Rivers Govt Defends Wike, Explains Why It Pulled Down DAAR Transmitter Complex

By Adesina Soyooye

The Rivers State Government has risen to the full defence of the immediate past Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, a Lawyer over the destruction of the facilities and structures of DAAR Communications PLC in Rivers State.

The Government had, on Monday, clamped down on the South-south headquarters of DAAR Communications PLC, owners of the African Independent Television, AIT, and Ray Power, a Radio Station of great repute.

The Government swooped on the expansive premises, shut down operations of AIT and Ray Power, and pulled down its Transmitters.  It has taken over the premises.

DAAR Communications PLC  is a baby of  Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Media mogul and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party. Dokpesi died on May 29, 2023, after, allegedly, a tragic domestic accident at his Abuja home.

The unprecedented action against DAAR has been roundly condemned by not a few people who attributed it to the soured relationship between Wike and the late Dokpesi.

Both politicians were friends and strong political allies but fell out because Dokpesi chose to support Atiku Abubakar, instead of Wike in the PDP Presidential Primaries won by Atiku. To Wike, that was a cardinal  sin. He never forgave Dokpesi.

As a revenge, some people insist, Wike ordered DAAR to vacate its South-south Headquarters, located in Rivers State, within 48 hours.

The situation remained same until Wike left office and Dokpesi died.

But on Monday, the Government, led by Wike’s political godson, Governor  Siminalayi Fubara, carried out Wike’s orders given before the now FCT Minister left office as Governor.

But reacting to the anger which greeted its action, the Rivers State Government, through its Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Alabo rose to Wike’s defence. It dismissed, as mischievous and malicious,  the talks that the Government shut down the operations of AIT and Ray Power because of the  soured political relationship between Wike and Dokpesi.

It, also, explained why it acted.

In explaining, however, it contradicted its earlier reason for asking DAAR to quit the premises within 48 hours. At the time, the Government said it blocked the right of way, and asked DAAR to come for a renegotiation. But in his explanation now, the Commissioner said it is because DAAR failed to develop the about 400 plots of land since the allocation to the company 20 years ago, probably, by the Government of Dr. Peter Odili, a good friend of Dokpesi, and Wike’s Political mentor and godfather.

Moreso, the Government said that DAAR has no papers to support the allocation to them or ownership of the equipment destroyed. The Government alleged that the  destroyed Mast and Transmitter were the properties of Radio Nigeria which DAAR took over, meaning, observers now say, that the expanse  of land belongs to Radio Nigeria, not the Rivers State Government. Rivers said it was ceded to its Government.

As a final seal on the take-over, the Commissioner said the Rivers State Government has already allocated the 400 plots to Rivers State indigenes to develop an Estate – GRA Phase five.

Said the Rivers State Government through the Commissioner for Works:

“Originally the structure they were using and the mast they claimed to own do not belong to them. Ab initio. Part of those structures belong to Radio Nigeria, they ceded that place to Rivers State Government.

“DAAR Communications does not have any document to prove that the land or those facilities belong to them. We are talking of over 400 plots of land here.

“Now we have fenced out the undeveloped portion of the land. As I speak to you, all of those plots have been allocated to Rivers indigenes for immediate development.

“A network of roads and drains is being done so that it will become a kind of estate for Rivers people.

“The State Government wants that place to be GRA Phase V,” he stated.

The Works Commissioner refuted the insinuation that the action of the state government is connected with the political feud that existed between the former governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and late founder of Daar Group, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

“That is totally fictitious and irresponsible, maliciously woven to tarnish the image of the immediate past governor of Rivers State.

“The former governor of the state took this decision solely for the interest of Rivers State and not for any political vendetta.

“The interest of one business man cannot override the interest of millions of Rivers people.”

The Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria has condemned the action of the Rivers State Government.