•Denies insulting NASS
By Churchill Umoren
Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has restated his tremendous respect for the National Assembly, adding that he would not in any way look down on the members. Okupe stated this during an exclusive interview in which he corrected the misconception in some quarters that he engaged the leadership of the National Assembly in war of words over some comments directed at the Presidency, saying they were not true.
His words: “All I’m saying is that, I’m still knowledgeable, sensible, experienced and have the background that does not allow me to insult the integrity of the National Assembly in any way. But you know, if I disagree or if the statement made by the leadership of the National Assembly is against the position of the Presidency, it is my duty to clarify it.”
“What I did was to actually bring to fore the areas where the Presidency differs from the positions that were expressed individually by the leadership of the National Assembly. I hold the members of the National Assembly, both the Senators and members of the House of Representatives, in high esteem. “These are people that carry the mandate of their respective constituencies.
I’m a politician and I know what it is to be elected. Apart from that, I’m a very experienced and knowledgeable person with a very high pedigree by birth. I do not insult people. I do not insult leadership and definitely I do not insult institutions that have very serious relevance in our establishment. “My job as the public affairs assistant to the president is to interface between the Presidency and other arms of government and the general public.
Where there are misconceptions and misunderstanding, it is my job to explain that. Obviously, when the president went to present the budget speech, it is our opinion and I still stand by that, and that was not the place and that was not the function where he should be berated by the leadership of the National Assembly. And anybody, who watched that programme, knows that was what really happened. But I didn’t just stop at that, I went further to clarify the issues that were raised.
“We are running a democracy and as long as every Nigerian has the right to free speech, I also expressed the Presidency’s right by reacting. All I did was to pick each subject matter that was raised in the speech of the Senate President and the Speaker and to bring to the fore the position of what we feel our opinion on the points raised.”
While emphasising that the budget presentation, which was done in advance of year 2013, shows a great deviation from the old way of doing things in that regard, he also said that was the first time in the history of the country that a budget had been sent to the National Assembly three months before the end of a preceding year.
Okupe if u don’t kno what to say at any given time just shut up urmouth. Think b4 u talk not d other way round
I’m a politician and I know what it is to be elected. Apart from that, I’m a very experienced and knowledgeable person with a very high pedigree by birth.
Yeah, very High Pedigree in Corruption and Embezzlement.
muther fucker!!1
sir silence can never be misquoted
I think the National Assembly ve got their match in Dr okupe.some of the criticism dircted at the president are not constructive nor and lacks substance.some are not not crticism but rather insult at his person and his office.GEJ is not a tyrant,he doest wield power excessively,that however,shld not be a reason to criticise unfairly and sarcastically and not even the insults hauled at him is worth it.
Not my business…”If dog dey eat dog, wetin concern ordinary man for the matter”!
DOYIN OKUPE AT HIS AGE AND PROFESSION HAS NO BUSINESS LYING ALL OVER THE PLACE.THIS GUY SHOULD JUST RESPECT HIMSELF FOR ONCE,THIS JOB HE IS DOING NOW IS NOT THAT OF A MEDICAL OFFICER,HE SHOULD BE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO MR PRESIDENT ON HOME OR MEDICAL AFFAIRS.HE WAS THERE IN THE FIRST,SECOND,ABORTED THIRD,OBJ GOVT AND NOW BACK TO SERVE HIS MUCH JUNIOR ONE JONATHAN IN THIS INCONSEQUENTIAL CAPACITY,GOSH.SOME OF THESE PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS CAN’T MAKE A DECENT LIVING OUT OF GOVT,BUT THIS GUY IS SUPPOSE TO BE AN EXPERIENCED DOCTOR,WHERE DID HE KEEP ALL MONEY OBJ SAID HE KEPT FOR US FROM MILLENIUM CELEBRATION ?
All of dem no each other, so make dem not deceive Nigerians bicos they no wey dem dey meet for night and do their the more u look dey less u see stuff. God go exposé dem very soon, make una mark my word, all of dem.
okupe is employed as bull dog by mr. president. and what a good he is doing of it! okupe like saraki senior can’t practise again because they majored in preventive and community medicine. a branch in medicine wey no go fit give you good money.