Chief Dare Babarinsa, one of the best wordsmiths in the pen profession, joined the septuagenarian club on Friday, May 9, 2025. Trained at the University of Lagos, Babarinsa, who hails from Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State, was one of the revolutionary writers who along with the late Dele Giwa redefined news magazine journalism via the Newswatch medium. He left Newswatch and with four professional colleagues founded TELL Magazine in 1991. TELL pioneered what some have described as activism journalism where a subtle and at times open campaign for a better society was infused into reporting and news dissemination, sometimes at very grave danger to the practitioners. In this interview, the inimitable writer and journalist of the finest variety speaks about some national issues. Excerpts:
Looking back at your early years, what are some of your most vivid memories growing up?
I was born in Oke-Imesi, Ekiti State, where I spent my early years, including primary school. After that, my parents enrolled me in Anglican Grammar School, Ile-Ife, for my secondary education.
Growing up in Oke-Imesi was very interesting; it was like an open school where we learned a lot. It was a great experience living with my parents and my two grandmothers—both paternal and maternal—who were still around when we were growing up. My father had three wives.
How did those experiences shape your life?
They made me understand the nuances of life. Oke-Imesi was a school on its own, where you learned a lot of cultural matters that have an impact on your literary understanding. We used to have cultural displays and drama. It was quite educational growing up in that kind of environment. We all participated in the yearly Egungun festival and other community festivals, and we thought the whole world was Oke-Imesi.
What do you think can be done by writers and government critics to tackle suppression and discrimination?
It’s a permanent state of the relationship. The government and its agencies like to keep their secrets, and a journalist has to expose those secrets. So, anybody who is looking for a settlement in that way may not be correct, but it is good that such a relationship is being moderated by the law and the constitution. What we need to do as professionals is to ensure that we have professional integrity and competence.
Those are things that can help us. Journalists cannot perform their functions unless they have the professional competence to do so, and I think the intimidation from public office holders is part of the professional hazard. We should get used to it. What we must do more is that we must get used to the necessity to defend ourselves before the law.
You see the instrument of the law; I think we are freer now than we used to be under the military. So, we should get used to defending ourselves. We should not believe that those who have the instrument of power and the duty of keeping government secrets will be happy with us (journalists).
We are also duty-bound to expose government secrets. Our situation is not mutually exclusive. If we cross to their side and they feel like they can fight us, there is nothing wrong with us fighting them also. You should be ready to do so.
Nigeria is facing some of its toughest economic challenges in decades. In your view, where exactly did we get it wrong as a country?
I believe that people are more conscious of their poverty now, unlike in the past. When we were young, there were very few people who had cars. In Oke-Imesi, very few people had cars; even the kabiyesi didn’t have a car, but the situation is different now.
During the 60s in Lagos, the greatest means of transport for all the middle-class people was a bicycle. The situation changed in 1974 when General Yakubu Gowon introduced the Udoji Award. There was this man called Chief Jerome Udoji who created an award where salaries were increased by 100 per cent, and people started buying motorcycles instead of bicycles.
So, people are more conscious of their poverty now than they were in the past. I think something that has occurred to us early is that we are no longer productive. In those days, we used to produce most of the cars driven in Nigeria, but I don’t know the situation now. The situation is very poor.
We used to produce almost 90 per cent of all the clothes being used by Nigerians, but now 90 per cent of all the clothes being used by Nigerians are imported. So, when you don’t produce your food, clothes, and cars, and yet you are complaining that you are getting poorer, I don’t know whether you have the right to complain.
Some believe that the hunger and hardship, which have become widespread, are largely because of the current economic policies.
How would you assess the economic direction under President Tinubu’s administration?
I think the current government is trying to change the direction of the Nigerian government from what we used to have in the past. There is no doubt that there will be problems at the beginning, like any change of direction. This is a thing for the long run and not for the short run. That’s when we will see the impact.
My only worry is that some of these new changes need to be moderated. For example, the electricity tariff is very high, and it’s very punishing for ordinary people. So, the government needs to find a way to keep some of this runaway inflation in check, especially for those things that people consider essential, and they need to pay particular attention to education. Education is critical because that is what will guarantee the future of our country.
What economic reforms or strategies would you recommend to pull Nigeria out of its current economic woes?
I cannot say specifically because I am not an economist. I am a journalist, but looking at history—when Germany, after the First World War, was facing serious unemployment—the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler implemented measures to boost industrial production and also expanded government employment.
In the United States, after the Great Depression, the American government, under President Franklin Roosevelt, initiated many infrastructure projects to engage young people in work. I think our government can look at policies and programmes that encourage entrepreneurs to employ more Nigerians. We need young people to be employed. If they are not, it is not good for the system, and employment will certainly boost the economy.
