The third and final part of the June 12 Honours series casts a revealing light on the internal struggle. — a revered publication once dubbed the flagship of the Nigerian press. This battle wasn’t fought with weapons, but with convictions, conscience, and clashing visions of truth.

The article explores the controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s June 12, 2025, Democracy Honours Roll, which included media veterans like Bayo Onanuga, Owei Lakemfa, Kayode Komolafe, and publisher Alex Ibru. But critics argue that key figures who stood firm against military tyranny, such as Dr. Olatunji Dare and Dr. Edwin Madunagu, were wrongly excluded.

At the heart of the controversy lies what former Editor-in-Chief Femi Kusa calls a “Battle for the Soul of The Guardian.” This battle, he argues, revolved around the founding principles of the paper: “Conscience, nurtured by Truth”—a phrase borrowed from Uthman Dan Fodio’s timeless reminder that “Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it.”

Kusa shares personal and professional recollections of how ESSENTIAL NEWS  rose to prominence, not just through bold editorial choices, but through a deep spiritual conviction shared by key editors like himself and Managing Director Lade Bonuola. They believed journalism was not just about facts and figures—it was a spiritual mission to serve truth without fear or favour.

The article reveals the editorial tensions that flared during the dark era of General Sani Abacha. One major fallout came when publisher Alex Ibru allegedly suggested editors should go and “beg” Abacha, a suggestion that sparked deep disagreement. Ibru also reportedly tried to replace Bonuola with Kusa as Managing Director—an offer Kusa rejected, leading to a tense confrontation over the newspaper’s direction and its soul.

Kusa’s reflections also show how it transformed under his editorship, moving from being “too academic” to a compartmentalised powerhouse that led in circulation and influence. He shares how specialized pages like Property, Executive Jobs, and Finance were born, targeting business readers and increasing revenue.

But the story takes a darker turn when internal politics, ethnicity, and external pressures began to erode the paper’s unity. One key figure in this was Andy Akporugo, who allegedly stirred ethnic tensions and undermined editorial independence under the guise of “family interests.”

Despite these challenges, Kusa’s account ends on a note of resolve: