Felix Onuah is a journalist who retired recently after four decades in journalism, including 33 years with Reuters and over 26 years covering Nigeria’s State House, the official home of Nigeria’s President.
In this concluding part of the interview started in the March 15 edition of Saturday Sun, Onuah, who covered eight Nigerian Heads of State, and who spent 26 years reporting for Reuters, speaks about the dangers he encountered in the course of his long career (during which he also freelanced for the BBC and Al Jazeera), the differences in working for Nigerian media organisations and foreign ones, how he navigated being a good journalist and a good family man, how he found time to relax as a busy journalist, and his post-retirement plans.
By Juliana-Taiwo-Obalonye
Can you share some of the near-death experiences you’ve had as a journalist? I recall you were once stabbed on your way home?
I’ll share an experience that shows how fortunate I was to have my life spared. During a religious riot in Kaduna, I was travelling there for work with a foreign media outlet. As I entered Kaduna, I encountered a group of Islamic youths who had barricaded the road. They required drivers to display a green leaf in solidarity with the Islamic movement, but I was unaware of this. This happened twice—once entering Kaduna and again inside the city. When I stopped, they began hitting my car with dangerous weapons, shattering both the windshield and the rear window. I refused to exit the vehicle because not having the green leaf indicated I was a Christian, which they could tell from my attire or lack of the leaf.
I didn’t notice the soldiers arriving, but suddenly the youths started running. When I looked back, I saw a military truck. The soldiers surrounded me, asked what happened, and I showed them my ID card. They inquired about my lodging and I told them the Hamdalla Hotel. They instructed me to follow them, and as soon as they saw my ID, they began shooting to disperse the crowd. I drove behind them until we reached the hotel. I asked the hotel management for a car cover to conceal the damaged car. I shared the story with the hotel management, and they recalled seeing the military escorting me. The car remained there for weeks until the riots subsided, and I returned to Abuja. Once everything calmed down, I went back to pick up the car for repairs.
And then there was another incident, again during a religious riot. I thought it was the end for me. You know the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna? As I arrived there, a group emerged from nowhere and attacked me. Just as they were forcing me out of the car, another military truck arrived at the scene. The attackers were pushing me out of the car, and they were quite daring, armed with dangerous weapons like machetes. It was all because of a religious riot. Those were some of my closest brushes with death while on the job.
“The next incident happened when I was on my way home, and my car started jerking. I pulled over to check what was wrong. It was during the time of protests related to the detention of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. Four Shiite boys were in a vehicle. I didn’t know they were going around looking for stranded motorists to rob, taking advantage of the protests. I recognised them by their stature and their clothing. They came out with a dagger and stabbed me, leaving me in a pool of blood. Only God saved me. I had called my wife earlier to tell her about the car trouble; my house wasn’t far away. I was driving my Venza. I usually have a mechanic who services it, so I called him to explain the issue, and he suspected it was the fuel pump. He suggested letting the car cool down and then driving it home since it was close by, and he would come to pick it up later. So, I had gone out to open the bonnet to let it cool down and was walking back to the car. I had also called my wife, who said she was on her way to meet me. That was my saving grace. After they stabbed me, I was on the ground, waving my hand and calling for help, but cars were just passing by without stopping. When they attacked, they opened all the car doors and stole my laptop, phones, money—everything. The bonnet was already open. I was there waving until my wife arrived and parked behind the Golf car they came in. She didn’t realise they were rushing back to their car after attacking me, trying to quickly cross the roundabout. You wouldn’t expect that they’d be driving around looking for stranded people. She parked and came out with one of my sons. The two of them helped me into the car. The seat of my wife’s car was soaked in blood. In fact, the State House clinic personnel who treated me can attest to how close I was to death. They said I was almost gone. So, that’s how I survived three attempts on my life.
How do you manage to find time to relax and unwind? It’s often said that journalists rarely have time to relax. Do you actually take time for yourself to cool down?
