THE Nigeria Labour Congress has announced that it will on Friday, 4th February, 2022, be holding a Zoom Meeting in tribute to the late Pan-Africanist, Comrade K. K. Martin-Luther Kassanghov Kasmarlot, who died on January 2, 2022 in Abuja.
In an invitation made available to National Record on Thursday, the NLC has scheduled a line-up of 18 speakers, made up mainly of heavyweight veterans of the Nigerian labour movement as well as the family of the late Comrade Kassanghov, who is popularly known in labour circles, particularly at the Paschal Bafyau Labour House headquarters of the NLC, as General Kassanghov.
General Kassanghov, who should be in his late 80s at passing, while alive, and even when he had almost lost his sight and could couldn’t go about without being aided by a guide, always participated in every shade of workers and pro-people’s struggles waged by the NLC; be it on SAP, minimum wage, or any protests against the neo-liberal policies of governments in the last thirst-something years.
For this, the late General Kassanghov, the NLC said in its invitation, “was a dedicated progressive, a friend of the Nigerian working class and a true pan-Africanist.”
The NLC also noted: “Comrade K. K. Martin-Luther Kassanghov Kasmarlot was a senior military officer in the Congolese Army during the progressive administration of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of Congo DRC. He went on exile upon the assassination of Patrice Lumumba who he served loyally. He spent most of his time in exile initially as a guest of the Nigerian government and for most part of his stay in Nigeria as a guest of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
National Record gathered that General Kassanghov was originally a guest of one of the Federal Government, as one of the then Nigerian Military Heads of State who intervened in the Congo DR crisis that followed the assassination of Lumumba persuaded him (Kassanghov) to settle in Nigeria in order to restore peace.
General Kassanghov, however ultimately became a guest of the NLC as he was said to have been disowned by subsequent military regimes because of his radical views and open support for pro-people struggles that were then prosecuted by a vibrant and uncompromising leadership of the NLC. National Record gathered that until his death, the NLC picked his upkeep bills.
The Day of Tributes to General Kassanghov, NLC said, will hold virtually and will be addressed by a line-up of heavyweight veterans including all former living Presidents and General Secretaries of Congress, but one; as well as some veterans of civil society coalition partners who had fought side by side with labour.
Among former Congress Presidents to pay their last respects to General Kassanghov include, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, pioneer president, Comrade Ali Chiroma, second NLC President; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, fourth NLC President; and Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, fifth NLC President.
While Comrade Paschal Bafyau, the third NLC President, is late; his widow, Mrs Jessica Paschal Bafyau; is scheduled to reflect her experience of General Kassanghov.
Other heavyweight veterans include Comrade SOZ Ejiofoh, popularly known as Head of Service in the labour movement; Comrade Stephen Oshidipe, Comrade Salisu Mohammed, Comrade Lawson Osagie; Comrade Abdulkadir Issa, Comrade Frank Kokori; Comrade Abiodun Aremu and Comrade Osagie Obayuwana, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, Prof Maurice Gagnon, Comrade Issa Aremu and Comrade Owei Lakemfa, as well as General Kassonghov’s family which will be done through officials of the Embassy of Congo DR.
Kassonghov’s body is expected to be conveyed to his home country, Congo DR over the weekend.
