President Bola Tinubu has been named chief host of the national premiere of “MKO”, a documentary on the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the pro-democracy struggle that followed.
The documentary, produced by a former journalist and international filmmaker, Ose Oyamendan, is scheduled to premiere at the National Theatre, Lagos, on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, ahead of its nationwide cinema release on October 2.
A statement announcing the premiere explained that the documentary chronicles the life of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the annulment of the 1993 presidential election and the political crisis that followed until his death in detention in 1998.
The film features former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and Abiola’s running mate in the 1993 election, Babagana Kingibe.
Others featured are former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington; former US Deputy Secretary of State, Thomas Pickering; former Canadian High Commissioner, Gerald Ohlsen; members of Abiola’s family and foreign journalists.
The documentary also features Theodore Zadok, who served as Abiola’s security guard during his detention and provides an account of the final period of the politician’s life.
Oyamendan said Tinubu’s decision to serve as Chief Host was significant, given his involvement in the struggle against military rule following the annulment of the election.
“For us, as a film team, it is an enormous honour that President Tinubu is recognising this important film as Chief Host,” he said.
He said the documentary also examines the choices made by political actors during the crisis.
“This was a crucial point in Nigeria’s history where many of our leaders back then chose to side with the dictators. Tinubu risked his life, livelihood and his family’s safety by standing with the people’s mandate,” Oyamendan said.
Ahead of the Lagos premiere, the documentary will receive an international preview on September 23 at American University in Washington, D.C.
The programme, titled “Democracy Denied: Nigeria’s Annulled 1993 Election and Its Lasting Legacies,” will examine the annulment, its democratic legacy and lessons for electoral institutions today.
The October 1 premiere will be followed by the nationwide theatrical release on October 2, with Nile Entertainment handling distribution.
Managing Director of Nile Entertainment, Moses Babatope, said the documentary would help preserve an important part of Nigeria’s political history for younger generations.
“The story of MKO Abiola is particularly personal to me. My father worked at Concord Newspaper, one of the institutions founded by Chief MKO Abiola,” he said.
The documentary had its world premiere on June 12 at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival and is scheduled for further screenings and theatrical releases in Europe and North America.
