By Victor AhiumaYoung & Jimitota Onoyume

Pro-democracy hero and iconic Labour leader, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, was on Friday, March 8, 2024, laid to rest at his country home in Ovu community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, LGA, of Delta State. 

A former General Secretary of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and ex-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies, MINILS, Kokori, died on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

The colourful burial which attracted politicians from all shades of the Nigeria’s political divide including President Bola Tinubu, (represented by the Minister of State For Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Great Ogboru, Peter Akpatason of the House of Representatives and former President of NUPENG, among others, was turned into a carnival by the classy asoebi attire worn by leaders and members of NUPENG. 

Roll call of labour leaders

Among labour leaders who attended the burial included the NUPENG President, Prince William Akporeha, Peter Akpatason, Brisbi Ewe and Adewumi Dada, all former Presidents of NUPENG; General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale, Joseph Akinlaja, Adamu Song and Joseph Ogbebor, all former Secretaries-General of NUPENG.

The immediate past National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, Otunba  Salimon Oladiti, all members of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Union and so on; President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, and other PENGASSAN leaders and President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, among others.   

Politicians at the burial included President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Minister of State for Development, Ayodele Olawande, Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone and Great Ogboru among others.

 The immediate past Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Mideno Bayagbon was also among personalities at the burial service.

Encomium  

In an outpouring of encomium, various speakers described the late Kokori as a courageous labour leader with an embodiment of integrity and selflessness and called on the federal and the Delta state governments to immortalize him by naming a public facility after him.

Speaking, Prince Williams said among others: “Comrade Frank Kokori’s legacy will forever be etched in our hearts and minds. His unwavering determination to challenge injustice transcended mere words – it was action always. He fearlessly took on the giants of the industry, proving that the rights of the workers should never be trampled upon. His unwavering valor and his ability to mobilize our workers with his fiery oration inspired a generation of unionists and gave voice to the voiceless. He became a true champion of the working class, leading with integrity, empathy, and an unquenchable spirit.

“Through his insightful leadership, Comrade Kokori led the transformation of NUPENG into an organisation that represented the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian oil and gas workers. Under his stewardship, NUPENG became a powerhouse, fighting to secure and protect the rights and welfare of workers across the sector. He was a visionary, always at the forefront of advocating fair labor practices and policies that would uplift the life of every worker in our industry. 

“A great leader and comrade of no small repute, a colossus in his time, in my opinion, he was one of the greatest labour leaders in Nigeria’s history. He was a dedicated fighter and promoter of the rights and protection of workers in Nigeria. His struggle for the oil and gas workers is one for the history books. These struggles led him to be arrested at various times, but he was never deterred. He continued in the fight to the very end.

Rights activist

“One of such struggles can be seen in the fight for the rights of contract workers. In December 1991, the Union issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government on the evils of contract employment in the oil and gas industry. The government called for a tripartite meeting which resulted in a communique signed in January 1992. The communique granted the Union the right to unionize contract workers and to negotiate conditions of service for them. This was a major gain at the time as contract workers were not allowed the freedom to belong to the union. Up till this day, contract workers are free to join the union.

“Chief Kokori was also a proponent of democratic ideals. He believed that the demand for humane working conditions under military rule could not be divorced from the struggle for democracy, hence his involvement in the political transition programme of the General Ibrahim Babagida junta. He was one of the labour leaders who influenced the formation of the Nigeria Labour Party, but with the military junta’s refusal to register the party, the Nigeria Labour Party merged with the Social Democratic Party. He was a pioneer financial secretary of the Social Democratic Party.

June 12 struggle

“After the ill-fated June 12, 1993, annulled general elections which produced M. K. O. Abiola as the elected President of Nigeria in what is to be adjudged the freest and fairest election in the country thus far, Chief Kokori’s drive for democracy was put to the test. He mobilised the oil workers in NUPENG along with her counterparts in PENGASSAN to demand for the declaration of M.K.O Abiola as the president. The strike action which was called lasted from June 1994 to September 1994, which paralyzed the country as every facet of life was affected. 

