Opinion
For Dr Raymond Almighty Dokpesi – It was a case of Vini, Vidi, Vici
By
Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb, LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D, D.Litt.
I am a very sad man as I write this. I have been completely devastated by the ugly and rather sudden death of my elder brother, friend, kinsman, soul mate, client and confidant – HIGH CHIEF RAYMOND ANTHONY ALEOGHO AYAOGHENA DOKPESI, Ph.D, OFR, D.Sc. I have cried myself hoarse. I have never stopped crying. Sludge of tears. Sunken eyes. Bleeding heart. Weak limbs.
I am particularly traumatized because Dr. Dokpesi had called me on WHATSAPP at about 12:55am in the MORNING of 29th May, 2023; the very day he died. He had called me, as always, to discuss friendship, brotherhood and take advice on sundry legal matters. He exuded his usual self-happiness, vibrancy, sheer éclat and gusto. This, notwithstanding that he had had some health challenges for some time. He had miraculously recovered fully from a stroke. It was in keeping with his physiotherapist’s professional advice of exercise on a treadmill that he tripped and fell on a fast-rolling treadmill. So, the man died. The gigantic iroko fell. The world has been mourning ever since then. When Raymond called me that early fateful morning of 29th May, 2023, his voice was quite rich, steady and filled with laughter, even guffaw. We taunted and bantered with each other, as we usually did whenever we encountered each other, whether physically on the phone. We exchanged chats and spoke up to 1:50am that fateful day. So, when Chief Tony Akiotu (GMD, DAAR Communications) and Senator Francis Alimhikhena, called me to break the sad news of his sudden death from the very hospital to which he was said to have been rushed, I could not believe my ears. It was simply incredible.
It took another communication from his first son, Raymond Dokpesi, Jnr, to shake me from my state of reverie and melt my lethargic world of disbelief or incredulity. Was Dokpesi actually dead? Was the Ezomo of Weppa Wanno Kingdom’s call to me and our discussion up to 1:50am a final FAREWELL from him? Did he have the premonition of his imminent death? I do not know. Gosh!!! One thing is crystal clear to me as I grieve: Agenebode, Weppa- Wanno, Etsako, Afenmailand, Edo State, Nigeria, Africa, the black race, and indeed the whole world, have lost an unforgettable and uncommon shining star and rare gem of inestimable value.
At a mere 71, the Gbobaniyi of Ilawe-Ekiti lived a life of nobility; a life wholly dedicated to the service of God and humanity. His was simply a case of vini, vidi, vici (he came; he saw; he conquered). He impacted the most vulnerable Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched of the Earth” and the hoipolloi, through his many philanthropic and charitable works. In the maritime world, Dokpesi stood tall and resplendent, earning a first class in his Bachelors and Masters, and finally a Ph.D in Maritime Engineering. He helped to design the first carbotage laws of Nigeria. He floated the first indigenous shipping line in Nigeria (“the African Ocean Shipping Line”). He later followed it up with BALDOK Shipping Line. He was to become the nullus secondus of the media world, where he became a Czar, the Ted Turner of African broadcasting. Dokpesi indeed pioneered and blazed private independent broadcasting of television and radio in Nigeria and Africa, establishing Raypower 100.5 FM Radio and the African Independent Television (AIT). AIT (“sharing the African Experience”). The AIT was set up principally to change the western world’s skewed narrative about Africa. Its thematic philosophy was geared towards the promotion of African values, culture and traditions of the black race across the world. By 1999, DAAR launched Nigeria into the Information Super Highway with the DAAR broadband internet services. It was unheard of at that time that a single individual could challenge and break decades of government’s dominance and monopoly of information through radio and television. But, the Araba of Oshoroland and Oghierumhoa of Weppa Wanno Kingdom did just that. A very intelligent, versatile and resourceful person, Dokpesi was at once a deep thinker, philosopher, scientist, artist, dancer, singer, as much as he was a Marine Engineer, humanist, iconoclast and pathfinder. The Otunba Akorede of the Source, Ile-Ife, was not only a cultural Ambassador of his people (a traditional chief across all the geo-political divides of Nigeria), he was also a discoverer and adventurist who blazed many trails, broke new grounds and opened up new vistas and horizons for society to flourish. He simply made possible, things that appeared ordinarily impossible. As a workaholic, painstaking technocrat and a human capital builder, the Ezomo had an eye for minute details. He crossed the “t” and dotted the “i”. He did not suffer fools gladly; even as he was patient enough to excuse sheer ignorance and genuine innocent mistakes. He was simply many things rolled into one. Dokpesi was a Jack of all trades and master of all. He was a rolling stone that gathered moss.
