Director-general of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, (MINILS) Ilorin, Kwara State, Comrade Issa Aremu has said that the death of a former labour leader and pro-democracy activist, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, was an irreparable loss to the entire African continent.
Kokori, who until death was also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State died last Thursday in Warri, Delta State at the age of 80 years.
Aremu recalled the steadfastness and struggling spirit of Kokori and his comrades in championing the formation of National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG) in 1978.
He noted that the emergence of the deceased as the second pioneer general secretary of NUPENG, was the turning point for the union in defence of workers’ rights against exploitation and oppression by some big oil companies, adding that NUPENG under his leadership ensured decent work in oil and gas industry.
Aremu observed that the defining legacy of Kokori was his principled struggle for the validation of the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections in Nigeria for which he was imprisoned for four years by the military regime.
The MINILS DG said the best tribute to Kokori by all progressive and democratic forces is to ensure the deepening of democracy in Africa by standing up against military dictatorship in West African sub region.
He described the deceased as among the last African democrats that stood for free and fair elections until death came calling.
He recalled that Kokori as the immediate past chairman of the Governing Council contributed in repositioning MINILS as a foremost centre of learning for workers, employers and government officials on labour market issues.
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