High-Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, CEO of Daar Communications Plc, must have learnt the hard way how it feels to be in the opposition in a sudden change of political fortune. He must have appreciated how sweet and bitter it could taste when power changes hands against all expectations. That is, ‘sweet’ for the victors and ‘bitter’ for the vanquished. Power has a way of changing lives for good or ill in every society under democracy. When a hard-fought change occurs in a complex society like ours (where political patronage is the rule rather than the exception) it has the potential to ruin lives and transform others as well.
Bola Tinubu (By Chatham House)
Politics generally is a dangerous game played dangerously by those with the hearts of the lion — especially in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. While it could be argued that there are good men and women into politics in Nigeria like elsewhere the very opposite dominate the landscape corruptibly enriching themselves by corrupting the system thereby giving same a bad name. What ought to be a wholesome exercise in service of one’s fatherland has been transformed into a machine for terrorism, greed, graft and outright evil.
As students in Benin City in the early 90’s one remembers with a tinge of nostalgia how my friends and I were thrilled when “Ray-Power” FM radio hit the air-waves providing quality services to the residents of the ancient city sick and tired of the monopoly of the state-controlled BBS (and later EBS) TV and radio. We had hooked in then as it were enjoying the good jibes and refreshing programmes the new rado station in town had to offer round-the-clock. History was made and names like Pauline Ugbodaga and Tony Umole rang a bell! As the late Apple founder, Steve Jobs, had said: “People with passion can change the world for the better.”
Dokpesi was once compared to Ted Turner of the US as he dreamt big by establishing not only Ray-Power but AIT international TV channel watched with pride around the world. Like the late Bashorun MKO Abiola did by carving an enduring niche for himself in the media world with the defunct “National Concord” and “African Concord” magazine the DAAR Plc boss from Edo State became a ‘hero’ of some sort. Like the late Dele Giwa with the establishment of a pioneer investigative magazine “Newswatch” Dr Dokpesi smiled to the bank while facing every challenge that came his way and coming out unruffled. Abiola, Giwa and Dokpesi with the likes of the boss of Channels TV in Lagos, John Momoh, positioned and repositioned Nigeria among great nations with media freedom and plurality.
Raymond Dokpesi had a brush with the authorities in Abuja months after Goodluck Jonathan was sent packing from Aso Rock. As the DSS and the EFCC were investigating the ‘Dasukigate’ (the criminal disbursement of billions of Dollars meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition for the military fighting Boko Haram terrorism in the north) it was found that the incarcerated Dasuki, the ex-NSA under GEJ, had ‘donated’ millions of dollars to Dokpesi to be able to use his media outfit to ‘sell’ Jonathan to Nigerians prior to the presidential poll of last year. But you do not market a bad product since a bad material remains bad even if you use money to want to make people to believe otherwise.
Dokpesi quietly pocketed the money and went to the propaganda work with passion. Though he has been released by the courts through bail after after wisely striking a ‘settlement’ accord by promising to repay the money he was given illicitly by the ‘Santa’ Dasuki. But having tasted prison and seen the other side of the great divide it is impossible not to imagine the humbling of a great man whose cupidity had forced to embrace the corrupt establishment in Abuja under GEJ thus rendering a useful service for a huge fee.
Enter “The Lion Of Bourdillon” TV documentary aired by both AIT and NTA. In the said controversial documentary carefully edited and aired repeatedly for maximum effect outright lies were brazenly told in a failed orchestrated bid to denigrate, tarnish and rubbish the towering image and laudable landmark achievements of both Buhari and Tinubu. It was purely slanderous, a ‘hate-them’ campaign! AIT and the NTA went beyond fair journalistic boundary just to please the ‘boss’ for the latter and to make money for the former. But true independent journalism involves something more valuable: honour and trust. They betrayed the trust just in order to ‘belong’ to the doomed political bandwagon.
After the continuation of the said offensive documentary the APC chieftain simply approached the high court for reparation. He sued AIT claiming 150 million Naira in damages! Dokpesi ate the humble pie when his broadcasting company had to apologise publicly to Tinubu as the litigation was settled amicably out of the court. According to the statement issued by the management of the outfit: “DAAR Communications Plc acknowledges that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an outstanding political leader of unblemished character and integrity, as well as a leading public figure and opinion-moulder, who has made and continuous make immense contributions to the progress and development of the nation in general and Lagos State in particular…..DAAR Communications Plc admits that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention, whatsoever, to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which it respects and attests to.”
Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, former Senator, former Governor of Lagos State, former NADECO Chieftain and exiled pro-democracy activist is a man of many parts. He almost single-handedly ‘wrestled’ the western region from the PDP government at the center during the OBJ era. Only two states are still ‘rebelling’ against the tide. Ondo State with Olusegun Mimiko as Governor and Ekiti State with Ayodele Fayose who spectacularly rigged himself to power in Ado Ekiti. But every other Yoruba state is under the command of progressives with Tinubu serving as the guiding light that is shining upon the populace. Tinubu is a highly-organised and disciplined man and he plays politics with open heart, accommodation and inclusion. The best of the best is promoted all the time paving way for the Fashola miracle in Lagos!
Tribute poured in torrents as the ‘Lion’ of Lagos recently celebrated his 64th birthday. From the President Buhari to the PDP opposition rogue Governor Ayo Fayose encomiums were showered on the man whose political sagacity and patriotism enabled the change at the center Nigeria is currently enjoying. Like him or loathe him Tinubu has risen to the pinnacle of political leadership in Nigeria by dint of hardwork and rare organisation of men and resources. He is in power and he is the last ‘godfather’ still standing even if he does not show himself as one wielding enormous power anywhere. Even the President acknowledged what most Nigerians had thought about Tinubu’s visionary role in the emergence of the new order in Abuja and Lagos. He made it clear Tinubu was the ‘brain’ behind the APC triumph at the presidential poll of last year!
To the Lion of Bourdillon at 64 we say many happy returns. As a great Nigerian, a great Lagosian and a great son of Oduduwa we rejoice with you on this auspicious occasion! May your days be greater and longevity your portion!
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Image by Chatham House – via Magnus Manske
CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21280529
