Political Expediency...02

It's Just A PLANE Lie!

The “Plane” truth…..

The flavour of the month is the bizarre avowal of a suave man of the cloth that the tragic collapse of one of his buildings was caused by a plane that flew over it. While the rescue team and sympathisers bowed their heads in respect for the dead and the wounded, the man stood erect, his gaze skywards, looking to spot the offending plane to prove he was right. Of course the plane had long gone, but he stood transfixed with the hope of it coming back. He was on a different plane (level of thought) from everybody else’s, or if you like, he was on another PLANEt!

He must have believed in the superiority of the rationality of his own argument, because he kept his eyes riveted on the skies above his fiefdom, expecting a manifestation of his version of the event. But that didn’t come to pass. When nobody fell for his antics he resorted to intimidation and strong-arm tactics……

Why the sermon? A friend’s remark set it off. After reading this cartoon in the paper on Friday, he called and said in Yoruba, “Beni ti e ri! O ti le te’nu mo nkan ju!” (Typical! You don’t ever know when to let go!).“ I reminded him of how long it took the man in the eye of the storm to let go of his version of what happened to the building and how he tried to pull the wool over our eyes. Why should I let go? Why should anyone with conscience or a good sense of justice let go? Why should the family of the victims let go? Why should the authorities let go? Why should the public let go?

Why should I let go of my craft?  I hardly let go of any topic that allows me to use artistic license to explore or extend it. That’s my trademark!

Thy Country first

Nigeria is 54 today. Things haven’t really changed -not even my cartoons! Here’s an October 1 cartoon of mine published in the Guardian 29 years ago.  To bring it up to date, simply change 24+ to 53+ and 25 to 54. 

It's That Time Of The Year Again

"Things haven’t really changed, but I am more than confident that our tomorrow will be better than our yesterday and today. The caliber of distinguished Nigerians who made this year’s honours list is a testimony that Nigeria has got the human and material resources to excel tomorrow."