Wearing humility like a second skin, the Lintu Bachama (Adamawa State) was an oxymoron. He was shy, reticent and taciturn; yet simultaneously gregarious, luminous and incandescent. In the business world, Dokpesi was a shrewd businessman and calculating entrepreneur. He had the Midas touch. He turned a small DAAR of 1996 into an octopaedal conglomerate that went public into the capital market in 2007. He was a total man who believed and defended the convictions of his belief even if he stood alone. He did not hug limelight or populism, or play to the gallery. At his 70th birthday, he sat on the 8th row at the celebration hall. He spurned all my attempts to get him to the front seat. He said he did not need it. I could not understand. But, that was Dokpesi for you.
His every day activities were anchored on the platforms of equity, social justice, fairness, egalitarianism and mutual respect for all religions and ethnic groups. He put the female gender first and forward in climes beyond Nigeria. Was this why he married many wives from many races and ethnic groups? I do not know. Or, do you? To say the Oghierumhoa and Ezomo of Weppa Wanno Kingdom was bold, courageous, daring and hardworking is for want of stronger grammatical expressions. His unquantifiable sacrifices globally and across all divides in Nigeria and Africa, made it extremely difficult for anyone to truly describe his essence and personae. Many saw him as a philanthropist extraordinaire; a Pan-Africanist and a Pan-Nigerian, who believed everyone was entitled to be heard and to air his opinions. Others saw him as an unrepentant investor in human beings. Some others regarded him as an unusual political strategist and tactician, who was consistent throughout his political odyssey and stayed put with his PDP, from its nascent scratch till he breathed his last. Yet, some others swore that the Ozoigbondu I of Adu Achi, Enugu State, was a media mogul; the Ted Turner of Africa. He was the undoubted cultivator of the then nascent Nollywood, Comedy and Music industries, where he discovered and nurtured today’s superstars, giving them the necessary platform to rise and achieve their potentials. Yet, others would be right to insist that he was simply a passionately prayerful, devout and devoted Christian of the Catholic Faith, who threw his AIT open for daily mass and other church services for more than a decade before he died. Even at that, he did not discriminate against Islam, as he introduced Jumat services every week. Some people had therefore called him a Chrislem”. The widows cried on his broad shoulders. The orphans leaned on his massive frame. The youths tapped from his generosity and mentorship. The senior citizens depended on him. He gave voice to the voiceless. He energized the weak, helpless and most vulnerable. He gave succour to the deprived and forgotten.
The Zuoje of Liberia was even described by some as an amoeba – a shapeless, formless, unicellular organism that could easily change its shape. Yet, others believed he was an octopus – an eight-limbed, soft-bodied mollusc with bulbous head. These descriptions are all apt because they depended on how he was perceived or seen by different people. The descriptions simply depended on the person or institution involved. They were all right; yet, oxymoronically, all wrong. This is because no one could give a wholistic and complete description of the enigmatic Sardaunna of Kpaduma, Abuja. Dokpesi truly showed that a candle does not lose its flame by lighting other candles.
The name of the Oganigwe Umu Orji Ako Nibo, Anambra State vibrated and reverberated for decades in Nigeria’s political firmament. He epitomized the soul and spirit of DAAR. Not many Nigerians know that DAAR is actually a reversed acronym of his name – RAYMOND ANTHONY ALEOGHO DOKPESI (RAAD); thus DAAR. The Osese of South Uneme, Edo State came; he saw; he conquered (vini; vidi; vici). He ran a very good race. He finished well. Most significantly, he died on Nigeria’s hitherto DEMOCRACY DAY- May 29, 2023 (before it was changed to June 12). Because he epitomized DEMOCRACY and democratic practices. At the 2005 National Political Conference, the Vision 2009 and the 2014 National Conference, Dokpesi rolled out the entire DAAR Communications facilities and outfit to drive the conferences, becoming the very linchpin, the backbone and anchor of the entire talkshops. He was everywhere, spreading industry, efficiency and efficacy. He was simply a one-man riot squad. He passionately believed in and propagated a restructured Nigeria where true fiscal federalism thrives, as against the present unitary system we practise. O death, where is thy sting? Death, you shall also die. You just died because you could stop Dokpesi from transmuting from terrestrial mortality to celestial immortality. So, the Ezomo defeated you.
