Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday expressed deep sadness over the death elder statesman and former Secretary General of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria, (NUPENG), Frank Ovie Kokori, who led the Labour force in the struggle for the actualization of annulled June 12 presidential election in the military era.
Atiku, expressing sadness over news of the passing on of elder statesman and erstwhile General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria, (NUPENG), Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, in a statement on Sunday, described Chief Frank Kokori as a man of the people who was well-loved for his sincerity, principles, and sense of purpose.
According to Atiku, “Kokori was a foremost figure in the June 12 struggle where he, and other individuals, played key roles in the quest to re-validate the June 12, 1993 presidential election.”
Atiku declared: “Chief Frank Kokori’s contributions to the June 12 struggle and Nigeria’s democracy remain an inspiration to many.
“Chief Kokori left enduring legacies, part of which was his considerable effort towards mainstreaming the oil sector in the development drive of the nation.”
The former Vice President decried that “Kokori will be sorely missed, especially, now that our nation is in dire need of strongly principled people who can stand firm in upholding the truth.”
According to Atiku, “the passing of Chief Kokori is a great loss not just to the Organised Labour and Delta State but to the entire nation.
“As the nation mourns him, I enjoin the Kokori family, friends and associates to honour his memory by continually upholding the values and principles which he lived for and never stopped fighting for till his death.”