…Want FG, Delta govt to immortalize labour icon
By Bimbola Oyesola
Members of the organized labour movement have continued to pour encomiums on the late labour icon, Chief Frank Kokori, who died last Thursday at the age of 80 years.
In separate statements, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Micheal Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, where the late labour leader served as the immediate past chairman of the governing council, said his passage was an irreparable loss to his immediate family, the entire labour movement in particular and African continent as a whole.
The NLC, in its statement signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, called on the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to immortalize the late labour leader.
The NLC, in its tribute, chronicled the efforts of Pa Kokori in restoring democratic rule in the country.
The tribute read: “We at the Nigeria Labour Congress are deeply saddened by the passing away of Chief Frank Kokori at 80. Our hearts are with his biological family and the NUPENG family where he was General Secretary. To them and other associates, we offer our condolences.
“Chief Frank Kokori was Executive Secretary of OMPADEC which later metamorphosed into NDDC among other national appointments held by him. He was announced as Chairman of the board of NSITF but denied that role by some of the powers that be. He instead chaired the board of Michael Imoudou National Institute of Labour Studies (MINILS) where he made his impact. This was his last national assignment.”
The NLC noted that Chief Frank Kokori will be remembered for many things, but top on that list was being among the Labour leaders that gave their all in order for the country to have democracy.
“For his stoic and heroic struggle for the enthronement of democracy, he was arrested and detained by the military alongside other Labour leaders for spells of time under inhumane conditions.
“Before his arrest and detention by the Abacha -government, Kokori was in the vanguard of Labour leaders who fashioned an alliance with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the understanding that then Congress President, Comrade Pascal Bafyau (now of blessed memory) would be vice president to Chief Abiola. Although Chief Abiola (due to circumstances) beyond his control) did not keep that part of the bargain, organised labour gave him their generous and unflinching support. This, coupled with Chief Abiola’ s own credentials gave him coast to coast victory at the polls in the freest election in the history of the country,” the tribute added.
The NLC recalled that among those arrested and incarcerated at such functions at Ilorin were Comrades Joe Ajaero and Chris Uyot, Deputy General of Congress. There were several others who suffered differing indignities for fighting for democracy.
“Even while some of its leaders were in detention with Chief Abiola, Labour leaders did not give up on their struggle for enthronement of popular democracy,” NLC said.
The NLC stated that for their “obduracy”, the organised labour paid a heavy price as Nigeria Labour Congress and NUPENG for instance, were illegally dissolved by the military and their assets seized and sole administrators appointed to oversee their affairs until 1999!
“It is in light of this that we find it a big irony that those who collaborated with the military yesterday while Labour was in the trenches would have the audacity to say today that Labour has no business in politics.”
Continuing, he said, ” It is a shame they are allowed to eat their cake and have it because quite a number of them through the roof or the back door are in government or positions of influence.
Describing Chief Kokori, as a “dogged and fearless fighter”, who has played his role and gone, but history has the next chapter, urged the federal government and the Government of Delta State to immortalize him,”for what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Trade Union Congress
In similar vein, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) said the former General Secretary of NUPENG was a giant in the Trade Union Movement and his strides will be difficult to march.
The TUC in its statement jointly signed by the President, Festus Osifo and Secretary General, Nuhu Toro said the the late labour icon trod the path of great unionists like Michael Athokhamien Imoudu, Wahab Omorilewa Goodluck, Haroon Popoola Adebola, Samuel Udoh Bassey, Gogo Chu Nzeribe, Lasisi Osunde and others whose names will never be forgotten.
“Kokori in leading the strikes against the Abacha dictatorship, taught workers and other Nigerians courage and what it is to be courageous.
“He taught youths patriotism and that whenever it is necessary, every generation must rise up to defend the motherland, the weak and the defenceless,” the TUC submitted.
It expressed that Kokori had the choice to become one of the richest Nigerians just by agreeing to support military dictatorship, but rather, he put his life on line for the de-annulment of the 1993 June 12 Presidential Elections and enthronement of democracy in the country.
“Despite terrible prison conditions, the TUC is happy that Kokori lived to see the back of the Abacha military regime and the enthronement of Civil Rule. But we are saddened that he was let down by those who benefitted from the struggles he waged for change in the country.
“It is a sad tale that even when the political party that he helped to win the presidential elections, came to power, his announced appointment as the Board Chairman of a workers agency, was eventually denied him,” the statement read.
The TUC commiserates with his family, comrades in the Trade Union Movement especially in NUPENG and PENGASSAN, and the entirety of the Nigerian people who have lost such a conscientious and committed fighter.
It added, “the best tribute we can pay Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori is to continue in his path to struggle for the emancipation of all oppressed peoples not just in Nigeria, but also across the world. To serve the people as Kokori has done, is never to die in their hearts. The struggle for a better country, definitely continues.”
MINILS
Also describing his as irreparable lost to Africa, the Director General of Micheal Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies, (MINILS) Ilorin, Issa Aremu said the passage of the iconic statesman was an irreparable loss to his immediate family, the entire Labour movement in particular and African continent as a whole.
Aremu recalled the steadfastness and struggling spirit of Frank Kokori and his comrades in championing the formation of National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG) in 1978.
He noted that the emergence of Kokori as the second pioneer General Secretary of NUPENG, was the turning point for the union in defence of workers’ rights against exploitation and oppression by some big oil companies adding that NUPENG under his leadership ensured decent work in oil and gas industry.
The Director General noted that the defining legacy of Frank Kokori was his principled struggle for the validation of the annulled annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections in Nigeria for which together with the President of NUPENG, Comrade Agamene and the General Secretary, Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori was imprisoned for 4 years by the military regime.
The MINILS Director General said the best tribute to Kokori by all progressive and democratic forces is to ensure deepening of democracy in Africa by standing up against military dictatorship in West Africa sub region.
He described Kokori as among the last African democrats that stood for free and fair elections until death came calling.
Aremu also recalled that Chief Kokori as the immediate past chairman of the Governing Council contributed in repositioning Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour studies as a foremost Centre of learning for workers, employers and government officials on Labour market issues.