May God grant this legend and colossus eternal repose of his great soul until we meet to part no more. Itseee, Itseee lagi Itseee. May God grant his immediate and extended family, his friends, associates, admirers and loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable and irreplaceable loss. Amen. Adieu Ezomo. Farewell Iyokpamhe. Goodbye, Agene 1. Rest in perfect peace till we meet on resurrection day to part no more. Amen; amen; and amen.
By Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, LL.D.
I have carefully read and listened to former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim
Badamosi Babagida’s public remorse and regrets over the atrocious annulment of the June
12,1993 presidential elections. He did this 32 whopping years later. I want to very quickly say
that it takes a man with strong guts and balls and a man who has become repentant, born
again and has seen the face of God to publicly recant his earlier wrongful deeds and offer
public apology to the entire nation. This was no doubt meant to heal gapinng wounds and
balm wounded and bruised hearts.
The polls, the best, most transparent and credible elections, ever held in Nigeria till date,
were meant to end decades of military d The annulment threw Nigeria into turmoil and
widespread unreast, protests, maimings and killings. This forced Babagida to “step aside”;
the enthronenent of the Enest Shonekan’s Interim Government; and the arrest and detention
of Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner who later died in Aso Villa in questionable
and suspicious circumstances. Of course, General Sani Abacha who was his second in
command later sacked Shonekan in a bloodless coup. For years, IBB prevaricated on the
annulment, claiming he did it in the best national interest. But on Thursday the 21st of
February, 2025,Babangida during the presentation of his memoirs, “A journey In Service”,
pointedly regretted in the public: “I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the
decisions taken and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened
in quick succession. That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled
to expect my expression of regret “. And wait for it:: he acknowledged for the first time that
Abiola won the elections fair and square, trouncing his major opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
I want to salute Babagida for having the courage and humility to own up like a man; that
everything that happened during the June 12 crisis took place under him as the head of state
and the president who was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. I salute him for acknowledging that his government which actually
organised unarguably the freest, fairest and most credible elections in the electoral history
of Nigeria when it introduced option A4 from electoral books that were hithenlrto unknown
to Nigeria or to the world. But unfortunately, regrettably like he now admits, he again turned
around to annul the same elections in a way that was most bizarre, curious and unnatural.
To me, that he has come out to open up to doing something wrong and egregious to a
bleeding nation should be appreciated. I believe that Nigerians should forgive him because
to err is human and to forgive is divine ( Eph 4:32 ). I personally have now forgiven him
because I was also a victim of the June12 crisis. It threw up all manners of challenges to me
as a person, where in my very youthful age; in my thirties, I found myself marching on the
streets of Lagos every day- from Ikeja bus stop roundabout, to Ikorodu road; up to Tejuosho
market; from there to Ojuelegba, Surulere; to Mushin; to Shomolu and Igando, Alimosho.
Everyday, we were on the streets, protesting the mindless annulment. Some of us were killed
in process; some were lucky enough to escape abroad on self exile. But some of us- very few
indeed- refused to flee our dear country; we stayed back. We stared at the military eyeball to
eyeball. We challenge authority and spoke truth to power. We challenged impunity and
repression. I suffered several detentions across different detention centres. I virtually could
not find means of livelihood for my youthful family because I was profiled, my phones bugged
and no briefs were coming in. But I personally forgive him because it takes tons of guts to
make public confession of having erred and atone for same as he has now done.
It is confession that leads to penance and penance leads to restitution and then forgiveness.
If Babagida were to die today, I believe that he will see the face of God because he has prayed
God to forgive him; and he has prayed Nigerians to forgive him. Beyond that historic and
epochal mistake of the annulment of the June 12 election which constitutes his original sin,
let me place it on record that Babagida is one of the greatest presidents that Nigeria ever had
in terms of his ingenuity, rulership mantra; ideas for national resurgimento; ideas that
contributed greatly to nation-building. These were aside the IMF-induced loans and pills
which he introduced and which we again valiantly fought against successfully.
Babagida it was who gave birth to the Federal Capital Territory and laid the solid foundation for virtually everything you see there today. His government was peopled by intellectuals and
not by half illiterates and quacks. He recognized and used intellects. He was luminous and he built bridges of understanding, friendship and brotherhood across Nigeria. Nigerians,
please, accept IBB’s confession and forgive him his sin of annuling the June 12,1993
elections. Let the wounds heal; let the heart melt; and let the spirit of national triumphalism
prevail.
