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Abstract
This work is an analysis of the use of satire as a form of imagery to
depict some political issues in cartoons as featured in the Nigerian national
dailies. Survey method of research design was adopted as a means of
sampling copies of national dailies from which political cartoons were
selected, while Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was adopted for the
analysis of data gathered. Findings reveal images of corruption, official
responsibility, political failure and brutality/cruelty/suffering as the dominant
concerns of the cartoons featured by the papers. While the corrupt postures
of those who have links with the past government are dominant in the image
of corruption portrayed, both those in and out of government are subjected to
some satiric expose in respect of official responsibility, failure in politics and
brutality/cruelty/suffering. At the end, it is recommended, among others, that
more searchlight should be focused on the corrupt tendency of those still in
power, and that more research efforts be devoted to the use of political
cartoons to encourage citizen participation in national discourse.
Introduction
Political cartoons are effective means cartoonists use to express their
thoughts and ideas about political issues, events or personalities in a
particular period in a playful manner (Becker, 1959; cited in Sani et al 2012).
They are openly and discreetly used to make compelling statement and
provide specific knowledge on contemporary socio-political issues. The goal
of political cartoon is to raise public consciousness using figurative tone and
graphical imageries to address crucial issues and criticize political leaders
and their contemptible practices. In other words, the genre serves as a
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Research Questions
a. What forms of imageries are dominant in the political cartoons
adopted by the Nigerian national dailies?
b. Are the imageries adopted pro-establishment or anti – establishment?
Methodology
A combination of Survey Design and Critical Discourse Analysis is
adopted for data collection and analysis in this study. Survey method was
used to sample copies of national dailies from which political cartoons were
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selected. The dailies selected in this regard are the The Nation, National
Mirror, and Leadership. They were purposively selected in view of their
blunt visual representation of political characters and issues by means of
pocket size cartoons on their back pages.
Therefore, the cartoons chosen are the pocket cartoons usually
featured at the bottom corner of back pages of the dailies. The cartoons are
titled Ripples, 9jaman, and Ghana Must Go for The Nation, National Mirror
and Leadership respectively. These cartoons were chosen in view of their
precise but witty depiction of situation (s) being framed. Copies of the
dailies were selected from the month of January 2016. The shorter timeframe
was to ensure utilization of compactness of issues depicted and how they are
reflected in the overall frame.
Critical Discourse Analysis on the other hand was used for the
analysis of the selected contents. It is a method for examining the role of
language in the production and transformation of social representations of
reality (Carvalho, 2008). The assumption of Critical Discourse Analysis is
that the construction of news by journalists is not an isolationist exercise; it
involves the mediation of other social factors, making journalism
dialectically tied to the society. The Analysis therefore examines news
media texts beyond their lexical structure and modality by interpreting the
text against the social contexts in which the texts are produced.
Data Presentation
The text of the cartoons used are those found in the available copies
of the three national dailies for the months of January, 2016. The editions
(date of publications), news/issues and cartoon depictions of news situations
which are analysed in this work are tabulated and presented asAppendix.
Note that N/A stands for copies not available at the time of gathering the
relevant data.
Discussion of Findings
As earlier indicated, a cardinal objective of this study is to examine
the dominant imageries in political cartoons as featured in the Nigerian
national dailies. Certain imageries are portrayed in the data gathered in this
regard. These include the pervasive image of corruption, image of official
responsibility, image of political failure and image of
brutality/cruelty/suffering. The critical portrayal of these imageries revolves
around political parties, institutions of governments, political titans across
party divides and even religious groups.
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Image of corruption
Themost dominant image portrayed in the sampled cartoons is the
image of corruption. In the cartoons, moral image of corruption as portrayed
vividly captured some dominant issues in the political discourse within the
period. Of those issues, however, the 2.1 billion dollars arms deal scandals
involving a former National Security Adviser, Col SamboDasuki happens to
be the most prominent. Through the cartoons, the papers appear to ridicule
some personalities and socio-political institutions presumed to have some
form of connection to the alleged massive fraud.
At the personality level, those who receive the satiric hammer of the
papers include the media Director of the ill-fated Jonathan re-election
campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP,
Chief OlisaMetuh, veteran politician, Chief OluFalae and former Governors
of Rivers and Oyo States, Dr. Peter Odili and Chief Rashid Ladoja.
