By Wole Balogun, Ph.D
At the April 2025 edition of its monthly Reading Series, the Ekiti State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (EkANA) hosted veteran journalist and maverick politician, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, as Guest Reader. The event, held on Wednesday, April 16, at The Farm—Ojudu’s residence in Ado-Ekiti—became more than a literary gathering; it evolved into a sobering reflection on Nigeria’s past, present, and uncertain future.
Participants, including writers, journalists, students, and lovers of literature, voiced deep concern about the trajectory of Nigeria, over three decades after independence. Amid insecurity, corruption, and disillusionment, many questioned whether the dream of a just and prosperous Nigeria was still within reach.
Senator Ojudu read from his memoir, Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist, a gripping chronicle of his fearless encounters with successive military regimes during the dark days of dictatorship. He began with a riveting account of the search for the late rights activist and legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
The compere, Miss Funke Awodiya—a poet and lecturer at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti—urged participants to engage deeply with the excerpts.
Former NUJ State Chairman and Vanguard Bureau Chief, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela, noted that Nigeria was relatively safer during the period Ojudu described, especially in the early 1990s. Comparing that era to today’s rampant insecurity, he lamented the current state of governance and leadership failure.
Dr. Wole Balogun, PRO of EkANA, described Ojudu’s memoir as “mind-blowing,” saying it read more like an action-packed film than a real-life account. He praised Ojudu’s courage and echoed Prof. Sola Adeyeye’s assertion in the book’s postscript—that Ojudu must have inherited his bravery from his forebears, especially his grandfather and father.
Dr. Balogun posed a probing question: “Why did you, who once criticized politicians so fiercely, end up joining their ranks?”
Ojudu replied:
“Courage runs in my family. I never wanted to be a politician. I had no respect for them. In 1998, after my release from detention, some of us activists agreed we should return to our states and run for office under General Abdulsalami’s transition plan. But Gani Fawehinmi warned us, saying if we contested, we’d be traitors to the cause. So we withdrew.
“But criminals took over—people with dark pasts, including one who had once been jailed abroad for shoplifting.
“I decided to go into politics to try to do it better. But it was harrowing. I spent N750 million to become a Senator. Once in the Senate, I met the real enemies of Nigeria. One of them told me during orientation: ‘Welcome, Senator Ojudu. This place is going to be tough for you.’ And it was. I was never happy there. I rejected every plea to run for a second term. .
“I pray some of you get into government—you’ll understand that, as it is now, there’s little hope. For Nigeria to turn around, there has to be a fundamental shake-up, like what Atatürk did in Turkey.”
When Dr. Gbenga Daramola, Chairman of EkANA, asked if Nigeria was worth dying for, Ojudu responded:
“I wonder when people say Nigeria is not worth dying for. If you’ll die, you’ll die. Dele Giwa didn’t want to die for Nigeria—but he did. Osinbajo never wanted to be a politician, yet he became one. Sometimes destiny chooses us; we don’t choose it. Whether you fight or stay quiet, you’ll die. So why not stand for something?”
He also read an excerpt recounting his perilous return to Nigeria after presenting a paper abroad about the struggles of journalists under military rule.
When prompted by the compere to react, a female participant said:
“The commitment to save Nigeria back then was real. It was selfless. That spirit is largely absent today.”
Dr. Balogun added:
“I’ve had my share of investigative reporting, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what Ojudu endured. The youth must understand our history to reshape the future. How can the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ initiative become a bloodless revolution?”
Ojudu replied:
“Sometimes I feel like what happened in Cuba with Fidel Castro might one day happen here. Unfortunately, Nigerian youths today don’t seem ready for revolution. But who knows—miracles happen.”
Prof. Bifatife Adeseye helped answer a young participant who wanted to know why Ojudu had been jailed.
“He wasn’t a thief,” Adeseye said. “He was a soldier of truth. And truth is bitter. He was punished for speaking the truth those in power couldn’t stand.”
Associate Professor Mike Adeoye of the Department of Theatre and Media Arts at FUOYE lamented the disconnect between the values of older generations and today’s youth:
“People like Femi Falana and ‘Ebino Topsy’ were our heroes. But today’s campuses have been overtaken by the same corrupt system we once fought.”
In response, Ojudu reflected on his formative years:
“We were taught by the best—Aiyejina, Soyinka, Jeyifo, Ayandike, Sekoni and others. They taught us to stand for justice. Sadly, the moral fabric of our society is torn. The church, the mosque, the schools—everywhere is affected. But we must keep speaking the truth. We owe the coming generation that much. We must put them on the right path to become true patriots.”
The event closed with a presentation of a portrait of Senator Ojudu by Miss Funke Awodiya. In her closing remarks, she said:
“The arts can be a powerful tool to groom the next generation into responsible and patriotic citizens. We must use it.”
