June 12: Atiku, Tinubu, others for Kokori’s book launch

Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Lagos State Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, are among eminent Nigerians expected at the launch of a book on the June 12, 1993 election written by foremost activist and former secretary general of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori,
The book entitled: Frank Kokori, The Struggle for June 12, written in commemoration of the unionist’s 70th birthday would be launched at the MUSON Centre, Onikan in Lagos tomorrow.
Speaking with journalists yesterday, the former NUPENG scribe said the book was put together to document his experience during and after the annulled election for posterity.
Kokori, who lamented the state of the nation, disclosed that he would have launched the book to mark his birthday last December but shifted it to June because of the month’s significance.
He hinged this on the fact that June 12 election was very historic in view of its importance in the nation’s history.
According to him, though he was not a friend to the late Chief MKO Abiola initially, the election virtually pulled down certain barriers very important to Nigeria’s advancement.
He, however, lamented that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) betrayed the struggle for the actualisation of the election.
Kokori praised NUPENG and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) for their roles
He said but for the strategies he initiated using the two unions at that time, the struggle would have failed.
Specifically, the unionist stated that this was in view of the fact that the military muzzled every form of opposition during the period.
He, however, lamented that his wife, who played a major role, was battling with stroke at the moment.
This, he said, was apart from the fact he and several others, who played a major role for democracy to thrive, had been shortchanged by successive governments.
His joy, Kokori disclosed was that  his efforts were not in vain as he is appreciated across the nation for the gallantry he put into the struggle.