COVID-19: Dokpesi Stops AIT From Airing His Views

By Gideon Njoku

Obviously under intense  pressure, the founder of DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has stopped the airing of his views on COVID-19. DAAR is the owner of both the African Independent Television, AIT, and Ray Power, an FM Radio Station.

Dokpesi, his Son, Ray Dokpesi Jnr. who succeeded him as the Chairman at both the AIT and Ray Power, as well as other family members, had tested positive for COVID-19, and so taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Isolation Centre for treatment.

Dokpesi Jnr was the first victim, followed  later by his wife, his father, two of his kids and a couple of other family members.

12 days later, High Chief Dokpesi and his two grandchildren were discharged from the Isolation Centre, hale and hearty.  His son was discharged a day after his father’s discharge.

But Dokpesi did not arrive his house quietly. He triggered a big storm by throwing a bombshell. He cast a doubt on the existence of COVID-19. He questioned it, and asked to be educated on the difference between malaria and COVID-19.

He disclosed that all through his stay at the Isolation Centre, the only medications he was given were those for  malaria, and nothing more. He also revealed that many of those who were isolated for the Virus, had before their isolation, gone to reputable laboratories and hospitals in Abuja for tests, and their results only confirmed that they had a large dose of malaria parasites in their blood. He then ended with a question which he aptly termed ‘food for thought’. “When did malaria become synonymous with COVID-19?”, he asked.

The next day when Dokpesi Jnr,  was discharged,  he added more twist to his father’s earlier comments . He said: “They said I was positive. But throughout my stay, I never got the result of any test. And I was not told of any.” He was tested three times.

Not a few people are of the view that, aside from the Governments of Cross River and Kogi states which said their subjects were being cajoled, and/or being forced/ bribed to admit to having the Virus, nothing has cast doubts on the real status of the Virus in Nigeria than the comments  of the Dokpesis. Now, questions are being asked.

The comments carry a lot weight not just because of thier personalities, but because of the medium they control. Both the AIT and Ray Power have local and international reach and audience. So, there must have been some damage. There must have been consequences. Perhaps, questions must have been asked from high profile quarters. So, on Monday, May 17, High Chief Dokpesi tried to do some  damage control.

He asked the AIT to immediately stop the airing of the comments he and his son made on COVID-19. He admitted to have come under pressure to stop the airing.

In a memo to Dokpesi Jnr,  the GMD, and the MD of the company, he asked them to stop the airing so that it doesn’t look like a personal vendetta. AIT has been airing the comments since they were made. He told them he had been so advised by a number of senior citizens  and elders.  “Leave the fight for another day”, he told the AIT.

The senior citizens, he said, were of the view that it would have been better to raise his observations privately with the Presidency and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19  instead of going public as “his public opinion may create doubt in the minds of the public.” He agreed with them.

Dokpesi: “I write to ask you to discontinue referencing views expressed by both the founder, High Chief Engr. A.A. Dokpesi and the Chairman, Chief Raymond Paul Dokpesi Jnr in all your news bulletins, and in fact, bring them down from all your official websites for now.

“Very senior citizens and elders have argued, and I agree with them, that I should have addressed a private letter to the PTF and the Presidency rather than cast aspersions on their method, thereby, creating doubts in the minds of the public. I also agreed to an immediate truce.

“We must never be construed to be using ownership to promoting our personal agenda or settling some scores with perceived opponents.

“I thank you all for your support and loyalty, but like gallant soldiers, let us leave this fight for another day. Kindly keep all the footages”

Analysts think that Dokpesi has the feeings that perhaps, in his own case, there may have been either, a mistake, or some other thing behind it. Otherwise, they point out, why say”, leave the fight for another day”, or talk about “settling of scores”?