GIWA, Dele (Late)

– Staff, Barclays Bank (now Union Bank), 1970;

– News Staff, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FCRN), 1970-1971;

– News Staff, New York Times, 1974-1979;

– Features Editor, Daily Times, Lagos, 1979-1980;

– Editor, Sunday Concord, February 1980- July 17, 1984;

– Editor-in-Chief/Chief Executive, Newswatch, 1984-1986.

Wednesday 16th of March, you would have been 75. But it was not to be. You were cut down by still unknown assailants!
I do not intend to rehash all the shenanigans that have surrounded or still surround your demise. I just want to remember you as you were. That is what I want to celebrate, not your dried blood on my shoes or clothes!
If I or we continue to talk about your death, its an inadvertent celebration of one of our nation’s unsolved murders. We somewhat are limited in finding those who murdered you but we can take solace in your own words- if they are not found here, sure they will not escape the eternal judgment ( pardon me, that is not verbatim, but they capture the essence of the eternal truth of justice).
Uncle DG, that was how I used to call you and you would break out in your magnetic smile, showing you’re neatly well-arranged white teeth! Then, you will stretch out your carefully and beautifully manicured hand, with your ultra-flat wristwatch sitting majestically at your wrist. They were all flat, different colours and unique makes. You were a walking wonder to look at – always immaculately turned out taking meticulous steps to dot the i’s and cross it’s of your dressing! Your hair was pitch black and neatly cut, not thick or too low, but just essential to you!
You waltz into a room and spread happiness as your perfume ooze faintly but surely, announcing your presence. Who could ever miss your entrance? Even long after you had left, you remained and there was no need to guess that you were there. You remained!
Looking back now, it was obvious that you shopped with patience and deliberateness that captured your essence. You were humble in a proud way if that means anything.
No matter the throng of the crowd, you stood out, just like the cotton wool hairs of Wole Soyinka announced him even when he has not yet bellowed in his baritone voice!
You were two of a kind! He had just made us proud with the Nobel Prize in Literature, an honour not yet African, and as we were drunk on the rarity of this, disaster struck – you were taken away from us! Oh, this is not about your death but the celebration of your life- a joy that someone like you was once here with us.
How I had struggled to write this, exactly yesterday that you would have been 75!
My consolation is that today just took over the semblance of yesterday in my head, so, I sought the courage to write.
You were my patient in the first instance of our meeting, and just as you were, the relationship’s transformation happened effortlessly! That was who you were. You liked and cared without any form of human compartmentalisation.
You became my elder brother and then a friend, but unfortunately, it became my lot to tend to you till you walked into the night- never to return but only in memories like this!
I have managed to imprint all our moments together in my head and heart, even in memorabilia of your death, the clothes I wore that fateful Sunday. For a long while, they hung in a corner of my room, almost becoming a shrine! To be free of the ghastly images they exemplified, I incinerated them but never from my memory!
Oh, why do I return to your death when I intend to celebrate you and the beautiful memory of you and what you were!
I guess it’s difficult to sever the umbilical cord of grief from this moment of celebration.
Uncle DG, yesterday, you would have been 75, but it was not to be!
Though separated in time and person, I can only imagine that Uncle Biodun, Funmi, Billie, Ronke and Aisha- who was a mere baby then- were all in solemn gathering either together or in private solitude to remember you on the day you were born.
How would you have celebrated it? Thinking of how you lived, I had a picture in my mind.
WS, Biodun Sobanjo, Uncles Dan, Ray and Mohamed with the selected usually boisterous crowd would have been there!
I am taking liberty with memories, it helps to dull the pains that have refused to go.
How did I forget to mention your luxurious moustache, perfectly trimmed to brighten your smile?
DG, it’s not goodnight but HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

By Dokun Adedeji

DELE GIWA: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

SECTION ONE
As Features Editor, Daily Times

– Golden Fleece? I think I got it! Sunday Times, April 8, 1979 (Centrespread): The autobiographical account of the writer’s sojourn in the United States of America for seven years. As he put it, “My story is actually the story of many Nigerians who came to the United State looking for the golden fleece and who returned with something that looks like it.”

– On Alhaji Lateef Jakande: Press Snaps, Daily Times, April 25, 1979 (P.7): Discussed how Alahaji Jakande, chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) handled the press briefing of NPN’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

– The way We Are – Fear of sailing the Creek on the Waters of Abonnema: Daily Times, April 30, 1979 (P.7): A story of a sea ride to Abonnema from Port Harcourt. The experience of entering a boat for the first time, the fantasy of the ride and fear of the sea.