FaniKayode’s attempt to absolve the Government of wrong doing in the
arms scandal is greeted with the derision, “Please ignore this news … silence
is the best answer to a f…”. This is perhaps a vague reference to
inconsistency and doublespeak that seems to have become a trademark of his
personality; hence, Nigerians are asked not to listen to him as he is not
worthy of trust. The disdain is even extended to the point the cartoonist has
to deploy the “f” word.
Another personality that catches the fancy of the papers in the
portrayal of the scandal is the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief
OlisaMetuh. His ordeals while in the EFCC net is captured this way: “Metuh
kept with 419 suspects –news”. To one of the dailies, this amounts to “family
reunion”. In the view of the papers, therefore, there is no difference between
Metuh and 419 suspects. Again, when Metuh expressed the hope that PDP
would capture power in 2019 immediately after he was released, the papers
rhetorically quipped: “so that he will steal more?”
As for Falae, Odili and Ladoja, the satiric lenses of the papers see
them in a multiple of ways that simply defines corruption and reinforces their
involvement in the scandal. Here is how they are portrayed either
collectively or individually:“You are just using “ogboju”…what you
collected is blood money and it must be returned” (that is for Falae), “you
must drop that money or else 10 million Nigerians‘ll march on Akure!”
(Falae again,) “They ask you to chop it! (still for Falae), “Yes… and they
must refund with interest” (for Falae, Odili and Ladoja)
Apart from individuals, political and religious institutions are not
spared of the papers’ big hammers by way of ridicules on the arms deal
scandal. The targets in this regard are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
the Accord Party, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). When PDP criticized the handcuffs
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of its National Publicity Secretary by the EFCC, the cartoon response is for
them to “cover your faces in shame instead of kicking”, and the Accord
Party’s attempt to say that the supposed arms deal money was meant for
campaign, they are simply asked to “return that money and stop telling us
tales by moonlight”. The PPFN and CAN’s attempt to deny involvement in
the “Dasuki Largesse” was greeted with either “It is impossible, Nigerians
can’t be deceived” or “Ha HaHa, I dey laugh ooo… but time will tell”. The
summary of all these is that the words of the parties and the religious groups
cannot be trusted. The only thing that matters, in the view of the papers, is
for the money to be returned.
In addition to the corrupt portrayal of the arms deals, there are other
general corruption issues involving individuals and organisations that the
dailies portray. For instance when PDP declares their interest to support
Buhari to end the insurgency in the North East, they are asked to do so “By
returning all stolen loot!” By implication, if they return the money, it will
assist in the fight and the reconstruction efforts which they claim to support.
Even the reports that “Federal Govt has no record of its workers”is greeted
with the jeers: “I bet there (are) more GHOSTS than workers”. When the
Trade Union Congress (TUC) calls the “N47.5B for lawmakers’ cars
wasteful” the papers express surprises cynically thus: “N45.5b?...God
Deyooooo!”
A former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is also not
spared of the ridicule linked with corruptive souls. Obasanjo, it was reported
sometimes ago, had obtained a Masters degree in Theology. But one of the
dailies would rather cynically ask: “with Specialisation in Satanic Verses?”
Ordinarily, a person in search of theological knowledge should be a man
considered to be after God’s own heart. Ironically, in this circumstance,
Obasanjo’s knowledge is seen from an entirely opposing perspective; a
perspective that either questions the former President’s moral standing or
disposition to the moral of others. In other words, the question the cartoon
has not addressed is whether it is Obasanjos’s moral standing that is being
questioned or it is his pursuit of a mission to see others through the premise
of moral rectitude.
Image of Responsibility
Another dominant image portrayed in the cartoons sampled is the
image of official responsibility. Government has a mandate to deliver certain
responsibilities. But the delivery of such responsibilities is bound to draw the
attention of the public, and to be scrutinised appropriately. The media in this
regard is well positioned to act in public interest. A lot of issues dealing with
such responsibilities are raised in the cartoons under analysis. One of such
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taxes”, the papers’ reply is“Why not? Their take home cannot take them
home.” In other words, Government should ensure a better pay package if
they want higher tax returns. On the “Armed Forces Remembrance Day” one
of the papers wondered if it “Is it still worth dying for Nigeria?”.This
somehow implies that those who died for Nigeria did so in vain. When the
European indicated readiness to assist Nigeria fight Boko Haram, the papers
quip: “Haba, everything is imported…it is imported military power again!”
