President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The screening, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos, chronicles the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the pro-democracy movement that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The documentary recounts the events surrounding the annulled election, Abiola’s subsequent struggle for the restoration of his mandate and the wider campaign by Nigerians and pro-democracy activists for democratic governance.
The premiere attracted senior government officials, political leaders and other dignitaries, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Also present were Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Joseph Utsev, members of the National Assembly and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa welcomed the President and guests to the event.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, paid tribute to Nigerians who lost their lives, suffered imprisonment, persecution, exile or other forms of repression during the struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Onanuga led the gathering in observing a minute’s silence for those who died during the struggle and said their sacrifices should remain part of Nigeria’s democratic memory.
He specifically mentioned pro-democracy figures including Anthony Enahoro, Adekunle Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alfred Rewane, Frank Kokori, Ndubuisi Kanu, Dan Suleiman, Chima Ubani, Bola Ige, Cornelius Adebayo, Ayo Adebanjo, Balarabe Musa and the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
He also recognised journalists, lawyers, students, workers, academics, printers and Nigerians in the diaspora who, according to him, contributed to the campaign for the restoration of democratic rule.
Onanuga said the documentary should serve not only as a tribute to Abiola but also as a reminder of the wider sacrifices made by Nigerians in defence of democratic choice.
He said the country’s democratic freedoms were secured through the courage of people who resisted authoritarian rule, adding that the experiences of the June 12 era should remain relevant to present and future generations.
The presidential spokesman commended the producers of MKO for documenting the period and making the story accessible to younger Nigerians.
Minister Musawa said the documentary traced events leading to the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment by the military government, Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after declaring his mandate and his death in detention in 1998.
She described the production as a tribute to the men and women who sacrificed for the June 12 mandate and the democratic system Nigeria operates today.
Musawa also stressed the importance of preserving accounts of the June 12 struggle and urged citizens to protect democratic institutions and ensure that the will of the people is respected.
The documentary’s producer, Oyamendan, expressed appreciation to Tinubu and others who supported the project. He recalled interviewing Tinubu when he was a senator in 1992 and thanked individuals and organisations involved in bringing the production to completion.
The premiere provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the personalities, events and sacrifices associated with one of the defining episodes in Nigeria’s political history.
MKO is expected to contribute to the preservation of that history and provide younger Nigerians with an account of the events surrounding the June 12 struggle.
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