per cent went on salaries.

“Salary sheets with names and offices of employees were submitted to the EFCC. I was paid my salary of N853,000 per month through the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation,” he said.

Okupe, who was also quizzed for allegedly receiving some dubious contracts from a local council in Niger State to the tune of N76.5m, said his company, Romix Soilfix, was one of the over 20 construction companies who were duly awarded contracts for rural roads some five years ago by the Niger State Government.

He explained that due to lack of funds, contractors were paid irregularly making the job to drag.

“The job is still ongoing. The relationship of this to my service as senior special assistant to President is still not clear,” Okupe said.

The former presidential aide criticised the EFCC for allegedly releasing details about his health.

Okupe confirmed that he suffered a heart problem and he only explained this to investigators to prevent him from being detained.

Credit: Punch

‘Ali Modu Sheriff Is A Wrong Choice As PDP Chairman’ – Doyin Okupe

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Former Spokesperson of former President Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, says the appointment of Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP Chairman is wrong and also coming at a wrong time. He shared his thoughts on his Facebook wall yesterday. What he wrote below …

“The capability of our party, the pdp and its leadership to make grave errors of judgement is legendary. What is intriguing is that even out of power that tendency seems unabating. Alhadji Ali Sheriff is a longstanding political associate of mine and a very adroit and astute politician of perhaps a sublime class.
But for the post of the National chairman of the Pdp, He is a wrong candidate and also coming in at a wrong time. According to many of his proponents, his strong point is that being a man of great financial resources he will be favourably disposed to funding the activities of the party easily. But the antagonists believe that he is bringing along with his wealth a crushing weight of burden capable of fatally destroying the few strands of moral fibers on which a rejuvenation will depend on. For a morosed and severely prostrate political party,thanks to the overwhelming and effective propaganda machinery of the (opposition) party in power, this may yet be the mortal wound that may cause the eventual heamorrage of its long perplexed followership. The present crop of leadership of the pdp have not faired well. Impunity, presumptive reasoning, highly stratified and restrictive consultative processes, absolute lack of inclusiveness, mercantilism, group conceit with a resultant total disconnect with the main stake holders and the followership are some of the florrid signs and symptoms of the terminal disease that is killing this erstwhile great party. Some of us have vowed not to leave the party. We still will not leave the party. Better still in spite of the present situation of things we will continue to engage all who care to listen and deepen consultation across the country seeking help from everyone ready to help to revive this severely challenged sickened giant. But if it is the divine will of God that our present masters must kill PDP, then by the Grace of God we shall yet tarry at the graveside to bid it farewell.”

Saraki’s Ordeal: It’s Not My Wish That APC Implodes – Okupe

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Former Senior Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, yesterday, admonished the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to manage the ongoing trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), in the overall interest of the nation’s nascent democracy.

Doyin Okupe and President elect, General Mohammed Buhari

Speaking via a post on his Facebook page, Okupe, who made a shocking retraction of his pre-election prediction that the APC would implode, however, stated that in the spirit of patriotism, and now that they (APC) are in government, it is not in his interest or that of any patriotic Nigerian to wish that they break up.

Noting however, that the law must be allowed to take its course, Okupe urged the warring parties to “manage this delicate matter in the overall interest of our nation, our democracy and our people.”

His words: “To ordinary watchers of Nigerian politics, the ongoing ordeal of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki may be an interesting soap opera. But to more discerning minds it is nothing short of a tragic comedy. Over the years, Nigerian politicians fail over and over again to convince anybody that they actually learnt anything from our checkered political history. This is why we have had many Republics in our national history.

“Winston Churchill said ‘failure to act when action would have been simple and effective, lack of good reasoning, and confusion of counsel, all these lead to endless repetition of history.’ I am personally not a supporter of Dr. Saraki and for good reasons. He spearheaded the demolition of the PDP and the eventual catastrophic electoral misfortune of the Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency.

“Neither am I a detractor of the Senate President. However, as a veteran politician, I accept that all is fair in love and in war and as they say, the end justifies the means.

