By Babafemi Ojudu
It was meant to be just a section in my larger autobiography, initially titled A Good Fight, which I planned to publish between the ages of 75 and 80, God willing. The reason for this delay was simple: my life’s journey is filled with complex plots and subplots—some uplifting, others controversial. Releasing it too soon could have unintended consequences for those I have collaborated with over the years.
But one night, I woke up with a lingering thought: Wouldn’t my media adventures be more relevant and instructive now rather than later? That was the moment I decided to extract a portion of my story—Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist—and publish it as a standalone book.
I have lived a life of turbulence, moving among the high and mighty as well as the lowly and forgotten. But one thing I have never done is shy away—from engagement, from participation, from risk, from ruffling feathers, and from being in the eye of the storm. I have many stories to tell.
There is the story of my early years, reminiscent of Aké: The Years of Childhood by Wole Soyinka—years shaped by curiosity, defiance, and an instinctive resistance to injustice. As a secondary school student, I led protests and fought against oppression. My university years were equally eventful; I narrowly escaped rustication for my activism.
Then came my years in the media—the foundation for my latest book, which has received remarkable reviews and, despite the general decline in book readership in our society, has sold far beyond expectations. Between 1999 and 2010, in the shadows of Nigeria’s democracy, I took on high-stakes roles—installing governments, helping to unseat others—all out of a deep love for my country, with no expectation of personal reward. It was a period of immense risk, driven by selflessness and patriotic zeal, often met with betrayal, disillusionment, and a hard lesson in see finish (being taken for granted). Yet, through it all, there was a profound sense of fulfillment.
Then came my Abuja years—my journey to the Senate, my work in the Presidency. As they say on the streets, tori boku—a story for another day.
The Power of Storytelling
Since Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist was released, I have been overwhelmed by the response. I am deeply grateful to all who have read it and taken the time to share their feedback—both the praise and the critiques. Readers like Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Hajia Maryam Uwais, Chief Francis Ojo, Mr. Idowu Anthony-Ajileye, and Ayisha Osori have gone beyond personal appreciation, purchasing copies to distribute to friends and schools. Mr. Kurtis Adigba, a Lagos-based lawyer, has turned his office into an unofficial sales point, single-handedly selling nearly a hundred copies through personal outreach and conviction.
Edmund Obilo, the respected interviewer, has used his online platform, Udarabooks.com, to sell over 250 copies. Rovingheights Bookstores, with its outlets in Abuja and Lagos, has done exceptionally well, while Amazon has made the book accessible to Nigerians and non-Nigerians abroad. Thank you Gift Kachifo of Farafina for making available your network for the distribution of the book across the country. My appreciation also goes to Sunshine Online Bookstores and several other outlets numerous to mention.
Many have suggested that the book be adapted into a movie. We have heard you, and work is underway in that direction—special thanks to Bunmi Fatoye for her guidance in this process.
But beyond the sales and reviews, what has struck me the most is the reaction to the historical events documented in the book. So many people—especially younger generations—had forgotten, or never even knew, about key moments in our recent history. Many readers called to ask, Did all of this really happen? The answer is yes. Every word.
People were stunned to learn the extent of the dangers journalists of conscience faced in Nigeria at the time. Even my own daughter, a millennial who was not yet born during my encounters with military persecution, was in disbelief when she read about what I went through. A friend of my son, after reading the book, told him he was “awed” by the details and jokingly called me a “gangster” for surviving such an onslaught.
This is why we must write our stories.
If we do not document our experiences, history will be distorted—or worse, erased. The struggles, sacrifices, and lessons of one generation can only guide the next if they are recorded and shared.
A Second Print Is Coming
I am grateful that Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist has been well received and sold out within a month of its release. This response has only strengthened my resolve to write more in the years ahead.
For those who haven’t yet had the chance to read it, a second print will arrive in bookstores within a week. I hope you will pick up a copy, not just to read my story, but to reflect on the importance of documenting your own. Our lives, our struggles, our victories—they all matter. And if we don’t tell our stories, who will?