President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary film chronicling the life, political struggle and enduring legacy of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the historic June 12 pro-democracy movement.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, was part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary, produced by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, recounts the events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the subsequent struggle by Nigerians and pro-democracy activists to restore democratic governance.
The event attracted senior government officials and other dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also present were the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev; members of the National Assembly; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; and other distinguished personalities.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, welcomed President Tinubu and other guests to the premiere.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, paid tribute to Nigerians who lost their lives or suffered persecution, detention, exile and other forms of repression during the struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Onanuga led the gathering in observing a minute’s silence in memory of those who died during the democratic struggle, stressing that their sacrifices must not be forgotten.
He said the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today were secured through the courage of individuals who stood firm against authoritarian rule.
Among those he remembered were Chief Anthony Enahoro, Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Pa Alfred Rewane, Chief Frank Kokori, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chima Ubani, Chief Bola Ige, Senator Cornelius Adebayo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the late Ooni of Ijebu, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
He also honoured members of the National Democratic Coalition, Campaign for Democracy, the labour movement and other pro-democracy organisations.
Onanuga paid particular tribute to journalists, including James Bagauda Kaltho, and media organisations that continued to report the June 12 struggle despite arrests, kidnappings, seizures of publications and other forms of repression.
He also recognised the printers who produced banned publications, lawyers who defended detainees, students who participated in protests, workers, particularly members of NUPENG who withdrew their labour, academics who supported the struggle and Nigerians in the diaspora who mobilised international support for democracy.
He said the documentary would serve not only as a tribute to Abiola but also as a reminder of the collective sacrifices made by Nigerians who demanded respect for their democratic choice.
“We remember the countless unnamed Nigerians who filled the streets, endured hardship and stood firm in defence of the mandate freely given on June 12, 1993. Many paid the supreme price. Many carried wounds that history may never fully record.
“Their sacrifice was not in vain, as we have had 27 years of unbroken democracy since 1999, and Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of the struggle, has been officially acknowledged as the winner of the election, shedding the toga of ‘assumed, presumed’ winner,” Onanuga said.
He commended the producers of MKO for documenting an important chapter in Nigeria’s political history and making it accessible to a new generation.
“The democracy we enjoy today was built upon the courage and sacrifices of the people we have identified. We owe them more than remembrance. We owe them a duty to ensure that no authority ever again overturns the freely expressed will of Nigerians,” he said.
Musawa said the documentary chronicles the events leading to the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment by the military authorities, Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after he declared his mandate, and his death in detention in 1998.
“This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” she said.
The minister said documenting the untold stories surrounding the June 12 election, which was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections, was important to ensure that younger generations understood the sacrifices behind the country’s democratic journey.
She urged Nigerians to work collectively to safeguard democracy and ensure that the will of the people is not truncated again.
Oyamendan, the documentary producer, commended President Tinubu for what he described as his tenacity, courage and conviction on democratic principles, as well as the support he had given the project over the years.
Reflecting on his relationship with the President, Oyamendan recalled interviewing Tinubu when he was a senator in 1992.
He also expressed appreciation to individuals and organisations that contributed to the production of the documentary.
MKO is expected to contribute to the preservation of Nigeria’s political history and provide audiences, particularly younger Nigerians, with an opportunity to reflect on the events, personalities and sacrifices that shaped the country’s democratic journey.
