Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and a former minister of education, (state), Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, have expressed deep sadness on the demise of former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori.
Kokori, who hailed from Ovu in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, passed on at about 1:30 am on Thursday, December 7, 2023, coincidentally his birthday.
In a statement by their Chief Press Secretaries, Sir Festus Ahon and Orusi Kenneth, respectively, the Governor and Gbagi commiserated with the family, the people of Ovu community in particular and the Urhobo nation over the passing of the fiery labour leader and chieftain of the APC.
Governor Oborevwori described Kokori’s passing as a “monumental loss” not just to NUPENG, Deltans and Nigerians, but to the entire world, adding that he fought gallantly for the people.
“As a bastion of inspiration, labour icon and a man of great political depth and insight, as well as a leader of leaders, he contributed immensely to the development of our state and country throughout his lifetime,” he said.
According to him, the deceased was a well respected elder statesman and an illustrious Deltan and recalled his visit to him on his sick bed in Warri.
Also, Gbagi, a governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), in Delta state during the last election, stated that as a leader, Kokori, was well respected because of the enormous goodwill he brought into the state and the country as NUPENG scribe.
“He was a compassionate and determined administrator, a peacemaker and bridge builder who stepped in and led a section of the oil sector at a very difficult time in the history of the country.
“He left enduring legacies, part of which was his considerable effort towards mainstreaming the oil sector in the development drive of the nation,” he stated.
Kokori, since October this year, has been on sick bed at Mount Horeb Clinic, Warri, over kidney-related medical challenges.
He had lamented how NUPENG and the nation had abandoned him to his fate in the hospital where the air conditioner was switched off by the hospital management possibly owing to a shortage of diesel.
Kokori had, on Thursday November 9, 2023, made a distress call that life was ebbing out of him.
His outcry attracted dignitaries such as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who swiftly visited the elder statesman on Friday November 10 on his sick bed and picked up his bills, including that of two other patients.
Oborevwori, Gbagi express sadness over Frank Kokori’s demise