A former presidential media aide, Doyin Okupe, says he is the potential candidate of former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023.
Okupe, who spoke on Arise TV on Friday morning, said he fit all the criteria Babangida had listed when he talked about the need for Nigeria to have a younger president.
Okupe said, “I believe when IBB was making that speech, he was talking about me. I haven’t spoken with him in a long time, I agree with all his points.”
Recall that on Friday, August 6, 2021, the former military president, IBB, had stated that Nigeria’s next president should be someone in his 60s.
Babangida had said he had started visualizing a good Nigerian leader and listed the quality of such leader to include being friendly, communicating effectively, well versed in economics and travelling a lot.
Babangida had said, “I have started visualizing a good Nigerian leader, a person who travels in this country and as a friend virtually everywhere he travels.
“He know at least one person that he can communicate with. A person who is very vast in economic and a good politician who should be able to talk to Nigerians.
“I have seen one or two or three already in their 60s.”
Speaking on Friday, Okupe said the criteria laid out by Babangida fits his profile perfectly and that the ex-junta leader must have had him in mind while listing out the qualities for the next Nigerian leader.
“I am part of the three individuals IBB was talking about. I am the most prepared person for the job,” the 69-year-old Okupe boasted.
Driving home his point, the medical-doctor-turned-politician asserted that he is popular and has friends around the country and beyond.
“There is no where in the country I don’t have contact,” he added.
