NIGER DELTA MILITANTS, BRAVO!

It is very arrogant for the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to be discarding the noble efforts of the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters as mere miscreants' misbehavior. These patriotic freedom fighters are struggling to emancipate themselves and their people from the shackles of the Arewa group who have held Nigeria in a strangle-hold since her independence in 1960. The Niger Deltans' effort must therefore be commended instead of all the hot air being blown by these Nigeria desert dwellers, who have arrogated to themselves the perpetual leadership of Nigeria. The Niger Deltans' effort must be respected by all as both genuine, desirable and very patriotic. The Arewa Consultative Forum should tread very carefully as any misjudgment on their part might be the trigger needed to forever chase them out of their age-long parasitic relationship with Nigeria. Enough should now be enough! The ACF's bluff must be called and now is the time! How dare these Northern mallams, who have been siphoning what does not belong to them, blame the rightful owners of the wealth for agitating for fairness and asking for what is theirs? Only a thief can do this and that is exactly what these cattle-rearers have turned into within the Nigeria polity. They are leeches who contribute nothing practically to the GDP of Nigeria; yet they arrogate themselves the lord of the manor status in Nigeria and expect every other person to only ask, how high when told to jump.

The ACF through their minion, midget Sani Abacha killed Ken Saro Wiwa for protesting the injustice being perpetrated by Northern Nigeria elites on the peoples of Niger Delta area. This time, it will not happen, as the sleeping Deltans have woken up from their slumber to ask for what is rightfully theirs. How can a brute like Theophilus Danjuma from Taraba State in the North own oil wells and blocs worth over $3billion dollars in the Niger Delta; yet all the Okumagbas, Briggs, Pepples, Wiwas etc natural Niger Deltans own nothing of their oil wells and/or blocs? Yet this oil is located in the Niger Delta? Icheoku calls on every right thinking Nigerian especially from the South to support the efforts of the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters to secure their independence from these Northern oligarchs once and for all. If it means total activism, so be it; why would a group appropriate all that is profitable just for themselves only and pretend the rest will not mind. It is crazy and it is hogwash. Niger Delta is likely the tinder that will set Nigeria ablaze, if not properly handled both professionally and rationally. Enough of this injustice being perpetrated by these Hausa/Fulani ruling group. Were the situation to reverse, these mullahs will not tolerate the South as a leech like they have been doing all these years of Nigeria's existence? Imagine the chairman of the ACF, Mr. Ibrahim Haruna, calling on the Federal Government to "deal seriously with the situation". Insisting that the militants are "mere miscreants," and that the government "should not go into any form of negotiation with them". If this is not arrogance, nothing else qualifies for that acronym. Icheoku says that it is the Northerners including this sicko, Ibrahim Haruna, that are the miscreants who need to be dealt with in Nigeria and ruthlessly too. In their desire to hide their evil acts from the international community, Mr. Ibrahim Haruna of the ACF is urging that "there was no need to internationalize the issue since it is a domestic matter". And what domesticity are we talking about, Mr. Haruna? Please give the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters a break, Mr. Ibrahim Haruna! Haba aboki? Walahi; Menini banaso kai!

In their very own words, Arewa Consultative Forum noted the grief, the pains and the hardship associated with environmental degradation from oil exploration without commensurate efforts at mitigating such suffering in the past in the Niger Delta. Then a natural flowing concomitant question there-from is, who constituted these past governments that have neglected the Niger Delta all these several decades? The answer is the ACF controlled governments of Tafawa Balewa, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalam Abubarkar and now the current sickly Umaru Yaradua. To make matters worse, the ACF has now purportedly appointed one of their own, Professor Ibrahim Gambari to head a government mediation conference between them and the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters and you ask yourself, how can this man be an impartial arbiter? This is the same Gambari from the North, who has been described as evil by the Niger Deltans because he called their hero, Ken Saro-Wiwa and others 'common criminals' before the international community in order to impress his master and cruel despot, the late General Sani Abacha. How can you be a judge in a case involving you? Why can't the ACF controlled federal government appoint an unbiased third party who has no dog in the fight, like Chief Emeka Ayaoku, ex-Commonwealth Secretary General of Igbo extraction or a Yoruba diplomat or any other person from the minority uninterested third party tribe to chair the peace conference between them and the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters? It shows that the ACF controlled federal government is not serious in their quest for a peaceful resolution of the raging conflict. Niger Delta should therefore follow through with their boycott and shun the so called Ibrahim Gambari's peace conference.

If it means total denial of access to the oil so be it, barring any equitable resolution of the conflict. As was recently decreed by the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Niger Delta, "as from next year's anniversary celebration of Late Isaac Adaka Boro, one of our heroes, there may be no more oil production in entire Ijaw territory! We will move our aged people unto production platforms for permanent residence. Women and children will take over rig sites and other offshore infrastructure. Unemployed youths will be moved into office spaces of oil companies. Unrest is not just a state of the mind. It is a course of action! No one will be allowed to take our oil without our permission anymore. Our blessing will not be allowed to be our curse”. However to achieve their objective the Niger Deltans must stay united as a house divided is bound to fall and this is the cardinal objective of ACF. ACF will do whatever it takes to infuse cracks in the foundation of the Niger Delta Freedom Fighters and certain utterances from some of the groups constituting the resistance is suggestive that their foundation is already shaking. MEND's Jomo Gbomo now speaks like he has been compromised by disassociating itself from the JRC and its actions; insisting that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is in no way affiliated with the JRC and they cannot act or take decisions on their behalf such as revoking the ceasefire they declared.

