Tinubu to Host MKO Documentary Premiere October 1

President Bola Tinubu will host the premiere of MKO, a documentary about the 1993 Nigerian presidential election, on October 1 at the National Theatre in Lagos. The film, produced by former journalist Ose Oyamendan, will premiere on Nigeria's Independence Day before opening in cinemas on October 2. MKO tells the story of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a businessman and politician involved in the June 12, 1993 election, its annulment, and the subsequent political crisis.

The documentary features interviews with former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, former US Ambassador to Nigeria Walter Carrington, and others. Oyamendan praised Tinubu's decision to host the premiere, citing his past involvement in the struggle against military rule.

The documentary received a special screening at the American University in Washington D.C. on September 23 as part of a program discussing democracy, elections, and institutions. The screening will precede the Nigerian premiere, followed by a nationwide theatrical release on October 2. Nile Entertainment will handle distribution, with Moses Babatope, the company's managing director, noting his personal connection to Abiola's legacy.

The documentary's world premiere took place at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival on June 12, and it will be screened in Europe and North America in the future. Oyamendan emphasized the importance of the documentary for Nigerians, emphasizing memory, power, courage, sacrifice, and the consequences of political choices.