– Still on Alhaji Jakande: Press Snaps, Daily Times, May 2, 1979, (P.7): Examines the dual role of Alhaji Jakande as chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and governorship candidate for Lagos State.

– Parable of the Fish: Daily Times, May 3, 1979 (P.7): Recounts a conversation between two friends: One, a private citizen, the other, a civil servant, decrying the work ethics of an average Nigerian.

– Amin: Master of Braggadocio: Parallax World, Daily Times, May 4, 1979 (P.7): Gives an analysis of Idi Amin’s reign of terror in Uganda.

– Angus Okoli: Press Snaps, Daily Times, May 9, 1979 (P.7): Draws attention to how increasing precarious the profession of journalism had become using the case of Angus Okoli, the News Editor of Daily Times: his encounters with the police.

– The Bishop Who Would be PM: Daily Times, May 18, 1979 (P.7): Assesses the independence struggle of Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) from Ian Smith’s days, the role played by the key characters in the struggle and the efforts of Britain in installing a government.

– The Problem of Living by the Pen: Press Snaps, Daily Times, May 23, 1979 (P.7): Argues that many in authority regarded journalists who reported the truth as attackers, and urged reporters to avoid arrogance in their fight for freedom of the press.

– Santana at the Forum: Daily Times, May 24, 1979 (P.7): Describes a musical show organized at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA. The music of Carlos Santana, his Indian guru Sri Chimnoy, the stage setting, lighting and more so Santana’s lovely tunes that held his audience captive.

– The Jerry Brown Show; Daily Times, May 25, 1979 (P.7): Writes on Jerry Brown, governor of the State of California, USA, his political quest to the White House and zeal to challenge President Jimmy Carter and how he created a buzz word as a campaign strategy.

– Effective Reporting: Press Snaps, Daily Times, May 30, 1979 (P.7): Condemns journalists who were cowardly and ineffective, who did not chase and report news vigoriously as portrayed by journalists at a press luncheon with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the UPN presidential candidate.

– Reporting the News: Press Snaps, Daily Times, June 6, 1979 (P.7): Reacts to Sola Akindele’s rejoinder to his article, “The Problem of living by the Pen,” and maintained that journalists should report news in clean, clear and simple prose.

– Plumes Off the Peacock: Parallax World, Daily Times, June 8, 1979 (P.7): Comments on the reign of terror of Reza Muhammed Pahlavi, former Shah of Iran, his intelligence and torture outfit, SAVAK, and described the man and his throne as peacocky.

– Sound of Silence: Daily Times, June 6, 1979 (P.7): Reviews the musical exploits of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Observed that while Paul Simon wrote most of the songs, Garfunkel, with salt and pepper voice, sang them; ranked the lyrics as high as the best poems of Donne, Byron and Ibsen.

– New Times: Press Snaps, Daily Times, June 13, 1979 (P.7): Looks at a new publication called New Times, which was published by Chief Chris Okolie, the publisher of the banned Newbreed. Saw New Times as a rebirth of Newbreed.

– Ayatu (o) llah Is Not a Name: Parallax World, Daily Times, June 15, 1979 (P.7): Examines the Iranian revolution led by Ayatullah Khomeini, the Islamic saga of Iran, the Shah’s escape into exile in the US and the resultant diplomatic problem it created for the two countries.

– Return to Mother Earth Jos: Daily Times, June 18, 1979 (P.7): Reports on the new site of the National Institute for policy and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) at Kuru near Jos, the construction work and the blend of cultures.

– Reporting Politics: Analysis of Strategy in a Game of Chance: Press Snaps, Daily Times, June 20, 1979 (P.7): Argues that reporters should take a critical look at the character and promises of the presidential candidates as they were of fundamental importance to the electorate; using the early writings of sports columnists, Esbee and Cee Kay, as a reference point in what he termed an ‘Analysis of Strategy in a Game of Chance.’

– Whitehall’s Whitewash on Zimbabwe: Daily Times, June 21, 1979 (P.9): A critical analysis of Britain’s position on the independence struggle of Zimbabwe, its pretentious posture over Ian Smith’s recalcitrance and unilateral declaration of independence.

