President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians, attended the national premiere of a documentary chronicling the life and democratic struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, was organised as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary, titled MKO, was directed by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan. It examines Abiola’s political journey, his role in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement and the events surrounding the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
It also chronicles Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after declaring his mandate, his detention and his death in custody in 1998.
Among the dignitaries at the event were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau were also present, alongside federal ministers and other government officials.
During the event, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, led guests in a minute of silence in honour of Nigerians who sacrificed their lives, freedom and livelihoods during the struggle for democracy.
Onanuga said Nigeria’s current democratic system was built on the courage and sacrifices of several individuals, including nationalist Chief Anthony Enahoro, human rights activist Chief Gani Fawehinmi and journalist James Bagauda Kaltho.
He also noted that after 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule since 1999, Abiola had been officially recognised as the winner of the 1993 presidential election, rather than being described merely as the “presumed” winner.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said preserving the history of Nigeria’s democratic struggle was important to ensuring that younger generations understood the sacrifices that produced the freedoms enjoyed today.
Musawa stressed the need to ensure that the will of Nigerians, as expressed through elections, would not again be overturned by any authority.
The documentary’s director, Ose Oyamendan, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and recalled his first interview with him when Tinubu was a senator in 1992.
The national premiere provided an opportunity for government officials, political leaders and other dignitaries to reflect on the June 12 struggle and the sacrifices made by individuals who contributed to Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
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