JRC said its combatants are prepared to confront the military where necessary as was witnessed a few days ago in the Bonga oil field and said the goal is to achieve self-determination for the region. To this objective, Icheoku says a loud AMEN! Continuing, JRC said, “given the insincere nature of the Nigerian state, self-determination remains our ultimate goal. The Ijaw and Niger Delta territory is bigger in geographical size than Kuwait or Kosovo. We will reward the countries and nation states that assist our struggle. We will guarantee them good access to the oil and gas resources at the appointed time. This is the time for them to sow seeds. We can strike anywhere in the Niger-Delta and there is no barrier whatsoever for us in the creeks of Niger-Delta, which is our homeland. Nowhere is unreachable to us”. Icheoku commends this audacity of statement and says if it is true, they should let the ball roll. Icheoku heretofore declare her unflinching support for the freedom activities of the Niger Deltans and affirms that anything short of equitable resolution of the age-long injustice in the Niger Delta should continue meeting the present resistance and much more! Aluta Continua!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NELSON MANDELA!

The father of Africa Liberation struggle, Mr. Nelson Mandela turned 90years recently. What a milestone! Ironically the British which colluded with then apartheid South Africa to steal the prime 27years of this man's life, by putting him away in Robin Island prison for his liberation struggles, is today celebrating his 90th birthday. Even the United States of America declared him a terrorist and placed him and his fellow ANC compatriots on their terrorist watch list which they just recently lifted to mark his 90th birthday. (see comment). They never gave him a chance but the rest is now history as they turned Nelson Mandela into a world hero! Nelson Mandela himself has forgiven all the apartheid operators, so Icheoku will follow suit and look at the glass half full instead. Icheoku therefore wishes Nelson Mandela the best of his golden years and pray that the African continent can raise some more Mandelas. Happy birthday, Nelson Mandela! See who is now laughing at the ignoble of the apartheid era! Maybe a case of he who laughs last? Grandpa of Africa, Icheoku appreciates you dearly. Happy 90th!

NIGERIANS EXECUTED!

Indonesia executed two Nigerian drug smugglers Fri, 06/27/2008; 10:06 AM

The Jakarta Post is reporting that two Nigerians convicted of smuggling illegal drugs were executed Thursday night near the Nusa Kambangan island prison in Cilacap, Central Java, a prosecutor was quoted by Kompas.com news portal as saying. Samuel Okoye, 37, and Hansen Nwaolisa, 40, were arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in 2001, each carrying more than 6.5 pounds (three kilograms) of heroin. They had been held at the high-security prison since their conviction. Earlier in the day, Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said the two Nigerians would face a firing squad "tonight". Television footage showed the wives and children of the convicts being escorted to the island, along with ambulances carrying two coffins.

It should be noted that one of these men, Mr. Nwaolisa was to be paid a paltry one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500dollars USD) only for his services and now Icheoku wonders if his life was just worth only such a meagre sum? Could this be a result of hardship that force people to go to such extent to survive or was it just an attempt to "kill dead body"? For whatever the reason, the amount does not fit the life that was shot away by Indonesian firing squad!

TRANSITION OF MARY JANE OGBULI

MARY JANE OGBULI

( NWACHINAEMELU )

It is with great sadness that we announce the transition of our dear sister who passed to the world beyond on May 29th, 2008 at Emmanuel Medical Care Center, Turlock, California, United States of America. Mary Jane was from the Family of Akunne Aniemeka Ogbuli of Ogboli-Eke Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Mary Jane was a darling sister of Onitsha-Ado Community of Northern California, USA and will be greatly missed by our community. Onitsha-Ado community of Northern California USA has suffered an irreparable loss with her demise.

Funeral Arrangement

Body leaves for Nigeria during the First week of July.

Signed

Onitsha-Ado Community of Northern California, USA!

BEHOLD THE FACE OF A JEZEBEL!

You are looking at the millionaire who inflicted several years of abuse on two Indonesian housekeepers, held as virtual slaves in her Long Island New York mansion, who received an 11-year prison sentence for her crimes. Varsha Sabhnani, 46, was convicted with her husband in December on a 12-count federal indictment that included forced labor, conspiracy, involuntary servitude and harboring aliens. The trial provided a glimpse into a growing U.S. problem of domestic workers exploited in slave-like conditions.

The victims testified that they were beaten with brooms and umbrellas, slashed with knives, and forced to climb stairs and take freezing showers as punishment. U.S. District Court Judge Arthur Spatt called the testimony "eye-opening, to say the least -- that things like that go on in our country." "In her arrogance, she treated Samirah and Enung as less than people," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Demetri Jones. "Justice for the victims: That's what the government is asking for." Federal sentencing guidelines had recommended a range of 12 to 15 years in prison for Sabhnani, who was identified as the one who inflicted the abuse. In addition to prison, she will serve three years probation and pay a $25,000 fine. "I just want to say that I love my children very much," the defendant told the court as two of her grown children looked on. "I was brought to this earth to help people who are in need."