Yes, I do find time to relax. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I avoid going to gardens because I have a phobia of night outings. There have been many stories about journalists being attacked, like the one who was attacked on Valentine’s Day after taking his wife to a garden. Instead, I relax by reading a lot of books and spending time with my kids. We still have two younger ones living with us, while the others are married with children. We enjoy going out shopping together.
Another reason I dislike gardens is because, in the past, journalists at the press centre were known for their drinking and womanising. They would say that once a journalist received a ‘brown envelope,’ they would show up with women, drinking and smoking. We were all painted with the same brush, seen as having an unserious and reckless lifestyle. It was a free-for-all environment. People would wonder how some of us managed to buy cars, assuming we must have done something extra to afford them. They would say it was because I worked with foreign media, as I freelanced for the BBC, Al Jazeera, and started stringing for Reuters. So, I had multiple streams of income, which likely surprised some of them. Back then, only those working for government media or major newspapers like Daily Times and Concord, Sketch had vehicles. We would often join them in their cars for assignments because we lived in a block of flats together.
You have worked with media organisations in Nigeria and international media organisations, culminating in working for Reuters for 33 years. What is the difference?
When comparing the differences between Nigerian media organisations and international media, there is a significant gap. Working with Nigerian media organisations often involves unnecessary pressure. You might encounter an editor who lacks field experience but insists on dictating how things should be done, even when their instructions are impractical. Despite attempts to explain the situation, they may not listen, leading to undue stress.
In contrast, international media organisations, often associated with Western standards, provide a more conducive working environment. They offer the freedom to initiate ideas and stories without excessive pressure. This environment encourages creativity and innovation, and achievements are recognised and commended. For instance, you might be given the autonomy to set your own deadlines for exclusive stories. You could propose writing one or two articles aside from regular stories, or feature pieces over the weekends, and this would be supported.
However, Nigerian editors often adopt a more authoritarian approach, insisting that you deliver according to their demands, regardless of the feasibility in the given environment. This is partly driven by a mentality of asserting authority and control. In contrast, international media organisations tend to respect their employees’ autonomy and allow them to work at their own pace, fostering a more respectful and productive work environment.
How has your experience with Reuters shaped your approach to journalism, and what lessons have you learned from your time there?
My experience with Reuters World News agency was transformative, and shaped my approach to journalism in profound ways. Working alongside seasoned international professionals from diverse backgrounds, I gained invaluable insights into the complexities of global storytelling.
One key lesson I learned was the importance of cultural nuance and sensitivity in reporting. I discovered firsthand how stories could be misrepresented or misunderstood when cultural contexts are overlooked. This experience taught me to approach stories with empathy, humility, and above all commitment to accuracy.
Another significant takeaway was the value of collaboration and adaptability in a fast-paced, ever-changing media landscape. Working on tight deadlines with colleagues from different time zones all over the world and backgrounds required flexibility, creativity, and effective communication. These skills would be essential in my subsequent journalism endeavours, having retired from Reuters.
Moreover, my experience highlighted the critical role of fact-checking and verification in maintaining journalistic integrity. In an era of misinformation and disinformation, I learned the importance of rigorously verifying sources and information to ensure the accuracy and credibility of our reporting.
Lastly, working with Reuters World News Agency, broadened my perspective on the power of journalism to shape global narratives and inspire positive change in society. I witnessed how compelling storytelling can humanise complex issues, challenge assumptions, and mobilize audiences to take action.
Overall, my experience was a formative chapter in my journalism journey, teaching me invaluable lessons about cultural sensitivity, collaboration, fact-checking, and the transformative power of storytelling.
In your early days as a reporter, you relied on fax machines and telephones to transmit stories. Today, we’re immersed in a world of digital platforms and citizen journalism. What key lessons have you learned from this transformation? Do you see this shift as a revolutionary change in the journalism industry?
Yeah, during my time as a journalist, I had to work through a lot of stress to get the story out. There was a lot of stress because back then, there was no technology. You had to physically go to places to get your story because there were no press releases, or if there were, you’d still have to go there and collect them physically, along with press statements. Then you’d sit down, write your story, and send it. There were no typists to type your stories, so you had to write them yourself. At that time, we always emphasised the importance of good handwriting because if you didn’t have it, how would the person typing your story be able to read it? We were trained to have good handwriting because it was crucial for the typist to make copies. We used black biros because they came out better in faxes. So, we always talked about how journalists needed good handwriting, not like that of medical doctors. This was because you were writing for someone who would type your script.
Before a journalist could churn out a story, a lot went into it. But now, technology has made everything very simple. You can get statements on your phone, write your story from that statement, and edit it using applications. You just paste it there, write your edits, and send the story. You also need to get background information for your stories because in foreign news establishments, you must background your stories. Now, you have websites that allow you to do fact-checking and find sources of stories and backgrounds easily from the comfort of your own home. We didn’t have that privilege; we had to read physical books and make references. When you culled information from someone’s book, you had to make references to avoid plagiarism, which was a serious issue then.
Have you ever filed a story you later found out to be false?
No, because Reuters has a standing rule, and we’ve been repeatedly warned that Reuters doesn’t retrieve stories. If they do retrieve a story because of you, you’re in trouble. So, we always keep that in mind. Even when you submit a story for use, someone else will fact-check it and come back to you saying, ‘This story can’t fly; please run the checks on it.’ There’s a lot of fact-checking and balance in the Reuters system. That’s one of the things that differentiate it from the Nigerian media system. In some media houses, an editor might pass a story due to personal interest or political alignment. That’s why international media is different; we don’t have such interests. As a reporter in a foreign medium, you don’t handle advertisements; your job is to report stories. There are people who specialize in ads, and their job is to handle those commercial aspects. Many people have approached me asking to place ads, and I tell them it’s not my business. The best I can do is give them the contact of the person in charge, and they shouldn’t mention that they got it from me because it’s not my job. If I were to do a story, it might be linked to having an interest. So, as a journalist, make fact-checking your priority. You can get a story at your leisure from home, but you must fact-check it. That’s the difference between us and online bloggers who just stream content. Journalists must distinguish themselves from bloggers.
Looking ahead, what should we expect from you now that you are in retirement? Given your wealth of knowledge, should we anticipate a book or perhaps involvement in training and similar activities?
I’m already working on a book, currently on chapter six out of 15. The book will encapsulate my 40 years of experience in journalism, both in Nigerian papers and international media. Additionally, I have an online platform called Quicktell News Online, which has been operational for three years. I established it knowing that one day I would retire and want to stay active. The platform currently has six or seven staff members, and I plan to expand it into a full-fledged agency. Since I am well-known internationally and often receive requests for stories, I intend to monetize these services by offering subscriptions. Most agencies started small, so I’m confident in this approach. Furthermore, I am involved in media consultancy, leveraging the agility and drive that comes naturally to journalists. By nature, journalists cannot be idle, and I plan to continue utilizing these skills in my consultancy work.
Finally, what’s your advice to journalists covering seats of power?
Journalism in the Villa isn’t about getting exclusive stories due to the security nature of the place, but it’s a location where you can make contacts with people in power, use those contacts for other stories, features, and as a source of information for other colleagues who cover different beats that need your help. For instance, you get to know ministers from various ministries. So, you might be friends with the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance, and your colleague on these beats you can also help them by providing background information. If you’re close to a particular minister, they might say, ‘Sit down here and do a story.’ You can’t, for instance, where the President was presiding over an event, and he suddenly ran to the toilet and you rush to report it. There was a time when the power went out during an event in the villa, one of us, who wasn’t even here, wrote about it, and he was withdrawn from covering request. So, it’s not a place for exclusives. Instead, it’s where you do features, and if you don’t want to be seen as an enemy, you balance your stories well. Balance is key in this power system.