Late Chief Frank Kokori.
(c).Vangaurd.
Labour leader, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori died in coma, says his personal assistant, Mr Monday Ovumedia.
Ovumedia, who spoke exclusively to Vanguard newspaper, said his boss , Chief Kokori relapsed into coma and died three days later, adding that before he slipped into coma, he complained of weakness.
He said Chief Kokori, in his last moment of consciousness, expressed tremendous gratitude to governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state, Chief Femi Otedola, for their timely response to his medical needs.
” Well ! It was the way God wanted it . If not, Chief had good medical attention from the hospital. The medical Director of the hospital even flew in from Egypt to supervise Chief ‘s medical situation.
Also, the Delta state government provided support. Chief Femi Otedola was also there for him. He deployed his medical team to work with the hospital and the medical team on ground. Like I said, it was how God wanted it.”
Chief thanked the Delta state government and Chief Otedola for coming to his rescue at the time they did, he prayed for them.
” Chief Femi Otedola’s medical team worked in conjunction with the state government, the hospital.
“His medical team commended the management of the hospital. They even advised us to leave him in the hospital, that he was getting good attention,” he said.
Mr Ovumedia added that Chief probably felt he was having his last moments but concealed it.
According to him, on his bed, Chief Kokori appealed to the Federal and the Delta state government to find a place for his son in the United States of America, USA, so that he can come back home.
He said Kokori was not happy that all his children were overseas.
“He begged government to reward his children, he felt bad that all his children are overseas, most especially his eldest son Aghogho Tiver, who is in the United States, an ICT expert . He wants him back to the country.
The aide said Kokori also decried the way Nigeria government treated her heroes, urging the country to accord them recognition and also take visible steps to productively engage the youths.
“He said Nigeria is a country that does not recognize it’s heroes . He said heroes should be rewarded when they are alive not when they are dead.
” He said Nigeria leaders should take corrections. He said the government should not ignore the youths, they should be productively engaged
“He gave all these information three days before he went into coma . He said he fought for good governance in the country and his life was for the country,” the aide said.
The demise of the labour leader came 31 days after he was admitted at the hospital over kidney related ailment.
The death of Chief Kokori has continued to attract comments from far and near in the country.
The Death of Kokori has depleted ranks of revolutionary leaders ,according to Prof. Darah
Foremost crusader for justice and better deal for Niger Delta, Professor Godwin Darah, lamented the death had depleted the ranks of revolutionary leaders in the working class movement.
“The death of Olorogun Comrade Frank Ovie-Kokori has further depleted the ranks of revolutionary leaders of the Nigerian working class movement.
“He was devoted to political work for the emancipation of the oppressed and exploited majority of the people. He belongs to the legendary heritage of radical socialist trade unionists like Michael Imoudu, Kola Balogun, Nduka Eze, Gogo Chu Nzeribe, Ola Oni, Sidi Khayam, Lailai Dongoyaro, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Eskor Toyo, Mayirue Kolagbodi, Wahab Goodluck, and Jonathan Ihonde.
“Ovie-Kokori is one of the greatest titans of democratic struggles in Nigeria and Africa. He was brave and incorruptible in union work and politics. As the Secretary-General of NUPENG, Ovie-Kokori led the oil workers strike of August 1994 against the military junta of Gen Sani Abacha.
“The strikers demanded the release from detention of Chief M. K. O. Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election cancelled by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
The strike paralysed the nation’s economy and damaged Abacha’s fate beyond recovery. Ovie-Kokori and his compatriot, Milton Dabibi were arrested and detained in remote gulacs for four years; this endangered their health and Ovie-Kokori never completely recovered from the harrowing experience.
“Thanks to the 1994 oil workers uprising, the pro-democracy campaign coordinated by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) got stronger, making the end of Abacha and military rule inevitable. All beneficiaries of elected governments in Nigeria from 1999 are indebted to the sacrifice made by Ovie-Kokori and other anti-military agitators. Like Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Comrade Frank Ovie-Kokori always advocated the mantra: “The struggle is my life”. His legacy will endure through the ages in Nigeria, Africa and the world.”
Name a monument after Kokori – Mitee
Former president , Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Barr. Ledum Mitee, described the death of Kokori as a loss to the entire nation, urging the federal government to name a monument after him.
“It’s a sad loss not just to the labour movement and all who stand for the struggle for justice but the entire nation.
This is a man who gave his life for the service of humanity and suffered for it.
” The best tribute we can give to him is to live for the ideals he lived and died for. It will not be too much for an appropriate monument to be named after him.”
A brief biography of the late Kokori made available to the Vanguard by his aide reads in parts, “Chief Frank Ovie Kokori was born 7th of December,1943 during the second world war.
“He was barely five years old in early 1948 when he started primary school at Saint Andrew’s (CMS) School, Warri .
“He finished his primary education at Saint Andrew’s in 1955.
“He went to Urhobo College, Effurun-Warri between 1958 and 1962. He later went to Eko Boys High school, Lagos.
He graduated from the University of Ibadan . He worked at Eko Electricity company of Nigeria (ECN).
“Later got appointment from NUPENG as an Assistant Secretary and rose to a position of Secretary General. He attended Fritz, Herkert Advance Labour College, Berlin, German Democratic Republic, International Institute for labour Studies, Geneva- Switzerland and the institute of Social Studies, the Hague-Netherlands, where he got his Master’s Degree in Development Studies.
— Vanguard.
