Dokepsi was buried today, June 22, in the presence of his family, friends, political associates and well-wishers.

A requiem mass was held before the interment at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Agenebode.

Among those who witnessed the interment were Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and media entrepreneur, Dele Momodu.

Dokpesi’s body arrived Edo State for burial on Wednesday.

His body was driven around his Abuja residence for the last time on Tuesday night after a requiem mass at The Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja.

A service of songs was held at the deceased’s residence in Edo State on Wednesday.

The funeral commenced with a “day of tributes” on Monday at The Ballroom International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Among the dignitaries who attended it were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dino Melaye; Momodu; and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

The late Dokpesi was a member of the defunct Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign council for the 2023 poll.

As at press time, guests were being hosted after the interment at St. Peter’s Grammar School compound in Agenebode.

Dokpesi who was chairman of DAAR Communications which owns Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, died on May 29 at the age of 71, weeks after reportedly suffered a stroke.

The Public Relations Officer of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Christian Nwachukwu has said that President Bola Tinubu has not given approval for the increment of salaries of public servants.
Reacting to the news emanating from a Federal Commissioner in the Commission, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba the spokesperson said that he was not aware that the Commission has approved the increment of salaries of political office-holders, judicial and public office holders by 114 per cent.
Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba had spoken about the increment in the salaries of the President, his Vice, State governors and other public servants when she represented RMAFC Chairman, Mohammad Shehu, at the presentation of the reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday, June 21.
She said that implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages was effective from January 1, 2023, a claim that has been strongly denied by the Commission’s spokesman.
Reacting, the Commission’s spokesperson said: “not my chairman. Not my chairman. My chairman has never made any statement on it. And I have not made any statement on it. No statement from chairman, no statement from me. So, I don’t know. I heard one of the Commissioners said it. I don’t want to be quoted.”
Speaking in a telephone chat with Leadership newspaper reporter, the spokesperson said: “no approval yet. There is no approval yet. I don’t know the source of that story. Everything is under the process. It has to come as a Bill for Mr. President to assent.
“The President has not given assent. Until the President gives assent, you cannot take it as if it has taken effect. You know that. You are a journalist.
“I don’t want to be quoted wrongly. The President has not given assent to it. It is still under the process.”
Asked if the National Assembly has begun work on the proposal, Nwachukwu said: “it will be sent to National Assembly. Whichever way, whether it has been sent or not, the President has not assented to it. All those legislative process has to be completed; finally, it will land on Mr. President’s table for assent. That has not been completed.”
When he was asked if that means that the story making the rounds on salary increment was not true, he said: “just take it the way you understand it so that you don’t quote me anyhow.”
Asked whether the RMAFC has sent the executive bill through FEC to the National Assembly for deliberation, Nwachukwu simply said: “everything is under the process.”
Source: The Leadership.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George has commended President Bola Tinubu on his first three weeks as the President, saying it is a good start to his administration.

He said President Tinubu’s good start was better than his time as Lagos State Governor between May 1999 and May 2007.

Chief George, who is a former Deputy Chairman of the PDP gave the commendations while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.

When asked about his assessment of Tinubu’s administration’s first three weeks George said it is early to give a rating.

When further asked to describe the performance of Tinubu in the last 22 days as Nigeria’s President, the Lagos-based PDP stalwart said: “It’s not perfect but reasonable.

“At least, it is better than what we had known before when he was in Lagos. Maybe he was much younger at that time and had no experience but now, Lagos is not Abuja.”

Asked if he is willing to work with Tinubu, George said he would take permission from the PDP should the President approach him to work together for the good of the country.

He also reiterated his membership of the PDP, saying that he is not an enemy of the President despite their agelong political rivalry.

 “The major difference between Bola and I is his methodology, his managerial style, is unlike mine. I have a background in the military and I am a logistician in the military. You don’t carry your men to war without adequately doing your serious planning, intelligence gathering,” he said.

The PDP Chieftain, however, expressed confidence that his party and its candidate in the 25 February poll, Atiku Abubakar would emerge victorious at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja.

“Let’s wait for the outcome of the judiciary. The process is not over. The day the process is over and the court pronounces him as the President, we have no way to fight but to pray for Nigeria,” he said.

Source: VoiceofNigeria.ng