June 12: It’s a deserved recognition —Kokori

Chief Frank Kokori was the General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, he speaks with EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, on Buhari’s honour for MKO.

“ABIOLA is a president that never was. Yes, Buhari can pronounce him as president. We have always advocated this. He won election and was a president. I’m quite in support of Abiola being declared president with all its entitlements given to him as former president. It’s childish to say Buhari should have made the June 12 declaration when he took over in 2015. Obasanjo should have been the first person to have written his name in gold, but he did not.

Every president would ordinarily like to be popular. Obasanjo had eight years, he couldn’t do it. Ya’Adua couldn’t do it. Jonathan was there, he couldn’t do it. I have promoted Buhari as part of heroes of democracy. In my book, I didn’t mention him. But I have promoted him to be part of heroes of democracy because he’s done the right thing. June 12 symbolises freedom from long clutches of military rule.

Although I shouldn’t blow my trumpet, people like us deserve honour too. All over the world, I have been recognised. But Nigerians know what I did. Whether they say Buhari’s action was political or not, I was the happiest man yesterday and I thank Buhari for it. I’m the happiest man on earth now. We know what we went through and they (past leaders) were just playing it down for 25 years.