Section Three
As Editor-in-Chief, Newswatch
*Hard Days Are Here: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, February 11, 1985 (P.4): Attributes the economic depression in Nigeria to “oil doom” and recommended hardwork as remedy.
Guts, the Right Stuff: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, February 18, 1985 (P.10): Admires Wole Soyinka’s guts and sense of courage.
Eye of the Needle: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, February 25, 1985 (P.4): Reports on the check-n hassle one goes through at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport whenever one was travelling out of the country.
Not a Game for the Fool: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, March 4, 1985 (P.10): Assesses Nigeria’s foreign policy over the years and frowned at how Shehu Shagari killed Nigerian diplomacy as he did the Nigerian economy.
Moral Force of Truth: Biobibliography Snaps, Newswatch, March 11, 1985 (P.4): Recalls an interview Concord editors had with General Muhammadu Buhari and used it to trace the genesis of the monstrous DN4 and the abridgment pf press freedom in Nigeria.
Brigandage 1: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, March 25, 1985 (P.4): Discusses the inability of the police to combat armed robbery in Lagos due to lack of communication gadgets and poor mobility.
Guilty of Death: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, April 1, 1985 (P.10): Examines the argument between Nigerian doctors and the government during the doctors’ strike and pronounced judgment over the two protagonists: guilty of death.
Brigandage II: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, April 8, 1985 (P.4): Writes to suggests that the government should equip the police with adequate implements to combat armed robbery.
Delusion of Grandeur: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, April 22, 1985 (P.4): Reports on the abdiction of Gaafar Nimeiri of Sudan from power through a carefully worked out arrangement that looked like a coup.
A Place to Come To: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, April 29, 1985 (P.10): Addresses the issue of lack of food and shelter in Nigeria and how they could be overcome by resolving the land ownership problem.
*The New Machine: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, May 6, 1985 (P.4): Dmostrates the relevance of computers in Nigeria using the Newswatch experience and worried about getting stuck with antiquated techmology.
*Another Side of DN4: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, May 20, 1985 (P.4): Discusses the Guardian’s false report on Ayuba’s involvement in a coup, his denial and the evil side of DN4.
Thy Neighbour’s Keeper: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, May 27, 1985 (P.10): Examines Nigeria’s relationship with her neighbours, especially with Cameroun.
*Complaining Usefully: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, June 3, 1985 (P.4): Frowns at the minister of Justice, Chike Ofodile’s opposition to free speech in Nigeria, and urged him to rethink.
The Curse of Oil: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, June 10, 1985 (P.10): Gives an analysis of the problems oil had caused in Nigeria and suggested a return to agriculture as solution.
Save The Children: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, June 17, 1985 (P.4): Forcuses on the sufferings of children in Africa.
Under the Thumb of Men: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, June 24, 1985 (P.10): Writes on Nigerian women and the struggle for their rights.
I Disagree: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, July 15, 1985 (P.4): Disagrees with Dan Agbese’s column titled “Animal in Action” based on the hostage crisis in which Lebanese Shi’ite militiamen hijacked a TWA plane with 39 Americans demanding the release of 776 of their colleagues by Isreal.
End of the World: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, July 22, 1985 (P.10): Points out the equality of intelligence in old and young minds with the example of Ruth Lawrence, the British girl who obtained a first class degree in Mathematics at Oxford University at the age of 13.
The Stockman Example: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, July 29, 1985 (P.4): Compares David Stockman, Reagan’s director of budget, to Alhaji Abubakar and other Nigerian public officers who prefer to sit tight after being found guilty of offences in public life.
*Summer of Silence: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, August 12, 1985 (P.4): Protest against DN4 asing: “Why has this summer turned life into one long body trap forbidding thought and speech?”
Heart of Darkness: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, August 19, 1985 (P.10): Examines the unstable political leadership structure in Africa, both military and civilian, which had left its future very uncertain.
A Bright New Generation: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, August 26, 1985 (P.4): Heralds the victory of the Baby Eagles over tgeir German opponents in the final of the Under-16 World Cup tournament in China.
