The Maritime Works Union of Nigeria (MWUN) is mourning the loss of one of its staunch members, Comrade Johnbull Okhiria, who passed away recently after a brief illness. According to Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN, Okhiria died while receiving treatment at a Lagos hospital and his remains have been deposited in the mortuary. Okhiria, fondly called JB, had a distinguished career in the union, rising through the ranks to become the Vice President of the Dockworkers Branch of the Union.
Comrade Okhiria's career in the union began as a unit chairman, and he progressed to become a district organising secretary and district chairman. He served as the Vice President of the Dockworkers Branch of the Union for two tenures of four years each under Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju as President. Okhiria also rose to the cadre of a Special Adviser to the Union's President-General at the Union's headquarters, a position he held before his demise.
Comrade Ikemefuna described Okhiria as a gigantic figure and one of the Union's struggle fighters, who was known for his unwavering commitment to the union's goals. He said Okhiria was a thoroughbred Unionist, whose legacy will remain indelible in the sands of time, given his immense and invaluable contributions to the betterment of the Maritime Workers' Union of Nigeria.
The Maritime Workers' Union, under the aegis of Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, has expressed shock and sadness at Okhiria's demise. The President-General said an era had gone with Okhiria's passing, and that it is only God who can determine one's last day on earth. Comrade Abi described Okhiria as respectful, obedient, calculative, and disciplined, and noted that his style of humor and soft-spokenness endeared him to many.
Comrade Okhiria, who hailed from Auchi town in Etsako West LGA of Edo State, had his early elementary and secondary school education in Edo State before proceeding to Lagos to pursue his trade unionism career. He was married and blessed with children. The Union has prayed for his gentle soul to rest in perfect peace, believing that the Almighty God will continue to bless the family he left behind.
The executives and members of the Union have expressed their feelings of loss and wished Okhiria had survived his illness, but acknowledged that God's wish had prevailed. Comrade Ikemefuna said the Union will continue to remember Okhiria as an icon of the struggle towards keeping the Union a united force.
Key points from the report include:
Key points
- Comrade Johnbull Okhiria, a staunch member of the Maritime Works Union of Nigeria, has passed away after a brief illness.
- Okhiria had a distinguished career in the union, rising through the ranks to become the Vice President of the Dockworkers Branch of the Union.
- The Union has expressed shock and sadness at Okhiria's demise, describing him as a thoroughbred Unionist and a rare gem of his type.
