RVSG Dances On Dokpesi’s Grave, Shuts Down AIT, Raypower; Downs Structures

By Gideon Njoku

The Rivers State Government has, literally, danced on the grave of Dr Raymond Dokpesi, an estranged friend of the State  till he died.

The shocking, but not quite surprising, dance took place on Sunday, September 3, 2023 in Porthacourt.

The Government shut down the operations of Dokpesi’s babies – African Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower. Dokpesi was the proud founder of DAAR Communications Plc, the umbrella body under which AIT and Raypower operate.

This shut-down happened just three months after Dokpesi’s death on May 29, 2023. The South-South Headquarters of DAAR Communications operations is in Rivers State.

Watchers of the events cannot quite pinpoint when the strong friendly relationship between DAAR Communications and Rivers State Government went sour. But not a few people put it down to politics.

Dokpesi was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before his death. Trouble reared its head when he became, not just a staunch supporter of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, but the Leader of his Presidential Campaign in the South-south Zone. The immediate past Governor of the State, now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, was also a Presidential aspirant. For Wike, any supporter of Atiku’s Presidential ambition automatically became an enemy. Dokpesi was one. That, it is alleged, affected the relationship, and also affected the Corporate relationship between DAAR Communications and the Rivers State Government under Wike.

It was, therefore, no surprise  when the Government, under Wike, suddenly gave DAAR a-48 hour notice for the demolition of its Headquarters. This has just been carried out under Wike’s successor.

A report on DAAR’s website said their operations were shut down by Government contracted telecommunications Engineers, accompanied by armed security operatives.

A broadcast, shown live on the TV channel showed the disconnecting of the wave guard from the antenna on the mast by the Engineers. The mast was also seen being  dismantled.

In a statement, the organisation said in part: “Meanwhile, bulldozers were also deployed by the Rivers State Government to demolish the Transmitter Complex at the DAAR Communications PLC Broadcast Centre in Port Harcourt.

“Management of the Company has been taken by surprise following the sudden turn of events as efforts were in top gear to resolve issues with the State Government amicably but the no notice incident is a heavy source of concern.

“Some officials of the telecommunications contractor told AIT that they were working on a directive from above to start demolition on Sunday despite the heavy rains as against a later date.”

According to reports, “the land on which the AIT/RayPower Radio station built its transmission station has been a subject of dispute between the Rivers State government and Daar Communications, Plc.”

In March 2023, under Wike, the Government issued a 48-hour demolition notice on the transmission station in Port Harcourt.

It  ordered DAAR to remove its property, claiming it was on the right of way of the proposed GRA Phase 5 housing project.

The letter to DAAR dated March 20 and signed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Ebere Dennis-Emenike, reads:

“Following the imminent commencement of the above project, all structure (s) impacting on the Right-of-way of the project have been earmarked for demolition including your own.

“Consequently, you are by this notice requested to remove such structure (s) within forty-eight (48) hours to allow for speedy progress of work.”

It sadly came to pass on Sunday.