A Veteran Cartoonist, Tayo Fatunla has called on all Nigerian cartoonists not to take cartoons personal.
In an interview with Tribune Online on Friday, Tayo, popularly called The Ambassador, said cartoons should neither be abusive nor attacking.
The Cartoonist noted that their strict adherence to the ethics of the profession ensued accolades from readers during their days in newspapers.
While speaking on his grass to grace story, Tayo said he started first from drawing for Governor Olabisi Onabanjo’s children’s magazine called Apollo and his first pay cheque was N5.
The Alumnus of Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in New Jersey, United States of America recalled starting the journey in Baptist Academy between 1973 to 1977.
He noted being famous for anchoring Omo Oba at Punch Newspapers for social and political commentary for two and a half years.
The Cartoonist recalled Governor Ambrose Alli complaining about his cartoon picturing him going to see an herbalist, noting that it generated fear of being whisked away whenever he gets to the office but thankful to God for not happening.
“Nigerian Cartoons are all out to abuse instead of amusing. When cartoons attack or abuse people, it means the cartoonist is taking it personal.
“During our days, we did cartoons people were always looking out for. But, people use cartoons to attack the government nowadays.
“It started when i was drawing for Governor Bisi Onabanjo children’s Magazine called Apollo and the first payment i got was N5. I was on top of the world. I was in Baptist Academy between 1973 to 1977.
“His Son was my classmate in school. His Daughter, Toun Onabanjo was the Editor of the Magazine. That was even before he became Governor.
“The Cartoon that brought me to the limelight was Omo Oba at Punch Newspapers. Thereafter, I left there to study in America.
“Dotun Gboyega, who was the original cartoonist for Omo Oba, was leaving Punch to work for Chief MKO Abiola’s Concord Newspapers.
“So, Uncle Sam said I need to continue that Omo Oba or i have no job again. That was how I got to train myself to draw Omo Oba. And we became very popular through it.
“I would use Omo Oba to make social and political commentary for two and a half years before i went to Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in New Jersey, United States of America.
“Came back after my studies in the US to work for PUNCH? I became big when i did Omo Oba in Punch Newspapers. When i left and came back, i even became more popular than when i was there.
“Governor Ambrose Alli used to complain about my cartoons.
“He complained about one of my cartoons that I drew him going to Babalawo for the future and I think he did not like it.”
“Someone told me the Governor did not appreciate my cartoon.
“Due to that, whenever I get to the gate when the office was still at Kudeti in Ikeja, I would be wondering if the police had come to pick me up. I was always having that unsteadiness.” He said.
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