– The Rumbling if Ghana’s Rawlings: Parallax World, Daily Times, June 22, 1979 (P.7): Attempts to examine Ghana’s new military ruler, Flight-Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings’ coup and counter-coup and the purpose of the young air force turned head of state.

– The Alhaji Shehu Shagari Interview: Press Snaps, Daily Times, June 27, 1979 (P.7): Recall Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s interview with the Daily Times in which the National Party of Nigeria’s candidate clarified his stand on a number of national issues, including housing and revenue allocation. Called on presidential candidates of the parties to emulate Shagari’s gesture.

– Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim: Press Snaps, Daily Times, July 4, 1979 (P.7): Focused on Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim as a late-comer to the luncheon organised for him by the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and reporter on his intended package for the Nigerian press.

– Died on Active Service: Press Snaps, Daily Times, July 4, 1979 (P.7): Identifies the danger facing journalists in their bid to get news for the people, cited an American television reporter’s death (Bill Stewart) as an example.

– Blues and Jazz & Disco of Ayres: Daily Times, July 7, 1979 (P.7) (with Richard Ikiebe): Surveys modern music: the blues, jazz abd disco, looking at the works of Roy Ayres, an American jazz music star, and his incursion into disco.

– Bokassa – Black Man’s Burden: Parallax World, Daily Times, July 8, 1979 (P.7): Reflects on the leadership style of President Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central African Republic: a tyrant.

– Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim Press Snaps, Daily Times, July 11, 1979 (P.7).

– Shades of Black: Parallax World, Daily Times, July 13, 1979 (P.7): Appaises white journalists and pseudo-journalists who came to Africa for off-beat stories and make Africa conform to their prejudices, illustrating with the case of Colin Legum, a British journalist.

– How Western Journalists Cover Africa: Press Snaps, Daily Times, July 18, 1979 (P.7): Demonstrated how western journalists fabricated stories about Africa as done by a Reuter’s correspondent during an OAU Summit in Liberia.

– Africa’s Shadow of Shame: Parallax World, Daily Times, July 20, 1979 (P.7): Addresses the problems created by the dictators of the African continent: Bokassa of Cantral African Republic, Marcias Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Mobutu Sese Sekou of Zaire and former Ugandan leader, Idi Amin Dada.

– Two of a Kind: Press Snaps, Daily Times, July 25, 1979 (P.7): Likens Colin Legum’s rude manners to that of Marie Joaniedes, exposing their contemptuous disregard for blacks.

– Demise of a Fascist: Parallax World, Daily Times, July 27, 1979 (P.7): Examines the shameful exit of the once fascist leader of Nicaragua, Somoza, and his flight into exile in the US.

– Carter Goes Up the Mountain: Parallax World, Daily Times, August 3, 1979 (P.7): Reviews Jimmy Carter’s leadership style, his mid-term self examination at Camp David – up in the mountains of Maryland – and how he handled the energy crisis that hit America when OPEC decided to hike the price of crude oil.

– Row Over BP: Press Snaps, Daily Times, August 8, 1979 (P.7): Urges Nigerian journalists to strive to explain to the public the significance of Nigeria’s hardline measures in its foreign policy and not only to report the issues; cited the Nigeria-British row over the nationalization of the British Petroleum in Nigeria by the Obasanjo administration and the need for journalists to be more committed in defending the nation’s interest.

– One Down, More to Go: Parallax World, Daily Times, August 10, 1979 (P.7): Sees the overthrow of the Equitorial Guinea’s dictator, Marcias Nguema, as a blessing arguing that like other presidents-for-life, Nguema was suffering from acute megalomania.

– Nobody Likes the journalist’: Press Snaps, Daily Times, August 15, 1979 (P.7): Discusses the misfortune of a Yugoslav journalist who got locked up in Lagos for three days for entering Nigeria without a visa; reported also on General Obasanjo’s effort to build a bridge of understanding between Nigeria and America journalists; and Obasanjo’s friendly reaction to a Washington Post’s reporter, Leon Dash, who mistakenly addressed him as ‘Mr.’: I am a General,’ the Head of State corrected.

– Muldergate Is Pregnant Again: Parallax World, Daily Times, August 17, 1979 (P.7): Writes on the scandal named after Cornelius Mulder, the South African former information minister, whose secret plan was to buy into newspapers in the US, Europe and Africa so as to influence world opinion in favour of apartheid as against majority rule.

