Founder of Daar Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi has questioned the authenticity of his coronavirus result while addressing the press after he recovered from the virus.
Two weeks ago, Dopkesi and his two grandchildren tested positive for coronavirus but were discharged from Abuja isolation centre after testing negative twice.
Read Also: Raymond Dokpesi Snr Recovers From COVID-19
In the video of the press briefing that surfaced on the internet, the Daar comms. boss said during his time on the sick bed, he was only treated with malaria drugs despite warnings against the use of a malaria drug Chloroquine by health bodies.
According him, this made him wonder whether coronavirus in its real sense exists or is being blown out of proportion.
He stressed that;
I still have doubts in my mind and I need to be educated. What’s the difference between COVID-19 and malaria? Every drug we were given were malaria medications.
A number of persons who tested positive were checked in reputable labs, hospitals in Abuja and were found to have malaria parasites in their bloodstreams. When did malaria become synonymous with COVID-19?.
However, his comments have triggered mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some claim his remarks are ‘unfounded’, other feel they are pertinent questions needed to be asked.
See some comments below;
I just watched Raymond Dokpesi’s video insinuating that Covid-19 is Malaria. Maybe he should just withdraw his remaining family members from Isolation Center and treat them for malaria at home.
— Olayemi 🇳🇬 (@olayemi_123) May 15, 2020
Sit and ask urself d type of drugs issued to COVID19 patients in Naija isolation centres.
Patients are being treated wth a combination of malaria drugs/antibiotics wth vitamin c dosage and get discharged afterwards.
Dokpesi and doyinokupe told us how they were treated and you
— zayn_bellz (@RonaldosCrush) May 15, 2020
Lots are ranting like apc sycophants. I will say this again, Nigeria as a whole has turned this pandemic to a cashing out scheme.
The figures are not what they are reporting.
The same COVID19 that killed 33000 and 80000 uk and us citizens respectively? 🤡🏌️♂️
— zayn_bellz (@RonaldosCrush) May 15, 2020
Not surprising, just disappointing that Chief Dokpesi could not stand up tall, when he had the opportunity. He became small and mousy. Young as Atiku’s son is, he put out a video telling the nation to take this virus seriously etc.
— Susan (@SusanHenshaw50) May 15, 2020
We have all been asking what treatment they are giving those that are recovering and nobody told us anything. And Dokpesi just told us that they are using malaria drugs. But instead of thanking him we are here abusing him.
Making it all about PDP n APC.
— Ije_greatness (@Ij4realOkoli) May 15, 2020
Reason I said we should thank God that Buhari is the President is what you have been seeing in the last 48 hours. First it was Okupe and then Dokpesi, if PDP were to be in government they would have dismissed #COVIDー19 as malaria. How can matured men be this silly🤭?
— Olusoga Owoeye (@olusogaowoeye) May 15, 2020
#COVID-19:
Dokpesi asked pertinent questions, but as expected, they are abusing him instead of simply answering his questions.Las las, all you will have sense.
— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) May 15, 2020
I want to blame the @NCDCgov for testing and treating @RaymondDokpesi. He should’ve been left alone to test and treat himself.
Raymond Dokpesi is the definition of the many wrongs of our elites. Such a shame!
Up next is your corruption trial.@JigiJigi16 @ishakaa @iyaboawokoya— MUSTAPHA. O. Roy. (@MrKunleRoy_) May 15, 2020
@ #Dokpesi has further vindicate Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who earlier argued that the Covid19 Virus shouldn’t be blown out of proportion while we sit behind close doors and allow the economics of the Nation Crumbles!
God bless Leaders like GYB!
— Prime Abubakar (@prime_abubakar) May 15, 2020
Dokpesi and his garrulous son should’ve treated themselves at home and infect more members of their family with their “communicable malaria”.
Why going into isolation then coming out to mock those who helped them recover ?— Mayowa Olagunju ❁ (@iam_doctormayor) May 15, 2020
Coronavirus: I’m confused, we were given malaria drugs – Dokpesi.(video)
NCDC and WHO manipulating every thing and spread fear because of int’l aides😂😂 pic.twitter.com/91Wn8bkq97
— Grace John❤ (@onyiforlife) May 15, 2020
This is Dokpesi, the last few seconds is the message, he basically said corona virus isn’t real, again these people say these things because they beat the virus without complications and on time with the nation footing the bill. https://t.co/4w1BKGJEMV
— Tunde Aluko (MFR) (@tundealuko) May 15, 2020
If it was that easy why are people dying? Dokpesi and Okupe are in same WhatsApp group. I thought we had sensible people
— AlphaYomi 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 (@AlphaYommex) May 15, 2020
Watch video of Dokpesi’s press briefing below;
Chief Raymond Dokpesi says Covid 19 is same as malaria…. pic.twitter.com/pDCYbNAkye
— OKUFUWA SAMAD OLUWATOYIN (@okufuwasamad) May 15, 2020
Raymond Dokpesi jnr, chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, was also discharged few hours after Raymond Dokpesi, his father and his two children
He was the index case in the family, recovering almost three weeks after he tested positive for the disease.
Read Also: Raymond Dokpesi Jnr, Chairman Of AIT/Raypower Tests Positive For Coronavirus
In a message in the early hours of Friday, he expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and medical team at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital where he was treated, for their efforts.
He wrote;
My sojourn at the Gwagwalada isolation centre was an eye-opening. With praise and glory to Almighty God, I started feeling immediate improvement in my wellbeing once the combination of azithromycin, chloroquine and zinc were administered to me by Wednesday, 29th April, 2020.
My senses of smell and taste which were lost since the time I arrived at the facility were restored by Friday, 1st May, 2020. All my vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation improved and have consistently shown excellent readings since. The oxygen machine which was brought to my room became redundant.
But he expressed disappointment that he was not given any documentary evidence showing his health status, and that he had to take it in good faith that he was actually COVID-19 positive as pronounced by the NCDC.
Dokpesi Jnr. stressed;
Whilst I can attest to my improvement in physical health and wellbeing, I regret to say that since my initial test to date, I have never seen any documentary evidence of any test result.
He added;
I take it in trust and good faith that the NCDC pronounced me COVID-19 positive and that they have now also pronounced me COVID-negative. I will appreciate it if the documentary records of the various tests on me and members of my family are made available for our medical records.
As at press time, the NCDC or the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 are yet to respond to the comments made by both Dokpesi Snr. and his son, Dokpesi Jnr.
