A documentary video made by a daughter of the late M.K.O Abiola that traces the evolution of pro-democracy movements in Nigeria is receiving positive reviews.

The documentary titled THE SUPREME PRICE was shown on Thursday at the 2nd University of Ottawa Human Rights Film Festival in Canada.

In it, Hafsat Abiola tells the remarkable story of her mother, human rights heroine Kudirat

Abiola, and father M.K.O. Abiola, who won a historic vote in 1993 that promised to end years of military dictatorship.

Shortly after that election, M.K.O. Abiola’s victory was annulled and he was arrested. While he was imprisoned, his wife Kudirat took over leadership of the pro-democracy movement.

According to the Canada Film Institute website, “In this riveting political thriller, the Abiola family’s intimate story unfolds against the turbulent backdrop of Nigeria’s evolution from independence in 1960, through a series of military dictatorships to present day civilian rule as Hafsat continues to face the challenge of transforming a corrupt culture of governance into a democracy capable of serving Nigeria’s most marginalised population: women. A stunning and moving portrait of courage and defiance, THE SUPREME PRICE is an inspiring story of women who are creating positive change.”

A youtube trailer of the feature length film shows Hafsat narrating with a gory picture of a bloodstained backseat of a car, the way her mother was ambushed and shot dead by assassins.

She said: “My mother’s name was Kudirat. She was the leader of the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria. Because of her efforts to protest the military’s continued dictatorship she was assassinated, here in Lagos. Shot through the head....”

The trailer ends with a defiant Hafsat saying: “I will make sure my mother’s voice was not made silent by even one day.”

At the end of the screening, Pius Adesanmi, a Nigerian Canada-based professor of Literature, led discussions on the documentary.

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