Introduction to the Legacy of Raymond Dokpesi
Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday, recalled the role played by late media mogul, Raymond Dokpesi, in halting alleged attempts by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to extend his tenure in office. The duo made the revelation in Abuja at the 2nd Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi Diamond Lecture, organised by DAAR Communications and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), with the theme “Communication and Development”. Momoh said Dokpesi combined foresight, personal engagement, and media influence to protect Nigeria’s democracy.
The Third-Term Saga and Dokpesi’s Role
The minister, who detailed Dokpesi’s role in the third-term saga, noted that the founder of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM Radio has not received the recognition he deserves for his pivotal contributions during that period. The third-term agenda, which emerged during Obasanjo’s second term, sought to amend the constitution to allow a sitting president to contest for a third term. The proposal generated widespread concern over potential abuse of power and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. Momoh explained that Dokpesi personally called lawmakers, explained why the agenda was dangerous, and worked quietly to ensure it did not succeed.
Dokpesi’s Behind-the-Scenes Efforts
He said: “During the fifth assembly, when there was an attempt for third term, many people were taking the credits. But Dokpesi is another man who should be credited for what happened because I was a member of the National Assembly, and on one of the occasions, he called me and said, ‘You are my brother, this issue of third term, make sure you work with your people to ensure that it does not succeed’. So, after the whole exercise, people were targeted, and people were taking the credit, and I said, I wish they knew the brain behind ensuring that this agenda didn’t work. He was that very simple man. This is because, apart from using the independent television station, he was calling people one by one, letting them know it was not a good thing and that it must not be supported.”
Tributes to Dokpesi’s Contributions
On his part, Oshiomhole, representing Edo North in the Senate, recalled that the late media mogul used his media platforms and made his station available to lawmakers without charging a fee. He said Dokpesi provided a platform for non-state actors to present their perspectives, and for legislators to respond, debate, and be held accountable by their constituents. The ex-governor said: “In Dokpesi, I saw a man who used his station, first to promote internal conversation between and within Nigerians, but never dedicated the station to running down his country. These days, I watch television and I see a Nigerian media station saying Nigeria has happened to you because something negative happened to someone. If anything, there are fairly many Nigerians portraying us as the worst, as if nothing good happened in this country.
The Significance of Dokpesi’s Media Platforms
Governor of Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, who commended Dokpesi for his contribution to Nigeria’s democracy, lamented the growing sycophancy in the political arena. President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, hailed the late Dokpesi as a visionary who transformed communication in Nigeria. He described Dokpesi as a pathfinder who broke barriers in media, democratised information, and gave voice to the voiceless. “At the heart of Dr. Dokpesi’s vision was a philosophy that aligns deeply with the soul of our profession, public relations as service to society. He understood that communication is not just about media; it is about meaning. It is about connecting people to truth, leaders to citizens, and nations to the world,” he said.
Conclusion
The legacy of Raymond Dokpesi serves as a testament to the power of media and communication in shaping the democratic trajectory of a nation. His behind-the-scenes efforts to thwart the third-term agenda and his commitment to using his media platforms for the greater good of Nigeria have been widely acknowledged. As Nigeria continues to navigate its democratic journey, the contributions of individuals like Dokpesi will remain invaluable, serving as a reminder of the importance of a free and independent media in promoting national interest and development.
FAQs
- Who is Raymond Dokpesi and what was his role in Nigerian democracy?
Raymond Dokpesi was a media mogul who played a significant role in halting the third-term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, thereby protecting Nigeria’s democracy. - What was the third-term agenda, and why was it significant?
The third-term agenda was a proposal to amend the constitution to allow a sitting president to contest for a third term, which generated widespread concern over potential abuse of power and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. - How did Dokpesi contribute to the defeat of the third-term agenda?
Dokpesi combined foresight, personal engagement, and media influence to protect Nigeria’s democracy, personally calling lawmakers and working quietly to ensure the agenda did not succeed. - What is the significance of Dokpesi’s media platforms in Nigerian democracy?
Dokpesi’s media platforms provided a voice for non-state actors, allowed legislators to respond and debate, and held them accountable to their constituents, promoting internal conversation and national interest.
