Veteran journalist and publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu, has recounted his emotional escape from Nigeria during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, describing the experience as one marked by fear, uncertainty, and deep personal sacrifice.

Speaking during an interview on The Morayo Show hosted by Morayo Afolabi-Brown on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Momodu detailed how he fled the country in the mid-1990s amid political repression that targeted journalists and pro-democracy activists.

He said his escape involved crossing the Seme border into the Benin Republic on foot under the cover of darkness, a journey he described as both dangerous and emotionally draining.

Momodu explained that the decision to leave Nigeria meant abandoning his infant son, a moment he said broke him down emotionally as he left home with no certainty of when—or if—he would return.

He further recounted that he broke down for a second time upon arriving safely in Cotonou, where relief quickly gave way to the reality of exile and the uncertainty of survival in a foreign country.

“I wept twice,” Momodu said during the interview. “Once for the child I left behind, and again when I realized I was now in a place where I had to start life all over again.”

Momodu noted that the experience of exile ultimately shaped his professional journey, leading him to establish Ovation International while living in London. He said the publication was created to project a positive image of Africa at a time when the continent was often portrayed through conflict and political instability.

The journalist’s recollection revisits one of Nigeria’s most turbulent political periods, particularly the years following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, when the regime of General Sani Abacha intensified its crackdown on dissent, journalists, and democracy advocates.

Many critics of the military government were forced into exile during the period, with several using neighbouring West African countries as temporary refuge before relocating further abroad.

Momodu said his experience remains a reminder of the sacrifices made by many Nigerians in the struggle for democratic governance, noting that the freedoms enjoyed today came at a significant personal cost for several individuals who opposed military rule.

His reflections add to growing public conversations about Nigeria’s democratic journey and the personal stories behind the country’s transition from military to civilian rule in 1999.