Ditan Okupe, son of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Doyin Okupe, has joined President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign team three months to the 2019 presidential election.
His father was senior special assistant on public affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan and ardent support of PDP presidential campaign for the upcoming election, Atiku Abubakar.
Buhari is seeking re-election as president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter dated November 8, 2018 addressed to Buhari’s campaign coordinator, Festus Keyamo, Ditan said he took the decision after carefully observing and analysing the country’s political terrain.
He said there is no better candidate than Buhari to take the country forward and that the Opposition PDP must be prevented from returning to power.
In a Twitter post, Keyamo likened Ditan’s move to that of Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently joined Buhari’s campaign team.
Breaking ranks with their fathers for PMB: Ditan Okupe, 1st son of Atiku’s man, Doyin Okupe, a UK-trained lawyer of 12 yrs post-call in Nig, volunteers to work 4 PMB’s campaign team just like OBJ’s son. Nigerian youths note: Atiku’s salesmen cannot even sell him to their children pic.twitter.com/U5QPiQVQ3X
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) November 8, 2018
Responding, Okupe said he and his son have had serious issues in the last five years, and “this may be his way of getting back at me.”
Ditan okupe is my Son. He is a very brilliant young man. He went to Kings college, Lagos, Burkinham university, UK &did post graduate in law at d London school of economics.We both hv had serious issues in the last 5yrs.This may be his way of getting back at me. I wish him luck.
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) November 8, 2018
He added that he can’t discuss the issues publicly but will continue to love his son with his whole heart.
It is impossible to explain intricate & confounding family issues in a single tweet. Pls refrain frm making judgement on What u know nothing about.What is betwn Ditan&I, will never be discussed publicly even if it costs me my whole political career.I love him wt my whole heart.
— Doyin (@doyinokupe) November 8, 2018
He, however, let it slip that Ditan has been trying for months to get the contact of those he considers his political foes including Bola Tinubu, Buruji Kashamu and Gbenga Daniel.
keyamo is my friend & lawyer.he is still handing a case for me at the supreme court.He called me tonite on his
acquaintance wt Ditan who also has been trying 4 months 2get d contacts of people he considers my political foes,incl Tinubu, kashamu,OGD etc.4 him dis is his finest hr— Doyin (@doyinokupe) November 8, 2018
Okupe was until recently the chairman of the media council for Senate President Bukola Saraki who lost the PDP presidential primaries to Atiku.
Obasanjo’s son, Olujonwo, joined Buhari’s campaign team in October in defiance of his father who has endorsed Atiku.
The former president has publicly criticised Buhari and advised him against seeking re-election.
Olujonwo met Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last week to assure the president of his support.