– The Number 13 and 12 2/3 Controversy: Press Snaps, Daily Times, August 22, 1979 (P.7): Comments on the outcome of the controversy and the quality of people to be appointed as cabinet members. Advised reporters not to base their reports only on press releases emanating from President Shehu Shagari’s men but to dig into the background of possible appointees and make relevant facts available to the public as was expected of the press.

– Young Just Too Nice: Parallax World, Daily Times, August 24, 1979 (P.7): Attempts to capture the circumstances leading to the resignation of Mr. Andrew Young as America’s permanent representatives to the United Nations; touched on his character, attitude to the job and his place in US black history.

– Hypocrisy of the Western Media: Insult to Nigeria: Press Snaps, Daily Times, August 29, 1979 (P.7): Condemns the way the Western media reported news concerning blacks as was shown in Time and Newsweek magazines in the case of Andy Young’s resignation, portraying a negative disposition towards him; accused Time on insulting Nigeria in its cheeky and condescending reporting of the Nigerian elections.

– In the Heat of Sahara: Parallax World, Daily Times, August 31, 1979 (P.7) Frowns at King Hassan of Morocco’s desperate attempt to colonise Western Sahara, a little old Spanish colony rich in mineral resources.

– Death on the Road: Daily Times, September 6, 1979 (P.7): Worries about the insensitive attitude of those in authority over the issue of dead bodies abandoned on our roads, the disrespect for human life as regards public executions and finally the disregard for the rule of law and fair play in our society.

– Footnote to Andy Young’s Exit: Parallax World, Daily Times, September 7, 1979 (P.7): Takes a close look at Andy Young’s resignation as America’s permanent representative to the United Nations and the controversies dogging it, vis-à-vis Jewish influence on American policies, especially concerning the Arab-Israel diplomatic debacle.

– Reporting Shagari: Press Snaps, Daily Times, September 12, 1979 (P.7): Points out that Alhaji Shagari, as president-elect, needed an effective press coverage to keep Nigerians abreast of his programmes as Nigeria’s future depended entirely on him. Challenged the office of the president-elect on what preparations were underway to take over from the military and advised the media to assign full-time correspondents to cover the presidency.

– The Dog Who Has A Bone: Parallax View, Daily Times, September 14, 1979 (P.7) Discussed the political effect of the exit of Andrew Young from the United Nations; the political gains the whole episode had wrought for him and more especially for President Jimmy Carter in his bid for a second term at the White House.

– Covering the Presidential Tribunals: Press Snaps, Daily Times, September 19, 1979 (P.7): Condemns the lopsided report by many newspapers on the judgment of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal in favour of Alhaji Shagari; chided them for not making Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s view public and urged reporters to sit up.

– Memorial to President Neto: Parallax View, Daily Times, September 21, 1979 (P.7): Pays tribute to a great African leader, Augustino Neto, the former president of Angola, and reviewed his struggle for the independence of his country.

– Something Happened, But What?: Parallax View, Daily Times, September 28, 1979 (P.7): Examines the Supreme Court judgment on the Federal Electoral Commission’s declaration of Shehu Shagari as winner of the 1979 presidential election following an appeal by Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria. Criticised the coverage of the judgment by the electronic media, most especially the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

– Dear Mr. President: Daily Times, October 1, 1979 (P.7): Dele writes to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the first executive president of Nigeria, advising him on the quality of men and women to appoint as his ministers; reminding him of his promise to run an open government; and urging him to provide dynamic leadership, aware of the fact that the buck stopped at his desk.

– The Civil Service Looks After Itself: Daily Times, October 1, 1979 (P.7): Takes a critical look at the bloated civil service being inherited by President Shehu Shagari and suggested a sweeping reorganization in order to enhance efficiency and productivity.

– The Press and the Second Republic: Press Snaps, Daily Times, October 3, 1979 (P.7): Regrets that reporters assigned to cover the presidential campaign failed substantially to unveil to the public the candidates’ strengths and inconsistencies; urged them to show freshness and clear-headedness in analyzing the working of government when reporting the president (Shagari) and the legislature.

– Selling Nigeria Abroad: Parallax Snaps, Daily Times, October 10, 1979 (P.7): Outlines the need for a good public relations and information office in the United States to handle information on Nigeria; sought to sell Nigeria positively to the outside world.