“But what is currently going on is ominous and dangerous, and will require wisdom and extreme tact from all the dramatis personnel. I did in the past predict that the APC will break up, but that was before the APC formed the government. Now that they are in government, it is not in my interest or that of any reasonable or patriotic Nigerian to wish that they break up.

“A break up of the APC now has the capacity to undermine the current political process and the entire political dispensation we are passing through to the detriment of the country and the innocent masses.

“As it is now, while the law must be allowed to take its course, men with less passion, and more sense on all sides must rise to the occasion to manage this delicate matter in the overall interest of our nation, our democracy and our people.

“Remembering always that an ill wind does not blow anyone any good,” Jonathan’s former aide said.

The Next New Media Aide By Rinsola Abiola

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“New Media” is defined as the means of communication which requires the use of digital technology, and is often used to refer to the internet and all online communication platforms. New media includes – but is not limited to – various social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter, video platforms such as YouTube and even search engines like Google and Bing, and of course, the blogs which we have all come to rely on as the first source of (oft-inaccurate) breaking news. From the afore-mentioned, it is evident that while “Social Media” refers to internet-based platforms for social interaction, “New Media” consists of social media and a lot more.
The last administration presented Nigerians with a lot of New Media awkwardness; from ridiculous claims that “Goodluck Jonathan brought Facebook to Nigeria” to Reno Omokri’s falsification of evidence against then Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, it is a rather unfortunate fact that the practice of being a New Media Aide has been tainted in quite a bit of infamy.
However, in line with the APC’s slogan of “Change”, the online community may hope for a professional new media aide who will have a high regard for ethics. The aim of this article is to explain what exactly a new media aide ought to do and be, in order to give Nigerians an insight into why the position needs to be filled, and of course, to prove (beyond reasonable doubt) that the last administration made a mockery of it all (pun not intended).
Why the President Needs a New Media Aide
Media is broadly classified into two main categories (at least, for the purpose of this article). These are Mainstream Media [which is further split into electronic media (TV and radio) and print media (newspapers and magazines)] and New Media (previously explained above).
The President kicked off assembling a good media team by appointing Mallam Garba Shehu, who did a brilliant job as director of media and communication during the presidential campaign, and Mr. Femi Adesina, whose commitment to the Buhari Cause has been absolute. These two men are seasoned media practitioners, having garnered extensive experience and built a formidable profile in print media (Both have, at different times, served as Chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Editors).
Some argue that both men are present on social media and could, therefore, also execute the duties of the new media aide. While this is in line with the need to reduce the cost of governance by pruning the number of appointees, it does not put the enormity of the task that adequate media representation is, into consideration. It would be difficult – and that is putting it mildly – for one of these men to take on the portfolio of the new media aide and the reasons are as follows;
With a third of Nigeria’s population being active on the internet and various social media platforms, the new media aide would need to be fully dedicated to engaging the people, disseminating information and managing the image of the President and the Federal Government online. This is a task one simply cannot blend with other demands from the mainstream media (i.e. print and electronic).
The New Media aide would have to be a young person or one who is extremely skilled at communicating effectively with this demography (this is not as much a discriminatory measure, as it is about having a representative who can “flow” with the online community, which is made up mainly of young people). Having a duly appointed new media aide would also go a long way in letting young people know that they are valued enough to have someone dedicated to communicating with them via social media channels that they feel most comfortable with.
Whoever fills this position would have to be proficient with new media, not just know how to tweet or post a message on a Facebook wall, but also have knowledge of social media analytics, measure the impact of campaigns when necessary, know how to create and administer surveys, know about content generation, how to use Google+, YouTube, GoogleAds, relate with bloggers, coordinate campaigns……the point of all this is to show that new media is an entirely different ball game from mainstream media, and someone who knows the rudiments is required.
Also, Media Relations is a broad sphere of activity and the requirements are vast. An excellent media team is one which is made up of the best hands – experts in their various fields.
Expectations
As stated earlier, the past administration did quite a lot to taint the office of the new media aide with infamy. Thankfully, this is a dispensation of Change, and for the benefit of those who have been misled into thinking that a new media aide is the government’s e-henchman who is to block people en-masse, have minions threaten them for having dissenting views and fabricate evidence against whistle-blowers, the true “job description” of the new media aide is briefly explained below;
The primary responsibility of the new media aide is to implement the online phase of the media plan (the media plan is the blueprint which the media unit works with, and its aim could be anything from “build confidence in the government” to God forbid, like the old administration, “further piss already-pissed-off Nigerians off”). What this implies is that with every tweet, Facebook post, YouTube link and Re-tweet, the new media aide must keep the President’s image and how every action would reflect upon it at the back of his or her mind.
The new media aide must take advantage of the interactive nature of social media, and not only disseminate information, but respectfully interact with the people (without which that government would not exist), gauge responses to government initiatives and formulate comprehensive reports in the process. The latter part of this is essential because communication is not quite complete until that exchange of information and feedback has taken place. The new media aide is the government’s eyes and ears, the link between the government and the streets, and it is imperative that this person communicate effectively with and for both the government and the people.
The new media aide should be professional; cool enough to handle the barrage of insults that will most definitely come without using phrases like “nattering nabob of negativity” on Nigerians who are totally within their rights to lose their cool.
The new media aide must be direct and straight to the point; honest enough to gain credibility, while being tactful enough to use reassuring words. It is the duty of the new media aide to make every Nigerian with a contribution feel valued, to douse tensions and turn even the most cynical to believers.
The new media aide must be able to communicate the government’s initiatives to the people via concise and meaningful articles, and break these down into even more concise tweets, infographics and Facebook posts, as required.
It is the duty of the new media aide to keep the people informed, to keep them up to date about every step taken regarding the issues which concern them.
The last dispensation was the era of nasty media aides who falsified evidence, trended offensive hashtags and told barefaced lies against other citizens on television. This dispensation will do better.

