The Beam: Journal of Arts & Science, Vol. 11, (DEC.

2017) ISSN: 1118-5953

CARTOON AS A DEVICE FOR POLITICAL CRITIQUE IN NIGERIAN

NEWSPAPERS

Nasiru Alhaji Salihu and BuikeOparaugo

Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
This study sets out to examine the use of cartoons by Nigerian newspapers to criticize
perceived corrupt political leaders. The rationale behind the study is to find out the
prospects and challenges of using cartoons to attack perceived bad or corrupt
politicians in Nigeria. In general, cartooning or the use of caricature employs humor
and satire in criticizing people, thus appearing harmless. The most crucial aspect of
using cartoon to criticize corrupt political leaders is the independence of cartoonists
irrespective of the ownership structure of the print media they work with. This enables
them to be more objective in their work. However, there are certain problems
associated with the use of cartoon as a device for political criticism in Nigeria, some of
which are: communication related problems, message related problems, illiteracy,
political system, circulation, lack of qualified personnel and readership pattern. The
paper concludes that newspaper cartoons go a long way in criticizing poor leadership
in Nigerian governance, but there are certain factors that hinder its effectiveness. As
such, it therefore recommends, among others, that cartoonists should endeavour to
cover all aspects of governance, leaving no stone unturned.

Keywords: Cartoon, Politics, Political, Criticism

INTRODUCTION
Newspaper cartoons throughout Nigerian history reveal that they have been serving as unique
window useful in understanding local and national politics. Cartooning has been one of the
most significant tools in propagating and promoting the cultural heritage in Nigeria. Using
imagery, metaphor, symbolism and other rhetorical devices cartoonist defines political
situations and attempts to interpret them visually in a way that is both amusing and thought
provoking.
Cartoons are intended to transform otherwise complex and opaque social events and
situates into quick and easily readable duplications that facilitate comprehension of the nature
of social issues and events (Agberia, 2003:33). In doing so, they present the society with
visually palpable and hyper ritualized depictions (selectively exaggerated portions of reality)
that attempt to reveal the essence and meaning of social events.
While many studies use the terms “political cartoon‟‟ and “editorial cartoon‟‟
interchangeably, others differentiate between comic strips with political content, and single
panel cartoons that make commentary on politics and policy. The exploit of AkinolaLasekan,
with his editorial cartoons in The West African Pilot in the 1940s and 50s reflected colonial
life and also depicted the struggle for nationhood which later culminated in Nigeria‟s
independence in 1960 (Olaniyan, 2002)
Also, cartoonists like Dele Jegede, JosyAjiboye, AliuEroje, BoyeGbenro,
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AkinOmpede among others through their cartoons have decried the rapid deterioration of the
Nigerian state, in the hand of corrupt political leaders. The metaphors and other figurative
devices used in the visual language of editorial cartoons are often “powerful” and the key
purpose is to reflect and maintain power relationships in a given political structure by
functioning as a tool for political communication. The most important aspects of this, as
noted by DeSousa and Medhurst (2002:75), is that newspaper cartoons serve as a unique
record of the particular event, attitudes and narratives present during a moment in political
history.
Newspaper cartoons featured prominently during military rule in Nigeria. The period
(1983-1999) witnessed remarkable event in the democratization of the country. The military
government was characterized by abusive use of power beginning with General Muhammadu
Buhari‟scoupd‟etat on 31 December 1983. This was closely followed by the tenure of
General Ibrahim BadamasiBabangida (IBB)who was described as the „„Maradona‟‟ of
Nigerian politics due to his methods of politics visible in the annulment of the Presidential
Election n 1993, and the eventual transmission to democratically elected president in 1999.
Each of these developments elicited specific reactions from editorial cartoonists of the time
who as “visual journalists‟‟ captured the sequence of the events in satirized- illustrations.
However caricature as a form of art had existed for a very long time in Nigeria before
the advent of the colonial masters, contrary to the belief that this form of satirization in
Nigeria is a colonial innovation (Onipede, 2007).

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE
The study is anchored on the social responsibility theory of the press. According to Kumar
(2013) this theory is of the view that the media had certain obligations of society- to serve its
needs, rather than that of the free market. The scholar went on to say that public interest was
a greater value than unregulated freedom of expression.
However, Okoro and Agbo (2003) opined that this theory owes its growth to the
realization that the much trumpeted free press did not exist anywhere. The principle
enunciated in this theory is that the media should accept and fulfill certain obligations to
society. Also, these obligations are to be met by setting high or professional standard of
informativeness, truth, accuracy, objectivity and balance.
The media owes the society the obligation to report the ills in their society and it is in
doing this that the media become socially responsible. Arguably journalists should also
expose political evil and corruption in government circles, as part of their social
responsibility.
It has been noted that many statutory bodies in Nigeria have been put in place to
ensure that the media is socially responsible e.g. National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),
Nigeria Press Council (NPC), etc. The duty of these bodies is to ensure strict compliance to
the social and ethical responsibility of the press. This theory however, has wide application in
many societies of the world.

