Section Two

As Editor Sunday Concord

 

Attitude: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 2, 1980 (P.3): Criticises the attitude of an average Nigerian worker, which he argued was, at best, negative. Posited that what was needed was a positive work ethic and fairness in our dealings with one another.

Free At Lat: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 9, 1980 (P.3): Comments on the role of Dr. Robert Mugabe, the leader of ZANU, that won majority seats in Zimbabwe’s parliamentary elections.

Wild Gyrations in Apartheidom: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 16, 1980 (P.3): Reviews the swing of the pendulum in rascist South Africa under the government of Prime Minister Pieter Botha. Gave an indication of the wind of change sweeping across southern Africa.

Budget Games and Budget Blues: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 23, 1980 (P.3): Deals with the problem arising from the art of budgeting and keeping secret information on budgets, resulting in opportunists taking adavantage of the situation to make illicit gains.

The ordeal of a Photo-Journalist: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 30, 1980 (P.3): Discusses the ordeal of a concord newspaper photo-journalist, Akanbi Dare, in the hands of police officers at the Agege police station in Lagos while performing his duties.

Abuse of Police Power in Agege: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 6, 1980 (P.3): Recounts police high-handedness in dealing with a press photographer at Agege police station in Lagos, while exposing the misinformation the junior officer passed on to his superiors on the matter. 

Past is Present in Badagry: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 13, 1980 (P.3): Paints the picture of a disappointed journalist-tourist during a visit too the glorified old town to Badagry, Nigeria’s so-caaled tourist haven.

All Kinds of Freedom: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 20, 1980 (P.3): Reports on the moods of the people of Zimbabwe on the eve of independence; their reaction to the much cherished freedom and the equality it brought, especially to the blacks.

Freedom on the Sidewalk of Salisbury: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 27, 1980 (P.3): Gives an account of the celebration of the Zimbabwean independenceas the blacks were cautious in their actions and reactions, afraid of the hawk-eyed policemen around.

Jimmy Carter’s Desert Snafu: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 4, 1980 (P.3): Writes on America’s botched attempt to free the hostages in Iran and the show of lack of confidencein President Jimmy Carter by the American public.

Mugabe: Time, Tactics Necessary to effect changes: National Concord, May 5, 1980 (P.7): Analyses the innumerable problems of post-independent Zimbabwe under the new Prime Minister Robert Gabriel Mugabe, arguing that all that was needed was time and a change of tactics by the government abd a bit of patience on the part of the people.  

*Beatific Calabar: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 11, 1980 (P.3): Recounts the events of the Guild of Editors conference held in Calabar, together with President Shagari’s visit; extolled Senior Akan’s hospitality and the orderliness and cleanliness of the city.

*Land and Conference: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 18, 1980 (P.3): Questions the moral justifications of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s acquisition of 360 plots of land at Maroko, Lagos and challenged his long-standing claims to egalitarianism and socialism.

Black Bomb Blasts in Miami: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 25, 1980 (P.3): Revisits the tension occasioned by racial abuses by white police officers on African-Americans, one of which led to the blacks marching the streets of Miami in protest to the murder of their colleague.

*Epistle on Awo’s Land, A Letter to Dele Giwa from M.C.K. Ajuluchuku: Sunday Concord, May 25, 1980 (P.3): A, reaction to Dele Giwa’s column on Chief Obafemi Awolowo, entitled “Land and Conscience,” by the chief’s spokesman, M.C.K. Ajuluchuku.

Nyerere’s Coup: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 8, 1980 (P.3): Assesses President Julius Nyerere’s contribution to the return of his friend, Milton Obote, to the throne in Uganda after years of exile in Tanzania.

Mystery of Death:  Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 8, 1980 (P.3): Philosophies on the mystery of death and paid tribute to Dr. Abubakar Usman, a federal minister of state in the ministry of External Affairs, who died in the Nigerian Airforce F27 aircraft that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on a national mission to Sao Tome.

*Oil Without Gate: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 15, 1980 (P.3): Criticises the reckless manner in which some journalists reported the rumour of the missing N2.8 billion from the accounts of NNPC and described it as irresponsible journalism.

Ain’t Nothing Wrong in Being Coloured: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 29, 1980 (P.3): Attempts to show how racism tore South Africa into shreds, with less than four million whites settlers dominating more than 20 million blacks.

*Censorship By Other Means: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 6, 1980 (P.3): Disagrees with the practice of using press briefing, a practice that spanned the Murtala-Obasanjo regime to the era of President Shagari, to suppress the free flow of information activities to members of the public via the press.

*Private Life in Public: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 17, 1980 (P.3): Condemns those who write to abuse senior journalists on the Concord group of newspapers; those who unjustly and irresponsibly considered the place an enemy territory.

