The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has issued a strong warning to political leaders, urging them to strengthen democratic principles and avoid actions that could overheat the polity. The union cautioned against allowing the sacrifices of past heroes to be rendered meaningless, especially in the face of ongoing insecurity and economic challenges.
NUPENG President's Democracy Day Message
During Democracy Day celebrations, NUPENG President Salimon Oladiti emphasized that the occasion should serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerians in the fight for democratic governance. He called on politicians to demonstrate unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.
Oladiti highlighted that the date underscores the efforts of the union and its leadership in championing the democracy currently enjoyed in Nigeria. He stressed the urgent need for political leaders to confront and resolve threats to the nation's democracy, including prioritizing security and advancing programs that enhance workers' welfare and rights. These include strong legal protections, improved working conditions, and safeguarding the health, safety, and dignity of the workforce.
Celebrating Heroes of Democracy
Oladiti insisted that all those involved in the struggle for democracy should be consistently celebrated or even immortalized. While acknowledging the appropriateness of recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day, he expressed hope that posterity would remain kind to the heroes who dared the military jackboots to restore democracy. Among them were ex-NUPENG President Frank Kokori; late politician and lawyer Bola Ige; late human rights activist Gani Fawehinmi; Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka; Femi Falana; Joseph Akinlaja; and former External Affairs Minister Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi.
He recalled the pivotal roles played by NUPENG and PENGASSAN and the price paid by both unions and their leadership for the realization of democracy. Oladiti noted that the leadership of the unions was dissolved by the late military junta, Gen. Sani Abacha, and sole administrators were appointed, while the unions were starved of funds.
Untold Stories of the Struggle
Oladiti recounted that the two general secretaries, Comrade Gilchrist Dabibi and Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori, along with Comrade Frank Addo of PENGASSAN and other union leaders, including the then Port Harcourt Refinery Branch Secretary, were imprisoned. Many activists of the Campaign for Democracy and union leaders, including the then PENGASSAN President, Comrade Ganiu Owoduni, were forced into exile.
He noted that many stories of the struggle against military rule remain untold or only partially relayed. One such story involves the over 3,400 sacked workers at NSPMC and their contributions to ending military tyranny. Though many actors have died, including late Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, who spent years in Bama prison and was declared a prisoner of conscience by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Amnesty International, few survivors have spoken about their heroic exploits. The workers were sacked after the military labeled them as agents of opposition, and they sought revenge through an underground movement that shook the country's foundations.