“The strike, however, fizzled out when he, the NUPENG President, and their PENGASSAN counterparts were arrested and detained by the Abacha regime. Before their arrest, the regime had by a decree dissolved the executives of both unions and appointed sole administrators to handle the affairs of the unions.

“During his incarceration, which lasted for four years between 1994 and 1998 when he was eventually released, he never lost hope. He always believed in the right of Nigerians to democratic rule despite the brutal conditions under which he was held captive in Bama Prison. He never compromised.

“Comrade Frank Kokori was a man of integrity. He rebuffed all efforts from the military government to take over NUPENG. He never used his position or influence to accumulate wealth or acquire properties. Rather, he showed true statesmanship in his leadership.

Comrade Frank Kokori even after retiring from NUPENG still had the interest of the oil and gas workers at heart. He was always willing to offer advice to the leadership of the Union whenever his advice was solicited. He was a vital part of the NUPENG Elders Forum.

“Comrade Frank Kokori was not only a unionist, but also a democrat, an activist, and a patriot. He was one of the key figures in the June 12 struggle, which marked a turning point in our history. He stood up against tyranny, injustice, and oppression, and paid a heavy price for his principles. He endured years of detention, torture, and harassment, but never gave up his hope for a better Nigeria. He inspired us all with his resilience, his optimism, and his faith.

“Today, as we say goodbye to our beloved leader, let us remember the lessons he imparted upon us. Let us carry forward his torch of justice, unity, and strength. Let us continue to fight for the rights of our workers, just as Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori did throughout his illustrious career.”

Posthumous award

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Joe Ajaero, represented by the Chairman, NLC, Delta State Goodluck Ofobruku eulogized the memories of the late labour icon, saying his courage was exemplary and implored the government to honour him posthumously.  

Joseph Akinlaja who was Deputy General Secretary when Kokori was secretary of NUPENG, said his demise was personal loss, saying: “I am here for his funeral and not to praise him. Frank came, saw, battled and won. If we could face the military junta and won then, we can say that Frank Kokori won.

“Frank was frank on labour and politics that had to do with emancipation of the people. We will miss him. Like I said, I am not here to praise him but to bury him. “

PENGASSAN’s President, Osifo, represented by the Association’s General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, recalled that Kokori and the late Milton Dabibi , former General Secretary, PENGASSAN, fought for the current atmosphere of democratic government in the country, saying Nigeria as a state should take care of her heroes and heroines.  

Adams Song described Frank Kokori as his mentor, stressing that he had all the characteristics of a true labour leader. “ Kokori was an embodiment of courage, integrity and honestly. He was my mentor. Kokori appointed me Organizing Secretary Kaduna zone of NUPENG.”

Otunba Salman Oladiti, immediate past National Chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers, a branch of NUPENG among others called for immortalisation of Kokori, saying government should name a national asset after him.

“Frank Kokori, our late General Secretary was an icon of labour struggle. He was courageous and was a man who never compromised. He was in Bama Prison for almost four years. He was one of those that fought for democracy. “

One of the founding fathers of NUPENG, Adewumi Dada, said Kokori was an embodiment of courage, integrity and an unrepentant believer in democratic government.

Also, speaking, Zonal Chairman of NUPENG,Warri, Chief Innocent Iyere, described Kokori as a great icon of labour struggle.

A selfless leader

Earlier, during the burial service at St James Anglican Church, Oviorie-Ovu, Ethiope East Local Government, President Tinubu recalled Kokori’s dogged fight for the de-annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late MKO Abiola, describing him as a comrade and labour leader with uncommon courage.

Represented by Lokpobiri, President Tinubu informed that at some point during the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 presidential election, some of the prodemocracy fighters fled the country, but Kokori stayed back.

While apologizing for his inability to personally attend because of other contending issues, the President said among others: “Kokori was one of the most foremost nationalists Nigeria has ever produced. He was a man of uncommon courage. He was a selfless leader who put the interest of Nigeria above his own interest. Kokori was a man of proven integrity and a democrat who fought against the dreaded military regime for democracy to be restored in Nigeria. 

“While some leaders were afraid and running away, Frank Kokori stood here. He was the voice of the voiceless people, the voice of the less-privileged people.”

Vanguard News