*Face to Face with Asaju: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 24, 1980 (P.3): Reports on the meeting between Chief Michael Asaju, NUJ national president, and the Concord Press Editorial Board members to iron out some issues of misunderstanding between them. Chief Asaju had in a speech delievered at the Nigerian Instutite of Journalism accused Concord newspapers of parochialism and ‘fabrication’ of stories. But at the meeting, he admitted that his charges were based on hera-say. At the end of the meeting, the two sides called for understanding and avoidance of prejudices that could mar the integrity of those involved in journalism.

Democratic Brawl: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 31, 1980 (P.3): Examines Jimmy Carter’s encounter with Teddy Kennedy in the bid to win the Democratic nomination for the US presidency.

Reaction to Democratic Brawl: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 7, 1980 (P.3): A reaction to Dele GIwa’s write-up on foreign issues by one Lym Chalaza. Criticused the writer’s unnecessary concern with American affairs. Adivesd him to write more on how to improve the welfare of suffering Nigerians. Dele comments.

*Dele takes a brief look at Lade Bonuola’s column in the Daily Times: Caught Out.

Nigeria United: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 14, 1980 (P.3): Reviews Ogunpa flood disaster in Ibadan and the pathetic effect it had on the entire country and reported on Chief Abiola’s “sympathy” visit to Governor Bola Ige of Oyo State and his promise to launch a disaster relief fund to help in the rehabilitation of the people and areas affected by the flood.

Zik’s Thesaurus: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 21, 1980 (P.3): Admires the Owelle’s use of language in his political speeches, said his love for alliterative made his speeches read like a page from Roget’s Thesaurus but disagreed with his scurrilous choice of word against vice-president Alex Ekwueme.

Modest Proposal: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 19, 1980 (P.3): Takes a critical look at Nigeria’s second Republic legislators and how they wasted national resources through unnecessary trips aboard and humorously suggested the transfer of the national assembly to either New York or London.

*Smoking Uba Ahmed: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 26, 1980 (P.3): Bothers about Senator Uba Ahmed’s impatience with the press which he (Uba) accused of working hard to misinform the public on the activities of the senate.

Brigandage: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 2, 1980 (P.3): Examines the menace of armed robbery and the fear it created in Lagosians and suggested an overhauo of the Nigeria Police Force for effective crime control.

Ricegate: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 9, 1980 (P.3): Comments on the disclosure that Senator Sola Saraki, the Senate leader, was a rice contractor with the highest allotment – receiving two licences to bring in 3, 000 tons of rice into the country – yet there was scarcity of rice in the country.

*The president Meets the press: Press Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 16, 1980 (P.3): Reports on President Shagari’s meeting with editors, his humility and high regard for a free press and his admission that governing Nigeria was no mean calling.

Ayatullah’s Revenge: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 30, 1980 (P.3): Views President Carter’s political downfall as Ayatullah Khomeini’s revenge.

*No Appologies, Please: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 7, 1980 (P.3): The writer recounts his experience at a symposium at Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife), Ile Ife, the attack on him for working for Chief M.K.O. Abiola and the charge that he lacked ideological commitment as a journalist. He disagreed with them, saying he had no apologies for being a realist, not wanting to wallo in poverty.

A Star Is Dead; Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 14, 1980 (P.3): Writes on John Lennon of the Beatles, his musical career, adventurous romance with Japaneses star, Yoko Ono, wealth and death.

Ola Balogun’s Metaphor for Freedom: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 28, 1980 (P.3): Reviews Dr. Ola Balogun’s shooting of Haraka, a movie depicting Africa’s fight for total freedom from colonial domination, his childhood, education and ambition.

Nineteen Hundred and Eighty: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 4, 1981 (P.3): Chronicles the events of 1980, the falling of the mighty, the end of many dictators, deaths, disasters, and scandals, including Oilgate in which N2.8 billion said to belong to the nation was rumoured to be missing from the accounts of NNPC.

Ghana Today: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 11, 1981 (P.3): Looks at Ghana as a nayion in want, lacking in essential commodities,whose economy was in shambles, confronted with all kinds of problems. Portrayed the helplessness of Hilla Limann’s Government.

*Reflections: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 18, 1981 (P.3): The writer reflects on his writings based on readers’ reactions. His friend, Stanley Macebuh, advised “pull yourself together and get on with life.” Dele confirmed that “I have been looking back at the painful way I grew up; now I have found myself, for my soul is free.”

Illusion: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 1, 1981 (P.3): Argues that Nigeria’s oil wealth cannot form the basis for free education, suggested introduction of school fees.

Unparliamentary: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 8, 1981 (P.3): Examines the bahavioural pattern of the second Republic senators which he said fell short of the expectations of the electorate.

*The Ritual Called Presidential Press Briefing: Press Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 15, 1981 (P.3): Applauds the Shagari administration for accepting the challenge for an open exchange of views, during the monthly press briefing held by vice-president Alex Ekwueme.

*Recklessness of Dr. See Ess Momoh: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 22, 1981 (P.3): Disagrees with Dr. S.C. Momoh’s interpretation of press freedom, saw it as a case of chasing shadows.