Mahender Sabhnani, 51, who is free on bail while awaiting his own Friday sentencing, wept as he watched his wife's punishment pronounced. He was charged with the same crimes because he allowed the conduct to take place and benefited from the work the women performed in his home, prosecutors said. He is expected to receive a much shorter prison term. Prosecutors contended the accusations amounted to a "modern-day slavery" case. They said the maids were subjected to "punishment that escalated into a cruel form of torture," which ended in May 2007, when one of the women fled in the early morning hours of Mother's Day. She wandered into a Dunkin' Donuts wearing nothing but rags and employees called police.

"This did not happen in the 1800s," Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lesko said during the trial. "This happened in the 21st century. This happened in Muttontown, New York." The women, whose relatives in Indonesia were paid about $100 a month -- they received no cash-- said they were tortured and beaten for misdeeds that included sleeping late or stealing food from trash bins because they were poorly fed. Both women also said they were forced to sleep on mats in the kitchen. Spatt postponed a decision on the amount of back wages owed to the women. Prosecutors suggested the women were due more than $1.1 million, while defense attorneys said the figure should be much lower. The couple also face fines and could be forced to forfeit their home, which is valued at almost $2 million. Mahender Sabhnani ran a lucrative international perfume business out of a home office there. The victims said they were beaten with brooms and umbrellas, slashed with knives, forced to climb stairs and take freezing cold showers as punishment for various misdeeds. One victim was forced to eat dozens of chili peppers against her will, and then was forced to eat her own vomit when she couldn't keep the peppers down, prosecutors said. One of the women arrived in the Sabhnanis' Muttontown home in 2002; the second came in 2005. Their passports and other travel documents were immediately confiscated by the Sabhnanis, the women testified.

The defense, which intends to appeal, contended the two women concocted the story as a way of escaping the house for more lucrative opportunities. They also argued the housekeepers practiced witchcraft and may have abused themselves as part of a self-mutilation ritual. Defense attorney Jeffrey Hoffman said 175 letters were submitted to the court detailing Sabhnani's charitable acts around the world. He called her "a woman who spent a lifetime doing good deeds." Hoffman said that around 2004 or 2005, Sabhnani's weight plummeted from 325 pounds to 135. "She did it by starving herself," and that resulted in a chemical imbalance and significant malnourishment. "She had become a very different person." "I think it's very harsh," Hoffman said after the sentencing. "She has suffered dramatically."

TRANSITION OF MADAM ORIAKU EUNICE OGBONNAYA OPARA

LATE MADAM ORIAKU EUNICE OGBONNAYA OPARA

(Nee Elendu)

Mama was just 83years old!

It is with great grief but total submission to the will of God that we announce the death of our dear mother, aunt and mother-in law; who departed this world on June 7th, 2008 at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek California, United States of America.

Mama was from Agbo-Akoli, Akoliufo, Alayi in Bende, Abia State, Nigeria.

Funeral Arrangement

Body leaves for Nigeria on July 3rd, 2008

Signed

Humphrey Okeke

Son in-law
For & on behalf of the Family

IBB:- ONE DOWN, ONE MORE TO GO!

The evil genius Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) has finally turned the corner and confessed how he wickedly annulled the freest election ever to hold in black Africa! On June 12th 1993 Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the election of Alhaji Mudasiru Kolawole Oluwole Abiola as President-elect of Nigeria for no justifiable reason whatsoever. In his own very loud mouth and egoistic rambling, he admitted to this infamy and expects Nigerians to applaud him? Really? Shame on you Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

IBB spoke against the backdrop of the outcry that greeted the book written by former National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, where he attempted to absolve Babangida of blame in the episode. Babangida explained in a statement issued through his Media Spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, that the criticism against Nwosu is unnecessary because he has the right to write a book on his knowledge of events at the time. According to the spokesman, "Babangida has repeatedly said that given the circumstances at that period, it was better to take a decision, no matter how judgmental, than not to take one at all. And that he should be held responsible and accountable for whatever happened during his tenure as President". And Icheoku will like to add, that this includes the parcel-bombing of journalist Dele Giwa? Bravo Babangida! Kudos to you the evil one, the evil genius of Nigeria! Nigeria will forever vilify you for this stupidity and reckless disregard for the will of the millions of Nigerian electorates who for once freely decided on the candidacy of MKO Abiola as President of Nigeria; but which you thwarted. However, Icheoku says your confession is the way to go, IBB; one down and one more to go.

The question now is, when are you going to confess to your complicity or otherwise in the parcel-bomb assassination of Dele Giwa? Dele Giwa of Newswatch magazine, whom your henchmen killed to silence his investigative effort to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Gloria Okon; who was a victim of a cover-up dispatch. Anyway, Icheoku awaits that time when your ignoble self will also come around to make this once in a lifetime confession! Nigerians will finally exhale at that time and we pray it will be very soon. As for your aspiration or lack thereof to the presidency, just remember that you are no longer in uniform and that General Yakubu Gowon once ran for that office but was stopped cold by your one and only successful achievement, OPTION A4! May be a trial will convince you on how despicable you are in the eyes of Nigerians. Nigeria loathes and despises you for thumbing your nose on them on their historic June 12th, 1993. How dare you think that what you did to MKO Abiola will not turn around to hunt you? The chicken will finally come home to roost as soon as you declare your candidacy. What you denied MKO Abiola, you now want to enjoy? Dream on IBB! Nigeria will place you where you belong at the proper time, Mr. EVIL GENIUS!

