By Henry Okonkwo
At the age of 80, it could be argued that the death of Frank Ovie Kokori, a prominent ex-labour unionist and former Secretary-General of the National Union of Petroleum Natural Gas Employees (NUPENG), which broke on Thursday, December 7th, 2023, did not come as a surprise to many Nigerians. This is due to Chief Kokori’s battle with kidney illness as he grew older. The news of his death, while not surprising, has awakened waves of memories of his sacrifices for democracy in the minds of Nigerians.
Chief Kokori was a living testament to the enduring spirit of democracy and human rights – two ideals he held dear. Born on December 7, 1943, he attended Urhobo College in Warri, Delta State, between 1959 and 1962 and later proceeded to the Eko Boys High School in Lagos. He was an alumnus of the University of Ibadan.
Kokori was the Secretary-General of the NUPENG during the regime of ex-military President, General Ibrahim, Badamasi Babangida and later Gen Sani Abacha. He was not only a feared labour unionist who led NUPENG and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) on nationwide strikes but was also a consistent thorn in the flesh of the military junta. He was a leading voice against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election and the death of Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the election.
He was among the first personalities that tasted the raw brutality and impunity of the Abacha regime when he was arrested and thrown into prison in 1994 for daring the military junta. However, in 1998 he was released by Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar after Abacha died.
All through the eight decades he lived, Chief Kokori consistently advocated for a better Nigeria. He was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He battled with a kidney ailment before he died. According to reports, his condition deteriorated on Monday, December 4, 2023 and he had to be placed on life support. He was later announced dead at a private hospital in Warri around 1:00 am, on December 7th the same day he clocked 80.
Chief Kokori’s passing on his 80th birthday marked the end of an era, but his legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those he had inspired. According to NUPENG, his life was a testament to the enduring power of courage and a reminder that, even in the face of adversity, one person can make a profound difference for his country.
“The late Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori was a well-known committed and dedicated defender, promoter and fighter for workers’ rights and democratic rights of the citizens. He spent a life of ‘sacrifice’ struggling for the emancipation of the working class globally and enthronement of democratic rule in Nigeria,” NUPENG the union he led for many years said on his demise.
God rest him well.
