The national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life and political legacy of late businessman and politician Moshood Abiola, was held on Thursday at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos. President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, were among the dignitaries in attendance. The event was part of activities marking Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary's director and producer, Nigerian-American filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, paid tribute to President Tinubu, recalling his involvement in the struggle against military rule following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Oyamendan said it was an honour for the film team that President Tinubu agreed to serve as Chief Host, adding that his role went beyond mere attendance.
The documentary examines the choices political actors made during the crisis and the consequences of those choices for Nigeria. It chronicles Abiola's life, political career, and legacy, with a focus on the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment, and the pro-democracy struggle that followed. The film features archival footage and first-hand accounts from people connected to the events, including former military leaders, politicians, and foreign diplomats.
Among those featured in the documentary are former military leaders Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and Abiola's running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe. President Tinubu is also featured in the documentary, reflecting on his involvement in the pro-democracy movement during the period.
The filmmaker, Ose Oyamendan, drew from his own experience of the June 12 period, having worked as a young journalist with Weekend Concord during the crisis. He used archival material and interviews with key personalities to reconstruct Abiola's political journey and the events surrounding the annulment.
The 108-minute documentary had its international premiere at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in the United Kingdom on June 12, before its Nigerian premiere in Lagos. Following the national premiere, the documentary is scheduled to open in cinemas across Nigeria from October 2, handled by Nile Entertainment.
The distributor, Moses Babatope, said the project was significant to him because his father worked at Concord Newspapers, one of the media organisations founded by Abiola. He believes the documentary will help preserve an important chapter of Nigeria's political history and make it accessible to younger Nigerians who did not experience the June 12 crisis.
Key points
- President Tinubu and other dignitaries attended the premiere of the MKO documentary on June 12 struggle
- The documentary examines the choices political actors made during the crisis and the consequences of those choices for Nigeria
- The film features archival footage and first-hand accounts from people connected to the events, including former military leaders, politicians, and foreign diplomats
