Raymond Dokpesi’s Death:
President Tinubu, Atiku, PDP, Others React
By THECONSCIENCEng
Veteran broadcast entrepreneur and chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, owners of African Independent Television, AIT, Raypower FM and Faji FM, Chief Raymond Dokpesi is dead.
The late media mogul died on Monday, May 29, same day of the swearing in of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dokpesi was said to have died in an Abuja hospital aged 71 after he suffered a stroke following the recent Ramadan fast.
The AIT boss had since then been managing his health and was placed on occupational therapy to improve his daily activities before his sudden death.
The family of Dokpesi confirmed the death in a statement signed by Raymond Dokpesi (JNR) yesterday.
According to the statement, “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of High Chief Raymond Aleogho Anthony Dokpesi (Ezomo of Weppa-Wanno Kingdom) who passed away on May 29th, 2023.
He stated that High Chief Dokpesi was also a respected and accomplished businessman, a pioneer in the media industry, and a philanthropist who dedicated his life to the service of his country and his community, adding that his legacy will live on through the impact he made on the lives of many.
The late politician was a notable member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Nigeria where he last served as the Deputy Director-General, Technical & Systems of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council during the February 2023 Presidential Election.
The PDP Candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came second.
Raymond Dokpesi’s Death:
President Tinubu, Atiku, PDP, Others React
Many eminent Nigerians have mourned the late media mogul, including President Tinubu and others.
In his reaction, President Bola Tinubu mourned the death of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, saying he would be sorely missed.
Tinubu’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by his media officer, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz.
The president described the death of the media mogul as a huge loss to the Nigerian media industry and the country.
He said, “The death of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is a blow to the media industry where he has played pioneering roles in private broadcasting. His pacesetting investment in the industry is an inspiration to many who come after him.
“The history of the evolution of the Nigerian media industry will be incomplete without prominent mention of Dokpesi and his giant footprints on the media landscape.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it was devastated by the death of one of its leading lights, member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC), media mogul, statesman and patriarch of the Dokpesi family, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Anthony Dokpesi.
Former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has also mourned Dokpesi’s passing.
Atiku, in a statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, noted that the late Dokpesi was a trailblazer who reshaped the Nigerian business landscape in every sphere of his endeavour.
According to the statement, “Ezemo, as we fondly called him, was an enigmatic business personality, a newsmaker in life and, sadly, even in death.”
