SPECIAL ELECTION PRAYERS

Two weeks to the General Elections in 1983, my Concord Laff column published in the Sunday Concord a special prayer. This prayer is reproduced today with only slight differences. The prayer is being reproduced barely one week before the forthcoming elections. Although the prayer is reproduced hook-line-and- sinca, I encourage you to substitute the names of the candidates and political parties with the current.

Let us take one step further by doing every other necessary thing to encourage our God to hearken. God bless you as you pray along.

TODAY'S CARTOON

Today’s cartoon shows my illustration of President Shehu Shagari presenting the 1980 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly. That cartoon was ordered by the Features Editor in my capacity as freelance illustrator for the then popular Page Seven.

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: INTOLERANCE IN...

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: INTOLERANCE IN...: "CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: INTOLERANCE IN POLITICS: 'The he-goat is generally acclaimed to be lacking in decorum, so much that he e..."

LAMENTS FROM THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Today marks the end of the one-month ultimatum issued to Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast to relinquish power. This is a test of wills for his fellow African leaders who are now expected to move into action. I don’t know what you wish for that villain. I personally do not wish him dead. Instead, let him be alive to experience thorough disgrace.

The least form of disgrace awaiting Gbagbo is the one I present today from my archives. It is a mockery of another life outside the rooms of power.

It is, however import that African leaders take a decisive step aimed at deterring future tyrants, especially now that the Giant of Africa is heading for the polls.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CARTOON CORNER

After the embassy siege on November 4, 1979, by Iranian students, resulting in the abduction of 53 US embassy staff, Iran and Palestine decided to seal off the Persian Gulf in order to create more obstacles for America. This is the object of today’s cartoon published in one of the Daily Times titles.

Enjoy your day.

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: INTOLERANCE IN POLITICS

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: INTOLERANCE IN POLITICS: "The he-goat is generally acclaimed to be lacking in decorum, so much that he even engages his mother in love making. Twenty-eight years ag..."

INTOLERANCE IN POLITICS

The he-goat is generally acclaimed to be lacking in decorum, so much that he even engages his mother in love making. Twenty-eight years ago, I discovered that the behavior of the average Nigerian is akin to that of the he-goat. I painted my discovery in a humour-laden article titled Nwamkpi’s ordeal – never again. That article was a foreboding on the likely re-emergence of the military into our lives, judging by the way politicians were going about their business. The article was published on October 9 (within two weeks of the return of the Shehu Shagari administration). Less than three months after, the military resurfaced.

IMPORT FOR THE MOMENT

It is my prayer and hope that the coming elections will sound the final death nail to the nuances of our evil politicians with decisive votes for the conscience of the nation. I am, however, worried over the current intolerance at electioneering grounds. INEC can bring up the best formula aimed at realizing our hopes, but the politicians do not seem to be ready for a clean game. Do you know any of them? Please do your best to speak to them. Let us remind them that the wind of change all over Africa is anchored at our borders, waiting for what we make of this great opportunity.

TODAY’S CARTOON

In the early 1980s, the economy of Tanzania dropped so appallingly that the Government banned the use of cars by ministers. They were only entitled to the use of bicycles. My cartoon mockery of that development is our focus today.

Let us resolve to give Africa a new face. Together we can make it. Now is the time to decide.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE.

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: JOAN OF ARC: THE PRIZE OF PATRIOTISM

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: JOAN OF ARC: THE PRIZE OF PATRIOTISM: "The hallway of history is littered with the blood stains of characters executed for sticking to their respective causes. Some of these cas..."

JOAN OF ARC: THE PRIZE OF PATRIOTISM

The hallway of history is littered with the blood stains of characters executed for sticking to their respective causes. Some of these cases are examined today in retrospect, with emphasis on the extraordinary example of Joan of Arc. This was a French military heroine who led the French to victory in battles. Read the full account of this woman who was finally burnt alive at the stake.

CARTOON CORNER

Francois Mitterrand was President of France between 1981 and 1995. While campaigning for his first term, Mitterrand made a sing-song of his preparedness to be fair to Africa. In fact, the election of this great socialist to power brought much excitement especially within Francophone Africa. However, when he became President, the French policy towards Africa took another turn with general disillusionment. It was this state of affairs that prompted today’s cartoon published in the Daily Times in 1981.

NIGERIA’S ELECTIONS: WATCH THEIR PROMISES

It is important to warn again that we weigh every utterance of the various candidates jostling for the masses’ votes. Let us seriously consider their intentions and look at their pedigree before risking our votes. Once we have decided, we shall all be bound by our wisdom or error of judgment. Now is the time to decide wisely.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE.