Tinubu, others hail Frank Kokori’s sacrifices at funeral ceremony

President Bola Tinubu on Friday paid glowing tributes to erstwhile General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chief Frank Kokori.

The President described the late labour leader as the “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 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 that “While some leaders were afraid and running away, Kokori stood there. He was the voice of the voiceless people, the voice of the less privileged people.

“Kokori’s death is not the death that will be painful to only Delta people.  He was more of a Nigerian before Deltan. His death is painful to all of us in the country and whatever we can do to continue from where he stopped is what all of us will do.”

Incumbent President of NUPENG, Comrade Akporeha, in his tributes 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 a post-humous national award.

Also, Salmon Oladiti, the immediate-past national chairman of PTD and national Trustee of NUPENG described Kokori as “a renowned architect of democracy in Nigeria.”

Oladiti said, “In the fight for true democracy in Nigeria, Kokori risked his personal life and freedom to confront the then military junta frontally for which he was jailed at Bama Prison for almost four years.”

In another tribute, PENGASSAN General Secretary, Lumumba Okugbawa, aptly stated that “the dividends of democracy that we are enjoying in Nigeria today were made possible as a result of the sacrifices of patriots notably Comrade Kokori and allies. Unfortunately, Comrade Kokori did not fully recover from the pains suffered as a result of his incarceration till he gave up the ghost.”

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 socioeconomic emancipation of their people.

Quoting copiously from the scriptures, the Anglican Bishop urged Nigerian politicians to “go beyond the rhetorics of only raising the hope of the masses by doing the real things that will motivate the public to resist temptations and live corrupt-free lives, particularly in this challenging time of economic hardship.”

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; and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Guwor.

Others include the NUPENG national president; PENGASSAN General Secretary; Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) immediate past national chairman; former General Secretary of NUPENG, Joseph Akinlaja who was Deputy to Kokori at his time;  as well as Comrade Adams Song, the immediate past General Secretary of NUPENG, among others.