Frank Kokori, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), is dead.

Kokori died on Thursday, Dec. 7, in a private hospital in Warri, Delta State. It is also, coincidentally, the same day he turned 80 years old.

His death was disclosed by his Personal Assistant, Atawada Oke.

Over the past few months, the former NUPENG secretary had been battling a kidney-related ailment.

On November 9, Kokori spoke about his health status from his sick bed.

After his revelation, Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta, visited the elder statesman at the hospital and promised that the state would provide support for him to get “high-quality medical treatment”.

Kokori played a significant role in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. He mobilised workers against the annulment of the election and the military junta. Owing to his activism, he was arrested and detained by the military government.