By Ken Afor
The death of the former General Secretary, of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Ovie Frank Kokori on Thursday has elicited reactions from prominent Nigerians.
Among those is renowned political economist, Prof Pat Utomi who in a tweet on his X account on Thursday recognised late Chief Kokori’s struggle for the country’s democracy. He described the unionist as a dogged fighter and a soldier for justice.
“I paused for a prayer this morning to plead that the Angels escort the soul of Frank Kokori into paradise. We were in the trenches together 30 years ago fighting for Democracy when the elections of June 12 1993 happened. He was a tenacious fighter, a true soldier for justice,” he said.
Also, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo in his words on the microblogging platform, said Kokori’s death was the end of an era.
Keyamo, reminiscing the struggle of the late unionist, said he stood for him in various courts fighting for his freedom.
“I mourn the passing away of my father-in-the-struggle, my mentor and my guide. When Frank Kokori was in solitary confinement in Bama prisons for his struggle for the restoration of the June 12 mandate nearly 30 years ago, I personally represented him in various courts, fighting for his freedom. As a result, I became an adopted ‘son’ of his family. His late wife and children were constantly in court with me and I would spend time in their home in Surulere.
“I would later team up with him years later in the APC family in Delta State to struggle to liberate our State. He lived in the struggle and died in the struggle.
“This is definitely the end of an era. My deepest condolences to his family members, the APC fold in Delta State and to the Labour movement in Nigeria,” Keyamo said.
Meanwhile, beginning today, Thursday, NUPENG has ordered that the Union’s and National flags be flown at half mast for seven days, in memory of the former General Secretary, Chief Kokori.
This was conveyed in a statement by its President, Prince Williams Akporeha,
The union said, “All NUPENG and NATIONAL flags in all offices across the country are to fly at half mast for seven days beginning from Today (Thursday).
“Condolence registers are to be opened immediately across all NUPENG zonal council secretariats across the country and our Abuja liaison office.”
It would be recalled that NUPENG reacting to the death of the prominent unionist in a statement said the late pro-democracy activist endured extreme suffering due to the injuries sustained from his struggles for democracy in his later years.
The union described him as a vigorous advocate, supporter, and fighter of workers’ rights and democratic rights of the citizens.
