Elder statesman and former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, is optimistic that Nigeria’s economy will bounce back.
Chief Kokori, who spoke in a hushed tone from his hospital bed at Mount Horeb Clinic in Warri, Delta State, where he is being treated for kidney-related ailments, pleaded with Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu time to fix the economy.
The octogenarian, while fielding questions from select journalists surrounded by some of his family members, said Tinubu should be given at least a year to stabilise the economy which had been badly managed by past leaders, including the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also asked organised labour to shelve the idea of a nationwide strike.
Amid pains, tears and a sense disappointment, Kokori lamented the absence of a functional public hospital in Warri and environs.
“Our struggle was to build a country,” Kokori said, adding that if he had wanted billions, he would have got it.
“Everybody including me stood to fight for democracy. I spent four solid years in prison. I did everything for democracy.
“There’s no freedom fighter in Nigeria like we have in South Africa. I used the instrument I had to restore democracy. You think I don’t mind money? I do, but I won’t take what’s not mine. I’m a patriot.
“The refineries are not working today. Because of my dedication to this country, I became the Tribune of this country – people like Beko Ransome-Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Kudirat Abiola, Bola Tinubu. I was underground for 10 weeks before I was arrested. The military junta sent jet to bring me to Ask Rock but I rejected the offer. I liberated the country. Tinubu ran abroad to continue the struggle.
“My point is, how can a country like Nigeria, in the whole of Warri, the only hospital that can handle kidney issue is Mount Horeb Clinic? It got to a time that I couldn’t take a flight, I can’t walk, I couldn’t take a flight.
“This hospital I am, Mount Horeb Clinic tried to put on generating set for long hours despite the cost. And without the AC, I would have given up. I came out of coma and met unbearable heat. So I have to beg the hospital to switch on the generator. There was only one doctor around with a poor girl struggling with many patients. I was going and coming,” he narrated.
The elder statesman said he then summoned the Nigerian Tribune Correspondent to let the world know what was happening.
“It’s a shame to our leaders. If I didn’t have the money, I’d have been wasted off,” Kokori said.
“Past leaders have destroyed this country. American Federation of Labour and the whole world trade unions, when I just came of out of prison, took me to George Town University Medical Centre…the media did their best for this country.
“But here I am today in my village just struggling, happy that I’ve made my mark in Nigeria. But when I came to this hospital, I now realised that…they’ve been carrying out their tests…but at 12 midnight the poor man switched off his generator and I said, God, how much is diesel?
“So I now summoned the courage that even if I’m going to die, I asked my child to record me and I just remembered the name of Ebenezer Adurokiya of the Nigerian Tribune and Bolaji Ogundele of The Nation. I know them and I know they’d do their best to make Nigerians know how they’ve destroyed this country.
“I wasn’t in coma when I came to the clinic. I went into coma here. I came in here Tuesday. But yesterday (Wednesday) it was too much. I’m 80 years now. I spent 25 years struggling for this country. But how can a whole Warri that I know not have a functional hospital? If I could have it this bad, what about the common people? Other arrowheads of democracy like Kuti, Fawehinmi are dead,” he said.
Chief Kokori said he would not reject medical treatment offer abroad. He said he had managed to see Tinubu once since he became president.
“He gave me some funds, but then I wasn’t dying. I was able to meet him through Faleke (God bless him). He would do everything to ensure I see the president, before, during and after elections.
“I’m sure you’re following the NLC debacle when the body wanted to shut down the country. I’ve to educate labour that you don’t go on strike two days without prior notice. People including labour should give Tinubu some time to remedy the country.
“I know I’ve discussed with him as president. I met him June 15 to tell him not to disgrace Nigeria, that for the first time people who fought for democracy are in power. That I have to do my best to calm down the labour unions because I know the country cannot survive it,” he said.
Kokori said Tinubu cannot do magic overnight with about 97 per cent of Nigeria’s income going to service loans.
“I’m agitated because people are dying. You can’t blame them. Imagine if I didn’t have some funds, I’d have died yesterday (Wednesday) night just because of diesel.
“I’ll be taken abroad for treatment. Who will not agree? I used to refuse because I can’t hire ambulance.
“At a stage I felt NUPENG let me down because without me no NUPENG. Ngige who doesn’t know how democracy came about stopped my appointment during Buhari regime.
“Nigerian media should do their best. They should move before I die. People who struggled for freedom were neglected and those who knew nothing found their way into government,” he said.
