President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday paid glowing tributes to erstwhile General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chief Frank Kokori, describing the late labour leader as “the most foremost nationalist Nigeria has ever produced”.
“Kokori was a man of uncommon courage. He is a selfless leader who put the interest of Nigeria above his own interest”, Tinubu stated.
The President, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made the assertions in his message at the funeral ceremonies held in honour of the late elder statesman at St. James’ Anglican Church, Oviorie-Ovu in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Tinubu who affirmed that the late elder statesman was his comrade while fighting for democracy, also noted, “Kokori was a man of proven integrity and a democrat who fought against the dreaded military regime for democracy to be restored in Nigeria.”
The President spoke further, “While some leaders were afraid and running away, Kokori stood there. He was the voice of the voiceless people, the voice of the less privilege people.
“In life, it is not when you die that matters, it is what legacies you have left behind that matters. Kokori has left indelible marks in the history of this country and what is left with the children is to carry on with the baton. Kokori has done his own for the children to leverage on the outstanding legacies of your father to continue to render services to humanity.”
“The Bible tells us that there is a day to be born and also a day to die. Everybody will die. But the important thing in life is what legacies have you left behind?”
Dignitaries in attendance at Chief Kokori’s funeral included Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State leading a team of his commissioners and top aides; Minister of State for Youths, Mr. Ayodele Olawande; Senator Ede Dafinone representing Delta Central Senatorial District; Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Guwor; NUPENG National President, Prince Williams Akporeha; PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa; Petroleum Tanker Drivers immediate past national chairman, Otunba Salmon Akanni Oladiti, among others.
Incumbent President of NUPENG, Akporeha, in his tribute remarked that “Kokori’s memories will ever remain evergreen among the Labour families in Nigeria as he is father to all of us”.
Akporeha urged the authorities in the country to immortalise Kokori by naming any national monument in his memory, adding that it would not be too much to even accord him post-humous national award.
Also, Otunba Salmon Akanni Oladiti, the immediate past national chairman of PTD and national Trustee of NUPENG, described Kokori as “a renowned architect of democracy in Nigeria”.
Earlier in a sermon themed, ‘Hope’ at the funeral service held inside St. James’ Anglican Church, Oviorie-Ovu, the Bishop, Diocese of Warri, Rt. Revd. Christian Ide, acknowledged the noticeable coalition of political representatives at the event just as he enjoined politicians in the country to forget their political differences and forge a common front in doing the best for the socio-economic emancipation of their people.
