The Northern Nigeria Minorities Group (NNMG) mourns with deep pain the passing of a national treasure, Chief Dan Agbese, veteran journalist, master of letters, and one of the finest minds to ever hold a pen in service of the Nigerian project.
His transition marks the end of an era. Truly, an Iroko has fallen.
Chief Agbese was more than a newsroom icon. He was the Editor of Editors, a consummate professional whose career stood as a benchmark for integrity, depth, and intellectual courage. For over six decades, he wrote with uncommon clarity, wit, and precision. His ink flowed till the very end. Even at 81, his essays carried the sharpness of a man who had seen Nigeria through both pre and post-colonial transitions, and who never stopped interrogating power, politics, and public conscience with fearless honesty.
He belonged to that generation that confronted the iron fist of military rule with nothing but their pens and their principles. Alongside other pioneer trailblazers, he carved the pathway that helped usher in the democratic order we now enjoy. His passing leaves a vacuum that will not be easily filled.
Chief Agbese’s body of work helped shape modern journalism in Nigeria, especially investigative reporting, political commentary, and the culture of holding leaders accountable.
With his lucid prose and a bitting satire biting he carved a niche in style and content. He was a gentleman of rare decency, a disciplined thinker, and a mentor who moulded many into masters of the craft. His commitment to justice, equity, and fairness was the standard he lived by, and the legacy he leaves behind.
For the minorities of Northern Nigeria, he was more than a journalist. He was a cultural witness, a national conscience, whose writings influenced public policy and used his pen to build bridges, challenge stereotypes, and expand the conversation around inclusion in the Nigerian state.
To his community and those who had the privilege of relating with him, his fatherly guidance, rich historical perspective will be missed.
The Northern Nigeria Minorities Group extends heartfelt condolences to the Agbese family, his community, his colleagues in the media.
We urge all who loved him to take solace in the exemplary life he lived, the contributions he made, and the indelible legacy he leaves behind.
May the Almighty grant his soul peaceful rest and comfort those he leaves behind.
● By Chief Jacob Edi, Kakaki BassaNge
CONVENER.