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Number of millionaires swells

by Candice Choi

NEW YORK - The world's million­aires club is getting bigger and its members decidedly richer. The number of people around the globe with at least $1 million in assets swelled by 6 percent last year to 10.1 million, according to the 12th annual World Wealth Report released Tuesday by Merrill Lynch & Co. and Capgemini Group, a con­sulting firm. That means an additional 600,000 people became millionaires or richer even as problems tied to the U.S. credit crisis spread in the second half of the year. The combined wealth of the

mil­lionaires' club meanwhile grew 9.4 percent to $40.7 trillion. Their average wealth, which didn't include primary homes, surpassed $4 mil­lion for the first time.

The number of the super rich — those with at least $30 million — grew by 8.8 percent in population while their accumulated wealth grew by 14.5 per­cent. This rarefied group controls about a third of the $40.7 trillion. Warren Buffett is atop of this group with a personal fortune of $62billion dollars USD according to Forbes magazine.
For such an elite club, 10.1 million may seem like a lot of members. But the figure represents just 0.15 per­cent of the world's population of 6.7 billion.
When taking into account infla­tion and the expansion of the world economy, the growth in the number of people with at least $1 million is not surprising, said Brian Bethune, an economist with Global Insight. An increase of around 15 percent to 20 percent would mark an unex­pected jump, he said.

The U.S. is home to about a third of those around the world with at least $1 million. — AP
Note: Assets exclude collectibles, consumables, consumer durables and primary residences.

SIX TOP NIGERIAN BUSINESSMEN!

The Financial Times of London, yesterday gave a list of six Nigerians it rated as "Six of the best: Lords of the emerging private sector" stating that they constitute an elite club of business executives who have exploited Nigeria's emerging private sector opportunities to become super rich in recent years.The list led with the president of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and has five others namely, the chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga, Chief executive of UBA, Tony Elumelu, the chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, Zenon's Femi Otedola and Dahiru Mangal of Mangal Air.For Dangote, the newspaper said it is a measure of the achievement that he has made his fortune from more humble commodities such as cement, flour and sugar. “After starting as a trader, Mr Dangote is now one of the largest private sector employers. He has invested heavily in fixed asset production facilities in Nigeria and is the broker of ground-breaking deals with South Africa and China,” FT said.On Adenuga, FT said he has traversed the world of oil, banking and now telecoms. "Quite literally, larger than life - at least to newly arrived visitors to Ghana, who face huge billboards carrying the likeness of the founder of Globacom, Mr Adenuga's expanding mobile network as they make their way into Accra,” it said.The newspaper said Adenuga has shrugged off speculation that his wealth is built on relations he enjoyed with Nigeria's military rulers in the late 1980s and early 1990s.“His relationship with the government has not been without its moments of difficulty. He found himself under investigation in 2006 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. After being arrested for two days Mr Adenuga then spent several months out of the country,” FT stated.Elumelu was described as a serial optimist who has driven the bank to a new international profile with a network that includes a presence in the US and the UK."He is also a figure of some controversy, both with regard to his 2005 takeover of the bank and for his bank's relations with several former government officials and state governors now linked to corruption,” the report said. FT said that Ovia returned to Nigeria from studying in the US in the 1980s with an MBA from Louisiana University and a plan to set up something new in Nigerian banking."He founded Zenith in 1990 and continues to shape the bank in his own image. Under his stewardship Zenith survived the crash of the mid-1990s when Sani Abacha, Nigeria's then military ruler, closed down foreign exchange dealing loopholes and forced many unsound banks out of business,” FT said noting that his success stems from his devise of uncluttered bureaucracy of established rivals, Otedola was described as the diesel prince. According to the report, the reasons behind Otedola's astonishingly swift rise from relative anonymity to a position where his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas enjoyed a near monopoly on Nigeria's lucrative market in diesel have attracted interest and speculation in equal measure.Mangal, according to FT, “He is, however a well-connected and increasingly prosperous businessman from President Yar'Adua's native Katsina state with interests in haulage and trading, as well as air charters. Mr Mangal is said to have helped finance Mr Yar'Adua's gubernatorial campaigns in Katsina in 1999 and 2003 and is one of the few businessmen to have the president's ear.”

NO MORE HAPPY TUNES?

With the sudden demise of Chief Sunday Akanite aka Oliver De Coque, King of Highlife, the Highlife listening world, especially those Igbo happy men and women who gyrate to the audacious tune of Highlife music, have been deprived of the last remaining master-musician of our times. According to one sympathiser, “as far as Highlife music is concerned in the South East, Oliver was the last man standing and now that he is dead, it is hoped that Highlife in the east would not die with him.” Oliver De Coque passed on to the great beyond last Friday June 20th, 2008 after a massive coronary embolism aka heart attack.

Last year we lost our other maestro Chief Osita Osadebe and now it is Oliver de Coque; what is happening in the kingdom of happiness? Shall we all now run to the Pentecostal church for their choir? May the soul of Oliver De Coque, Osita Osadebe as well as other entertainers including Sonny Okosun who have passed, continue to provide joy and happiness in the land beyond. Icheoku believes in the after-life and that death is comparable to dreamland; but unlike the living person, the dead dreams on forever, uninterrupted. Oliver, you have moved on to glory but your musical legacy will live forever; we shall treasure your music forever! In the eyes of your innumerable fans, you are not really dead! Adios! So long Oliver, say hi to Osadebe and Sonny Okosun! Ka omesie!

NIGERIA UNSOLVED MURDERS MYSTERY?

Take it or leave it, until these most heinous political assassinations and murders of the century which took place in Nigeria is finally brought to a conclusive end, there will never be a real peace in that country. All the Truth and Reconciliation Commission notwithstanding! The blood of the innocence; the crimson of the victims screamed to high heavens for vengeance and surely they must be avenged. Abel's blood shows us that no unjustily shed blood will go unavenged!
Over the years, several personalities have been killed by the powers that be in Nigeria and all the world is told is that their death is a mystery or that armed bandits struck. Among these notable personalities that fell victim to these political assassinations and state sponsored murders were Dele Giwa, Pa Rewane, Ken Saro Wiwa, Bola Ige, Barnabas Igwe, Harry Marshall, Dikkibo and Funsho Williams to just name a few. To date no one directly responsible or implicated in these criminalities has been brought to book. The reason is not for lack of suspects but that these prospective suspects are deemed untouchables because they are part of the powers that be which have ran Nigeria aground and for so long. Nigerians have be silent for so long! Enough is enough and let the shouting begin! Icheoku now examines the various murders and what is known or suspected about them:-

Dele Giwa - Fortunately the person responsible for this death by parcel bomb of African foremost journalist Dele Giwa is still breathing the air of freedom in Nigeria. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida under whose watch Dele Giwa was blown away because he was investigating a story on Gloria Okon linking him, Babangida, to one sordid business deal is today walking the grounds of Nigeria as if no life was brutally taken. Maybe TEAM BABANGIDA is waiting for such a time when another shameless Professor Humphery Nwosu, will write another book exonerating Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida for the murder of Dele Giwa just like the said Humphery Nwosu insulted the mentality of all Nigerians with his book claiming that Babangida was not involved in the annulment of June 12th MKO Abiola's election! According to Professor WOle Soyinka, "Prof. Humphery Nwosu’s book was a serious mischief, trying to paint Babangida in a different hue over the anti-people act he committed when he annulled the election". Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Akilu his henchman must be brought to account for what they know or did not know about Dele Giwa's violent death with parcel bomb! It is regretable that these varmints are still parading themselves in Nigeria as if their hands are not dripping in the blood of Dele Giwa among numerous others including Gideon Orkar, Mamman Vasta etc. The other equally abhorrent and despicable of people in this saga are those who kept silent in the face of tyranny - the other Newswatch crew! The cowardly manner the rest of the Newswatch crew turned tail from investigating the killer/s of their erstwhile colleague and founding member, Dele Giwa when all leads point to one man and one man only - Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was very shameful indeed! Shame on you Ray Ekpu & Co; for your disservice to the journalism profession as well as the memory of your colleague, Dele Giwa.

Pa Rewane - this elder statesman was killed by the then Head of State General Sani Abacha goons, under his direction because of his democratic activities. Although Sani Abacha has since died but no official responsibility has been assigned to him either posthumously or to one of his colleagues in miltary gansterism, for this death. It is just not ok to consign such a high profile killing to another social incident; especially so when it is considered that the victim had a family who were perpetually deprived of their patriach. One would argue that since general Sani Abacha is long dead, nobody is left to take responsibility for this atrocity; but in answer Icheoku says, Abacha did not act in isolation but had a team of co-travelers in their land of wanton indifference to human life. Jeremiah Useni, Oladipo Diya and Abdulsalam Abubarkar were all part of the Abacha infamy and should be held accountable for the misdeeds of the Abacha junta. That Abacha was posthumously recently praised by Islamist Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as well as Abdulsalam Abubarkar, all retired ex-military juntas who pillaged Nigeria as Head of State respectively, was a gamesmanship meant to rubbish the psyche of every Nigerian. How dare these mallams tell Nigerians that General Sani Abacha was a saint when all the state murders carried out by his regime cries to high heavens including Pa Rewane's? Was the over $500million dollars USD allegedly recovered from Switzerland as proceeds of looting of Sani Abacha by Olusegun Obasanjo a fantasy or what? It is about time Nigerians stand up to these military marauders whose only qualification is that they were dare-devils in uniform staging one coup after another and today they are opening their loud mouth to beatify a despicable man as Sani Abacha! To hell with these urchins! Pa Rewane's death in the hands of Abacha goons must be investigated and responsibility assigned accordingly.

Ken Saro Wiwa - General Sani Abacha arrested, "tried" and executed this freedom activist all within forty-eight hours for no other reason than to silence his voice of freedom for his people - the Niger Delta Peoples of Nigeria. Like they say, you cannot silence the people by killing off their leader and today, the situation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria bears testimony to this. Yet this was the same Abacha, Babangida, Buhari and Abubarkar were pouring encomiums on as their saint from the North? Or is it because these bloods were Southerners? When will these Arewa bloodhounds be told enough is enough? Coincidentally all those being killed are Southerners and those doing the killings are all Northerners. Something is not right here or am I hallucinating? Ken Saro Wiwa's offence was merely that he was agitating for fairness for his Niger Delta People of Nigeria whose land had been devastated by so many years of oil pillaging by the Northerners without adequate recompense for the owners of the land, the Niger Deltans. If there is one death that needs to be thoroughly and fully investigated, it is Saro Wiwa's; and the Military Governor of Rivers State then, Col. Marwa is today, a Nigerian Ambassador to somewhere and one wonders the kind of people inhabiting that country Nigeria? Maybe a band of marauders? How did he pass muster of vetting for the job of an Ambassador one may ask or is he just one of a kind? Afterall the Senate President David Mark and his golf course in Ireland which he purchased with NITEL money when he was Communications Minister is there for every eye to see! Or how else was he able to purchase a 33million Pounds Sterling golf course in Ireland? Only in Nigeria's holy grail! A band of bandits, maybe? The other day their House of Representatives refused to pass the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) and one wonders what they are hiding? Also not too long ago, one of them alleged that some of their members are criminals practising the notorious Nigerian 419 Fraud! His head was called for and he cowardly backed down. A den of scavengers masquerading as a National Assembly one may ask? But they represent all that is wrong with Nigeria - CORRUPTION & FRAUD! House of Representatives are 419 criminals? Governors are killers and money launderers? President is fraudulent with several billions of dollars belonging to the treasury missing? Who then are these Nigerians with such criminal leadership?

Bola Ige - The medicine man of Otta, Babalawo Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo supervised the killing of this Cicero of Oke Ona, a serving Attorney General of the Federation and to date his blood is being flushed down the drain pipes without morse? It is not fair, it is not right and to make matters worst, the hitherto vociferous, loquacious and boisterous Yoruba Nation is keeping quiet over this murder. What has become of the sons and daughters of Oduduwa that they will keep silent in the face of tyranny or is it because it involved one of their men? Olusegun Obasanjo ought to be arrested and tried for this heinous assassination of one of the country's foremost lawyers and politician of great repute. That Obasanjo is still strolling the grounds of his Otta farm a free man adds credence to the country's reputation that anything goes in that country. It happened to a sitting Attorney General, how about the man of straw on the street? It is such story that sends shivers to investors, tourists and visitors that they would rather pass on Nigeria!

Barnabas Igwe and his wife: - the former governor of Anambra State, Mbadinuju was fingered as the man responsible for the butchering of this lawyer and his wife because they opposed some of the antics of his governace of Anambra State. Several witnesses have come up but to date Mbadinuju is still walking a free man in Nigeria. How can this be possible in a country that wants to move forward when the sanctity of human life is a no brainier especially when the powers that be are involved? How can these people who were sworn in to protect lives and properties of the people be the ones wantonly taking them? It is crass lawlessness and very condemnable. According to the story, Barnabas Igwe who was then the chairman of Onitsha Bar Association was shot, cut into pieces with a machete and then had his dismembered body-parts crushed with a truck and photographs of the carnage taken for a "mission accomplished" report; all on the orders and directive of then governor of Anambra State, Mbadinuju. For any body in doubt, such a high crime cannot take place except it has the sanction of the highest authority and that authority in Anambra State then was Mbadinuju. Mbadinuju is today still walking the grounds of Nigeria a free man and Icheoku says it is not right! Mbadinuju should be arrested and prosecuted for this heinous double homicide with special circumstance, pronto!

Harry Marshall & Dikkibo: - Peter Odili, then governor of Rivers State is being fingered for these killings and one authority has it that he secured the approval of Olusegun Obasanjo to seal it. These two murdered men were prominent sons of Rivers State who were respectively cut down in their homes while sleeping in their bedrooms according to the reports. If ex-governor Peter Odili was responsible for these heinous murders, why hasn't he been arrested to face the music for his crimes or has he crossed the threshold where you cannot be held accountable any longer for crimes because of your standing in the Nigerian society? These two deaths must be conclusively investigated in order for a lasting peace to reign in the land of Adaka Baro.

Funsho Williams - The Lagos State PDP under Olabode George is the guilty party here. Funsho Williams was killed inside his bedroom to stop his assured victory in the Lagos State PDP election primaries. To date no one has been arrested or tried for this heinous crime despite all the witnesses present and the killing was done shortly after a meeting of some party officials and in his house. What type of country is this that known killers of men go scot-free? At least there is existing circumstantial evidence which any slight forensic would have unraveled but they will not pursue it.

Icheoku here therefore calls on the present government of Umaru Yaradua as a matter of urgency to immediately direct the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to re-open investigations on all these identified "state" murders. There is also a state of emergency on security matters in Nigeria and this is paramount to even the Power sector! People must feel safe to operate and you cannot thrive if you cannot operate. Same with investors, tourists and visitors. There is no way a sitting Attorney General of the Federation can just be killed except with approval or signing off from the highest office in the land and that office higher than the Attorney General's is the presidency and Olusegun Obasanjo was the president then. So there is a start off base for the investigation, Olusegun Obasanjo! It does not make sense that a weapon's grade parcel bomb took the life of Dele Giwa when he was doing a story involving Babangida about Gloria Okon without IBB signing off on it; yet Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is still walking the streets of Minna, Nigeria parading himself as a "prince" therein. In Pakistan, Benazair Bhutto was assassinated and Musharaff fearing nothing to hide invited the Scotland Yard to investigate, they conclusively gave an opinion which was acceptable to the Pakistanians; why not do the same with Nigeria with respect to some of these murders? Same goes with Mbadinuju and the Igwes; Peter Odili and the Marshals etc.

The only way to stop criminality is to make no one a sacred cow, immune from prosecution thereby. For the fact that these marauders are still walking free and tall in Nigeria instead of being caged in the confines of a prison makes the government an implied corroborator and comforter of despicable men.

