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Nobody Will Ever Overturn The Will Of Nigerians – Presidency
The Presidency has vowed that the democratic choice of Nigerians will no longer be overturned by any authority, and that the sacrifices made during the June 12 struggle must continue to guide the country’s democratic journey.
Politics Nigeria reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this on Thursday at the national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
The premiere, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
President Bola Tinubu attended the event alongside his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, with senior government officials, lawmakers, governors and other dignitaries also present.
The documentary, produced by US-based filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, chronicles the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment by the military government and Abiola’s subsequent struggle to reclaim what he regarded as his electoral mandate.
It also documents Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after declaring his mandate and his death in detention in 1998.
Leading a minute’s silence for Nigerians who died during the pro-democracy struggle, Onanuga said the sacrifices of those who resisted military rule must not be erased from the country’s history.
He listed several prominent figures associated with the struggle, including Anthony Enahoro, Adekunle Ajasin, Abraham Adesanya, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alfred Rewane, Frank Kokori, Ndubuisi Kanu, Dan Suleiman, Chima Ubani, Bola Ige, Cornelius Adebayo, Ayo Adebanjo and Balarabe Musa.
The presidential aide also honoured journalists and media organisations that continued to document the struggle despite arrests, kidnappings, seizures of publications and other forms of repression.
“We remember the lawyers who defended detainees, the students who staged countless protests on the streets and on their campuses, the workers, especially members of NUPENG, who withdrew their labour, the academics who gave the struggle a voice, and the Nigerians in the diaspora who mobilised international support for the sanctity of our democracy,” Onanuga said.
He recalled that many Nigerians were imprisoned without trial, driven into exile or lost their livelihoods and properties because of their opposition to military rule.
According to him, the restoration of democratic rule came at a heavy cost, adding that the June 12 struggle should serve as a reminder of the responsibility to protect the people’s mandate.
“The democracy we enjoy today was built upon the courage and sacrifices of the people we have identified. We owe them more than remembrance. We owe them a duty to ensure that no authority ever again overturns the freely expressed will of Nigerians,” he said.
Onanuga added that Abiola had been officially acknowledged as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, describing the documentary as a tribute to him and the wider pro-democracy movement.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the documentary was produced to preserve the history of the June 12 struggle for future generations.
“This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” Musawa said.
She said the events surrounding the election, regarded as one of Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections, needed to be properly documented so younger Nigerians could understand the sacrifices that preceded the country’s current democratic system.
Musawa urged citizens to protect democracy and prevent the truncation of the people’s will.
The premiere was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas; Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang; and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also present were Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Joseph Utsev; former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; members of the National Assembly and other dignitaries.
Oyamendan, the documentary producer, thanked Tinubu and other individuals and organisations that supported the project, recalling that he interviewed the president when Tinubu was a senator in 1992.
The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, APC-PCC, Senator Abdul'aziz Yari, has assured President Bola Tinubu of the support of Northern political leaders, traditional rulers and Islamic clerics for his re-election bid in 2027.
Yari gave the assurance at the flag-off of the APC presidential campaign in Kaduna, where Tinubu and governors from Northern states were present.
He said the party had been engaging influential figures across the region to secure their support for Tinubu's return to office, citing continuity and peace as reasons for backing the president.
“We have been engaging all and sundry, our traditional rulers, our ulama and our imams, to understand the importance of your return in 2027 for continuity, for the peace of this country and for Nigeria,” Yari said.
He told Tinubu that key political figures in the North had gathered for the campaign launch.
He expressed confidence that the region would support the president in the next election.
“We are fully behind you in Northern Nigeria, and by God's grace, we will demonstrate our support for your re-election on January 16, 2027,” Yari said.
The APC chieftain described Kaduna as the spiritual centre of politics in Northern Nigeria.
He noted that the presence of governors from across the region reflected the importance of the campaign event.
Yari praised Tinubu's administration, claiming that the president's policies had improved key economic indicators since he assumed office.
He cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes in the exchange rate as examples of the administration's reforms.
He added that the APC would present the administration's performance to voters as it seeks another mandate in 2027.
“We urge Mr President to listen carefully to the concerns of Northern Nigeria and ensure that justice is served,” Yari said.
As temperatures rise across parts of Nigeria, health authorities are warning residents to take precautions against the effects of extreme heat.
The warning comes as the country moves from the rainy season into the hotter, drier months, when prolonged exposure to high temperatures can increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
A recent report by the Climate Impact Lab estimated that Nigeria could record 31,400 additional heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027.
The report, titled “451,000 at Risk: Where Action Can Save Lives During the Super El Niño,” estimated 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally during the period.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in a 23 October advisory, also warned of hotter days and increased heat discomfort as the country enters the dry season.
The agency said changing weather conditions, including reduced rainfall and cloud cover, could contribute to rising temperatures. It warned that excessive heat could cause dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
People most at risk
Extreme heat can affect anyone, but some people are more vulnerable to its effects.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies older people, young children, people with chronic illnesses and outdoor workers among those who face greater health risks during periods of extreme heat.
People living with heart, lung or kidney conditions, diabetes and other chronic illnesses may also experience worsening symptoms when temperatures become very high.
Outdoor workers, including farmers, construction workers, traders and others who spend long periods under the sun, can also be exposed to heat for several hours without adequate opportunities to cool down.
WHO said extreme heat places additional stress on the body as it tries to maintain a normal temperature. Prolonged exposure can increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and may also worsen existing health conditions.
What should you do?
NiMet advised Nigerians to drink water regularly and wear lightweight, breathable clothing.
It said people should also limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, particularly during the hottest periods of the day, and strenuous physical activities should be moved to cooler hours.
NiMet further urged schools and workplaces to ensure adequate ventilation, provide drinking water and shaded rest areas, and allow regular breaks during hot weather.
WHO similarly advises people to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, stay in shaded or cool places and keep their homes as cool as possible.
People should also check on relatives, neighbours and friends who may be more vulnerable, particularly older people and those living alone.
WHO urged parents to take extra care with young children. Children should not be left alone in parked vehicles, as temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly even when the weather outside does not appear extreme.
READ ALSO: WHO pledges support as Nigeria records first imported Ebola case
Warning signs
Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating, weakness, headache, dizziness and nausea. Moving the person to a cooler place, giving fluids where they are able to drink and helping them cool down can help prevent the condition from becoming more serious.
Heatstroke is different and requires urgent medical attention. According to WHO, heatstroke is a potentially fatal medical emergency. Someone with hot, dry skin, delirium, convulsions or loss of consciousness during extreme heat should receive immediate medical attention.
The Climate Impact Lab said the projections provide an opportunity for governments and humanitarian organisations to identify vulnerable populations and direct resources towards interventions that can save lives.
NiMet has also urged Nigerians to follow official weather forecasts and advisories as conditions change.
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