Understanding the Term ‘‘Cartoon’’

According to Edwards and Winkler (2007) cartoon is “a graphic presentation typically
designed in a one-panel, non-continuing format to make an independent statement or
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observation on political events or social policy”. Cartoon is generally understood as any

drawing which through the use of humour, satire or caricature provokes a response in its
audience. Cartoons, also known as editorial cartoons or political cartoons, are single panel
graphic that comment on political event and policy, and serve to define the significant topics
of political discourse and record them, thus creating a “snapshot‟‟ of the political climate in a
given period, ( DeSousa and Medhurst, 2002)
However, cartoon can be defined as: “funny line drawings in newspapers mocking the
political events and policy”. Cartoons usually employ humor or irony to point out
shortcomings or hypocrisies within the political system. Cartoons are intended to transform
otherwise complex and opaque social events and situation into quick and easily readable
depictions that facilitate comprehension of the nature of social issues and events (Agberia,
2003).
Defining cartoons, according to Everette (2004:2) is trickier because there is not one
widely accepted definition. In the light of the forgoing the scholar posits that cartoons are
amalgams of images (the symbols), captions (the written words) and social commentary (the
spoken an unspoken words). They combine all the information needed to understand their
massage into one simple visual form and present it in an easily accessible medium in books,
newspaper or the web.
According to Ofor and Obiora (2014) “a cartoon is a communication technique
conceived by an artist otherwise known as cartoonist to express a preconceived view or
opinion. It is a form of opinionated idea or information presented in pictorial sketches which
is created to cause amusement, sensitization or agitation to the audience on issues they find
relevant.
Ukonu (2013) opines that a cartoon is a medium of expressing criticism without
appearing harmful. The scholar further buttressed that an editorial cartoon is used on the
editorial page of a newspaper. It may stand alone to give its own opinion on a public issue, or
it may support the paper‟s editorial comment set in a column or box under the paper logo.
The common feature of cartoon according to Olaniyan (2000) is good grasp of current affairs
clearly identifying political issues and problems that are local and international, deft
craftsmanship and skills in snappy graphic language. Cartoons are satirical in nature and use
humour to draw attention to the significant social-political issue is usually featured on the
editorial page of newspapers.
However, Levin (2000) asserts that:
An editorial cartoon uses a picture instead of words to get a point across. It may
illustrate an editorial or stand alone. Because it’s an editorial, it expresses the
opinion of the newspaper but unlike editorials, it is signed. Whereas many people
won’t read an entire editorial, nearly all readers will read an editorial cartoon.

Political cartoons expose bribery and corruption of public office holders in a very symbolic
way. They are mostly captioned to drive the point home about what it exposes for
comprehensive understanding of readers.
According to Becker (2009) political cartoons are an effective means for cartoonists
to express their thoughts and ideas about the issues or events in a particular period in a
playful manner. Basically the political cartoons genre has gained considerable research in
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academics circle considering their potentials of expressing opinion succinctly in such a way
that thousand words cannot provide at a moment providing specific knowledge on current
events in society.

THE CONCEPT OF POLITICS

According to Obasi (1999) politics is “striving to share power or striving to influence the
distribution of power, either among states or among groups within a state‟‟. The scholar went
further to cite Lasswell (1958) to have defined politics as the science and art of who gets
what, when and how?”
The above assertion is supported by Nnoli (1986) when he posited that politics is “all
those activities which are directly or indirectly associated with the seizure of the state power,
the consolidation of state power and the use of state power‟‟.
In a similar vein, Gerbner (1981) opines that politics is a „„…word game.” He further
added that “politicians‟‟ rise to power because they can talk persuasively to voters and
political elites. Politics, according to Easton is “the authoritative allocation of values for a
society.” On the other hand Umechukwu (2013) says the word “politics‟‟ in Nigerian context
conjures up images of power domination and struggle to grab state apparatus. Politics
therefore, exists in all human societies no matter how simple or primitive the society is. An
analytical study of Nigeria political situation since independence paints a picture of political
irony-crises of confidence.

