President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu have attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary chronicling the life, political struggle and enduring legacy of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Nigeria’s June 12, 1993 pro-democracy struggle.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Abuja, 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, the subsequent pro-democracy struggle and the sacrifices made by Nigerians and activists in the fight for the restoration of democratic governance.
The event attracted senior government officials and 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 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 Olusegun Osoba; and other prominent Nigerians.
Welcoming the President and guests, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the documentary was dedicated to the heroes of the June 12 struggle and the sacrifices that paved the way for Nigeria’s current democratic system.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, led the gathering in observing a minute’s silence in honour of Nigerians who lost their lives or suffered persecution, detention, exile and other forms of repression during the pro-democracy struggle.
Onanuga paid tribute to prominent figures who played roles in the struggle, including 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 and several other pro-democracy activists.
He also recognised journalists and media organisations that continued to report on the struggle despite arrests, clampdowns, kidnappings and seizures of publications.
“We remember and salute the lawyers who defended detainees, the students who staged countless protests on the streets and on their campuses, the workers, especially members of NUPENG, who withdrew their labour, the academics who gave the struggle a voice, and the Nigerians in the diaspora who mobilised international support for the sanctity of our democracy,” Onanuga said.
He said the documentary would serve as a tribute to Abiola and a reminder of the collective sacrifices made by Nigerians who demanded respect for the democratic choice expressed on June 12, 1993.
According to him, the sacrifices of pro-democracy activists were not in vain, noting that Nigeria has experienced uninterrupted democratic governance since 1999 and that Abiola has been officially acknowledged as the winner of the 1993 presidential election.
“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,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide commended the producers of MKO for documenting an important chapter in Nigeria’s political history and making it accessible to a new generation.
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 declaring 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,” the minister said.
She stressed the importance of documenting the events surrounding the June 12 election, which she described as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections, so that younger generations would understand the price paid for the country’s democracy.
The minister also called for collective efforts by Nigerians to protect democratic values and ensure that the will of the people is not truncated.
The documentary producer, Ose Oyamendan, commended President Tinubu for what he described as his tenacity, courage and commitment to democratic principles, as well as the support he had received from the President over the years.
Oyamendan recalled interviewing Tinubu when he was a senator in 1992 and expressed appreciation to individuals and organisations that contributed to the production of the documentary.
MKO is expected to preserve an important chapter of Nigeria’s political history while giving younger Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on the events, personalities and sacrifices that shaped the country’s democratic journey.