Festivals world over are the most popular forms of celebrations in human existence. Whether as religious, culture, sports, film, arts and other traditional practices, festivals are pivotal events that could involve millions of people in the case of the religion related across the globe annually or periodically. They are events that bring people together and are characterized with merriments, ceremonies, and a lot of other forms of fun and bonding.
Nigeria as a multi ethnic and diverse society with over 250 ethnic groups is enriched with various forms of festivals observed annually with those of religions most prominent with the celebrations by Muslims and Christians. Similarly, the traditional worshippers retain their own forms of festivals all depending on the tribes and the culture involved. Several among the religious and cultural festivals in Nigeria include Christmas the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Easter that heralds lent and the resurrection of Jesus after death while Islam has Eid-el Kabir and Eid El-fitri which is breaking of Ramadan fasting. At the level of culture and tradition there other festivals that comes to mind that includes Argungu fishing festival in Kebbi state, the new yam festival predominantly among the Ibo speaking tribes, Durbar festival, Calabar Carnival, Osun festival, Ojude Oba festival, Igue festival among the Benin people of Edo state, Oro festival, Osun festival, Sango festival, Egungun festival all among the Yoruba people, New Yam festival, Eyo festival popular among the people of Lagos Island in Lagos state and so on.
Durbar Festival
The word Durbar is traced to Persian and is connected with the ceremony marking the installation of Queen Victoria as the Express of Colonial India in 1877 while the word have been pronounced and propounded as “darbar” with dar meaning door and bar meaning entry or audience in Hindi-Urdu. In Nigeria, Durbar is a treasured cultural horse riding and display festival majorly among the Hausa people of the northern Nigeria to mark the Islamic holidays of Eid-el- Fitri [end of Ramadan} and Eid-el-Adha [the feast of the lamb]. The over 400 years old practice is said to have been introduced by Sarki Muhammadu Rumfa of Kano in the late 14th century as military parade and display when horses were used in battles to defend and protect the Emirate and also the opportunity to pay homage and demonstrate loyalty to the emir. It is also part of demonstration to showcase the readiness of the palace troops for battles and to also celebrate important political events. Available information has it that the first major Durbar in the country took place on the 1st of January, 1900 as part of the celebration to mark the transition of the Royal Niger Company to an imperial Protectorate.
Also known as horse ride festival it is worthy of note that horses and to some extent camels played prominent roles in the growth and developments of the today prominent Nigeria cities like Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Sokoto and Bida. In the 14th century before the sojourn of Christopher Columbus, aside being used during conquest and in battlefields under the command of the Madawaki who leads cavalry of horsemen with their horses loaded with various weapons, horses were used mostly for commercial activities particularly the trans Sahara trade expansion with items like salt, gold and farm produces.
Ceremonies
The activities and ceremonies involves “Hawan sallah” in Hausa language {meaning Mount of Eid} which in essence connotes the mounting of horse during the Eid or sallah celebration. The ceremonies begin with prayers at Eid grounds followed with parade of the Emir and his entourage on horses followed with drummers and trumpeters with the movement ending at the Emir’s palace. The parade includes hundreds of beautifully decorated horses with nobles in their best clothes followed by musicians and magicians all in a long procession in distinctive turbans {Rawani} clearly indicating their nobility and social status through streets to pay homage to the Emir. Other special attractions particularly in Kano Durbar which is acclaimed to possess the biggest parade of colouful horses in the world, include the display by the “hyena man” who carries out street performance with trained animals like hyenas and baboons which create a lot of excitements and entertainment for the hundreds of crowd in attendance.
The procession of the strictly male event showcases participants dressed in flamboyant turbans and robes with modes indicating their royal linage. Kano Durbar for example is four day event that commences with Hawan sallah on the day of Eid followed by the day 2 and most popular for its entertainment and glamour Hawan Daushe for the special visitation of the Emir and his colourful entourage to his mother in her domain. The display of various entertainers including magicians, drummers, dancers, stunt men and masquerades attract and witness the attendance and spectators across the globe. The other two days are for Hawan Nassarawa and finally Hawan Doriya which are both continuous aspects for merriment during the festival.