*Concord, The Man Child: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 1, 1981 (P.3): Ascribes the maturity and the acceptability of the National and Sunday Cocord newspapers in just one year to the determination of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who also had the wisdom to assemble the best journalists he could lay his hands on.

*Corridors of Power: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 8, 1981 (P.3): Discusses President Shehu Shagari and Ekwueme’s style of briefing the press, raised the question of who’s who among the managers of information at the State House and recommended the question/answer approach as the format most appropriate for the briefing.

Pyrotechnics in America: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 12, 1981 (P.3): Assesses the assassination attempt on President Reagan and its lesson; suggested that America should take a close look at the need for the preservation of human life through gun control.

*We Are Servants to Our “Master”: Sunday Concord, April 19, 1981 (P.11): Dr. See Ess Momoh replies Dele Giwa and disagreed with his views on press freedom and the role of the press in politics.

*Classical Hoax: Press Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 3, 1981 (P.3): Comments on Janet Cooke’s creative fraud and raised the question of how an editor should relate to reporters and judge the news, including the amount of check that the watchdog should exercise.

Why, Now, Senator Jalo?: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 10, 1981(P.3): Condemns Senator Jalo Waziri’s utterances, as chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, when the National Assembly hosted Chester Croker, America’s junior state department official.

Sunmonu’s Season of Discontent; Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 17, 1981 (P.3): Augues that Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, Nigeria’s labour leader, should discourage indolence among workers rather than just stress N300 minimum wage for workers.

The Push Becomes A Shove: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 31, 1981 (P.3): Discusses the Nigeria-Cameroun border clash and the general manner in which President Shagari handled the crisis.

Balarabe Musa, The Tragic Figure: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 7, 1981 (P.3): Comments on Balarabe Musa’s impeachment and criticized his attitude and inability to understand the legislature in which his party was a minority.

Feedback: Sunmonu’s Season of Discontent? No, Season of Reality: Sunday Concord, June 14, 1981 (P.3): S.L. Ughenu, a reader, disagrees with Dele Giwa on Mr. Sunmonu’s stand on N300 minimum wage for workers.

Triple of the Mid-East: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 28, 1981 (P.3): Examines the Middle East crisis between Israel and the Arabs.

Much Ado About Impeachment: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 5, 1981 (P.3): Explains the motive of his report on Balarabe Musa’s impeachment, saying that almost everyone who had written on the Kaduna muddle had taken a political view, but what of a human angle? He asked.

Rimi’s Brinkmanship in Kano: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 19, 1981 (P.3): Discusses the Kano rampage and Governor Rimi’s display of arrogance (of power).

The Way Are (11): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 26, 1981 (P.3): States how leaders who suddenly find themselves in the corridors of power lose their sense of propriety and humility.

National Will: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 2, 1981 (P.3): Discusses the lack of national will among Nigerians; suggested patriotism as the only way to accomplish the tough march into the future.

Death of a Namasake: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 9, 1981 (P.3): Remembers Dele Udo, a famous athlete a accidentally shot and killed by a policeman, at a checkpoint in Lagos.

*The Business of News: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 16, 1981 (P.3): Proclaims the birth of the modern journalist in Nigeria; reacted to the increase in newspaper prices; blamed the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria for attempting to price itself out of the market and offered solutions to the problem.

A kind of Doe Joke; Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 23, 1981 (P.3): Describes Samuel Doe as an inexperienced leader and reasoned that Liberia needed a seasoned statesman to correct the mismanagement created by former President Tolbert.

When Elephants Make Love … Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 30, 1981 (P.3): Discusses the dialogue between Nigeria and China as being dominated by China; and Russia’s lukewarm attitude to the independence struggle by blacks in Southern Africa.

Miserable Creatures Called Iranians: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 6, 1981 (P.3): Examines the Iranian revolution and opined that the aspring leader should strive to understand the change suitable for the bedeviled country.

Let’s Help Little Chijioke: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 13, 1981 (P.3): Appeals to the general public to donate to a fund to save little Chijioke Obiajulu from being killed or maimed by jaundice.

Feedback: Adamu is Angry but why?: Sunday Concord, September 20, 1981 (P.3): Adamu Adamu. A reader, argues that Dele Giwa’s report on the Iranian crisis was full of false analysis and lacked originality.

Teardrops for Angola: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 27, 1981 (P.3): Discusses Angola’s crisis with South Africa, and South Africa’s support by the US; urged Nigeria to encourage Angola to let the Cubans loose on South Africa in order to retain Angola’s independence.

Death Wishes Fulfilled: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 18, 1981 (P.3): Traces the background to the Egyptian President Anwar El-sadat’s assassination and the role of his numerous enemies.