*Uses of Power: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, September 23, 1985 (P.4): Reviews the reigns of Nigeria’s heads of state from General Yakubu Gowon to President Ibrahim Babangida and examined how they used power.
Question of Leadership: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, September 30, 1985 (P.10): Argues that the greatest singular problem plaguing Nigeria was lack of good leadership.
*Not Afghanistanism: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, October 7, 1985 (P.4): Reveals how Nigerian journalists evaded the DN4 minefield during the Buhari era. Evaluated Nigeria’s economic problems, the IMF loan and the appeal for aid from rich foreign countries.
*The Style and the Message: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, October 21, 1985 (P.4): Applauds Babangida’s abrogation of DN4 and his strategy of turning the country into one big theatre of debate.
The Gospel of Wealth: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, October 28, 1985 (P.10): Identifies great men of wealth and their various attitude to philanthropy.
Dawn of New Hope: Preface to Cover, Newswatch Special, October 1985 (P.5): Discusses Nigeria’s journey since independence to its 25th birthday. Describes Ibrahim Babangida’s take-over of power as new hope for Nigeria.
The Great Debate: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, November 18, 1985 (P.4): Comments on the finance, Kalu Idika Kalu’s failure to realize that the IMF issue was more political than economic.
Ciroma’s Fifth Column: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, December 2, 1985 (P.4): Condemns Ali Ciroma’s 21-day ultimatum to Babangida to roll back his decision to shave the salaries of public sector employees.
Lessons of the IMF Debate: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, December 30, 1985 (P.4): Describes Kalu Idika Kalu as having lost his credibility in the IMF debate because of his utterances during the discourse.
Nobody Cares: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, January 27, 1986 (P.4): Worries about the fact that Nigerians do not care anyone about their country because they have been shocked to the state of unshockability.
Babangida’s Choice: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, February 10, 1986 (P.4): Comments on Babangida’s rejection of Samson Uwaifo’s panel recomedation on the Shagari administration.
*Death and Destiny: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, February 17, 1986 (P.4): Explores the fact that good men, men of purpose, do get cut down in mid-stream on their way to achieving greatness.
Power of the People: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, March 10, 1986 (P.4): Upholds the idea that the ‘people hold the power of change’ despite the shamelessness of dictators.
Reagan’s Disinformation: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, April 7, 1986 (P.4): Posits that any political system adopted by Nigeria will fail if the right operators were not found to run it.
Path of Conscience: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, May 12, 1986 (P.10): Condemns the strong pressure put on judges by vested interests which made them lose their conscience during judgment.
Don’t Forget Them: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, June 16, 1986 (P.4): Urges Nigerians to remember the students killed in cold blood on May 23, 1986, at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Those Days Are Gone (1): Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, June 30, 1986 (P.4): Reports that the days are past when Nigeria felt it was a regional power. Said Nigeria’s salvation was in the grip of the IMF, known for prescribing self-immolation for survival.
Those Days Are Gone (II): Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, July 4, 1986 (P.4): Considers tribalism and lack of national will as Nigeria’s dilemma, which prevented it from regaining the good old days.
Instrument of Vengeance: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, July 28, 1986 (P.4): Reviews the ABU white paper which he described as an instrument of vengeance.
Death of Innocence: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, August 11, 1986 (P.6): Examines the violent turn of events in Nigeria and argued that the death of innocence had brought with it the death of fellowship.
*God’s Experiment: Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, August 25, 1986 (P.6): Draws attention to the Second-Tier Foreign Exchange Market (SFEM) and the danger inherent in its failure.
Jolly Good Fellow (s): Parallax Snaps, Newswatch, September 8, 1986 (P.4): Reviews the regime of Gbolahan Mudasiru of Lagos State anddescribed hims as a great and performing governor.
A Sense of Bewilderment; Prologue, Newswatch, Special Edition, October 6, 1986 (P.18): Assesses the search for a workable, renewable Nigeria since all known political and economic concepts seemed to have failed.
Son of Dog: Preface to Cover, Newswatch, October 27, 1986 (P.11): Reports on Lawrence Anini’s (The Law) reign of terror in the former Bendel (noe Edo and Delta States).