When will it stop? A serving Justice Minister was KILLED and a current Justice Minister is not throwing tantrums? Where is the camaraderie? Where is the outrage? Nobody wants to die, really? But where is Sani Abacha today? Where is MKO Abiola? Where is Adedibu? Where is Bola Ige? Where is Okadigbo? The only man who lives forever is that man who has etched his name in marble! Attorney General and Minister of Justice Aandookaa, please urge your President Umaru Yaradua to let you investigate these murders to their conclusion. If you die in the process, so be it; at least Nigerians will know you died trying to do right for them. Every man shall die someday! Be a man, bite the bullet. Stand up to these beasts and clean up the urgean stable. It stinks to high heavens. Bola Ige was assassinated yesterday, it may be your turn tomorrow, please do something today! If Abiola had not parried with the military to overthrow Shagari, maybe they would not have sucked life out of him when they did with the June 12th, annulment. He who dines with the devil must use a very long spatula, as spoon may not be long enough, when the devil wants your head! Why serve, if you cannot make a difference? The power you presently possess, someone have had it before including the assassinated Bola Ige! The money you may be making today, someone once had it in abundance before including the Late MKO Abiola. Nothing really is worth a dumb followership. Stand up and be counted! Mr. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Aondoakaa destiny calls for you to investigate these murders conclusively now and have your legacy enshrined forever in the annals of Nigeria!

SLAVERY, AMERICA WILL APOLOGIZE!

On February 13th, 2008, the Prime Minister of Australia Mr. Kevin Rudd took a major step in righting the wrongs of the past with his apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples. Prime Minister Rudd, without any qualifications whatsoever, apologised unreservedly on behalf of the Government and People of Australia for all the wrongs that were meted to the indigenous peoples of Australia either by legislation or policies of past governments including the early settlers, the great forebears of present day majority Australians. It was candid, it was sincere and it was received as a welcome step in the right direction. In his opening statement, Prime Minister Rudd said "... today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.We reflect on their past mistreatment.We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history. The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future. We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry. To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry. And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation. For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written. We today take this first step by acknowledging the past ......" (the complete text of the speech could be found hereinunder as a comment). This is the mark of a Leadership that is prepared to brave its past and ask for forgiveness. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia is heretofore acknowledged by Icheoku as a statesman. The essence of an apology for a conduct is not to take away the indignities of what happened but to acknowledge the wrongness of it and ask for forgiveness. Prime Minister Rudd did the correct thing and Icheoku says the apology is accepted by the aboriginals without more.

Not too long ago, the ebullient Canadian's Prime Minister, Steven Harper bit the bullet, followed the lead of Australia's Kevin Rudd and apologised for the maltreatment of indigenous native America Indians by Canada through the Indian Residential Schools system. On behalf of the Government of Canada and all Canadians, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered an historic formal apology on June 11 2008 to former students of Indian Residential Schools and sought forgiveness for the students’ suffering and for the damaging impact the schools had on Aboriginal culture, heritage and language. In his own words, “The treatment of children in Indian Residential Schools is a sad chapter in our history; today, we recognize this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country. The Government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the Aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly". Continuing, Prime Minister Steven Harper said "the Government recognizes that the absence of an apology has been an impediment to healing and reconciliation”. (full text of the speech is hereunder reproduced as a comment).
The forced residential traumatic experience of native Indians in Canada, wherein the native Indians children were institutionalised in a residential experiment to metaphorically "kill the Indian in their children" was the wrong culminating in the Prime Minister's apology. Prime Minister Steven Harper was right; he did the right thing since the essence is not to make the experience vanish but is a mea culpa admitting to the wrongness of what was done that the giver is freed of a guilty conscience turmoil and the receiver knows that he was treated inhumanly and accept his fate in order to truly move on. Icheoku commends this candour of Canada's Prime Minister Steven Harper.

South Africa used the instrumentality of their Truth & Reconciliation Commission to "heal" the wounds of apartheid man's inhumanity to a fellow man.

Now the big elephant in the house; the eight hundred pound guerrilla - the American government and slavery! What is America waiting for? When will America apologise for slavery? Icheoku thinks the time is right now so that it can link up in the chain of history with Australian and Canada examples; that the hurting and the contrite heart can forever move on and earnestly. Remember that the essence is the feel-good appeal wherein the giver shows remorse for a not too good past conduct and the receiver accepts the apology without much. It is more of a symbolic psychological healing event! As was eloquently put by Steven Harper, "the Government recognizes that the absence of an apology has been an impediment to healing and reconciliation", and Icheoku adopts this sound reasoning as the red meat of the racial tension in America society today. Further, like Australia, America needs to take the first step by acknowledging the past ......" in order to truly seek total reconciliation among the races.

Admitted that some pontificators have argued otherwise or that enough has already been done to ameliorate slavery or that blacks have had it so wonderfully good in America or that it was a generation several millenia away; BUT there is still that missing gap. A man was formerly enslaved by a fellow man. Nothing is wrong in a child paying a debt owed by his father especially so when that debt was borrowed by the father to build an estate which benefited the child. The indignity of that sad era in our history still resonates within the psyche of every average Joe African American especially those born by both African American parents. It cannot be wished away as to do so will be to continue to feed the arrogance of the giver and fuel the inferiority complex and resentment of the receiver. With a simple terse acknowledgement of a past wrong and an apology for it even absent taking full responsibility for it, the bitterness of the historical fact of slavery will forever be laid to rest in America. Icheoku strongly believes that this is a more portent weapon than all the reparations of this world. Australia has done similar thing! Canada followed suit! Likewise was South Africa. So America, when will you apologize for slavery.