The Governor of Ekiti State, AyodeleFayose, is also not spared. So
when he declared that “I will continue to prosecute meaningful programs for
Ekiti People”, the answer he gets is “by talking anyhow?” Fayose is known
for his combative political disposition and controversial utterances. The
cartoon has therefore portrayed him as someone who talks anyhow and
whose utterances might stand in the way of “meaningful programs” he
promised.
Image of Corruption and Responsibility is also reflected in the story
captioned “Buhari: Corruption in NNPC worse than arms scandal”. While
the original story as captioned evokes corruption, there is a responsibility
dimension evoked by the newspapers’ retort: “We all know! Clean up the
rot”. This in effect acknowledges the nagging case of corruption in the
industry as a given, but that what was important was for government to
tackle it and stop talking about it. This is a jibe directed at the President
himself.
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PDP chieftain” (Who is this clown?); “PDP nearly crashed Nigeria” –Hon
Kaugama (Nearly?); “Nigerians will beg PDP to return” –PDP Chieftain
(fa,fa, foul…even if you use juju for Nigerians)); “Saraki, Dogara, Atiku,
others will soon return to PDP” –Senator Nnaji.(You plan to kidnap them?);
“Nigeria will beg PDP to return” –PDP chief (Return to do what?…to finally
bury the economy?); “Declaring Yahaya Bello Gov-elect a waste of time” –
PDP (Why are you vexing?); and “New petrol pump price deceptive” –PDP
(Doubting Thomas!).
A critical look at the portrayal of these issues reveals the image of a
party that has failed and therefore lost touch with reality. For instance, the
rhetorical expression “nearly?” in response to “PDP nearly crashed Nigeria”
is suggestive that the party has really crashed the country, making the word
‘nearly’ superfluous within that context. And on the issue of politicians that
had left its fold returning, or Nigerians begging the party to return to power,
the jeering remarks that follow are an indication that Nigeria has moved
beyond the party and they can be no possibility of going back to such era.
The “Why are you vexing?” as a remark in respect of PDP’s criticism of the
declaration of Bello as Governor of Kogi State only portrays the party as
sore loser; ditto for biblical allusion to “doubting Thomas” which follows
the deception story in respect of fuel price fixing.
Image of Brutality/Cruelty/Suffering
Imageries depicting brutality, cruelty, and suffering are also reflected
in the cartoons as captured by the dailies. One of such was drawn by a report
attributed to Lagos State Police Commissioner that “295 policemen were
killed last year”.In response, the papers quip: “and how many innocent
Nigerians were maimed by policemen?” This response is thought provoking
in view of the mutual suspicion that has characterized the Police-Public
relationship over the years. In this regards, there is hardly a month in Nigeria
that cases of police brutality, some resulting in fatality, are not reported. So if
the police that is employed to defend tax payers on whom he depends for
survival would have to resort to unleashing terror on the same tax payer on
slightest excuses, then that gulf would continue to widen. It is therefore not
surprising to hear the question demanding clarification on the number of
Nigerians that died in the hands of policemen, and not just the policemen that
were killed.
There was also a report on a “Nigerian beaten to state of coma in an
Asian country”. The papers reflection on this story is “Lucky guy, here,
Nigerians are beaten to state of full stop!” There is a subtle attempt to play
on words here. Literally, “Coma” is a medical state of unconsciousness for a
long time. But the reference to “full stop” has no form of association with the
word in that literal sense; rather the reference only invokes a similarly
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Conclusion
Attempt is made in this work to make a critical analysis of the use of
satire as a form of imagery to depict some political issues in cartoons as
featured in the Nigerian national dailies. In the main, the work examine the
dominant imagery in political cartoons as featured in the dailies and
determine whether the imagery conveyed by political cartoons are pro -
establishment or anti-establishment. From the analysis, it has been
established that the images of corruption, official responsibility, political
failure and brutality/cruelty/suffering are dominantly presented in that order.
