Yakubu Mohammed, co-founder of the defunct Newswatch magazine, is dead.

He was 75 years of age.

Mohammed’s death comes less than two months after the passing of another Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died on November 17, 2025.

The late journalist had launched his memoir, ‘Beyond Expectations’, on November 4, 2025.

He was reportedly battling a prolonged ailment before his death.

An official statement from the family was still pending as of press time.

Mohammed, who held a bachelor’s degree in science, was born on April 4, 1950.

He hailed from Ologba in Dekina LGA of Kogi state.

He attended St Joseph’s Primary School, Ayangba, in 1964; Government Secondary School, Okene, between 1965 and 1969; the University of Lagos from 1972 to 1975; and Glasgow College of Technology in Scotland between 1978 and 1979.

His journalism career included stints as associate editor at New Nigerian Newspapers from 1976 to 1980, managing editor of the same organisation in 1980, and deputy editor at National Concord between 1980 and 1982.

Mohammed later served as editor of National Concord from 1982 to 1984 before becoming co-founder and executive editor of Newswatch between 1984 and 1986.

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He was managing editor of Newswatch from 1986 to 1994 and subsequently served as
deputy chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited from 1994.

Mohammed was also a director at Yadara Nigeria Limited and Lastop Limited.

He was a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

The veteran journalist also served as pro-chancellor and chancellor of the governing council of Ahmadu Bello University.

In a stunning development, Real Madrid have announced that they have decided to part ways with manager Xabi Alonso with immediate effect.

“Real Madrid CF announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to end his time as first team coach,” the statement from the club read.

Alonso was brought in as manager back in June 2025, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, who left for the Brazilian national team.

Despite showing positive signs during his time at the club, the 44-year-old tactician has largely found things difficult, especially over the past month or two, with injuries, poor results, and dressing room unrest causing problems.

The recent Spanish Super Cup semifinal win over Atletico Madrid was believed to have earned him more time to stabilise things.

But following last night’s final loss to FC Barcelona has prompted the club to act, with Florentino Perez & co. axing the manager.

“Xabi Alonso will always have the affection and admiration of all Madrid fans because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values ​​of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home,” the statement continued.

“Our club thanks Xabi Alonso and his entire technical team for their work and dedication during this time, and wishes them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

…Appoints Alvaro Arbeloa as Replacement

Minutes after confirming their decision to sack Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid have now announced that former defender Alvaro Arbeloa will replace him as the first-team manager.

“Real Madrid CF announces that Alvaro Arbeloa is the new first team coach,” the club statement read.

A former Real Madrid player, Arbeloa spent seven seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2009 and 2016, making over 200 appearances and winning several trophies and titles.

In 2020, after retiring, Arbeloa returned to the club, joining La Fabrica as a coach. He managed the Infantil A team in the 2020-2021 season, winning the league title, the Cadete A team in 2021-2022, and the Juvenil A team from 2022 to 2025.

As Juvenil A manager, he achieved the treble in 2022-2023 (League, Copa del Rey, and Champions Cup) and the league title in the 2024-2025 season.

Last summer, he was promoted to the position of the Castilla manager, taking over from another club legend, Raul Gonzalez.

In a short time with the reserve team, Arbeloa has done a solid job, enough to impress the management to hand him the keys to the first team.

Arbeloa’s first assignment will come later this week as Real Madrid take on Albacete in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 on Wednesday

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, along with other political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone, has officially declared for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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The leaders gathered in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, on Wednesday to make the declaration.

They stated that after months of consultations, they had decided to join the ADC and collaborate with other opposition leaders from across the country to “rescue Nigeria from the poor governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

Those present at the event included former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Ben Obi, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, and Gilbert Nnaji; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Enyinnya Abaribe; Senator Sam Egwu; as well as several other Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Peter Obi and other ADC leaders exchanging pleasantries
Other party leaders from across the country were also in attendance, including former Senate President and National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former governors from the South-East; and other dignitaries.

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READ ALSO: Peter Obi Has Told Me He’s Leaving Labour Party But I Won’t Join Him – Gov Otti

In his speech at the event, Peter Obi said the move to the ADC marks the beginning of the journey to rescue the country from the APC.

“Today is an important day; today is the last day of 2025, so we are ending this year with the hope that, in 2026, we will begin a journey of the rescue of our country for proper socio-economic development that will be unifying and inclusive.

“We have all watched those who benefited from our democracy, sometime now, become accessories to destroying our democracy, either through coercion and gangsterism against the opposition. We cannot allow this to happen, we will resist it,” Obi said.

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‘We’ll resist rigging in 2027’
The former Anambra State governor also vowed that the opposition will resist any attempt to rig the 2027 elections, warning the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly follow the rules and regulations.

“And we are saying that those who are planning to rig elections in Nigeria come 2027, we will resist it by every means lawful and legitimate. This happens because we have weak institutions like the INEC, which we are urging to act properly in the coming election.

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“We must do whatever it takes to follow the rules and regulations, starting from educational qualification for eligibility to contest or seek any election.

“We can no longer be in a situation where they are asking whether this person went to school or not. We have one year now to determine who went to school and who didn’t go to school,” he said.

Obi emphasised the need for unity among the opposition, asserting that Nigeria needs competent leadership to turn the tide of current disunity in the country.

Obi also faulted the Federal Government’s tax reform policies, saying they are hostile to the people and detrimental to economic growth.

Peter Obi joins other political heavyweights such as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, among others, who earlier in the year declared for the ADC, setting the stage for a political battle to wrest power from the APC in 2027.