CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: NIGERIAN POLITICS: CARTOON CORNER

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: NIGERIAN POLITICS: CARTOON CORNER: "LOOKING BACK Nigeria is never lacking in ideas. The nation also, at every time, parades a crop of intellectuals who continue to proffer o..."

NIGERIAN POLITICS: CARTOON CORNER

LOOKING BACK

Nigeria is never lacking in ideas. The nation also, at every time, parades a crop of intellectuals who continue to proffer one solution after the other. What we are lacking is a leadership ready to listen to wise counsel and run with it.

This trend is the subject matter of today’s review article published in the Sunday Concord, sometime in 1993. Going through this post, you will find that there has not been any definite paradigm shift in the mentality of our politicians.

At the height of the Apartheid struggle, 1982 was proclaimed by the United Nations as the year of sanctions against the apartheid regime. The tongue-in-cheek proclamation is the subject of today’s cartoon.

As we return to the polling stations tomorrow, let us strive to vote in patriots and not those who will inflict apartheid on us. For all you know, the United Nations will only intervene for air strikes and useless aids that may never get to the masses. Now is the time to decide against oppression. Do not be frustrated by the hiccups of last Saturday. Troop out with zeal, withstand every temptation and vote wisely.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: EMULATE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: EMULATE: "“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, t..."

EMULATE

“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, this was their finest hour.”

The above injunction from Sir Winston Churchill, was part of the recommendations made in an appeal I issued in the July 3, 1993 edition of Sunday Concord, at the high point of electioneering campaigns. Going through the same article even now, it does appear as if nothing has change.

Do you know any of the candidates running for high offices in the land? Please direct them to go through this appeal before they head out for the polls. It is not too late for any of them to change their minds.

CARTOON CORNER

Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran committed atrocities against his country, Iran, and when tribulation came calling, he took off to the United States where he passed on amidst diplomatic tumult. In today’s carton, US officials are seen shedding crocodile tears over the coffin of the Shah. It’s a world of intrigues, isn’t it?

However, let us emulate Winston Churchill. Please repeat after me: “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, this was their finest hour.”

Open your eyes. Vote wisely!

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: VERDICT ’92: THE ACID TEST

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: VERDICT ’92: THE ACID TEST: "Going through today’s post, some may begin to wonder whether it is the same pacifist Charles who wrote this article and had it published i..."

VERDICT ’92: THE ACID TEST

Going through today’s post, some may begin to wonder whether it is the same pacifist Charles who wrote this article and had it published in the widely circulated Sunday Concord about 19 years ago. Of course, it is the same me. Afterall, didn’t the Bible state that “…whom the Father loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”?

My only regret is that it did not occur to me to bring up the baptism of fire contained in that article early enough for the present political actors. I could not locate the article until this morning. Nonetheless, please read it and get refreshed on that recommendation as well as the activities of the various umpires who had chaired the electoral process up until the time of that publication in 1992. Check out the performances of Michael Ani, Ovie Whisky, Eme Awa and Humphery Nwosu.

CARTOON CORNER

Meanwhile, as Alassane Ouattara gets set to assume power in Ivory Coast in the midst of tension, I bring you yet another picture of armed struggle over Rhodesia which later transformed into Zimbabwe. Who knows; very soon, it may be the turn of Zimbabweans garnering the support of the international community to remove Robert Mugabe, the stubborn bone in the nation’s throat. Let the revolution go round.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

THE PRIZE OF AIDONKIACRACY

The apprehension in the air over last Saturday’s election hiccups can be attributed to what the French would call déjà vu (fear of the recurrence of an earlier experience). Of course, even as I continue to plead for understanding, I also take to heart the reaction the reaction of one the readers of yesterday’s post. As he counseled, we must continue to look over our shoulders to remind ourselves of the evil past and the possibility of their recurrence.

Accordingly, I present to you today, my reaction to the military coup of 1983 which toppled the Shagari administration. The feelings expressed by the Nigerian masses today are not different from those expressed in that article published in the Sunday concord on January 22, 1984. It was titled The Tragedy of Aidonkiacracy.

CARTOON CORNER

Today’s cartoon mirrors the panic following the breakdown of talks prior to the Zimbabwean independence. The cartoon features the various actors, both on the side of Zimbabwe and the apartheid regime in what was then known as Rhodesia. We must all continue to work for political and economic emancipation.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE.