ABUJA, NIGERIA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary chronicling the life of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Nigeria’s historic June 12 pro-democracy struggle.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary, produced by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, examines Abiola’s political journey, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the subsequent pro-democracy struggle that followed the military government’s decision.
The event brought together senior government officials, political leaders and other prominent Nigerians, 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; 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 dignitaries.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa welcomed the President and guests to the premiere.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, led the gathering in observing a minute’s silence in memory of Nigerians who lost their lives or suffered persecution, detention, exile and other forms of repression during the struggle for the restoration of democracy.
Onanuga paid tribute to several 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 and Balarabe Musa.
He also recognised the contributions of journalists, lawyers, students, workers, academics, labour activists and Nigerians in the diaspora who participated in the struggle following the annulment of the June 12 election.
Onanuga said the documentary would serve both as a tribute to Abiola and as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Nigerians who demanded that their democratic choice be respected.
He said the democratic freedoms enjoyed by Nigerians today were secured through the courage of individuals who resisted authoritarian rule.
According to Onanuga, the June 12 struggle involved numerous Nigerians who faced imprisonment, persecution, exile, loss of livelihoods and attacks on their homes and businesses because of their political convictions.
He also specifically remembered journalist James Bagauda Kaltho and other journalists and media organisations that continued reporting despite arrests, seizures of publications and other forms of repression.
Onanuga said the sacrifices of those involved should remain part of Nigeria’s collective historical memory.
He noted that Nigeria has experienced 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule since the return to civilian government in 1999, adding that Abiola had subsequently been officially acknowledged as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy said MKO chronicles the events surrounding the June 12 election, its annulment by the military authorities, Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after he declared his mandate and his death in detention in 1998.
Musawa described the documentary as an effort to honour those who contributed to the June 12 struggle and preserve accounts of an important period in Nigeria’s political history.
She said documenting the events was necessary to help younger Nigerians understand the circumstances surrounding the country’s democratic development and the sacrifices associated with it.
The minister also called for continued efforts to protect Nigeria’s democratic system and ensure that citizens’ electoral choices are respected.
Oyamendan, the documentary’s producer, thanked President Tinubu and others who supported the project.
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.
The MKO documentary is expected to provide audiences, particularly younger Nigerians, with an account of the personalities, events and sacrifices associated with the June 12, 1993 election and the subsequent struggle for democracy.
IBN News reports that the national premiere was held on October 1, 2026, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