It has also been established that in terms of portrayal of corruption, the anti-
establishment postures of the cartoon is geared towards those formerly in
government and the allied institutions. However, when it comes to the
portrayal of images of responsibility, political failure and
brutality/cruelty/suffering both those aligned to the current and past
governments are not spared the whips of the ridicule.
In conclusion, therefore, there is a certainty that the papers have used
the instrument of satire to project what they perceived to be the dominant ills
of the society. In so doing, there is also a subtle attempt to correct those ills
by suggesting alternatives which they considered to be in the best interest of
common man.
Recommendations
In view of the findings established in this work, the following
recommendations are hereby advanced:
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Rhetorical Forms: A Taxonomy of Graphic
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3. Morris, R. (1992). “Cartoons and the Political System: Canada,
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17(2).
4. Sani, I., Abdullah, M.H., Ali, A.M. and Abdullah, F.S (2012).“The
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5. Steuter E, Wills D, Marlette D (2008). “Infestation and Eradication:
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8. Lee, Gunho (2010) “Who let priming out? Analysis of first- and
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Appendix
Dat Paper Issue/News Cartoon Dat Paper Issue/news Cartoon
e comment e comment
Jan The Fani- Please ignore Jan The Federal I bet there
1st Nation Kayode: this 14th Nation Govt has (are) more
Jonathan’s news…silen no record GHOSTS
Govt ce is the best of its than
bought answer to a workers – workers
arms to f… National News
fight Boko Mirror Badmouth!
Haram Bayelsa: I No wonder
don’t need you lost
Jonathan’s
Leaders wife to win
hip –Sylva My friend,
Card tell
readers Orubebe!
saved our
democracy
from
election
riggers –
Igini
Jan Leaders I will by talking Jan The EFCC to Yes… and
. hip continue to anyhow? 15th Nation Falae, they must
2nd prosecute Odili, refund
meaningful Ladoja: with
programs Refund interest
for Ekiti cash or
People – face trial
GovFayose
National
Mirror I hope he
Workers’ is aware of
welfare is salary
our priority backlog?
Leaders –Lai
hip Mohamme Return all
d the money
We are
striving to
rebuild
PDP –
National
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Chairman
Jan N/A N/A N/A Jan Leaders We ‘ll back By
3rd 16th hip Buhari to returning
end all stolen
insurgency loot!
–PDP
Jan The Same as - Jan Leaders Obasanjo With
4th Nation Jan 1st 17th hip obtains Specialisat
masters ion in
Leaders Petrol Why didn’t degree in Satanic
hip Price: 50 they tell Theology – Verses?
kobo Obasanjo News
reduction and Jonathan
too little to that?
cheer –
National PDP Lion heart!
Mirror Bafra With treated
agitator: I mosquito net
prefer to you are safe!
remain in
detention –
Kanu
Jan The Oil Shylocks! Jan The I have Okay, you
5th Nation marketers 18th Nation never have only
defy robbed in stolen,
GovtOrdes, my life – …ehn?
sell fuel suspected
above National robber Remember
National N86.50- but you Mirror Aregbesola , an hungry
Mirror News promise Tasks man is an
Change, eh! workers on angry
FG Balmes dedication man!
Jonathan Leaders –News
for fuel hip
Scarcity- EFCC They ask
Leaders News didn’t ask you to
hip who is this me to chop it!
Clown? return
money –
Nigerians OluFalae
will beg
PDP to
return-
PDP
chieftain
Jan The N47.5B for N45.5b?...G Jan The We didn’t Ha HaHa,
6th Nation lawmakers’ od 19th Nation benefit I dey laugh
cars Deyooooo! from ooo… but
wasteful, Dasuki’s time will
says TUC largesse – tell
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CAN, PFN
New Petrol
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Pump price
Leaders Deceptive why are you
hip –PDP vexing?
Declaring
Yahaya
Bello Gov-
elect a
waste of
time –PDP
Jan The S2.1 bn Just return Jan The Nigerians Why not?
12th Nation arms that money 25th Nation pay lowest …their
scandal: and stop taxes –Tax take home
Cash was telling us Experts pay
to “tales by doesn’t
campaign moonlight” take them
for home
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