Veteran journalist Ray Ekpu delivered a heartfelt tribute to his late colleague and Newswatch co-founder, Chief Dan Agbese, on behalf of Newswatch Communications Limited during a celebration of life ceremony held on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Whitestone Event Place in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event brought together journalists, public officials, writers, and admirers to honour Agbese, who passed away on November 17, 2025, at the age of 81 following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Chief Rose Agbese, six children (including a professor of Mass Communication), and seven grandchildren.

In his tribute, Ekpu described the deep interconnectedness among Newswatch’s four original founders—Dele Giwa, Yakubu Mohammed, Dan Agbese, and himself—likening it to a “cobweb” forged through shared education at the University of Lagos in the 1970s, professional experiences, and a bold decision to launch an independent publication in 1985.

“We moved fiercely from being friends to being founders,” Ekpu recounted, detailing how the trio of Mohammed, Giwa, and himself secured initial funding in London before Agbese wisely suggested naming the company Newswatch Communications Limited to align with the magazine’s title.

Ekpu highlighted the foundational principles that sustained their 27-year partnership: appointing Giwa and Agbese as leaders to affirm their value, equal salaries and allowances for all founders, mandatory column writing, and democratic decision-making through voting, with a casting vote to break ties.

He praised the group’s diversity—spanning different ethnic groups and religions (three Christians and one Muslim)—as a strength that prevented bigotry and fostered harmony. “These attributes increased the acreage of our understanding of each other and limited areas of our disagreement,” Ekpu said.

Ekpu portrayed Agbese as a humble royal who never flaunted his heritage, a calm and decent leader despite being the oldest and most experienced, and a mentor who encouraged clear, reader-friendly writing without grandiloquence or sensationalism.

“Dan’s journalism was admirably simple and simply admirable,” Ekpu noted, emphasising Agbese’s rejection of “guerrilla journalism” and insistence on fact-checking, including Newswatch’s “three-source rule” for major stories.

The tribute also recalled Newswatch’s innovative practices, such as democratised cover story selection, staff performance assessments based on published work, and the introduction of “Preface to Cover”—philosophical essays Ekpu pioneered—as appetisers to main features.

Ekpu commended Agbese’s courage during military rule, when Newswatch faced proscription, detentions, frozen accounts, and trials—including a mutiny charge alongside Ekpu and Mohammed—yet remained committed to credible, investigative journalism.

Reflecting on their enduring friendship, Ekpu said disagreements were resolved swiftly, often within a day, and continued post-retirement in 2011 through a new writing venture. “We are an orchestra: start together and finish together.”

In conclusion, Ekpu urged the family to “rejoice and celebrate” Agbese’s illustrious legacy as a nationalist, patriot, author of several books (one a university text), and iconic columnist whose style is studied in Nigerian institutions. He outlived Nigeria’s average life expectancy of 56 by 25 years and left a profound impact.

Ekpu called on journalists to support the newly approved Code of Ethics and Ombudsman structure by bodies like the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Guild of Editors as the “best tribute” to Agbese amid challenges from AI and social media.

“My brother Dan, goodbye,” Ekpu closed.

The event featured opening remarks by former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, who praised Agbese’s character, and tributes echoing themes of integrity, simplicity, and mentorship. President Bola Tinubu and others had earlier mourned Agbese as an “institution” in Nigerian journalism.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration under President Bola Tinubu of normalising unacceptable practices in governance, citing a series of recent events that it says undermine institutional integrity, national security, and Nigeria’s international standing.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP highlighted what it described as an “unending series of absurdities” in recent weeks.

The opposition party called for a comprehensive investigation into alleged discrepancies between the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions subsequently gazetted by the government.

The issue was first raised by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki, a PDP member of the House of Representatives, who flagged inconsistencies during a plenary session on December 17.

“This disparity must be comprehensively investigated and not treated with the customary levity that this administration has shown toward very serious issues of governance,” the statement read.

“Nigerians are interested in knowing how the insertions and substitutions got into the gazetted copy.

“The PDP commended Hon. Dasuki for his vigilance and demanded a six-month postponement of the Tax Act’s commencement date, originally set for January 1, 2026, to allow time for a thorough probe, publication of the correct enacted version, and public enlightenment campaigns.

The party also criticised the administration over Nigeria’s declining global influence, pointing to the recent detention of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 personnel in Burkina Faso following an emergency landing on December 8.

The crew was released after diplomatic interventions led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar.

Additionally, the PDP referenced new U.S. visa restrictions announced by the White House on December 16, which impose partial limitations on Nigerian nationals for certain immigrant and non-immigrant categories, citing security concerns and visa overstay rates.

“This is a sad commentary on the current leadership of our country, who have paid more attention to politics than governance,” the statement said, noting Nigeria’s drop in military rankings and politicisation of security issues.

The PDP further questioned President Tinubu’s absence from the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, hosted in Abuja on December 14, where he was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The summit addressed regional insecurity and political instability.While acknowledging the President’s right to delegate, the party argued that his attendance at a subsequent political event signalled a deprioritisation of regional stability.

In its conclusion, the PDP urged the government to focus on governance rather than 2027 election preparations, calling for increased investments in security, education, infrastructure, and healthcare.

“The stakes are too high for business as usual. Our legislative integrity, international standing, and regional leadership are not partisan issues; they are national imperatives.

Nigerians deserve solutions, not excuses,” the statement emphasised.

Former Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi, who represented Delta North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2023, has died following a prolonged illness.

The news of his passing was confirmed on Friday through a statement from Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon. Details surrounding the exact circumstances of his death remain limited at this time.

Governor Oborevwori described the loss as a profound blow to Delta State, the Anioma nation, and Nigeria. In his condolence message, he referred to the late senator as a “dear friend” and a dedicated public servant.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi,” Oborevwori stated. “He was a proud son of Delta State and a courageous defender of the Anioma cause, whose contributions to nation-building will remain indelible.

“The governor highlighted Nwaoboshi’s impactful tenure in the National Assembly, particularly as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, where he advocated strongly for regional development.

Oborevwori also noted the late senator’s political pedigree, including his service as a two-time Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State before his later affiliation with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tributes have poured in from across political lines, with the Delta State APC describing Nwaoboshi as a “fearless voice for his people” and a committed party member whose influence transcended party boundaries.

Nwaoboshi’s legacy is remembered for his courage, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to public service.

Condolences have been extended to his immediate family, the Anioma community, and all those touched by his life.