Telling history and national memory, By Musikilu Mojeed

With all modesty, we consider “Nine lives: the Bello-Fadile Memoirs » as a great addition to the narratives of self and country, which, as mentioned, fills a remarkable space in the unknown or poorly known aspects of our history. It is extensive and highly detailed – no doubt due to the vast intellectual prowess of the author, Dr Bello-Fadile, whose capacity for detail is enormous, alongside his abilities to memorize major episodes, such as those involving details and minutiae of the proceedings before the Special Commission of Inquiry, when he was subjected to the heartbreaking consequences of being an activist for a different society within a very traditional institution.

It is a great pleasure for me to be here at this gathering reflecting on the extraordinary life story of Dr. Ralph Sixtus Babatunde Bello-Fadile, not only from his origins in Kabba, Northern Nigeria, but through his travels through many institutions, prominent among which was the Nigerian Army.

It was there that he recorded the unique exploits of a precocious cadet, who also reached the heights of academic success as first a military-trained lawyer, then a holder of a doctorate in law, and later led the legal unit, to his other significant experiences, which introduced him to a certain number of the “Nine Lives” that we offer you in this astonishing volume currently being unveiled to the public.

Naturally, at Premium Times Books, we want to document the stories of the human experience and the stories of impacted and impactful lives, more so an important story like this that tells not only how an individual went on to overcome the major challenges of life, but also in a way that also tells the story of our great country, Nigeria. Certainly, Dr. Bello-Fadile Nine lives expands the boundaries of what we know about this country and the various players in one of its most important institutions – the Nigerian Army – and how their actions defined the course of the nation’s history to critical periods.

Of course, given the nature of biographical stories of this type, some might consider the way in which a slice of history is presented to us – several years after the events recounted – as controversial, or even contest the way in which it is reproduced, but Every piece of the puzzle of our historical experiences in Nigeria is important. That this, among other things, provokes debate constitutes a very important element of the recognition and preservation of national memory.

Perhaps even more important is the universality of some of the experiences recounted by Dr. Bello-Fadile in this story, which addresses some of the major themes of survival through the whirlwinds of life – the ability and determination to overcome difficulties, and the role of faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. These are aspects that speak of the essence of each of us, making it a story of each man…

The media – from which our practice grows – are generally considered the great documentarians of history, although many have considered it to be “history in a hurry”. analysis, and adopting the procedures and rigors of science to influence our work. Therefore, while the story may still be rushed, the way it is now documented is much more thorough.

As an associate level of practice, our book publishing efforts in Premium Times are equally meticulous in the use of historical documents, and we go to great lengths to help authors present their stories with all the clarity and the importance they deserve – although the ultimate credit for their views goes to the authors themselves.

With all modesty, we consider Nine lives: the Bello-Fadile memoirs as a great addition to the narratives of self and country, which, as mentioned, fills a remarkable space in the unknown or poorly known aspects of our history. It is extensive and highly detailed – no doubt due to the vast intellectual prowess of the author, Dr Bello-Fadile, whose capacity for detail is enormous, alongside his abilities to memorize major episodes, such as those involving details and minutiae of the proceedings before the Special Commission of Inquiry, when he was subjected to the heartbreaking consequences of being an activist for a different society within a very traditional institution.

Perhaps even more important is the universality of some of the experiences recounted by Dr. Bello-Fadile in this story, which addresses some of the major themes of survival through the whirlwinds of life – the ability and determination to overcome difficulties, and the role of faith in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. These are aspects that speak to the essence of each of us, making it a story of every man, on one key level or another. The need to continue to build such relationships, as indicators of human capacity and potential, is part of what defines our publishing enterprise.

At Premium Times Books, our mission is to continue to publish books that continually expand knowledge about important aspects of our lives and that continue to serve as crucial resources for engaging with our stories and experiences. We intend to maintain this role and will continue to offer our services to great librarians and experienced interpreters like Dr. Bello-Fadile, who is accomplishing the unprecedented and beginning his tenth life.

At Premium Times Books, we have three main missions: to expand the reading public in Nigeria, to make essential books easily accessible to the reading public, and to bring back to Nigeria books about Nigeria published in Europe, America and elsewhere. In more than a decade of activity, we have published a significant number of books, and our catalog has been enriched with a number of very remarkable titles.

Some of them include Naija No Dey wears the latest by the late Professor Pius Adesanmi, then our trilogy on religion and fundamentalism anchored by Professor Raufu Mustapha – from Defeat Boko Haramhas Sects and social disorder, Credo and grievances; Also Quranic schools in northern Nigeriaone by Hannah Hoechner; Remaking Nigeria: sixty years, sixty voices And We are all Biafrans by Chido Onumah.

We have also published excellent studies like those of Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan on Cyberpolitics; The Sokoto Caliphate by Murray Last; also my own very well received book, The Letterman: Inside the Secret Letters of Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjoin addition to that of Azu Ishiekwene Write for the media and monetize itamong a growing list of notable titles. As such, Dr. Bello-Fadile’s book stands in very good company and among the key books that offer great insights into our national experiences in Nigeria.

At Premium Times Books, our mission is to continue to publish books that continually expand knowledge about important aspects of our lives and that continue to serve as crucial resources for engaging with our stories and experiences. We intend to maintain this role and will continue to offer our services to great librarians and experienced interpreters like Dr. Bello-Fadile, who is accomplishing the unprecedented and beginning his tenth life.

It will be so.

Musikilu Mojeed is the editor-in-chief of Premium hours newspapers and operations director of the Premium Times group.

This is the text of remarks made during the public presentation of Nine Lives: The Bello-Fadile Memoirs at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, on Monday, November 18.