Labour mourns Kokori, charges govt to immortalise late unionist

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have mourned the demise of Frank Kokori. Kokori, who was General Secretary of NUPENG, was described as an individual who lived a life of struggle for workers’ liberation and the enthronement of democracy.

Kokori, who was known for leading protests against military rule in Nigeria, died at the age of 80 years. A statement signed by President and Secretary General of TUC, Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro, as well NUPENG’s Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, said Kokori spent his life fighting for the emancipation of the working class.

It added: “He spent a life of ‘sacrifice’ struggling for the emancipation of the working class globally and the enthronement of democratic rule in Nigeria.

“Kokori in leading the strikes against the Abacha dictatorship, taught workers and other Nigerians courage and what it is to be courageous. He taught youth patriotism and that whenever it is necessary, every generation must rise to defend the motherland, the weak and the defenceless.

“Kokori had the choice to become one of the richest Nigerians just by agreeing to support military dictatorship. Rather, he put his life online for the de-annulment of the 1993 June 12 Presidential Elections and enthronement of democracy in the country.”

The unions said that their former general secretary spent years in prisons and was severely brutalised during his struggles not only for the trade unions but also against military rule in Nigeria.

“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.

“But while we in the NUPENG family mourn the loss of a great labour icon, we also celebrate his remarkable life where he contributed to our collective struggles for the emancipation of the working people for the greater good to all and sundry.”

The NLC in a tribute signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, said Kokori would be remembered for many things but top on that list was being among the Labour leaders who gave their all for the country to have democracy.

He described him as a dogged and fearless fighter who had played his role and gone.

While the wheel of history turned, he urged the Federal Government and the government of Delta State to immortalise him.

Giving a history of Kokori during his hay days and stoic and heroic struggle for the enthronement of democracy, Ajaero said: “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 credentials gave him coast-to-coast victory at the polls in the freest election in the history of the country.

“Nigeria Labour Congress was similarly in the vanguard of national resistance when the military scuttled Chief Abiola’s election or victory. It was in the execution of that resistance that Chief Kokori among other Labour leaders was arrested and incarcerated while others were hounded out of the country.

“The lucky ones were only put on the security watch list and were routinely harassed at their homes, airports and public functions considered by the State to be subversive. At the risk of sounding immodest, among those arrested and incarcerated at such functions at Ilorin were Comrades Joe Ajaero and Chris Uyot, Deputy General of Congress. Several others suffered differing indignities for fighting for democracy.

“Even while some of its leaders were in detention with Abiola, Labour leaders did not give up on their struggle for the enthronement of popular democracy.

“For their obduracy, the organised labour paid a heavy price. The Nigeria Labour Congress and NUPENG for instance, were illegally dissolved by the military and their assets were seized. Sole Administrators were 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. It is a shame they are allowed to eat their cake and have it because quite several of them through the roof or the back door are in government or positions of influence. The dilemma in which we have found ourselves as a people and as a nation cannot be divorced from this syndrome of opportunism and messiah complex. (Akinola Aguda).

“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 authorities. 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.”