Media

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Alade Idowu Odunewu, “Allah De,” a veteran journalist, bows out at the noble profession at 85

|  By Olu Ojewale  |

NIGERIAN journalism community was thrown into mourning on Thursday, July 25, as the news of the death of Alade Idowu Odunewu, a veteran journalist, filtered into their newsrooms. Odunewu, former editor of Daily Times, who wrote with the pen name Allah-De, died at St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, on Thursday, July 25, and buried at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Laogs, on Friday, 26. He was 85 year old. Popularly known as Allah-Dey, the late Odunewu was no doubt a colossus in the field of journalism with his witty, incisive and compelling humorous column. Little wonder encomiums have been pouring in to commend his contributions to journalism.

President Goodluck Jonathan said that the late veteran journalist, would be eternally remembered. In a statement signed by Reuben Abati, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the president on behalf of himself, the federal government and the people of Nigeria, commiserated with the family of the foremost journalist, public affairs analyst, administrator and role model for media professionals.

Felix Adenaike, a former editor of the Tribune, described him as a great craftsman who livened journalism. He remembered the late Odunewu as a great craftsman and mentor to the younger generation of journalists in the country. “That was the father of journalism. Nigerian journalism has lost one of its founding fathers, and he was a great mentor to the younger ones… He was a great humorist and satirist, who livened journalism.”

That was also the impression of Lade Bonuola, former managing director of The Guardian, who called Odunewu a titan, “even in the fast depleting generation of the masters. The other day it was (Herbert) Uneugbu, also a veteran journalist. He was an exceedingly gifted writer who always had very close by his armoury of humour, ranking with Baker of New York Times and Cameron of Daily Express in humour and Bernard Levin of The Times of London in seriousness and mastery of the language.”

Henry Odukomaiya, who took over from Odunewu as the editor of the Daily Times, said he was shocked and saddened by the departure of his former great boss. Odukomaiya said: “The Allah De that I knew was one of the most accommodating bosses that anybody could have, I mean every word of what I am saying. He never offended anybody, he did his job to the best of his ability and his ability was quite high. He was very jocular and that reflected in every of his writing. He was elegant too. He didn’t take life too seriously.” Sam Amuka Pemu, publisher of The Vanguard, described the late Odunewu as a fine fellow, who would be missed.

Indeed, the late Odunewu would be missed by the likes of the Nigeria Press Council, NPC, and the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Nigeria Media Merit Award, NMMA, where he served as chairman of the organisations for several years. The late Odunewu started his journalism career at the Daily Times as a reporter after his secondary education at the New Bethel College, Onitsha, Anambra State. From there, he secured a federal government scholarship to study journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic London, now University of Westminster. At the school, he won several awards, including the Commonwealth New Statesman Prize for the best all-round student. This enabled him to work for a number of British newspapers before returning home.

Between 1950 and 56, he worked at the Daily Times as a reporter and sub-editor and later left to become the managing editor of the African Press Limited, Ibadan, publishers of the Nigerian Tribune, between 1956 and 1957. Between 1960 and 1964, he was the editor-in-chief of Allied Newspapers of Nigeria before returning to the Daily Time as the editor, Sunday Times, in 1964. He also rose through the ranks to succeed Peter Enahoro as editor of Daily Times.

Winners Take All, a collection of his writings in his rested column in Daily Times, Allah-Dey, was re-presented when he celebrated his 80th birthday in November, 2007. Oluatunji Dare, journalism professor, once wrote about Odunewu thus: “Satire is the stuff of his work, master of the well-placed innuendo. Odunewu called attention to the follies and foibles of his era without wounding the vanities of the men and women of the moment.”

The glowing tribute also came from the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, who described his death as a colossal loss to the Nigerian journalism because of “his wisdom, knowledge, wealth of invaluable experience and fatherly advice.” In a statement signed by Steve Ayorinde, vice-president and Isaac Ighure, secretary, the Guild commended the late Odunewu for being “instrumental to the founding, nurturing and sustenance of the Guild, which today, has metamorphosed into a strong voice on national issues.”

Deji Elumoye, chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State Council, said the late Odunewu was a foremost journalist who would be greatly missed. “He talked about proper practice of journalism and was always willing to advise the NUJ. We will miss him,” he said.

Odunewu was said to have died of an age-related sickness. He was survived by three children.

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