Kive Aghogho Kokori (Jnr) is one of the sons of the late fiery labour leader and former general secretary of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, who passed on December 7, 2023. In this interview with EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, the United States-based Kive speaks on issues bordering on the lack of national recognition for the late nationalist even posthumously, his inability to reach President Bola Tinubu to deliver what he called a crucial message as instructed by his dad, as well the state of democracy in Nigeria. Excerpts:
Chief Frank Kokori was a former general secretary of the NUPENG who held sway during the struggle for the de-annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief Moshood Abiola. What was it like growing up as his son?
Growing up as his son was an experience whereby you are actually not sure of what’s going to happen to him at every point in time because he was someone who was always fighting for the rights of the downtrodden and workers. Remember, at that time, Nigeria was still neck-deep in military dictatorship and you know about the antecedents of Nigerian dictators, how ruthless they can get with people who challenge their authority. My dad was someone who would never back down on his principles. He’s always wanted an egalitarian society for Nigeria; he has always been someone who wanted Nigeria to progress. So, he was always at loggerheads with the government. Growing up, I saw that happening so many times. We could just be home and then it was the State Security Service, now called the Department of State Security calling. You can just have SSS operatives come to the house and start searching everywhere. He could be whisked away at any time because of one thing or the other. You know there is always one running battle he’s having with the government. So, that fear was always there. As a young boy at the time, it was difficult for me to understand why he was always in that kind of situation. But while growing up and understanding things more, we began to see the selflessness of the man and how he was putting his life at risk, the life of his family at risk just because he wanted a better life for others, not thinking about himself and his family. So, growing up, I was beginning to understand all of that and I became very proud of him being able to live that kind of life because in the country, it’s very rare to find people like that. You know, he was a man who had opportunities to make billions of naira if he wanted to but he was still very modest and stood by his principles. And the good thing was that, at least as his son, I was able to learn all of that growing up and I believe those principles are still very much in me even today. So, it was an experience, both good and bad. I would commend him for that and that’s one appreciation and respect that I had for him till his last day.
What were your career goals while growing up?
I never really had a dream to become some of these cliché professions that most kids actually have – doctor, lawyer, engineer. I was more like a free spirit and I was lucky to also have parents who gave us that freedom to choose and pick whatever we really wanted to become. My father or my mother has never been one pushing any of us to be doctors, lawyers, and all of that. I think, if I wanted to be any of those very common professions, it probably would have been a lawyer. But I never really went that route. I ended my first degree studying Sociology. I think studying Sociology was not really something I pursued. It was more like the normal Nigerian thing where you have difficulties with getting admission and then you just take the next best course that comes along.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu which you published in national dailies in May, you said your dad made you promise him to seek an appointment with the president to relay a message. Was this a wish of his or yours?
No, it was a wish from him. It was because he did see the president I think sometime in June or July 2023 where they did sit together and had certain conversations and he did discuss these things with me. I think there was supposed to be a follow up. He actually made me make a promise that I was going to see the president and follow up on those conversations. These are things I would not want to share in public; it was between him and the president. Obviously on his death bed, during his last days, he did impress on me that I should see the president personally and conclude on those conversations which I promised to do. And, I will do everything to make sure that I keep it, that was why I went to that extent of publishing an open letter to the president in the dailies.
For how long have you been trying to get this appointment with President Bola Tinubu and how have you been received upon your visit to the presidential villa?
That’s a good question. I did start just before the funeral of my dad in March; I started making contacts, through different channels, to try and reach the president so that he understands that this is something that my dad did request. I do understand how busy the president can be. So, I have been going through all those normal regular channels, but you know the way Nigeria is; sometimes you are not hundred per cent sure if these messages actually get to the president. So, that’s why I felt I should go to that extent to satisfy my conscience, knowing the word that I gave to my dad and that I followed it through to my best possible. That is why I actually went to that extent. But when you talk about how it’s been received or how I have been received, that is a discussion that if we go into, we probably will not finish because that also leads to how much people appreciate the good that people do in Nigeria.
What are you trying to say?