The Way We Are (111): Frowns at how top government officials mismanage public funds

Back to Adamu Adamu: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 1, 1981 (P.3): Reports on readers’ response to his column “Miserabke Creatures Called Iranians” in which Adamu Adamu disagreed with him

World of Life Chijiokes – Part 1: Sunday Concord, November 8, 1981(P.3): Writes on public response to chijioke’s cause and suggested that a centre be identified where physiotherapy equipment could be installed for Chijioke and other children.

World of Little Chijiokes – Part 11: Sunday Concord, November 15, 1981 (P.3): Highlights his efforts in finding ways to help children like Chijioke and how to educate the public on how to save children from the devastation of jaundice.

*Mr. Oyebola’s Blah and Other Blahs: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 22, 1981 (P.3): Condemns Mr. Oyebola’s outburst against the press and examined the circumstances that lead to his being relieved of his editorship of the Daily Times, and urged Alhaji Danbatta, Mr. Jaja and sent out to their staff at the Times.

Nigeria’s Image Abroad: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 29, 1981 (P.3): Excerpts from a paper deliverd by the columnist at a seminar at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos. Blamed diplomats, students and businessmen for Nigeria’s poor image abroad.

*Feedback: Oyebola Replies Dele Giwa: Sunday Concord, December 6, 1981 (P.3): Oyebola refutes Dele Giwa’s report on him, said it contained a great deal of falsehood, pettiness and prejudice, arguing that Dele’s report showed complete ignorance of the issue at stake in the Daily Times.

*Shagari, up, up Close: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 13, 1981 (P.3): Discusses the arrangement to meet with President Shehu Shagari and reported on their first meeting on December 7, 1981.

*Shagari, Up, Up, Close (II): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 20, 1981 (P.3): Admires Mr. Charles Igoh’s accessibility to President Shagari as his chief secretary and and considered it favourable to journalism in Nigeria.

Chief A.M.A.’s Presidential Hopes: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 27, 1981 (P.3): Frowns at Chief Akinloye’s presidential hopes on NPN platform, arguing thatbthe chief had failed in his duties as the party chairman.

*Shagari, Up, Up Close (III): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 3, 1982 (P.3): Argues that there was a wide gap between the ‘executives’ and the people which should be bridged to enable Nigerians know more about the president as obtained in a democracy.

The Rumblings of Ghana’s Rawlings: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 10, 1982 (P.3): Discusses Jerry Rawlings regime in Ghana, and wondered what it held in stock for the future of that country. 

The Shagari Story (I): Sunday Concord, January 10, 1982 (Pp.7-9): Examines President Shagari’s career, his family and views on political leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Mallam Aminu Kano.

The Shagari Story (2): National Concord, January 11, 1982 (Pp.3-5): The president talks about his early education and how he became a teacher by accident.

The Shagari Story (3): National Concord, January 12, 1982 (P.3): President Shagari reveals how Alhaji Ahmadu Belle, the Sardauna of Sokoto, influenced his career from education to politics.

The Shagari Story (4): National Concord, January 13, 1982 (P.3): Traces the various political offices by President Shagari from parliament Secretary to Tafawa Balewa, up to the formation of the National Party of Nigeria.

The Shagari Story (5): National Concord, January 14, 1982 (P.3): President Shagari assesses Chief Awolowo’s approach to important matters, said “Awo was self-centered and tended to personalize almost everything.” He also commented on corruption.

The Shagari Story (6): National Concord, January 15, 1982 (P.3): Focuses on Shagari’s appointment of Alhaji Shehu Musa as Secretary of the Federal Government on personal relationship and argued that his reluctance to change Musa portrayed him as slow and unassertive.

Feedback: ‘A.M.A. Is A Man of Honour’: Sunday Concord, January 24, 1982 (P.3): Alhaji Kola Balogun, publicity secretary of NPN, O yo State branch disagrees with Dele’s views on Chief Akinloyo, describing the ‘attack’ as irreverent and malicious.

The Rock and The Chameleon: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 7, 1982 (P.3): Discusses the NPN, UPP and GNPP alliance, their rejection of FEDECO’s declaration of Shagari as president, and the role played by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The Rock and The Chameleon (2): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 14, 1982 (P.3): Considers the chances of the new political alignment between Zik and Awo and the leadership tussle, argued that should Zik agree to merge, it may kill NPP and betray the Igbos.

*Promoting Press Censorship in Nigeria: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 21, 1982 (P.3): Criticises Chief Richard Akinjide’s paper at a human rights forum, describing it as a form of aiding press censorship in Nigeria.

Shagari’s Musical Chairs: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 28, 1982 (P.3): Examines Shagari’s cabinet reshuffle, blamed the senate for its inability to screen the nominees properly, which resulted in wrong placement of ministers.

The NEPA A Blackmail: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 7, 1982 (P.3): Condemns the strike by NEPA workers demanding for their Christmas bonus.

*The Turning Point, The New Journalist: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 14, 1982 (P.3): Reflects on his life as a journalist and agreed with Tom Wolfe, the famous American writer, that the most important literature being written today was non-fiction in the form being tagged as the new Jornalism. Concluded that the legitimate worry of a journalist at the turning point of making 35 should be thatof his status as a writer, if he was working on any book, that being the only path of honour for him to tread.

El-Haig’s Pandora’s Box: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 21, 1982 (P.3): Deliberates on the American diplomatic blunders in the El-salvadorean war in which they supported the rightist government to fight the left-wingled guerrillas and how they failed.

Zik: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 28, 1982 (P.3): Writes on Zik’s political comments, his impatience and intolerance to people’s criticism of his public life and actions.

Moral Equivalent of War: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 4, 1982 (P.3): Sees the setting up of OPEC by oil producing and exporting nations as a moral equivalent of war between the producers and consumers of the black gold.

Adamu Ciroma’s Challenge: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 11, 1982 (P.3): Comments on Alhaji Adamu Ciroma’s biting criticism that the Nigerian journalist was ignorant, illiterate and crude and challenged him, as a former editor of New Nigerian newspaper, to a debate on the state of the Nigerian press.

*‘Your Hands Up and Get Out’: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 25, 1982 (P.3): Recounts the encounter he had with armed robbers who trailed him to his house, ordered him out of his new Honda Prelude and drove it way.

*Mun, Politics and Shagari: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 2, 1982 (P.3): Writes on her mun’s understanding of politics, saying “My mother’s attitude is very much like my attitude on politics. You may like a politician for his enviable attributes, but you may not support him if he cannot deliver the political goods. Issues, and not personalities, should be the winning force …”

Ephitaph to a Politician (Terminal Illness of a Party): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 16, 1982 (P.3): Recalls an earlier column he did on the GNPP and its leader, Alhaji Waziri, and affirmed that it was a dying party, whose its leader and presidential aspirant knew not what he wanted.

Dr. Tahir and NPN’s Zoning Nexus: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 13, 1982 (P.3): Examines Dr. Ibrahim Tahir’s dislike for political jargons such as ‘zoning’ as accepted by his party. Saw the zoning system as a party’s policy of power-sharing unattainable.

Okadigboism and The Crystal Ball: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 20, 1982 (P.3): Admires Chuba Okadigbo’s calculus of Nigerian politics. Says the irrepressible political adviser to President Shagari “People do not follow compulsive and certified losers ad infinitum … who is a compulsive loser and Zik a certified loser” during a 120-minute encounter with Concord editors.

The Ojukwu Question: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 27, 1982 (P.3): Analyses Ojukwu’s home-coming from self-exile and the political dust it raised.

M.C.K. and Heroism in Politics: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 4, 1982 (P.3): Examines the political heroism of M.C.K. Ajuluchuku who said he believed in consistency even in the eye of the storm. A reason, he said, endeared him to Chief Awolowo as against Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Ado and Adamu of Igbiraland; Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 18, 1982 (P.3): Looks at the political rivalry between the two brothers, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim and Adamu Atta, over who controls the government house in Kwara State.

*Tony Momoh’s Triumph: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 25, 1982 (P.3): Examines Tony Momoh’s day as editor of Daily Times, recalling the legal battle between the Times management and the then National Assembly and his parallax view of it.

Gani Fawehinmi and Olu Onagoruwa Write to Parallax Snaps: Sunday Concord, August 1, 1982 (P.3): Both reacted to his column on Tony Momoh’s legal battle with the National Assembly. 

*“Jesus,” I told Myself, “The President is Angry”: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, Auggust 15, 1982 (P.3): Narrates an encounter he had with President Shagari during a monthly presidentisl press briefing over the issue of the admissibility of the Saharawi Republic to the OAU and its participation in the Tripoli Conference.

Tijani, Zoning and Foolishness: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 22, 1982 (P.3): Writes about the confusion that surrounded the NPN zoning system as highlighted by Alhaji Aminu Tijani, NTA chairman and co-editor of President Shagari’s collected speeches, during an interview with Concord editors.

*S.M. Afolabi, Gone with the Winds: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 29, 1982 (P.3): Disagrees with his friend, Ray Ekpu, and asserted that the press makes and unmakes the politician, citing the case of Jimmy Carter and how the New York Times influenced his nomination and eventual victory in the US presidential elections; and predicted the political downfall of the Oyo State deputy governor, Chief S.M.A. Afolabi, for allegedly commiting blasphemy against Chief Awolowo during a radio interview. 

*Peculiar Nigerians Called Journalists: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 5, 1982 (P.3): Opposes the censorship clause in the electoral law and criticized journalists at NTA and the Daily Times for parochialism, sycophancy and self-censorship.

*Crusaders, Editors, Pink Slips: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 19, 1982 (P.3): Condemns the conduct of journalists at the Nigerian Guild of Editors conference at Minna were “an editor’s vote was as cheap as N250.” Alleged that N89, 000 was reportly made available for vote-buying touched briefly on the crusaders of Benue State in the Aku-Akure and Daboh affair; and called on President Shagari to fire his health minister, Mr. Daniel Ugwu, who was using his political office to campaign for the governorship of Anambra State.

