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Goodnight Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi

By Senator Ehigie Uzamere

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Raymond Dokpesi

A day comes when one is wished goodnight, and yet he can’t hear because he is in that forever state. The bell tolled for high Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi on the 29th of May.

Though you had been unwell, you were over with the worst and recuperating. You were on your routine exercise in aid of full recovery and fitness when the grim reaper’s knives caught you unawares.

Yes, the grim reaper always comes unannounced like a thief at night. Your passage was a double hit for me, as I had lost my younger cousin Major General Idowu Uzamere Rtd just about twelve hours before I got the news of your passage. What sad losses for Edo State – two great sons of Edo State falling in one fell swoop.

We will not grieve like any without hope, as resurrection awaits all believers. You are physically gone, but your legacies live on.

You blazed a trail, breaking the ceiling in private broadcasting. Ray Power FM Radio and AIT were on the lips of all, and all were glued to them in 1994 and 1996, when respectively, they were established. To date, they remain communication mediums to watch and listen to.

Back home in Edo State, you were one of the sought-after elder statesmen both for politics and culture. You played your role in national politics. Your name will make it as part of the political history of Nigeria.

You stood to be counted in 2022, when you accepted to lead us in the Atiku Abubakar Presidential campaign primaries when other leaders from Southern Nigeria refused to identify with us, for fear of being attacked for supporting a Northerner. Atiku Abubakar’s presidential project was what brought us close. I thank God that I got to know you better.

You defied all odds and toured the entire nation by road with your group and in your choice cars. You believed in the Atiku Abubakar project as I do and were so bold in acknowledging it to the extent that your businesses were threatened. We had our political differences, which bordered mostly on the manner of approach to political issues, but we always amicably resolved them.

I visited you not too long ago when Engr. Jide Adeniji informed us at Atiku Abubakar’s residence that you had had a mild stroke. Jide and I drove over to your place, and you excused yourself from a meeting you were involved in to receive us. That was vintage you.

Today, we mourn a friend and a brother. We are saddened by your eternal departure, but we remain grateful to God that you were our brother and friend. You were indeed a great man, a highly respected chief from Agenebode, also known as *”Agenburg”,* Edo State.

May God grant your soul rest, and also my cousin Idowu’s, as I pray that God strengthens your immediate families in this sad hour of grief.

May our good deeds on earth be our luggage,  humanity, our passport, and love our visa to the realm beyond. We mourn you.

Senator Ehigie Uzamere, ksc.

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