By Ghazali Ibrahim
BlackBox Nigeria Publisher, Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni has paid an emotional tribute to late PM News editor David Odey, describing him as a mentor who trained and inspired generations of reporters in the art of crime reporting.
Sulaimon, who worked under Odey during his early years in journalism, said the late editor played a pivotal role in shaping his career and instilling in him the values of persistence, curiosity and thorough reporting.
“He was my boss. He trained me on crime news reporting,” he said while reflecting on Odey’s influence and legacy in the newsroom.
According to him, Odey was a quintessential old-school editor known for his sharp eye for detail and his relentless drive to ensure reporters pursued every lead in search of compelling stories.
“Oga Odey, as we fondly called him, was a true old school editor with an eye for detail. He pushed young interns and reporters to be their best, especially when it came to covering crime stories for PM News,” Sulaimon recalled.
He said the late editor firmly believed that there was always news to be found for reporters willing to leave their desks and do the hard work of reporting.
Sulaimon recounted one of Odey’s most memorable responses whenever reporters claimed there was no news to cover.
“Are you saying that in a city of over 20 million people, with more than 20 slum communities, nobody is committing a crime right now? Have you been to Ijora Badia, Ajegunle, Makoko, Ketu or Ojo? Have you called any police station near you? Have you been to any magistrate court today?” he would ask.
“You cannot tell me there is no news. You are simply not looking hard enough. Get out there and get me something for the front page!”
Sulaimon said the statement reflected Odey’s philosophy of journalism and his determination to push reporters beyond their comfort zones.
“That was Oga Odey. Tough, demanding, relentless, and deeply committed to the craft of journalism. Many of us became better reporters because he refused to accept excuses and constantly pushed us to go out, dig deeper, and find the story,” he said.
The veteran journalist noted that Odey’s impact would continue to be felt through the many journalists he mentored and trained during his career.
“May he rest in peace. His impact lives on in the many journalists he mentored and challenged over the years,” he said.
