By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Pro-democracy activist, columnist, author, former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs under Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and one-time Senator, representing Ekiti Central in the National Assembly, Babafemi Ojudu revealed why he drank his own urine under the then late Sani Abacha military regime.
The Ace Journalist revealed this in Ado-Ekiti, his country home, during an event, organised to introduce his newly published 303-page book, titled: ” The Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist”, to the public.
The book which captured his struggles for the success and sustainability of democracy under the military regime gave detailed information on how he was arrested fifteen times between 1993 and 1997 as an investigative reporter and other life-threatening experiences encountered.
Revealing that he began to drink his own urine to survive in prison under the military regime of Late Sani Abacha, Ojudu on his time of struggles in those days as an investigative journalist said:
“There was a time I drank my urine when I was dying, I had gonorrhoea and no medication was given to me. I read a book about someone who says urine cures illnesses and maybe because I had faith in it, I could not feel the illness again the following day after drinking it”.
Ojudu, said the highest obligation, any journalist, owed his country and people, was to seek the truth, write the truth, and report the truth, at all time, without any coloration, or consideration for any mundane factors.
He said he did not believe some of the current moves, being clamoured by Nigerians, especially the issue of constitutional amendment, are the real solutions to the nation’s crisis.
” The real solutions to our myriads of problems, are far from what are being suggested. For instance, constitutional review, being suggested, is not one of such solutions to Nigeria’s problem, it is simply all about us.
” In the course of performing your duties as a good journalist, tendencies are, that you will be waylaid ,harassed, intimidated, threatened, and so on, and even excommunicated to exile, like i experienced many times, but those were not enough to draw me back, i remained resolute. Without a vibrant press, it will be difficult for a nation to get things right.
” Do not be dissuaded, because that was never me. I saw death, face to face, but all that, did not discourage me from fogging ahead in performing my avowed duties to the nation”, he said.
He also admonished journalists to focus more, on area of investigative reporting, so as to unearth, without minding whose ox is gored, the evils, serially perpetrated with ignominy, by certain crop of leaders, who always think they are above the law, or do certain things they think they can get away with.
Ojudu who said his new book is also dedicated to the unwavering commitment and sacrifice of some well-meaning Nigerians “who valiantly fought and discharged their duties with conscientious diligence during the prolonged military rule in Nigeria”, listed President Bola Tinubu, Late Gani Fawehinmi, Bayo Onanuga, and Professor Segun Banjo, among others.
He disclosed that the book pays homage to those who died in the struggle for their commitment to a liberated society, independent press, democratic ethos and the pursuit of good governance.
The veteran journalist who stated that the book will be officially launched on December 18, 2024, called on Nigerians to get copies at nearby Bookshops in Lagos, Ibadan and Ekiti for digestion.
He said he was dedicating the 303-page book to the unwavering commitment of his fellow colleagues, who valiantly fought for the democracy that is upheld in the country today.
” When i speak of my colleagues, i refer to every Nigerian journalist, who discharged their duties with conscientious diligence, during the prolonged military rule in Nigeria”,
” Some were incarcerated, many subjected to brutalization, others compelled to seek refuge in exile, and tragically, some perished in the struggle “, he said.
On what drew his inspiration to write the book, he said it was meant to chronicle his past unrelenting endeavours, and also showcase the fact that for you to be a journalist that aimed to be part of the real change, selective writing, self-censorship, fear, undue love for money, laziness and complacency must be eschewed