Sabra and Chatilla Metaphor for Israeli Madness: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 3, 1982 (P.3): Comments on the Killings and maiming of unarmed Palestians by Israel soldiers.

(Akinloye + Takuma) – Zoning = Stupid: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 10, 1982 (P.3): Reviews the NPN zoning controversy which caused Chief M.K.O. Abiola to quit the party; said the word ‘zoning’ brought out the worst in NPN members. It got Alhaji Aminu Tijani calling his party members follish and made Cief Akinloye, the chairman, and Alhaji Suleman Takuma, the secretary-general, to look stupid.

Who is Ngolmo Mensasau; Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 17, 1982 (P.3): Queries the identity of Ngolmo Mensasau and his diatribe against Chief Abiola and the Yorubas; blamed the Daily Times and the New Nigerian, both federal government papers, for publishing such a dangerous and contentious piece and accused Alhaji Shehu Musa for allowing his esteemed office to be used as a base for conducting campagns of calumny against Nigerians.

Shehu Musa Reacts to Parallax Snaps: Sunday Concord, October 24, 1982 (P.3): Dele publishes a statement from the office of Alhaji Shehu Musa, secretary to the federal government, together with a rejoinder from Chief Sobo Sowemimo amd commented on them. These were reactions to the Ngolmo Mensasau column.

*When the Police Ccame Ringing the Bell: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 31, 1982 (P.3): Reports on his encounter with officers of the Nigeria Police Force who came searching his home and office for a government whitepaper he had threatened to publish, his subsequesnt arrest and detention.

Like in the Mivies: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 7, 1982 (P.3): Looks at the saga of John Zachary De Lorean, an automobile engine designer turned manufacturer whose life was ruined by a dangerous combination of genius, derring-do and ambition.

*Akporugo’s Diabolical Sense of Humour: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 5, 1982 (P.3): Criticises Andy Akporugo’s uncharitable comments on the reassignment of Ray Ekpu as the editor of Sunday Times, describing it as diabolical sense of humour.

*Andy Akporugo is a Guru & Why Victimise Ray Ekpu (Feedback): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 12, 1982 (P.3): Two views on Ray Ekpu’s redeployment to the Business Times and Andy Akporugo’s appointment as editor of Sunday Times.

Time to Get Even: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 19, 1982 (P.3): Looks at the careless attitude in which rich Nigerians spend money abroad. Called for a change of attitude in order to improve on our external image.

A Lesson in How to be a Nigerian: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 26, 1982 (P.3): Uses NEPA to assess the inefficiency and insanity of an average Nigerian, called the outfit a scoundrel organization.

Katakata in the UNP: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 2, 1983 (P.3): Reviews the uncomfortable marriage between the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the unwillingness of one to step down for the other (Awo and Zik) as the presidential nomimee, and highlighted the resultant disagreement between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and some of his party stalwarts.

Olunloyo, The Tragic and The Comic: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 16, 1983 (P.3): Chronicles the life of Victor Omololu Olunloyo as a first mind, his days as the head of the Science & Technology Authority (a think-tank), the ‘Ali-must-go’ students demonstration which led to the attack on his car that got his son paralysed’ revealing what led him into NPN politics and why he wanted to be governor of Oyo State.

Bastardisation of Democracy: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 23, 1983 (P.3): Describibg with facts how the NPN and UNP made nonsense of the primary system of selecting candidates for the 1983 elections.

Adewusi’s Gang Can’t Shoot Straight: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 27, 1983 (P.3): Narrates his ordeal at the hands of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Adewusi, as a result of the publication of the report of the Belgore Tribunal on the Republic Building Fire Disaster.

*Wednesday at the State House: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 6, 1983 (P.3): Gives a detailed account of his prison experience as disclosed, face-to-face, to President Shagari during the presidential press briefing. ‘I told the President,’ said Dele, ‘the prison was a better place of detention than the police cell because warders are more humane, and less brusque than the police who tend to get a special joy from humiliating their captives.’

*Harassment as High Art: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 13, 1983 (P.3): Wonders why the police always chose to come at night, and on a Friday at that, for the reporter. Compared his experience at Alagbon detention cell to the penury of his youth through adolescence when he didn’t get to live in a house that had running water and electricity; accused Gambo of becoming Mr. Adewusi’s hatchet man in the most infamous harassment of the journalist.

*Life Without Shoes: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 20, 1983 (P.3): Dele confesses to having a fetish for shoes and had made himself the promise that when he grew up, ‘he would buy up all the shoes in all the stores in all the countries of the world.’ Against this background, therefore, he was aghast when a month shy of his 36th birthday, a police constable told hom to pull off his shoes, that “you can’t wear shoes in the cell, lest you kill yourself with them or murder an inmate with them.”

