The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has called for a deeper understanding of June 12, saying the date should be remembered not merely as a public holiday but as a symbol of the struggle and sacrifices associated with Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Musawa spoke at the national premiere of MKO, an investigative documentary on the late Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
In a statement by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the minister said many young Nigerians risk knowing June 12 only as a day off work without understanding its historical significance.
She said the documentary was intended to reconnect a younger generation with the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the struggle that followed.
“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for,” Musawa said.
She described the documentary as a tribute to Nigerians who, according to her, sacrificed their lives and freedom in the struggle for the June 12 mandate and the democratic system the country operates today.
The minister also said Nigeria’s creative industry had an important role to play in preserving the country’s history and ensuring that major moments in its democratic development were not lost to younger generations.
“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.
Musawa also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s participation in the June 12 struggle, noting his years in exile and describing his involvement as part of the sacrifices associated with the pro-democracy movement.
Earlier, the director of the documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was produced to honour the memory of those who fought for democracy.
Oyamendan drew a parallel between the political struggle surrounding the 1993 election and the present administration, referencing the phrases “Hope ’93” and “Renewed Hope.”
“There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to continue remembering the people associated with the country’s democratic struggle.
“We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.
The premiere attracted several senior government officials and political figures, including President Tinubu, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila.
State governors, members of the National Assembly, ministers and other dignitaries also attended the event.