BIG NAME, BIG WAHALA

Nigeria has one great giant to conquer. That giant is the spirit of ostentation, which has dealt a devastating blow on our nation. Ostentation and pretentious living are clearly visible in every facet of our national life. It is one reason why politicians struggle tooth and nail in order to acquire the perks of office for massaging their false ego. This spirit of ostentation and the attendant negative results inspired the article, BIG MAN, BIG WAHALA, published by Sunday Concord on August 19, 1984.

CARTOON CORNER

As we celebrate the victory of the cleanest ever elections in our history, I serve you the mockery of one product of a state in confusion – Master Sergeant Samuel Doe. This cartoon was published by one of the Daily Times titles in the wake of his April 12, 1980 bloodletting in Liberia. About 9 years later, another Samuel came to judgment. Samuel Doe went the way of the sword in the hands of Prince Samuel Johnson who broke a US jail.

African leaders must learn that there is no alternative to the ballot box. God bless all those who have made this year’s elections a positive global discourse. Keep up the faith. Nigeria is on the march to victory.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: WHAT IS THE WORTH OF A NIGERIN’S LIFE?

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: WHAT IS THE WORTH OF A NIGERIN’S LIFE?: "“The August, 1982 edition of Readers Digest reported the case of one David Jackson of Tennessee, United States who lost both hands on Marc..."

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF A NIGERIN’S LIFE?

“The August, 1982 edition of Readers Digest reported the case of one David Jackson of Tennessee, United States who lost both hands on March 31, 1977 as a result of an industrial accident. Eighteen hours later, the amputated hands had been neatly reattached by a team of doctors, and in the following one week, David was blissfully walking hand-in-hand with his bride at their wedding.”

This excerpt from today’s article published on January 16, 1983 in Sunday Concord was part of a lamentation over Nigeria, following a gory experience at Igbobi Orthopedic Hospital where patients were left to rot on the stretcher. What is the situation in our public hospitals today?

Besides, with the current carnage in northern Nigeria, we should take some time and reflect. What is the worth of the life of a Nigerian? The election process so far demonstrates that we have begun a process of aligning with the civilized world. These miscreants in our midst must not be allowed to scuttle the process.

CARTOON CORNER

Today’s cartoon shows the plight of Chief Michael Ani after the disqualification of parties while he was on the saddle as FEDECO Chairman. Today, Buhari and his faithful are not only trying to ruin Professor Jega’s impeccable credentials, they are trying to destroy the entire nation over an election that has kept world leaders applauding. Someone who knows Buhari should appeal to him to save Nigeria this unnecessary horror.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: SMILE NIGERIA, SMILE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: SMILE NIGERIA, SMILE: "YES, “SMILE JAMAICA” WAS A HIT TUNE PRODUCED BY BOB MARLEY TO COINCIDE WITH HIS COUNTRY’S GENERAL ELECTIONS IN 1976. PLEASE JOIN ME NOW ..."

SMILE NIGERIA, SMILE

Yes, “Smile Jamaica” was a hit tune produced by Bob Marley to coincide with his country’s general elections in 1976.

Please join me now as i invite you to sing, “Smile Nigeria” in celebration of an epochal victory for Nigeria. You will agree with me that we now have a President we can boldly declare to be our choice. Please swallow this victory down with an insight into the life of Bob Marley done by Nduka Nwosu of the daily times and published on May 21, 1983.

In my capacity as Daily Times illustrator then, i was approached to present a pen portrait of Bob Marley. That pen portrait, which appears in today’s post, became the choice illustration in several other publications thereafter.

In place of the cartoon corner, I serve you a second feature on Bob Marley with my pen sketch still in use nearly a year later.

Please bask in this victory.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: REMEMBER PETER PAN?

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: REMEMBER PETER PAN?: "Peter Pan (the alter ego for Peter Enahoro) was a name both to love and to hate in the Nigerian media. He motivated positive minds while t..."

REMEMBER PETER PAN?

Peter Pan (the alter ego for Peter Enahoro) was a name both to love and to hate in the Nigerian media. He motivated positive minds while the fall guys rooted to have him checkmated. He became such an influence; Premier Ladoke Akintola banned the Daily Times from circulating in the Western Region!

One afternoon in December 1979, Mr. Dele Giwa invited me to his office for the purpose of doing a live sketch of Peter Pan right in his (Mr. Giwa’s) office. Mr. Giwa intended to use the artist impression for an article on Peter Pan to be published a few days away. I raced down to Mr. Giwa’s office with my sketching tools, but trying to accomplish that task produced so much drama in Mr. Giwa’s office. To do a live sketch, the model is required to cooperate with the artist and remain calm, but not Peter Pan. After a few attempts punctuated by roaring laughter from Dele Giwa, Peter Pan and myself, we all agreed that I should obtain Peter Pan’s portrait and retire to my office and do a quick sketch. The result of that portraiture done in pointillism is what you see in the article posted today.

In this article, written by Dele Giwa, you will have a great insight into the enigma called Peter Pan.

The question that should bother you after reading the article is, do we still have the likes of Peter Pan and Dele Giwa in our midst? Methinks we need them, particularly now that even the truck pushers, conductors and pepper hawkers are loudly advocating a new dawn. Join the bandwagon now.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE

CARTOON CORNER

The Tory Government headed by Margaret Thatcher brought about a phenomenal overhaul of the British economy. Thatcher boasted to destroy Jim Callaghan’s economic formula and institute a fresh one. She made an impressive mark in that economic rejuvenation which became known as Thatchernomics. However, as you can see in today’s cartoon, it wasn’t all a picnic.

Let us pray that whoever emerges as Nigeria’s President in the next few hours does not get weighed down with his economic policies. Do I have your “Amen”?