WARRI – Elder statesman and foremost labour unionist, Chief Frank Kokori, has lost his wife of 53 years, Mrs Esther Kokori.

Chief Kokori, a national chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on behalf of his family, officially announced the demise of his wife to journalists at his Ovu country home in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Chief Kokori, former secretary-general of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), while paying glowing tributes to his late hearthrobe, said, Mrs Esther Kokori, was as a strong pillar of democracy and a dogged fighter for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate.

“She was my backbone; very supportive to my struggle like Kudirat was to Abiola. She was holding meetings with late Gani Fewehinmi, Femi Falana, Beeko Kuti, Abraham Adesanya and other chieftains of NADECO, Afenifere, civil societies in my absence.

“She was a pillar of democracy during the struggle for the June 12 actualisation She was holding forte for me when late General Sanni Abacha kept me in prison at Bama, Borno State”.

According to Chief Kokori, late Mrs. Esther Kokori started work as a stenographer with the British Paint (now Berger Paints), before she ventured in to business and active unionism with her husband.

Reputed for her doggedness in activism, Mrs. Esther Kokori who hailed from Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, died in Lagos on November 10, 2020 after a protracted illness at the age of 73.
She left behind her husband, Chief Frank Kokori, five children and six grandchildren.

Meanwhile, sympathizers have continued to pay condolence visit to Chief Kokori .

Dignitaries mong the early callers to the Kokoris, was Deputy President of Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, last weekend, described late Mrs Kokori as a virtuous and forthright woman who was fully involved in democratic struggles behind her husband.

National President of NUPENG, Prince Williams Akporeha, who also led a team of his executive members to commiserate with Chief Kokori, described late Esther as “a time manager and mother of NUPENG” who’s ” remembered for all her struggles with Chief Kokori to emancipate oil and gas workers in the country.”

Her burial arrangements have been tentatively fixed for February ,2021.