Why the Need for Political Criticism

When there is no checks and balances there will be absolute power, and absolute power
corrupts absolutely. It is therefore imperative to checkmate the abuse of power or the use of
power by politicians and/or among government officials or public office holders. By so doing
it will check for excessive power. Newspaper as a medium of mass communication should
play their watchdog role here as the fourth estate of the realm. The citizens deserve to know
all the activities (especially the corrupt ones) going on within their environment. Therefore
newspapers can present these humorously using cartoons.
With these, the politicians are aware that the newspapers have beamed their search
light with their eagle‟s eyes on them, they would be mindful of their actions, in that way the
excesses are being controlled. Although there exists no state or nation without corruption or
corrupt people, but the presence of the mass media in the country helps watch over some of
their fraudulent acts. Corrupt leaders are usually uncomfortable with newspaper cartoons that
are directly attacking them. Political criticism by newspapers is part of their social
responsibility. In criticizing political leaders who are corrupt, the media (newspaper) become
socially responsible to the society where they exist.

The Use of Newspaper Cartoons for Political Criticism

Newspaper cartoon has a long-standing history of merging social satire with political
commentary in a society. It has in several situations, been the most direct medium for
criticizing bad practice and maladministration of government (Agberia, 2003). Since the
return of civilian rule in Nigeria in 1999, it is hard to find a single newspaper publication
without a cartoon communicating humorously massages of national importance.
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Journalists may write stories about public policies and then draw editorial cartoons in
the hope of engendering a massive public reaction that will lead to widespread demands for
political remedies. However, it has been observed that the mass media (especially newspaper)
do not only survey the political event of the day and make them the focus of public and
private attention; they also interpret their meaning, put them into context and speculate about
their consequence in the society using cartoon in a humorous way.
Apart from writing stories, newspapers may draw and publish political cartoons to
arouse public office holders into positive action having criticized their negative actions
already.
The mass media (newspapers) have the responsibility to present a picture of eventto the
extent that they are made clearer, simple and easier to understanding using cartoons.
According to Schramm (1971) forming an opinion becomes more difficult when a person
does not have access to adequate information. It is this information that will help the
individual to form an opinion.
Newspaper cartoons can be used in giving further interpretation to news stories,
features or editorials. The massages of cartoons are short and simple, but are very clear. Some
stories which could not make it as news stories or features or editorials because they lack
enough depth or significance per se could find themselves as cartoons. Cartoonists can use
one box, two boxes or three boxes for their cartoons. Sometime the cartoons are found on
the editorial page, hence the name editorial cartoon; sometimes they are found on a different
page.
Some newspapers use more than one cartoon for each publication. Sometimes news
stories without pictures are accompanied by cartoons. However, sometimes the cartoons can
appear on the front or back page of the newspaper depending on the house style.

The Role of Cartoons in Newspapers

1. Cartoon serves as a form of entertainment to newspaper readers.
2. Cartoon provides comic relief to readers who are stressed up.
3. Cartoons inform readers of the social ills going on within their environment.
4. Cartoon complements the editorial for easier and better understanding especially to
impatient readers who don‟t like reading lengthy write-ups.
5. Cartoonists use cartoons to express what cannot otherwise be expressed in
news/features/editorials.
6. Cartoon provides readers with the platform of the formation of public opinion.
7. Newspapers use cartoons to attack or criticize corrupt public office holders in an
unharmful manner.