Rinsola Abiola, a PR consultant, served as PRO of the All Progressive Youth Forum (APYF) from 2013-2014, and is currently the PRO/Secretary of the APC Young Women Forum (APC-YWF).

Views expressed are solely that of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Doyin Okupe Dragged To Court Over N34 Million Debt

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The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, (NDIC), has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to place a debt recovery suit filed against the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe and two others on an undefended list.

NDIC, who is the Liquidator of defunct Gulf Bank of Nigeria Plc, made the application following alleged failure of Okupe and other defendants in the eight year old case to file their defence.

Apart from the president’s aide, other defendants in the case are: an investment company, Value Trust Investment Limited, and a Director of the company Ray Ahazie.

NDIC is claiming Okupe, who is the chairman of the company and other defendants owe the sum of N34,168,064.51 as outstanding balance of a loan they took from liquidated Gulf Bank Plc in 2000.

The corporation is also claiming interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 per cent per annum from May 2007, until the final liquidation of the said sum.

NDIC in a statement of claim filed on its behalf by its counsel, Dr Abiodun Layonu, alleged that the defendants were granted a credit facility in October 2000, by Gulf Bank Plc, to finance the importation of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice for onward delivery to the Bayelsa state government in the sum of N448 million vide an offer letter dated 27 October 2000, and that the terms and conditions of the offers and acceptance were later formalised in a memorandum of agreement duly signed and stamped by the bank and defendants.

The plaintiff (NDIC) averred that in securing the facility granted the defendants, the Bayelsa state government through its banker, Societe Generale Bank granted a bank guarantee in contract sum of N500 million in favour of Gulf Bank and in further securing the facility, the Investment company’s directors, Dr Okupe and Ahaze, entered into joint and several guarantee to pay full amount granted in favour of the Gulf Bank.

The bank also by way of security has a lien on the shipping documents in respect of the goods financed.

NDIC further stated that when the ship carrying the 10,000 metric tonnes of rice arrived Nigerian territorial water on December 28, 2000, it could not berth at Apapa Port until January 03, 2001, because the port was congested and that the ship arrived Port Harcourt territorial water on July 26, 2001, but refused to berth on the ground that the shipping agency fee $155,000, (about N18.6 million) had not been paid.