– Everybody Meet Brother ‘Don’: Parallax View, Daily Times, October 12, 1979 (P.7): Explains the meeting of the delegates from Nigeria (including the writer) with Mr. Donald Mchenry’s perception of his new job and spoke of the importance of efficient information management in increasing public awareness of Nigeria.

– Press Makes and Breaks: Press Snaps, From American File, Daily Times, October 24, 1979 (P.7): Writes on how the American press created a contest between Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter and how their reports to the electorate favoured Kennedy as a man of theatre and romance. Examined the role of the press in the making and breaking of a president.

– A Ride to Platoland: Parallax View, From American File, Daily Times, October 26, 1979 (P.7): Recounts a humorous conversation between an American taxi driver and his passengers in Washington, DC, USA, covering from the sublime to the mundane.

– Romance of Fidel Castro: Press Snaps, Daily Time, October 31, 1979 (P.7): Writes about the Cuban strongman, Fidel Castro, a man that has battled many a president of the United States of America. Observed that despite his seeming negative image, most Americans loved him, especially his theatrical qualities.

– Murky Waters of Zimbabwe: Parallax Views, Daily Times, November 2, 1979 (P.7): Focuses on a press conference a British envoy, Honourable Mr. Richard Luce, had with journalists from Daily Times newspapers; stressed his penchant for a evading hard questions, especially on the British government’s attitude to the Zimbabwe elections.

– Like Going to War: Press Snaps, Daily Times, November 7, 1979 (P.7): Point to journalism as dangerous work that was akin to going to war everyday; illustrated it with the death by accident of Idowu Oyegoke and Yinka Oke while on official assignment with the Lagos State governor.

– Terminal Illness of a party: Parallax World, Daily Times, November 9, 1979 (P.7): Reporter on the events that led to the break-up of the Great Nigeria People’s Party; Alhaji Waziri’s insistence to be both its chairman and the presidential candidate, including claims of expulsion and counter-expulsion.

– Slow Journey to Madness: Daily Times, November 12, 1979 (P.7): Considers the social malady facing many a young person, especially cases of mental instability which, he argued, were on the increase, particularly among the wealthy.

– Zik, The Political Animal: Press Snaps, Daily Times, November 14, 1979 (P.7): Reports on Dr. Azikiwe’s ability to negotiate and his high-wire political manoeuvres; citing the joint press conference by Azikiwe, Waziri and Awolowo as an example.

– National Malaise: Press Snaps, Daily Times, November 21, 1979 (P.7): Condemns the legislators’ demand for outrageous emoluments and other perquisites, decried their juvenility and inability to understand what their duties and responsibilities were and persuaded the president to dissociate himself from their unthinkable excesses and offer his own bill on their salaries as an alternative.

– Mr. Ume Ezeoke’s Recklessness: Press Snaps, Daily Times, November 28, 1979 (P.7): Criticises Mr. Ume Ezeoke’s rudeness to the public and threat to the press; traced his arrogance to the public’s belief that legislators’ emoluments were simply outrageous; and demanded that he apologized to the people.

– ACN’s Gift to Aviation Center: Parallax View, Daily Times, November 30, 1979 (P.7): Comments on the donation of a small plane to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, by the Aero Contractors Limited, an aviation charter service company jointly owned by Nigerians and Europeans.

– The Peter Pan Story, Prologue; Press Snaps, Daily Times, December 5, 1979 (P.7): Reflects on his interview with Peter Enahoro and the circumstances that lead to his self-exile.

– Question of Democracy: Parallax View, Daily Times, December 7, 1979 (P.7): Examines Nigeria’s attempt at democracy and the presidential system. Offered suggestions to the major players on how the system could be operated with minimum friction.

– The Peter Pan Story, Fate: Press Snaps, Daily Times, December 12, 1979 (P.7): Discusses Peter Enahoro’s career from his days at the Federal Ministry of Information to Daily Times, Daily Times to Rediffusion Company in Ibadan,and from Rediffusion Company back to Daily Times.

– ‘Editorial’ Mr. Wayas Didn’t Read: Parallax View, Daily Times, December 14, 1979 (P.7): Comments on Mr. Joseph Wayas’ summon on Patrick Dele Cole and Tony Momoh, Managing Director and Editor of the Daily Times respectively, to the National Assembly following an article on the Speaker’s rudeness to the public, said Mr. Wayas mistook the article for an editorial, accusing Daily Times of trying to undermine the Federal Government.