The Emir’s return from his mother’s visitation on the day 2 {Hawan Daushe} is followed by The Jahi that sees the him and his entourage ride through various important historical quarters and families before returning to the palace. On arrival the Emir in a military manner takes position to receive salutes and traditional greetings from the cavalry of riders along with the various district heads, their families and entourage in order of hierarchy. This is followed by the demonstration of loyalty and gallantry by all the riders and spectators present. After the homage and performances, [The Jahi] the palace guards take positions and fire several gunshots to signal the closure and end of the day and most important aspect of the four day festival.
Durbar festival has become annual festival celebrated across cities Northern Muslim dominated cities of Nigeria like Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zaria and Bida and was extended to Ilorin in Kwara state during Eid el-fitri and Eid El-Adha. Generally speaking, the Durbar festival is not just the most population cultural heritage of the Hausa people of the northern Nigeria and major parts of Niger republic but it is festival that unite and bring the people together to celebrate their unique historical and cultural heritage.
Durbar festival recently has witnessed more activities like car racing and other fun fairs that attract sons and daughters of Hausa decent, visitors and tourist annually to places like Kano, Katsina and Zaria. The glamour, popularity and attractions of Durbar particularly the Kano Durbar festival over the years, led to the recognition of the festival as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO in in December 17, 2024. This laudable and significant achievement in the nation’s cultural heritage exemplified the extent to which the festival has become popular to the people and the role it places towards unifying the people through their rich cultural heritage. During the presentation of the UNESCO certificate, by the Permanent Delegation of Nigeria to UNESCO to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Barr. Hannatu Musawa, opined that the great achievement does “not only celebrates the beauty and unity of the festival but also creates opportunities for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. The country’s representative at the UNESCO in addition stated that “Having the Kano Durbar on the UNESCO list is a huge milestone for Nigeria” while the Minister in her view remarked that “the recognitions bring both international prestige and tangible benefits to the local economy”.
In comparison, while Ujude Oba yet another similar festival of the Ijebu people of Ogun state in Western Nigeria, entails the participation of both male and female across various age groups as part of the big sallah [Eid-edha] celebration of the Muslim faithful. While both festivals identify or are associated with royalty, palace events and horse riding, durbar is strictly a male show and more of an horse riding festival while the practice is just an aspect of horse riding is just an aspect of Ojude Oba festival.
It is hope that the recent drive by the present administration leverages on the recent recognition of Durbar by the UNESCO to create more awareness through wider media coverage with a view of boosting general interest and tourist attractions which shall cascade or stimulate growth of the sector and also serve as source revenue to the governments across all levels.
Abdulkareem A. Ikharo.
Curator [NCMM].
Abuja.
By Wilberforce Edward
As Nigeria continues to grapple with various socio-economic challenges, the selfless contributions of individuals like Dr. Emmanuel N Musa serve as a beacon of hope. A renowned philanthropist, Dr. Musa has been making waves with his tireless efforts to empower communities, particularly in Adamawa State.
Dr. Musa’s philanthropic journey is a testament to his commitment to giving back to society. Through his foundation, Emnamu Foundation, he has been providing scholarships, job opportunities, and infrastructure development to communities in need. His impact is felt not only in Hong Local Government Area but also across Adamawa State, the North East region, and beyond.
One of Dr. Musa’s most notable achievements is his unwavering support for education. He has awarded numerous scholarships to deserving students, enabling them to pursue their academic dreams. Additionally, he has provided job opportunities for youth and the aged, helping to reduce unemployment and poverty in the region.
Dr. Musa’s philanthropy extends beyond education and economic empowerment. He has also been instrumental in promoting peace and stability in communities affected by insurgency. His foundation has worked tirelessly to provide relief materials, shelter, and medical care to displaced persons.
Despite his remarkable achievements, Dr. Musa remains humble and dedicated to his philanthropic work. His commitment to giving back to society is genuine and not driven by political ambitions. As he continues to make a positive impact on the lives of many, Dr. Musa’s legacy as a renowned philanthropist is cemented.
As the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State approaches, there are whispers that Dr. Musa may be considering a run for office. While this remains speculative, one thing is certain – Dr. Musa’s dedication to public service and philanthropy has earned him a reputation as a leader who truly cares about the welfare of his people.
As we celebrate Dr. Emmanuel N Musa’s remarkable philanthropic efforts, we are reminded that there are still good people in the world who are committed to making a positive difference. His selfless contributions serve as an inspiration to us all, and we can only hope that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Wilberforce Edward is a public affairs commentator. He writes from Abuja-FCT.
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