Upon enquiry, the Nigeria’s representative of the shipping company, Koda International Nigeria Limited, informed Gulf Bank that a bill of $155,000, had been sent to the first defendant, Value Trust Investment Limited, for settlement as per the agreement between the investment company and the Oversea Supplier, Luck Rice International.

That when it appears that the investment company could not come up with the $155,000 USD, forming the shipping agency fees, Gulf Bank decided to pay the fee to Koda International Nigeria Limited.

NDIC further averred that when Bayelsa state government reneged on its promise to take the rice, Gulf Bank was forced to commence an open market sale of the rice.

At the end of the sale, Gulf Bank was only able to realise the sum of N454,574,150, in the account resulting in a difference of N70, 425, 850 between the initial overdrawn position of N525 million in Value Trust Investment Limited account, and the difference has been attracting interest since 2001.

Sometimes in September 2005, it had a meeting with the defendants at the Ikoyi office of Economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) with a view to resolving the indebtedness of the defendants.

It was agreed in its letter dated September 21, 2005, to waive the sum of N196,642,996.08, from the outstanding debt of N240,811,060.59, thereby repayment due to Gulf Bank stood at N44,168,064.51 and sequel to the meeting at the EFCC office in September 2005, the defendants were only able to pay the sum of N10 million leaving the outstanding balance unpaid in the sum of N34, 168, 064, 51.

However the defendants have refused, neglected and failed to liquidate their indebtedness despite repeated demand on same despite the fact that the defendants have admitted owing the aforesaid debt, as this was evidenced in their letter dated February 15, 2006.

Consequently, NDIC is claiming the sum of N34,168,064.51, being the agreed outstanding indebtedness of the defendants; and interest on the said sum at the rate of 21 per cent per annum until the final liquidation of the said sum. It is also claiming the cost of instituting this legal action.

When the matter came up for hearing, the NDIC lawyer, Oburume Ayeteno told the court that he has filed an application to place the suit on undefended list which he was ready to argue.

But Okupe’s counsel, Yemi Gbonegun objected on the ground that he had filed a statement of defence on behalf of the defendants but the statement of defence which the plaintiff had file a reply to cannot be traced in the court’s file, consequently he needed time to reproduce the said statement of the defence.

The presiding judge, Saliu Saidu adjourned till 8th of July 2015, for Gbonegun to regularise his position.

Okupe Makes ‘Uturn’, Says I Have Respect For Buhari’s Mandate

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Once again the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe has posted another massage on his Facebook page this time he  said that he has respect for the mandate given to the President elect, General Mohammed Buhari.

Okupe massage on his official facebook page (Doyin Okupe) on Tuesday  could be said to be a negation to what he said before the April Presidential election when he said that ‘’Buhari was not electable’’ and that ‘Buhari’s victory will not happen’. More so that Buhari has ‘no certificate’.

He went further to say that he was only doing his job when he was attacking the president-elect and that as a free born Nigerian he stand by all that he has said before and after the election.

Okupe also said that all he said was to promote the candidacy of President Jonathan his own candidate in the March 28  presidential election. ‘’For 4 years you guys abused and insulted Good luck Jonathan. Heavens did not fall.

All I did was to reiterate some of the issues I raised during the campaign and all he’ll is let loose. U can abuse and curse me as.u like I really don’t care because the more you do this the more you all expose yourselves as a bunch of childish, intemperant and intolerant.

Read More: vanguardngr

I Have No Regrets For Abusing Buhari- Doyin Okupe

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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, on Monday said he has no regrets for attacking President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, during the electioneering period that culminated in the March 28 presidential election.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mr. Okupe said he would continue to stand by his action during the period because he did so to promote his principal, President Goodluck Jonathan and put down his challenger, Mr. Buhari. “Yes I said Buhari was not electable,” the presidential spokesperson said. “I also said his victory will not happen. I said and still insist that Buhari has no WASC certificate. I said a lot of things to promote my candidate and many things to put his opponent down.