*A Man Almost Died: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 27, 1983 (P.3): Recounts an incident in which an inmate at Alagbon police cell almost died of hypertension, the concern of other detainees and the negligence of the police.

*Akinjide and the Question of Principle: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 3, 1983 (P.3): Criticises the roles of Chief Akinjide, minister of juctice and attorney-general, and Mr. Sunday Adewusi, the inspector-general of police, in their desire to “instill sanity in the Nigerian press” and called to question the quality of Chief Akinjide’s principle and respect for law.

Edu’s Fresh Voice on the Horizon: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 10, 1983 (P.3): Writes on Tunde Edu, a Lagos State gubernatorial candidate whom he saw as a fresh voice on the horizon.

Something To Do With Whisky: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 17, 1983 (P.3): Comments on the report in the Economist of London on Justice Ovie-Whisky, describing him as accident-prone and concluded that the FEDECO chairman was a bumbling and stumbling administrator.

Who-dun-it is Here At Last: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, April 24, 1983 (P.3): Examines spy organizations: CIA, KGB and NSO, their mode of operation vis-à-vis the allegation that Chief Abiola was as ex-agent of the CIA as published in the Tribune and Sketch and defended MKO as being too fiercely independendent-minded and patriotic to play the spy game.

The Onabanjo Mode Plays Out: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 1, 1983 (P.3): Reveals that the encounter with Chief Bisi Onabanjo, journalist-politician and governor of Ogun State, was the most interesting since the Concord, said something nice for the ability of journalists to become excellent politicians and office-holders.

A Clarion Call to Arms (1): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 15, 1983 (P.3): Captives vividly the situation in America during the energy crisis which President Jimmy Carter dubbed as a ‘moral equivalent of war.’ Examined Nigeria’s oil crisis in the light of the American experience.

A Clarion Call to Arms (2): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 22, 1983 (P.3): Examines the genesis of Nigeria’s economic problems, the mismanagement of the oil money, and how a nation rich in natural resources tumbled into poverty and abject penury.

A Clarion Call to Arms (3): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, May 29, 1983 (P.3): Looks at the Second Republic and the poor understanding of the presidential system by Alhaji Shehu Shagari and described the legislature as unintelligent and greedy, the executive and judiciary as visionless and bungling.

*A Clarion Call to Arms (4): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 5, 1983 (P.3): Recalls the visit of Mr. Charles Igoh, President Shagari’s chief press secretary; disagreed with the president and his voice over the dual appointment of Alhaji Umaru Dikko as the minister ot transport and the director-general of Shagari’s re-elcetion campaign; called for Dikko’s resignation.

*A Clarion Call to Arms (5): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 19, 1983 (P.3): Criticises the press coverage of Shagari’s State House, saying “Presidential watch is a game the Nigerian press has refused to play;” called Shagari a parliamentarian who didn’t seem to understand the working of the presidential system; condemned the creation of power centers by Alhaji Shehu Musa and Umaro Dikko and the ineffective way of runninh the State House by task forces, council of ministers and NPN caucuses to the extent that they failed to anticipated the economic slump.

A Clarion Call to Arms (6): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, June 26, 1983 (P.3): Blames President Shagari for not issuing a clarion call to arms to Nigerians, to rise up with him as one, to kill the blight of economic depression that enveloped the nation: galloping inflation, rising unemployment and the declining quality of life the citizenry. Argued that the president be held responsible for the nation’s economic woes.

*Random Musing (1): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, July 31, 1983 (P.3): Discusses the hazards of writing a column, the problems of being misunderstood or accused of getting didactic, to even the physical danger in which the columnist was placed, concluding that “people do get killed in this line of business.”

Random Musing (2): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 7, 1983 (P.3): Dele is saddened by the news of the sudden death of Mrs. Ajose, chief accountant of Concord Press, summarizing thus, “I am assuming that those who are about to die get some sort of warning of the coming death, especially when the throes of death have arrived.”

*Random Musing (3): Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 14, 1983 (P.3): Reacts to Alhaji Umaru Dikko’s alleged statement that he would deal with all the enemies of Nigeria, including errant Nigerian journalists. Argued that it made more sense to play some sort of genteel journalism – don’t play the hero, don’t get killed.

Bridge Over Trouble Waters: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 21, 1983 (P.3): Accuses FEDECO of bungling the 1983 governorship elections which had driven Nigeria to the threshold of dangers unknown and called on President Shagari to do something to still the turbulent waters and save Nigeria from total collapse.

The Story of a Dreamer: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, August 28, 1983 (P.3): Reviews Emeka Ojukwu’s return from exile and describing his claim to the Igbo leadership as a dream. “He was a dreamer, a believer in make-belief and the Igbo’s know better than to place their fate in the hands of a dreamer – he lost the senatorial elections on the platform of the NPN.”

Season of Fear: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 18, 1983 (P.3): Warns Nigerians to beware of the trend of a police state that was setting in, pointed out the situation of fear which was being created by powerful men in positions of authority, using scare tactics to intimidate innocent citizens.