Problems Associated with Using Cartoons to Criticize Nigerian Politicians

One of the most interesting and intriguing paradoxes of media-government relations in
Nigeria according to Nwosu (2013) is that, it is expected to help build the education,
entertainment and the desired public opinion that will help to mobilize the citizenry, but is so
feared and untrusted by the government, and so is not given adequate freedom and support to
carry out these functions. The scholar went further to assert that the media is at the same time
loved and hated by our government.
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However, there are so many factors that hinder political criticism in Nigeria. Among these
problems are:
1. Ownership Problem: One of the major problems affecting the use of newspaper cartoons
to criticize or attack bad or corrupt political leaders in countries like Nigeria is ownership
structure. Most of the newspaper houses in Nigeria are owned by individuals who are
politicians or in one way or the other, directly or indirectly, involved in politics or
affiliated to a particular political party in the country. With this, the popular saying “he
who pays the piper dictates the tune” plays a very important role here. Newspaper houses
owned by corrupt political leaders in Nigeria will be mindful of how they expose the
ill-action of their bosses. This could lead to them not coming up with cartoon that attack
or criticize their corrupt practices rather they will choose to focus on issues involving
other politicians who are not their employers.
2. Communication Related Problems: The role of the communicator in communication
process cannot be over emphasized. Here, the communicator is the cartoonist. If the
cartoonist is weak or bad in the process of communication, the entire communication
process will be negatively affected.
3. Message Related Problems: The message in a cartoon is the drawing and spoken words
in the cartoon. The message therefore, contains the feelings, notions, ideas etc., which the
cartoonist want to pass across to the readers. The cartoonist should ensure the right
language is used, and also the environments should very much resemble to that of the real
environment. However, the spoken words should be able to amuse the readers. The
drawing should be able to make a caricature of the real life situation in a humorous way.
Readers should not find it difficult grabbing the message being passed by the cartoonist.
According to Asemah et al (2013) any message that does not contain any substance will
not be effective, even if it is well written, spoken or presented.
4. Illiteracy: Many Nigerians still cannot read and write, mostly those without formal
education. Illiteracy can pose a very big hindrance to political criticism. Such people do
not grab information from the cartoonist because of their inability to read the write ups
that accompany the drawing which aids fast and clear understanding.
5. Lack of Qualified Personnel: One of the problems facing the use of newspaper cartoons
to criticize corrupt politicians and public office holders in Nigerian is the lack of qualified
personnel. Some newspaper houses in Nigeria are in the habit of recruiting unqualified
cartoonists, making it difficult for such newspapers to use cartoon to communicate
effectively.
6. Circulation: Some newspapers in Nigeria still do not circulate their publications
nationwide, thereby limiting the audience. People living in areas where the newspapers do
not circulate will not be exposed to the criticism by the newspaper.
7. Readership Pattern: Some people are in the habit of reading a particular newspaper.
Those who read a particular newspaper, especially the one owned by a corrupt political
leader, are very likely not to be exposed to the criticism of corrupt politicians and public
office holders by other Nigerian newspapers.
8. Political System: From 1983 to 1999, the country had been experiencing military
politics. Remarkably, in between this period, several attempts were made to overthrow
the incumbent military governments by power-hungry military officers. In 1993 an
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attempt was made to return the country to democracy, but all the efforts channeled
towards that were aborted by the then military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.
But as luck would have it today, we are witnessing the highest level of democracy in the
country since that period when former President GoodluckEbele Jonathan conceded
defeat and peacefully handed over to General Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

9. Independence of Cartoonists: Newspaper managers are not getting the best out of
cartoonists because there is disequilibrium between what they feel that cartoonists should
be. They feel the cartoonist should be an illustrator rendering what they cannot draw
themselves, some perceive the cartoonist as a kind of medieval court tool, to be tolerated
but taken seriously.

CONCLUSION
From the analysis, it is obvious that newspaper cartoons have a lot of influence on politics
through presentation of politically crucial information to huge, heterogeneous, transitory and
anonymous audience. These include political elites and decision makers as well as large
number of audience shaped by information from the mass media.
However, it is worthy to note that newspaper cartoons go a long way in criticizing
poor leadership in Nigerian governance. It also serves as a device in stabilizing the political
system in Nigeria as well as forming public opinion on social and political issues among
readers. Editorial cartoons reflect socio-political realities in the Nigerian society. Cartoons
inform the electorate of their rights as well as informing the readers of the ills going on
among the top government officials.
Cartoons also inform readers of the need to be transparent and not equivocal in the
policy and also the importance of democratically elected government. Cartoons have brought
out the shortcomings of the government to the public assessment in humorous ways. Hardly
will you now see a Nigerian newspaper publication without a cartoon, and almost 90 percent
of them focus on politics and social ills.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Having said that cartoon is an effective device that can be used to criticize political leaders in
Nigeria, hence the paper recommends that:
1. Newspaper outlets in Nigeria should be more objective in their carton section as it is an
effective means of redressing the maladministration in government.
2. Cartoonists should endeavour to cover all aspects of government leaving no stone
unturned.
3. Cartoonists should as well be sensitive while designing their cartoons.
4. Government should pay more attention to political message cartoons portray.
5. Cartoons and cartooning should be properly handled with urgent recognition as a medium
of effective journalism.
6. Cartoonists should have an association like Nigerian Union of Journalists. This will
develop the spirit of cartooning in national dailies.
7. Cartoonists should be given the recognition they deserve by newspaper owners because
this situation calls for concern.
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8. Cartoonists that have served for a long period of time and are mature enough should be
allowed to occupy seats on the editorial board of media organizations.

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