Third Editor of Business Day in Five Years Patrick Atuanya Resigns

By Dipo Olowookere

Mr Patrick Atuanya, the Editor of Business Day Newspaper, has resigned from the foremost business news platform, the third to leave in five years.

Mr Atuanya was appointed to the position in January 2019 after the exit of Mr Anthony Osae-Brown in December 2018. Mr Osae-Brown left the company to join Bloomberg as its Bureau Chief.

The appointment of Mr Atuanya as the Editor of Business Day was applauded by many financial journalists because of his experience on the job and it was believed that he would take the media platform to higher enviable heights.

However, his resignation and the reason he claimed led to his exit from Business Day has left many to open their mouths wide open, giving particles easy access.

The respected financial analysts announced his resignation from the company through a post on the WhatsApp group comprising members of staff of the company.

He alleged that things are not going well with the organisation and that efforts to right the wrongs have been frustrated by some powerful persons.

In his message titled Parting Shot, Mr Atuanya alleged that the editorial team was not given a conducive environment to work, adding that most of them work in fear.

“I have today resigned as the Editor of BusinessDay.

“I began crafting this letter to my editorial staff months ago, however, because I believe in the end that the spirit of #EndSARS which is a fight against injustice, corruption and an older generation who relishes putting their feet on the neck of the young, must compel me to let our young reporters know a few truths.

“I have been here 9 years (since January 2012), in that time I have helped to build up BusinessDay into the brand that it is today.

“Whether as, Head of the Analyst Desk, Chief Economist, Companies and Markets Editor, News Editor and finally Editor,” he said.

“Let it be known that no other editor in Nigeria will take the constant harassment bothering on disrespect I receive from you The Publisher.

“As Editor, I am expected to run around chasing digital subscribers, what happened to the Customer Acquisition Specialist hired and paid big sums of money monthly?

“The Publisher will disrespect me the Editor in the midst of my juniors and subordinate’s and thinks he is scoring points not knowing he is damaging the company as most people don’t expect that kind of behaviour from a so-called Publisher,” he added.