The Comic Republic: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, September 25, 1983 (P.3): Refers to Africa Confidential, a newspaper published in London, which called the Nigerian 1983 elections a ‘comedy of figures, a sham and an insult to the democratic process.’ The judiciary, he proclaimed, had failed the nation, bringing about the death of truth and morality.

Desperados in Politicians’ Garbs: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 9, 1983 (P.3): Reveals how desperados in politicans’ garbs tried to influence the chief justice of the federation, Mr. Ftayi-Williams, over the composition of the body to hear the election petitions and urged the hcief justice to report the criminals to the police for prosecution.

Theatre of the Real: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Conocrd, October 16, 1983 (P.3): Explains how the Supreme Court was being turned into a theatre of the absured by politician who had lost faith in FEDECO, citing the Onoh/Nwobodo judgment as an example.

Politics of Power: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 23, 1983 (P.3): Observes that President Shagari, in his second term, needed more than the mastery of politics of power, arguing that he needed the understanding of economics to set a good place for himself in history; commented on the powerless od Alhaji Dikko in the new dispensation.

It Isn’t Quite So, Mr. President: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, October 30, 1983 (P.3): Disagrees with the president for refusing to send to the senate a list of cabinet nominees and their specifices, for confirmation, as done in the US. He queried: “how can anyone espect the senate to conduct an intelligent confirmation hearing if the senators could not consider the suitability of nominees for specific assignments?”

Animal Farm: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, November 20, 1983 (P.3): Makes a joke of President Shagari’s new cabinet of ministers ‘for’ and monister ‘of’, suggesting, in addition, ministers ‘by’, ‘about’, ‘on’, ‘to’, and ‘with’. Characterised the cabinet as a veritable Animal Farm while portraying the president as a man imbued with a great sense of humour.

Nigerians Are Unshockable: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 4, 1983 (P.3): Reports on the crash of the Nigeria Airways plane in Enugu in which 53 lives perished, blamed the NTA and FRCN for their unprofessional news judgment and was astounded that Nigerian were unshockable by tragedy.

*Of Faith (Not) Broken: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 11, 1983 (P.3): Recalls an encounter with Femi Osofisan who had condemned him for taking a job with Chief Abiola who, to him, was an oppressor and die-hard capitalist, saying that Dele had traded in his conscience; and Dele’s defence that his publisher never interfered with his column; ironically, Dele was amused by Osofisan’s reaction to Bayo Williams attack on him and The Guardian, accusing them of being cowards and of  having broken faith.

Next Week Is 1984: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, December 25, 1983 (P.3): Compares George Orwell’s Oceania with the state of affairs in Nigeria in which the police and people in power waged war on the freedom of individuals to think and express themselves, driving fear and hared into the citizenry.

Today Is 1984: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 1, 1984 (P.3): Illustrates Nigeria in 1984 with Orwell’s ’84 and decried the ascendancy of party power which he saw as the real danger to democracy. Regretted the situation in which the police had been turned into a political weapon by the NPN, which was to say that “the state exists for the party especially members of the inner party, who enjoy the plumb of the state,” according to Orwell.

And Then Something Happened: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 8, 1984 (P.3): Welcomes the Military take-over of government and called on the new government to hunt down the looters of the public purse and those who were the veritable weapons of hate, discord and fear in Nigeria.

*Garbage Can of Innuendoes: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 15, 1984 (P.3): Defends the overthrow of the civilian government and condemned West Africa and the Economist magazines for writing ‘patronising garbage cans of innuendoes about the military,’ arguing that Nigeria would have died democraticall and economically of Shagari and his friends were allowed to continue in government.

*Pen and Bullets Cross Swords: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, January 22, 1984 (P.3): Examines the role of the press in the new dispensation and the need for the pen and the bullets (the Nigerian press and the military) to work together to move the nation forward. Commented on Tunde Idiagbon’s non-smiling visage and his pledge to co-operate with the press, providing the press was responsible.

Onyeka Onwenu’s Film – A Story of Nigeria: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, February 26, 1984 (P.3): A review of Onyeka Onwenu’s film on Nigeria, titled: A Squandering of Riches: a moving and sad story of Nigeria in the last 24 years; an expose on the nation’s chaotic economic planning and mismanagement, civil war, curse of petroleum, hunger, suffering, corruption, tribalism and misunderstanding of nationhood, etc, as analysed by Professor Tunji Abotade, Sam Asabia, Chinue Achebe and others. Dele described it as lucid, intelligent … and the best picture yet on Nigeria.

A Vote for New Ideas: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, March 11, 1984 (P.3): Examines Gary Hart’s magic in the Democratic politics of the presidential election in the US, pointing out that ‘the man had come across to the voters promising ‘new ideas’ and new direction – something that was lacking in the Second Republic politics in Nigeria. Concluded that we needed young men with new ideas to replace the likes of Shagari, Awo and Zik.