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In his last encounter with the media, former presidential adviser Doyin Okupe made hints about his impending death.

A few months before to his passing, on Friday, March 7, he had an interview with The Whistler Newspaper. In Lagos, Okupe, 72, died while undergoing surgery.

Okupe was credited with pausing briefly during his final interview, which went viral, and saying: “I’m even tired of discussing Nigeria’s issues. I’m coming to an end. I have had my time; I have paid my dues.”

In response to the interviewer, who went by Mark, asking why he felt that way, Okupe said:

“Mark, you won’t understand. I have stayed away from the spotlight based on personal recollection and reflection. But I have served Nigeria very well to the best of my capacity. Yes, I have served this country. I have paid my dues and I think it’s time up”

For years, Okupe has been dealing with severe health problems. He had sarcoma in his right shoulder after receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis sixteen years prior. He discussed his weight loss after treatment in public in 2024.

“It’s part in part, the first problem was cancer I had and the chemotherapy makes you lose appetite, you have nausea, and even as you sustain for several months, you lose weight,” he told Channels TV.

He said that during treatment, his weight decreased from 127 kg to 97 kg before partially increasing to 103 kg.

Okupe continued to participate actively in political discourse despite his health issues. He made it clear in the interview with The Whistler that he had no regrets regarding his time spent serving in Nigeria. He claimed that it is challenging to operate in the nation.

“The point is we inherited a system that we haven’t worked so hard to change. Both external and internal challenges are pulling it down heavily,” he added.

He said that during treatment, his weight decreased from 127 kg to 97 kg before partially increasing to 103 kg.

Okupe continued to participate actively in political discourse despite his health issues. He made it clear in the interview with The Whistler that he had no regrets regarding his time spent serving in Nigeria. He claimed that it is challenging to operate in the nation.

“The point is we inherited a system that we haven’t worked so hard to change. Both external and internal challenges are pulling it down heavily,” he added.

Okupe discussed his opinions about President Bola Tinubu’s administration throughout the interview. He fervently supported Tinubu and voiced hope for his leadership. He warned that he might not live to reap the benefits of the reforms, stating that it might be two years before he does.

“The president would do well and leave a legacy but would someone like me witness that? Although it would take two years for the reform to bear fruits, I may not be here to witness it but Mark, you, by God’s grace, would witness it.

“And when you do, talk about it and tell people I said it. Remind them of this interview.”

The interview reported that an accident he had on his way to the location nearly prevented the interview.

Okupe was in Abuja, according to family sources, but returned to Lagos less than a week before his death for surgery at a hospital on Lagos Island, where he did not survive.

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