Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications Plc, owner of Africa Independent Television (AIT), has asked the broadcast station to stop airing comments by him and his son on their experience with COVID-19 at an isolation centre in Abuja — for now.
Dokpesi, who is a coronavirus survivor, had in a video shared his recovery experience. In the video, he said was confused about the difference between COVID-19 and malaria as all drugs he was being treated with while in isolation were malaria medications.
Read Also: “When Did Malaria Become Synonymous With COVID-19?” – Raymond Dokpesi Snr Doubts Virus
He said;
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?
This comment led to an outcry on social media as many Nigerians began to express doubt about the operations of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) regarding COVID-19, while others claimed his comments were ‘unfounded’ and ‘unnecessary.’
Dokpesi’s son, Raymond Jnr, who is the index COVID-19 patient in the family, was also discharged from Gwagwalada isolation centre, where his father and two children who had the virus were also admitted for treatment.
When he was discharged, Raymond Dokpesi jnr expressed disappointment that he was not given documentary evidence of his COVID-19 status.
But in a memo dated May 17 and addressed to the chairman (his son), general managing director (GMD), managing director (MD) of AIT and other top members of the management team, the founder said he agrees with some senior citizens who suggested that he should have written to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 rather than create “doubt in the minds of the public”.
The memo reads;
I write to kindly request you to discontinue referencing the comments and views expressed by both the founder – high chief Engr. A.A Dokpesi, OFR and the chairman – chief Raymond Paul Dokpesi Jnr in all your news bulletins and in fact bring them down from all your official websites for now.
Very senior citizens and elders have argued and [i] agree with them that I should have addressed a private letter to the PTF and the presidency rather than cast aspersions on their methods thereby creating doubt in the minds of the public. I also agreed to an immediate truce.
We must never be construed to be using ownership of the platform to promoting our personal agenda or settling some scores with perceived opponents.
I thank you all for your support and loyalty, but like gallant soldiers, let us leave this fight for another day. Kindly keep all the original footages.
However, the chairman of Daar communication, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr. was slighted by his father’s censorship of his views.
According to Sahara reporters, Dokpesi Jnr told some DAAR Communication staff that he will no longer grant any interview to the media house.
He said;
I note and observe that the Facebook link that started trending has been taken down. I regret the action but reserve comment.
Please note that this was my last interview with any DAAR Communications PLC media and I will never grant this media house comment on any issue whatsoever.
The chairman added that;
If you have interest in any comment I may have, you may report it from other media houses or from my personal social media comments.
Please do not even consider approaching me for any comments. Official comments regarding DAAR Communications PLC shall henceforth be routed via press release through the ED Corporate Communications or the Company Secretary.
