25th June, 2014
The former General Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Frank Kokori today presented his June 12 memoir : Frank Kokori: The Struggle For June 12.
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The event which took place at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.
The reviewer of the book was Kayode Komolafe. The event was ongoing at the time of this report.
According to Komolafe in his review, “The book is essentially a full-disclosure of the audacious role played by oil workers in the struggle to uphold the sanctity of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Bashorun Moshood Abiola. During the historical moment, Kokori was the General-Secretary of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). Together with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), NUPENG provided the dynamite for the struggle with crippling strikes.
“The June 12 story could be encapsulated as follows: A presidential election that was to be the climax of a long-winding political transition programme was held on June 12, 1993. Abiola as a candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) contested against Alhaji Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). As the results of the elections were being put together, Babangida, whose regime organised the transition programme, annulled the election.
“But an idea that could not be killed had been born. The resistance against the grand assault on the people’s will began in earnest. In the process, Babangida was forced out of power leaving behind a rickety interim governmental structure headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan with General Sani Abacha in charge of Defence.”
He added that “As predicted, Abacha sacked Shonekan’s government three months later and inaugurated a reign of terror on the country for five years. In a bid to kill the June 12 idea the junta arrested Abiola, and he died in detention. Kokori was also incarcerated for four years for the bold and committed leadership he gave for the effective oil workers’ strikes. Abacha died suddenly on June 8, 1998 and Abiola also died on July 7 the same year. That is the story in the simplest form one can put it.”
Prominent Nigerians, including retired Rear Adm. Ndubuisi Kanu and Chief Segun Osoba were among guests at the book launch in Lagos to commemorate the 70th birthday of Chief Frank Kokori.
Speaking at the event, Kanu, the Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), who also chaired the event lauded Kokori for his contributions in enthroning democracy in Nigeria.
“Kokori made so much sacrifice. If not for the struggle of June 12, Nigeria would have continued to experience transformed maximum rulership,” Kanu said. Also speaking, Osoba lamented that many of those who struggled for June 12 were not the ones enjoying the outcome of the struggle.
“Only 49 of us signed the document when NADECO was formed behind Abiola. The youngest of us then was Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information.”
Osoba said “the reason why many of those who struggled for June 12 did not get into power is because of the guarded handover of power carried out by the military.
“Am here today, to celebrate Kokori and my survival too. It was alleged that I gave Kokori up but I thank God he survived, otherwise, I would have been blamed for it,” Osoba said.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, represented by his aide, Mr Adinoyi Ojo, said that there was no better person to tell the inside story of June 12 than Kokori. “We must never forget his contributions and personal sacrifices.
“We have Kokori and others to thank as we celebrate 15 years of democracy in Nigeria,” Atiku said.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, representated by a former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Aleke, described Kokori as a man of high repute.
“Am aware of his role in the struggle for June 12 actualisation. I thank and appreciate him for the role he has played and still playing for the enthronement of genuine democracy in Nigeria.
“In spite of Kokori’s incarceration and torture, he remained a symbol of consistency, perseverance, responsibility and a galvaniser of oil workers that staged massive protests for the emancipation of Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
In his response, Kokori said that he wrote the book to showcase the gladiators who helped Nigeria to attain democratic governance but had been neglected in the nation’s political dispensations.
“The book is a candid account of my roles and the roles that other heroes played in the quest to revalidate the June 12 1993 presidential election.”
Kokori, however, lamented that politics in Nigeria was being driven by money, urging Nigerians to rise above inducements in selecting their leaders.
Also at event were son of late Chief MKO Abiola, Mr Abdul Abiola, Mrs Ganiyat Fawehinmi (wife of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi), Sen. Biyi Durojaiye and representatives of civil society groups