Lekan Otufodunrin, former Group News Editor of The Punch recalls in his Newsroom Diary series an encounter with staff when he had to apologise for a statement.
I can’t remember exactly what he did that got me very angry that afternoon.
It must have been something I just couldn’t take that made me uncharacteristically lash out at him in The Punch newsroom in the heat of an exchange of words over an issue.
“Go to hell,” I said as I walked back to my office angrily already thinking how to deal with the “bloody” staff who dared to take me on for whatever reason.
Even though as the Group News Editor, I was head of what is supposed to be a “madhouse”, I have managed to remain my ‘gentle self’ and not be the typical ‘fiery’ boss who reporters dreaded.
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If the Senior Correspondent was trying to take advantage of my accommodating style, he and others saw my unknown side that day.
However, the next statement he uttered caught unawares and I found myself regretting asking him to “go to hell.”
“Editor, you said I should go to hell, but you are supposed to be a Journalist for Christ. You should not be wishing me hell,” he said jokingly despite the charged atmosphere.
The statement hit me really hard as President of Journalists for Christ, a fellowship of Christian Journalists I coordinate. It was an indictment of a sort that I opted for swear words, instead of maintaining my cool and taking whatever administrative measure I deemed fit.
I didn’t respond but his statement haunted me that I was forced to call him later and apologise for my indiscretion considering the faith I profess.
I didn’t win him over to Journalists for Christ from his membership of the “drinking fellowship” but he must have been impressed by my response that he willingly accepted to help distribute copies of JFC’s Newsletter when he was posted out as a state correspondent.
