A former senator representing Ekiti Central and a seasoned journalist, Babafemi Ojudu, has shared a harrowing experience of survival during the brutal military regime of General Sani Abacha.
Speaking at a media parley in Ado-Ekiti, Ojudu recounted how he resorted to drinking his own urine to stay alive while in prison, a story featured in his newly released documentary book, Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist.
Ojudu, who also served as a Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs under Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, chronicled his relentless fight for democracy and press freedom in the book.
He revealed enduring 15 arrests between 1993 and 1997 as an investigative journalist, often facing life-threatening conditions.
“There was a time I drank my urine when I was dying. I had gonorrhea 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,” he disclosed.
The book, Ojudu explained, is a tribute to Nigerians who made immense sacrifices in the fight against military rule, emphasizing their dedication to justice and democracy.
He stressed that the duty of a journalist is to pursue and report the truth, no matter the consequences.
“The highest obligation any journalist owes his country and people is to seek the truth, write the truth, and report the truth at all times without any coloration or consideration for any mundane factors,” he said.
Ojudu expressed skepticism about some of the solutions being proposed to address Nigeria’s challenges, particularly constitutional amendments.
“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,” he noted.
Reflecting on his career, Ojudu recounted facing threats, harassment, and exile but maintained that such obstacles only strengthened his resolve.
He urged journalists to remain steadfast in their pursuit of truth, highlighting the essential role of a free press in national progress.
“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 affirmed.
Ojudu concluded by encouraging Nigerians to obtain copies of his book, available in Lagos, Ibadan, and Ekiti, ahead of its official unveiling on December 18, 2024.
The work, he emphasized, honors those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy, press freedom, and good governance.
