President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life and political legacy of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
The premiere took place at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos on October 1, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The documentary was produced by Nigerian-American filmmaker Ose Oyamendan and focuses on Abiola’s political journey, the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the pro-democracy struggle that followed.
Tinubu Attends MKO Documentary Premiere
The Tinubu MKO documentary premiere brought together several senior government officials and prominent Nigerians.
Those present included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba were also among the dignitaries at the event.
Documentary Revisits June 12 History
MKO examines the events surrounding the June 12 election, which was annulled by the military government in 1993.
The film also covers Abiola’s subsequent detention after he declared his mandate and his death in detention in 1998.
According to reports on the documentary, it combines archival footage with accounts from people connected to the events of the period. Former military leaders Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Wole Soyinka and Baba Gana Kingibe are among those featured.
The documentary had its international premiere at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in the United Kingdom in June 2026 before its Nigerian premiere in Lagos.
Onanuga Pays Tribute to June 12 Activists
At the premiere, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, paid tribute to Nigerians who suffered persecution, detention, exile and other hardships during the pro-democracy struggle.
He led guests in observing a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives during the struggle.
Onanuga said the documentary would help preserve the memory of those who fought for the restoration of democratic rule and the recognition of the June 12 mandate.
He also commended the filmmakers for documenting the period for younger Nigerians.
Musawa Highlights Importance of the Film
Minister Hannatu Musawa said the documentary was produced to preserve stories surrounding the June 12 election and the struggle that followed its annulment.
She said documenting the events would help younger Nigerians understand the sacrifices associated with the country’s democratic journey.
Oyamendan also thanked those who supported the production of the documentary and spoke about his longstanding connection with the June 12 story.
The filmmaker recalled interviewing Tinubu when he was a senator in 1992.
Following the national premiere, MKO was scheduled for nationwide cinema release from October 2.