In other parts of the world, people like my late dad would be revered; they would have so much reverence; they would have national honours. Can you believe that, up till now, my dad has never got any national honour in Nigeria where they give different kinds of people national honours. My father has not got one from any government in Nigeria up till today. Can you believe it? This is a man that fought for the democracy we are enjoying today. It’s not me trying to be boastful. I know the few people that could stand as men with the courage to stand against military dictators. In the country today, we have democracy; democracy is one of the freest governments you can ever think about. There are still people in Nigeria that cannot stand up to the government but this was a man that stood up to the government and against a military dictator that could kill you at any time. God bless the workers of NUPENG. Without what he did at that time, leading NUPENG to actually revolt against the government of Nigeria; I don’t think we would have the democracy we have today at the time we got it back. There were so many other people that were involved; even the current president was also involved in that struggle. But when it comes to the person that was actually the arrowhead of that struggle, I can say it was my dad because he used NUPENG to create awareness for what was going on in Nigeria to the rest of the world. That was the only reason Abacha, Babangida and all of them could even listen because the main source of revenue of Nigeria, which is oil, was at stake. Even labour at the time, the central labour body which was the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was not ready to be involved in the struggle. He took it head on with his other comrades and fought the struggle to that extent. Such a man should be revered and given honours and have his name immortalized.
But in Nigeria, it’s totally different; people just pay lip service. People will just come in newspapers and say all sorts of things but when it comes to that task, you don’t see them. Even me as his son, I can tell you that even my name that is supposed to be a benefit, sometimes it is not in Nigeria, because people don’t want to do business with you because they feel, ‘Ah, this is this man’s son; he’s too straight. It is sad that people don’t want business to follow the normal course?
Do you think the reason you’ve not been able to meet with the president, apart from his busy schedule, do you think you’ve not been able to meet with him because he doesn’t see you the way he sees your father?
I don’t think so. I want to see him based on what my father has asked me to discuss with him, I don’t think the current president is that kind of a person, because I’ve met him a couple of times before he became president. The current president is a man who is very open and I know for a fact that he does appreciate my daddy because they’re friends. They are friends in the whole struggle in politics. If you remember when my dad passed, he gave a glowing tribute to him and he did mention that my dad was his comrade or his brother in the struggle for June 12. So, both of them are actually personal friends. And like I said, he did have a one-on-one with the president when he was president; I think around June or July; I can’t remember the exact time. So, I don’t think my dad would ever have issues with being able to meet with the president. What I know and what I believe and what my father also mentioned to me was that if the president knows that he’s asked me to see him, if he’s aware, he would grant the audience and I believe so too. But when you are in that position, a lot of the time, you only see the things that your aides bring to you. You are so occupied with so many things. But I believe that if the president is aware of this request, I believe he will grant it.
Let’s look at some of the contents in your open letter, I got curious to ask now; of what significance is this awaiting appointment of yours with the president to your immediate family?
Ah, it’s not really about significance to my immediate family because my father has never been someone who thinks about personal benefits. If he were somebody who thought about personal benefits, I believe he would probably have been a billionaire, a minister or governor or something. He just never thought about those sorts of benefits for himself or his family. It is more about certain discussions that he wanted to make sure are concluded. Like I said, I would not, in the open, share whatever these things are.
Are you looking to hold a public office like your father, or even one greater than that of your father in future?
I believe every child or every father’s dream is for his children to be greater than them. I’ve always been someone who likes to pursue my own path. I’ve always done that because my dad is not someone who did influence anything for his children. But in terms of Nigeria the way it is, we all want to contribute and make sure Nigeria gets to a certain height. So, if the opportunities arise, it all depends on what it entails; but for me, at the end of the day, I might get involved in politics at some point. Politics is in my blood; it’s part of my upbringing because I saw that growing up. So, I never will say I can’t get involved in politics or public service in Nigeria. I would never say never.
What steps will you suggest that should be taken to make democracy in Nigeria a government of the people and not against the people?