“I have no regrets for any of the statements I made. Lai Mohammed said worse. This is the nature of politics. For any one who cares to listen. We will be back. Period.”

Mr. Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, went on to win the election with over 15 million votes, beating Mr. Jonathan who garnered over 12 million votes.

Mr. Okupe said the number of votes earned by the President was proof that the election was competitive enough and that those abusing Mr. Jonathan should at least respect the 12 million people who voted for him.

Read More: premiumtimesng

‘I Still Insist That Buhari Has No WASSCE Certificate’ – Doyin Okupe

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The presidential aide shared this on his Facebook page. Read below…

These are very interesting times in our nation. An election has come and gone. A victor has emerged and the loser has conceded. Yet some of our folks are behaving as if we have just gone through a war between two hostile nations. Apc agents all over the place are unrelenting in their tirades of abuses, insults and lies against President Jonathan, his aides and supporters.
It is shameful that we are still saddled with denying falsehood & fabrications in the social media and even hither to highly respected Newspapers. Missing $20b found in an account in zenith. PGEJ returns tons of dollars to federation accounts. N2trillion spent on elections by PGEJ. Okupe says chibok girls will not be found.

How many lies, deliberate falsehood and evil propaganda, outright curses and attacks must we suffer just because we lost an election in which we were never disgraced.
Buhari polled 15m(56%) while Jonathan scored 12m (46%)
Those who talk to us disparagingly should respect the sentiments of the 12 million who voted for Jonathan.
Of course we have our reservations about the results but we will pass on that for now.
We have lost this election but this is not and can never be a crime. We are all Nigerians and haven lost does not make us less. We should be allowed to bow out peacefully and constitutionally on the 29th of May.
 
Yes I said buhari was not electable. I also said his victory will not happen. I said and I Still insist that buhari has no WASSCE certificate. I said a lot of things to promote my candidate and many things to put his opponent down.
I have no regrets for any of the statements I made. Law Mohammed said worse. This is the nature of politics. For any one who cares to listen. We will be back ……….. Period.

Okupe Reports Obasanjo to God for Supporting Buhari

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Dr. Doyin Okupe has reacted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s prediction that a new government will be formed on May 29, 2015.

It would be recalled that while speaking on election postponement, Obasanjo in an interview with Financial Times in Nairobi on Monday said: “I’ll only go by the constitution. By our constitution, there must be a new government on the 29th of May and the constitution lays out how that new government should emerge.

 Okupe reacted on his Facebook page saying that “Someone was reported to have said “A new government will be installed on the 29th of may 2015?

Lamentations 3 vs 37 says “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass when the Lord commandeth it not? Isaiah 7 vs 7 says “Thus sayeth the Lord God, it shall not stand neither shall it come to pass.”

Credit: xwaizi.com

Watch Youths Embarrass Okupe for Attacking Buhari

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Doyin Okupe was on Sunday embarrassed by youths for attacking the personality of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari. Okupe had organized a press conference to drum support for the re-election of President Jonathan.

Doyin Okupe while addressing the youths turned personal by attacking the personality of Buhari. He noted that Buhari is not electable and will not be elected by the grace of God. Continuing, Okupe said, Nigeria will not have a president that has not gone to school

Okupe, however, got the unexpected as those present at the event shouted him down by chanting APC!APC!! APC!!! APC. Okupe was forced to leave the podium as all efforts to pacify the crowd was unsuccessful.

Buhari is not Eloquent, Says Okupe on Buhari’s Decision to Boycott Debate

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Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe has described the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Party, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as an illiterate. Okupe was reacting to the plan by the opposition party to boycott the presidential debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) over what they tagged as ‘unhidden bias’.

Okupe claimed that APC decided to avoid the debate to save Buhari from shame, as he did not have record of performance, education and eloquency needed for a debate to match President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He tweeted, “If APC didn’t withdraw from the debate, they would have been stupid. Their candidate has no record of performance. Neither is he educated nor eloquent”.

Read More: dailypost.ng