“We are also duty-bound to expose government secrets. Our situation is not mutually exclusive. If we cross to their side and they feel like they can fight us, there is nothing wrong with us fighting them also. You should be ready to do so”
Do you believe President Bola Tinubu deserves a second term based on his performance so far, considering the frustrations of many Nigerians?
As far as this country is concerned, presidential elections are not determined mainly by the performance of the government. They are influenced by the elites’ coalition. For instance, if it suits the elites of Lagos State to vote for the APC, once they agree, then they will vote for the APC.
That said, I believe President Bola Tinubu is taking the country in the right direction. The removal of petroleum subsidies is something Nigerians have been discussing for many years. He had the courage to implement it.
Secondly, if it is allowed to function, the introduction of development commissions will also have a meaningful impact. I believe that if the government works hard to curb corruption, it will positively impact the country. This could also affect the 2027 elections, but much still needs to be done.
Some people may argue that the proceeds from the subsidy removal have not been properly managed for the benefit of the public. Do you also agree with that view?
Those who claim the money is not being properly used need to provide alternatives. In the past, Nigeria used to spend almost 80 per cent of its income on debt servicing. No country can survive under such conditions. So, things have changed—not dramatically, but significantly.
Those who say the money is not being properly used must come up with alternatives. For me, two things are paramount: corruption must be tackled, and competence must be enhanced both in government and the private sector if we are to compete internationally. No country can afford to exist in isolation anymore.
If we are to compete globally, we must improve our competence. Look at what is happening in the field of Information Technology—you cannot just sit in Lagos and not work hard, because you are competing on a global stage.
Killings and violent attacks in Plateau and Benue States seem unending. What, in your opinion, is the root cause of these tragedies?
Most of the time, security challenges are evidence of economic conflict; people are fighting over resources, particularly land disputes. I think state governments need to be given more resources to tackle this criminality.
You may call it local policing or whatever else, but state governments need more resources. I believe every governor should be the master of their territory. This includes not only local or state police and vigilantes but also the use of science—such as fingerprinting, voiceprints, and aerial surveillance. Science can help tackle these issues. I do not believe the criminals are stronger than the government, but the government appears to lack the will to act more decisively.
An unusual number of opposition figures are defecting to the ruling party despite criticisms of the administration. What do you think is fuelling this trend?
It is local politics. Politicians are responding to their local environments. If you are a leader and not in tune with your people, you will end up stranded. I believe many of these politicians are reacting to local realities. If their people no longer support one party, they have to align accordingly.
But it also shows the migratory nature of Nigerian politicians. They tend to move from one green pasture to another. Once they have exhausted one, they move on to another that seems greener.
Some say the current administration is experiencing the worst public approval rating since the Fourth Republic began in 1999. Do you agree with that view?
We do not have a scientific method of determining that. You have to wait for the election. That was what people said about the PDP in 2003, yet Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was re-elected by a larger margin.
“Most of the time, security challenges are evidence of economic conflict; people are fighting over resources, particularly land disputes. I think state governments need to be given more resources to tackle this criminality”
But has there been any remarkable change so far?
I think the President has been fortunate, because the government did not plan for the Dangote Refinery, yet it became operational at a critical time. There are no subsidies now. The country does not even have the funds to import fuel. Had the Dangote Refinery not come on stream when it did, what would have happened? We would still be using scarce resources to import fuel from other countries.
So, the President is lucky that the private investment in the refinery, especially Dangote’s, is yielding results under his administration. Things are changing, albeit slowly. Enduring this period is very difficult. In the past, N100, 000 or even N1m meant a lot, but today they do not mean much—they have lost their value. Today, N1m can hardly do anything, and that is very sad.
You have seen and experienced a lot at the age of 70 years. What would you say are your greatest hopes and fears for Nigeria’s future?
I am deeply concerned about the state of our education sector. There is a prevailing indifference and a kind of nonchalant attitude towards education from the government. In the past, establishing a university involved extensive planning. Today, the government needs to be more rigorous in its approach to public education.
Secondly, I am very worried about our rapidly growing population. If the current trend continues, our population will exceed 400 million within the next 24 years.
Why do you say so?
I do not know of any country that has managed to control poverty while allowing its population to grow at the rate we are seeing in Nigeria. I am not sure what the government can do about it, but we need a long-term population control policy in this country.
Are you suggesting a policy for birth reduction?
Yes, that would be part of a broader population control strategy.
If you could give a single piece of advice to young Nigerians today, what would it be?
I think younger Nigerians should cultivate the habit of reading. A book is always faithful; whatever is written there is what will be communicated to you. We cannot create a modern society where people are uninformed. Many young people are running away from reading altogether.
They claim they are reading online, but they are not even reading online. That is my greatest fear for this country—we are raising a generation of ignorant people.