The death of the former scribe of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Frank Ovie Kokori, has left a huge vacuum in labour unionism and political activism in the country. The history of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 will not be complete without devoting a large space to the role played by Kokori in the June 12 struggle. Kokori was among the political activists who worked hard with pro-democracy groups to ensure the return to democratic rule following Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s annulment of the June 12, 1993, poll, which was generally believed to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola.
Aged 80, the ex-NUPENG leader, who died on December 7, 2023, following a protracted illness, was buried a day after. In his eventful labour career, which lasted decades, Kokori became one of Nigeria’s most influential labour union leaders, a defender of democratic values and a prisoner of conscience who battled the Gen. Sani Abacha junta to a standstill for incarcerating Abiola.
Born on December 7, 1944, in Delta State, Kokori attended Urhobo College, Warri, from 1959 to 1962, and Eko Boys High School, Lagos, in 1964. His growing up, which corresponded with the era of nationalism and the struggle for political independence from the colonial masters, instilled political awareness among his contemporaries who were inspired by Azikiwe, Awolowo, Balewa, Bello and others.
The early exposure to political struggle heralded his forays into unionism in the 1970s. After his first degree from the University of Ibadan, he worked as a tariff clerk at the defunct Electricity Corporation of Nigeria and as a district sales representative at Lever Brothers Nigeria Ltd, two opportunities that sharpened his drive for unionism with workplace downturns. Later, Kokori became the general-secretary of the National Union of Nigeria Bank Employees, where he held the position for three years before becoming the national scribe of NUPENG.
As the powerful secretary-general of NUPENG, Kokori was a member of some of the bodies that orchestrated the blueprint for the political transition programme of Gen. Babangida. Kokori was also a member of the 1987/1988 Constitution Review Committee and was part of the 1988/1989 Constituent Assembly, led by Anthony Aniagolu, a former justice of the Supreme Court, which gave birth to the 1989 constitution of Nigeria.
The new constitution was prepared based on Babangida’s promise to hand over power to a civilian government with a two-party system, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Comrade Kokori demonstrated pragmatism in union leadership during the June 12 struggle and fought tenaciously alongside other people for the return of democratic rule in the country following the botched Babangida transition programme.
As NUPENG leader, Kokori masterminded a nine-week nationwide campaign that grounded the country to a halt. He was arrested by Gen. Abacha for his role in the workers’ strike. He was detained without charges and put in solitary confinement in Bama Prison, Maiduguri. His absence led to the end of the strike 10 days afterwards for there was no leader to steer the resistance. Kokori was released in 1998 by the new military leader, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, following the death of Abacha. In recognition of his role in the pro-democracy struggle, Kokori was declared a prisoner of conscience by the International Labour Organisation and Amnesty International.
Regrettably, it should be noted that the democracy, which Kukori and his colleagues fought for, has not translated to a better life for most Nigerians. Instead, the masses are daily grappling with hunger, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and economic hardship. While celebrating his enormous contributions to the nation’s labour movement, we call on labour leaders to be alive to their responsibilities as exemplified by Kokori, who stood for the country in its darkest moment, despite intimidations by agents of the state.
He remained committed to the ideals of an egalitarian Nigerian society. No doubt, Nigeria needs patriotic and exemplary unionists as Kokori. The present crop of labour leaders should emulate his shining example. By contributing immensely to labour and democratic struggles in the country, Frank Ovie Kokori deserves to be immortalised by the federal government. We commiserate with his family, the labour movement and friends over the irreparable loss. May God grant his soul eternal rest.