– The Peter Pan Story, Epilogue: Press Snaps, Daily Times, December 19, 1979 (P.7): Celebrates the multi-talented life of Peter Enahoro as an irrepressible columnist, courageous political commentator, powerful and influential leader-writer at the Times, and highlighted the write-up that forced him into self-exile.

– President Shagari and the Press: Press Snaps, Daily Times, December 26, 1979 (P.7): Indicates the gap between President Shagari and the press posited that without an astute publicity outfit the electorate would not be aware of his efforts.

– First DAY Back Home: Press Snaps, Daily Times, January 2, 1980 (P.7): Criticises the way Customs officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, made things difficult for him on his first day back home after seven years’ sojourn in the US.

– The First 100 Days Gimmick: Press Snaps, Daily Times, January 11, 1980 (P.7): Disagrees with the critics of President Shagari on what he achieved during his first 100 days in office: maintained that his action was slowed down by difficult in constituting his cabinet due to the manipulations of the legislators; urged the critics to be considerate, constructive and optimistic for Nigeria was a complex nation to govern.

– Meet Governor Mbakwe: Parallax View, Daily Times, January 18, 1980 (P.7): Writes on the first Executive Governor of Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe, the precarious state of affairs in his state, his style of governance and his emotions.

– Forgive Us … Mbakwe: Press Snaps, Daily Times, January 23, 1980 (P.7): Discusses Governor Mbakwe’s press conference on his first 100 days in office, and his twisted method of answering questions put to him by journalists.

– Ugly Mouths of the Soil: Parallax View, Daily Times, January 25, 1980 (P.7): Dwells on erosion menace, especially its devastating effect on the economy and the people of the area affected. Saw this problem as highly pronounced in Imo State which needed federal assistance to fight it.

– The Sop in Zimbabwe: Press Snaps, Daily Times, January 30, 1980 (P.7): Ponders on the road to independence in Zimbabwe. Accused Britain of refusing to support the right cause and criticized the Western press for their bias reporting on the activities of freedom fighters in Zimbabwe.

-Coming to the Times: Daily Times, February 7, 1980 (P.7): Dele Giwa reveals how he came to the Times: The various roles played by Alhaji Saka Fagbo, Patrick Dele Cole and Stanley Macebuh.

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 advantage 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 independence as 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 confidence in 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 and 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 delivered at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism accused Concord newspapers of parochialism and ‘fabrication’ of stories. But at the meeting, he admitted that his charges were based on hear-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. Criticised the writer’s unnecessary concern with American affairs. Advised him to write more on how to improve the welfare of suffering Nigerians.

– 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 overhaul 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 Apologies, 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 wallow 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 nation 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 Concord 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 Ese 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): Argues 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 Namesake: 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 aspiring 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 “Miserable 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 Journalism. Concluded that the legitimate worry of a journalist at the turning point of making 35 should be that of 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-winged 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, August 15, 1982 (P.3): Narrates an encounter he had with President Shagari during a monthly presidential 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 committing 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 reportedly 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 Palestinians 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 foolish and made Chief 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 campaigns 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 and commented on them. These were reactions to the Ngolmo Mensasau column.

– When the Police Came 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 subsequent 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): Describing 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 him 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 justice 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 independent-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 of transport and the director-general of Shagari’s re-election 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 chief justice to report the criminals to the police for prosecution.

– Theatre of the Real: Parallax Snaps, Sunday Concord, 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 of 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 specifics, for confirmation, as done in the US. He queried: “how can anyone respect 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 minister ‘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 Innuendos: 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 innuendos about the military,’ arguing that Nigeria would have died democratically and economically if 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.

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: Parallax 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 technology.

– 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): Focuses 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 Israel.

– 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 asking: “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 and described 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 (now Edo and Delta States).

BOOKS ON DELE GIWA

– OLOJEDE, Dele and ADINOYI-OJO, Onukaba. Born To Run: The Story of Dele Giwa, Ibadan, Spectrum Books, 1987. Xiii, 192p.

– MAGNATE, Joseph. Dele Giwa, Lagos, New Academy Publication, 1987. 190p.

– FAWEHINMI, Chief Gani. Murder of Dele Giwa: The Right of A Private Prosecutor, Lagos, Nigerian Law Publications, 1988. 193p.

– Giwa, Biodun. Fate’s Choice: Authentic Story of Dele Giwa, Lagos, Pentorch Books, 1992. X, 274p.