Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has criticised veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, over his remarks about the late politician and physician Doyin Okupe.
Okupe died in the early hours of Friday, prompting tributes from various quarters.
However, Charly Boy’s message on X (formerly Twitter) stirred controversy.
Sharing a photo of Okupe, he wrote:
“May you rest in peace, as a restless soul you need am. I wish you had waited a while to see how Peter Obi go take waka for 2027.
“We are not supposed to yab people who have passed on, but bro, your own been too much. I can’t lie.
“Anyway, Rest In Peace regardless. I come in peace.”
Omokri, clearly displeased, responded with a lengthy post on Saturday defending Okupe’s legacy.
He described the deceased as a selfless politician who played a crucial role in Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, even defying ethnic sentiments.
“Dr. Doyin Okupe was my colleague. We both served as presidential spokesmen under President Jonathan, who did so much for the entertainment industry,” he wrote.
Omokri highlighted Okupe’s early support for Obi, noting that he leveraged his connections, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to boost Obi’s campaign.
“He was the FIRST prominent politician to publicly back Peter Obi… He never wavered, only stepping aside when politically motivated charges led to his conviction. Even then, he remained loyal to the movement until after the election and the Supreme Court’s verdict.”
Omokri also addressed Okupe’s concerns about ethnic dominance within Obi’s camp, stressing that he never publicly criticised the movement despite feeling sidelined.
“It is bewildering why you would say such horrid things about him, especially after his death, when he is not able to defend himself,” he added, urging Charly Boy to show more respect for the dead.
Okupe, who previously served as an aide to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, was the director-general of Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
He later resigned from the Labour Party in 2024 and became a vocal supporter of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
