As former Labour leader and elder statesman, Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori celebrates his 77 birthday, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has described him as one of the architects of modern democracy in Nigeria.
In a goodwill message personally signed by him, Omo-Agege described the Septuagenarian Comrade as a worthy and true great leader of the people, adding that he is a patriot and a protector of the interest of the Nigerian worker.
He said: “Today, our good and happy people are celebrating the birthday of our dearly beloved leader and father, Chief (Pa.) Frank Ovie Kokori – a worthy statesman, great comrade, foremost patriot and icon of principled trade unionism. A man recognised globally as a symbol of good conscience and forthrightness.
“For us in Delta State, we are so fortunate to be directly blessed by Emeritus Comrade Kokori’s high leadership values, including his overflowing wisdom. We thank God for his exemplary life. We salute his doggedness as a fearless architect of our democracy. A clean, worthy leader who refused to sell the good of the nation to promote self. A trusted protector of the interest of the Nigerian worker. A truly great leader of our people.”
Omo-Agege extolled the Deltan-born Unionist for his wealth of wisdom, honesty and humility in his quest for good governance and progressive impact on the lives of the people, describing him as a source of inspiration to the younger generation.
“As a true father, Pa. Kokori constantly demonstrates uncommon wisdom and forthrightness in our humble quest to establish pragmatic political engineering processes to make Delta State a better place for all. His firm belief and insistence that public governance is only meaningful if it makes progressive and sustainable impacts on the people is a huge catalyst in our people’s zealous determination to change uninspiring governance narratives for their common good.
“His zero tolerance for dishonest governance adds huge positive value to our society as it guides all who truly cherish his leadership thoughts”, he said.
The Delta Central Senator used the occasion to pray to God to shower wisdom and grace upon him, saying, “So, as we celebrate Pa. Kokori’s birthday today, let us earnestly ask God to pour more of His goodness, wisdom and grace upon him.” He prayed God for longevity to enable the elder statesman to guide the people.
“May the good Lord continue to keep this worthy leader for us all. May the positive values that have defined his good life always guide us to do what is right for our people”, he said.
It would be recalled that Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori as the Secretary-General of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees, NUPENG, was the hero of the popular nationwide protest against the June 12, 1993 election annulment and the subsequent death of Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the election under the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Comrade Kokori was arrested and detained in 1994 and was released in 1998 by Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.
