President Bola Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life of late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and the June 12 pro-democracy struggle.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary, produced by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, chronicles Abiola’s political journey, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the struggle by Nigerians and pro-democracy activists to restore democratic rule.
The event was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Also present were Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev; Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa; former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba and members of the National Assembly.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, paid tribute to Nigerians who lost their lives, were detained, persecuted or forced into exile during the June 12 struggle.
Onanuga led the gathering in a minute’s silence for those who died during the pro-democracy struggle and said their sacrifices must not be forgotten.
He specifically acknowledged activists, journalists, lawyers, students, workers, academics and Nigerians in the diaspora who contributed to the campaign for the restoration of democracy.
Onanuga also honoured prominent figures associated with the struggle, including Chief Anthony Enahoro, Adekunle Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alfred Rewane, Frank Kokori, Ndubuisi Kanu, Bola Ige, Ayo Adebanjo and Balarabe Musa, among others.
He said the documentary would serve as both a tribute to Abiola and a reminder of the collective sacrifices made by Nigerians who demanded respect for their democratic choice.
“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,” Onanuga said.
He added that the government’s recognition of Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 election had helped to remove the description of him as the “assumed, presumed” winner.
Musawa said the documentary captured the events leading to the June 12 election, its annulment by the military authorities, Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after declaring his mandate and his death in detention in 1998.
She described the film as a tribute to the heroes of June 12 and stressed the importance of preserving the history of the struggle for younger generations.
“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 urged Nigerians to protect the country’s democracy and ensure that the will of the people is not again truncated.
Oyamendan, the documentary’s producer, thanked Tinubu and other supporters of the project. He also recalled interviewing Tinubu, then a senator, in 1992.
The filmmaker praised the President for what he described as his commitment to democratic principles and thanked individuals and organisations that contributed to the production of MKO.
The documentary is expected to preserve an important chapter of Nigeria’s political history and introduce younger Nigerians to the personalities, events and sacrifices that shaped the country’s democratic journey.