Well, unfortunately democracy… like I said about military dictatorship and all that, a lot of the dreams and aspirations that many people had, especially during those struggles to rid Nigeria of military dictatorship, was that when we do go into participatory democracy government which is for the people like you said that Nigeria would progress; that we will have people who will be more focused on giving dividends to the people as opposed to themselves, right? But unfortunately, we have been able to have many politicians and many public office holders who think only about themselves, about their own personal aggrandizement rather than how to better the lives of the people. But another thing that may encourage that is the fact that Nigeria is a country that usually gives more accolades to such people who come into public office and mismanage that trust. These are the kind of people getting awards, getting accolades from their communities because the society is so money focused and conscious. So, so many people are of the opinion that once they get money through any means that is when they become important in society. I’ve just told you about my dad; somebody like my dad who sacrificed his life, he sacrificed his comfort, the comfort of his family just for principles to make Nigeria a better place. Such a man is not given the accolades that you would have expected in a decent society but you realise that people who get into government and steal and destroy, majority of them are the ones who are getting all the accolades. And there is no punishment for people who come into public office and steal openly. Nothing happens to them at the end of the day. We have EFCC that has been there for ages, spending public funds, parading people and sensationalizing stories in the press; but tell me how many high profile people exposed have been punished in Nigeria today?
That is the problem. So, if they get into government, even if you steal money, at the end of the day, you’ll get away with it. So, why won’t people steal? Even in the US or in the UK or any of these developed countries that are practicing proper democracy, if they don’t punish people for doing the wrong thing and coming into government and betraying the trust that the people have given to them, they will do the same thing. So, that is why Nigeria is the way it is because we don’t have these values instilled in the people. But I still have hope and I still believe that things will take proper shape in Nigeria and let’s keep hoping and doing our part as a people.
Are you looking forward to getting a political appointment from your meeting with the president?
No, that was never part of the conversations I had with my dad. Like I said to you, my father is not someone who thinks about himself (laughs). If he had been such a person, he probably would have been a minister for a long time because he’s been offered those positions anyway. Abacha offered him that for him to support him; he turned it down. So, he’s had those kind of opportunities so many times; the only time he did have an appointment that the government even offered to him during these last couple of years, I think about 2017 or thereabout that he got an appointment to chair the NSITF board I’m sure if you’re aware of what happened at the time and how he was schemed out all because some people felt that if he’s in that position, they would not have the opportunity to pilfer the way they’ve always done. So, it’s unfortunate and that’s why we’re saying what we’re saying, that in such a country, such a man will be treated that way, with everything he has sacrificed for the country. As a family, we should not even… it’s not an issue of entitlement because entitlement, for me is not… I’m not an entitled person but I feel that there’re certain accolades that should be given to people based on some of the things that they contribute to nation building and I believe my dad has played his part. And by the grace of God, he’s been able to have a name that is not tainted in Nigeria and the world; and for me, that is greater than silver or gold or even platinum.
Are there any projects that your late father started that he would want you to continue, apart from what he has discussed with the president? And are there any future plans that you have for yourself concerning politics in Nigeria?
Concerning politics in Nigeria, like I said I’m not averse to it because I’ve participated in it before. It’s just that sometimes when we look at how the politics plays out, it’s disappointing but at the same time too if good people don’t get into politics, the changes that you expect also will not happen. So that’s why I will never rule that out; I still believe that at some point I will still participate again in the politics of Nigeria. I am happy now that, at least, the person who is the president, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was involved in the struggle to rid Nigeria of military dictatorship and I believe that he would have that positive mindset to bring about positive change to Nigeria. It might be too early to judge his government but I believe that he would have that mindset to want to do the right thing and take Nigeria to greater heights. Let’s still continue to watch that space.
For me, I think my father has always been a man of the grassroots and he did retire back home many years ago and there’s one project that really means a lot to him, apart from any other thing that he’s doing. That meant a lot because that’s the man that he was. Every December, during the Christmas period, all the children in my village spend Christmas in his country home.
He gives them gifts, money, food and all of that. So, the children always look forward to that day; he spends the whole day with them, hundreds of children in his compound. And that is something I know is very dear to him and it was very dear to my mum too when she was alive. So, that is the project that myself and my other siblings would continue; so that even though my father is no more, the children will not miss that… the void will not be there. They will still be able to spend that time with my family. So, yes, I do intend to continue that and also with the support of my other siblings as well.
You talked about your father wanting to obtain some things from the president; can you brief us about some of these things you want to discuss? Are they of any benefit to the citizens and can you share some of these things that you want to ask the president?
Like I said, I know you’ve asked that question in so many different ways (laughs).
What he said to me was to pass to the president and not to the country or to everybody. So, I will pass it to the president if I get the opportunity to speak with him; and then, it now depends on what the president does with that information. So, I will like to leave that because it’s… the instruction that was given was totally different from what you’re asking.
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