Doyin Okupe to Kemi Afolabi: Don’t give up… I know people living with lupus for 10 years

Doyin Okupe, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has offered words of hope to Kemi Afolabi, the Nollywood actress, who is diagnosed with lupus.

Afolabi recently left many social media users shocked and concerned after she said her doctor told her in 2021 that she has five years to live.

“It’s not curable. You just have to take medications for the rest of your life. Make sure you are with your loved ones. At least, you still have up to five years,” she quoted the doctor to have said amid tears.

Several celebrities, fans, and associates have sent out messages of support to the actress.

In the same vein, Okupe, in a post on his official Facebook page, described the doctor’s report as a “lie of the devil,” adding that Afolabi’s “length of days is totally in the hands of your creator.”

Okupe, a co-founder of Royal Cross Medical Centre and a trained physician, said although lupus is incurable, “there are recorded cases of inexplicable complete remissions.”

He added that he knows people who have been living with the incurable ailment for “more than 10 years.”

“I read about your affliction with Lupus with much compassion. I was, however, saddened by your announcement that doctors told you that you have about five years to live,” the post read.

“This is untrue. It is a lie of the devil. Please entrust your treatment and medical care to your doctors, but your length of days is totally in the hands of your creator, the Almighty God who is mightier than any disease and greater than any Doctor. True Lupus is incurable, but there are recorded cases of inexplicable complete remissions.

“Also, I can tell you for a fact that I know people who have been living with Lupus for more than 10yrs. They take their treatments faithfully but rely on God exclusively.

“Put your trust in God and Jesus whose name is above everything, including Lupus, and you will receive mercy as I have received personally and others too.

“Dear sister, you will not die but shall approach your grave in your very old age in Jesus’ name. May His Grace continue to abide with you and heal you. May you become a living testimony for this generation in Jesus’ name.”