Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has mourned the passing of the founder of Africa Independent Television (AIT), Raymond Dokpesi.
OsunDaily News reports that the media mogul died at a hospital in Abuja at 71.
The death of Dokpesi, an ally to Atiku, was confirmed by his son on Monday evening.
According to a family source, who doesn’t want to be mentioned, Dokpesi suffered a stroke shortly after the recent Ramadan fast and had been managing his health since.
The family source disclosed that Dokpesi was eventually placed on occupational therapy to improve his daily activities by working out at the gym.
Reacting in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku 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, was an enigmatic business personality, a news maker in life and, sadly, even in death.”
Atiku’s immediate reaction to the news of Dokpesi’s death is an expression of grief and shock, saying: “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I am in a state of shock! As we say in Islam: from God we came, and to Him, we return. I am in prayers and will continue in prayers! My everlasting and deepest condolences to the Raymond Dokpesi family. May God forgive his sins and grant him eternal rest. Ezemo, not on a date like this should you leave us!”
According to the statement, Dokpesi entered the corporate landscape at a relatively young age, proving the merit of his creativity with distinction.
The former Vice President said that he enjoyed a close-knit relationship with the late Dokpesi, and the news of his death came to him with a rude shock.
He said: “Ezemo was my friend, brother, counsellor, and associate, all rolled into one. He was honest, detribalised, loyal, and supremely hard working. Once committed to a cause, he will see it to a conclusion.”
He also expressed his deepest condolences to his family, the management and staff of AIT, the PDP, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, and the people and government of Edo State over the loss of an impactful patriot.
