Nigerian-American filmmaker Ose Oyamendan’s documentary, MKO, which chronicles the life and legacy of late Nigerian businessman and politician Moshood “MKO” Abiola, will debut in cinemas nationwide on 2 October.
MKO tells the story of late Abiola, a politician who stood at the centre of the historic 12 June 1993 presidential election, its annulment by the military government, the struggle that followed and the circumstances surrounding his death in detention in 1998.
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The documentary will premiere on 1 October at the National Theatre in Lagos, with President Bola Tinubu serving as host.
The film features former military leaders Ibrahim Babangida, who annulled the 12 June election, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, whose administration oversaw Nigeria’s return to civilian rule. It also features former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who took over from the military after previously serving as a military leader; Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka; and Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, Abiola’s running mate.
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Others include former American diplomats Walter Carrington and Thomas Pickering, the former US Deputy Secretary of State who led the meeting during which Abiola died; former Canadian High Commissioner Gerald Ohlsen; members of Abiola’s family; foreign journalists; and Theodore Zadok, who served as Abiola’s security guard during his detention.
Unusual intimate account of the final chapter of Abiola’s life.
In a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, Mr Oyamendan said those featured in the documentary provided an unusually intimate account of the final chapter of the late Abiola’s life.
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He said the premiere and nationwide cinema release will mark a moment for a film that revisits a defining chapter in Nigeria’s modern political history.
Mr Oyamendan said: “For us, as a film team, it is an enormous honour that President Tinubu is recognising this important film as Chief Host. But when you look more deeply at the story and its world, the significance becomes even clearer.
“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. This is a story of that struggle that has brought us to where we are today.”
“Our story”
Furthermore, Mr Oyamendan said the film draws on an extensive collection of archival footage and powerful testimonies from individuals closely connected to the events it chronicles.
According to Mr Oyamendan, the documentary debuted at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival on 12 June, where it received critical acclaim before gaining wider attention on the international documentary circuit.
He said the film captures, through cinema, one of the most significant episodes in the history of democracy in Africa.
“This is a story that belongs to Nigerians. It is about memory, power, courage, sacrifice and the consequences of political choices. Most importantly, it is about people who believed that their voices mattered.
“Thirty-three years after June 12, we have the opportunity to look back at what happened, not simply to remember it, but to understand it and ensure it never happens again,” said the filmmaker.
Preservation of political history
Nile Entertainment will handle the documentary’s distribution and lead an extensive theatrical campaign to reach beyond its usual documentary audience and into cinemas nationwide.
The initiative will provide Nigerians, especially younger audiences, with an opportunity to experience a significant chapter of the country’s history on the big screen.
Commenting on the project, Nile Entertainment’s Managing Director, Moses Babatope, said the documentary holds a strong personal significance for him.
He described the film as an important contribution to the documentation and preservation of Nigeria’s political history.
READ ALSO: Documentary on MKO Abiola to premiere at Sheffield DocFest on Democracy Day
He said, “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, so his legacy has always had a personal connection to my family. Beyond that personal connection, I believe this documentary is an important contribution to preserving Nigeria’s political history.
“MKO Abiola’s story is one of the most defining periods in our nation’s democratic journey, and this history must be documented and made accessible, particularly to a younger generation. It is a record of a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history, brilliantly captured by Ose Oyamendan. We are proud to support its release and encourage audiences across the country to experience it in cinemas from October 2.”
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