THE IGBO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!

The year 2016 may seem to be a long way out there but time is Houdini the magician, whose disappearing antics is phenomenal. That would be the year the current president Umaru Yaradua would have completed his eight year term of four years each in office assuming he survives his closely guarded illness. Then the Igbo will have a shot at the presidency of Nigeria, barring any other fuzzy mathematical calculations of the overlords of Nigerian political landscape that may seek to abort or elongate it further. It seems like yesterday that the medicine man of Otta Babalawo Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo was behaving like the alpha and omega of Nigeria; the A to Z of the Nigeria country alphabets; the king who can do no wrong of Nigeria; the lord of the manor of the Nigeria farmland! Olusegun Obasanjo’s eight years of opprobrium has since ended and today he is now history, consigned to the garbage of another useless ex-leader of Nigeria who had a second chance at etching his name in gold but failed woefully to utilize it. He blew it!

Today a Fulani man, ex-governor of Kastina State named Umaru Yaradua representing the North, is presiding and steering the ship of the nation called Nigeria. Hopefully he will survive his eight-year tenure, as he is very sick of an undisclosed illness which has seen him spending more time on a hospital bed in Germany than at his office desk in Aso Rock, governing Nigeria. Whereas his predecessor and sole-installer Olusegun Obasanjo governed Nigeria in his jet gallivanting and traversing the world on a jamboree; Yaradua is experimenting governance from a hospital bed from far away Germany. At the end of his tenure, naturally, the Igbo should produce the next occupant of Aso Rock to captain the ship of the Nigeria state; except there is another gang-up by the “powers that be” to pervert justice. Two crucial questions however will be whether the other components of Nigeria will tolerate and accept an Igbo presidency and secondly, whether the Igbo will be ready to assume the office willy-nilly?

Surprisingly, the Igbo expected to get the vice presidency last 2007 but they were out-maneuvered by the other more politically savvy components of Nigeria who preferred an Ijaw man from the South South instead. Naturally flowing from this past conduct is what then is the guarantee that 2016 will be a fait accompli for an Igbo president? One school of thought has it that it is preparatory to this Igbo presidency that they bye-passed the Igbos as they would not like the Igbo to remain successively for sixteen years in Aso Rock – eight as vice president and subsequent eight as president. Icheoku expects that the other components parts constituting Nigeria will keep the fate and respect the need for the continued existence of Nigeria as one corporate entity! Be that as it may, this article is premised on the solemn believe that the Igbo will as of urgent necessity be allowed to captain the Nigeria State ship come 2016. Then, the other question remains, will the Igbo be ready and who among them therefore will assume the mantle of an Igbo president of Nigerian? Which Igbo man or woman will be the ready and capable president of Nigeria? Will he or she come from the core Igbo of Eastern Nigeria constituting the former East Central States or the Igbo of the former Biafra experiment which includes Rivers, Delta, Anioma, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States? Which Igbo man or woman will be the ideal Igbo presidential candidate, judging from the crackpot political treachery of Nigerian strange bed-fellows?

Icheoku posits that such Igbo President must be a true-bred Igbo indigene, from the one of the core Igbo states of former Eastern Central States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States only. Rivers State did not release Igbo properties seized as abandoned properties during the Biafra war so they are not truly to be trusted with what is rightfully Igbo possession or entitlement. Same goes with Delta as they refer to the Igbo as Igbo people – “nwoyeigbo”. Such a presidential candidate must be a true believer in the Igbo ideal and unlike the late Rt Hon. Nnamdi Azikwe's philosophy, must understand that charity begins at home. That first, he or she is an Igbo person, before being a Nigerian. According to one Igbo aphorism, wrappers are tied from inside out and so one Nigeria should be prefaced with an Igbo ideology. Such an Igbo candidate must be a Nigerian with a deeply rooted Igbo ideology and patriotism. That Igbo son or daughter of the soil presidential candidate must be intelligent, smart, brave and very discerning; and if well educated, a plus. He or she must be effective, nimble, firm and very decisive. He or she must exhibit candor and be resolute. Leadership is not necessarily required as none ever existed in NIgeria and may never be found among any stock in the present day Nigeria as constituted. “Fear of God” is not necessarily sine qua non since it does not really exist in Nigeria otherwise the Babalawo of Otta, Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, with all his protestations of Christianity, would not have wrecked Nigeria with the quantum of havoc his eight years brought on Nigeria. If such a candidate is spiritual, it is a plus as once in a while every one needs a private devotional commune with the beings for inner tranquility.

Who then so qualifies as that Igbo presidential candidate of the Nigeria State? It depends on whether this time around, the Igbo will get their act together and realize that their greater good is better than the selfish desire of a few individuals; and rally round one formidable candidate to be presented as the Igbo candidate for Nigeria to the Nigeria State and not allow the other Nigerians to choose the Igbo candidate who will be the Igbo president. Without a rocket-science education, were the rest of the country to choose the Igbo candidate, one knows that they will choose that Igbo man with the least courage who they can manipulate like a yoo yoo. But not this time! Never! At this moment in history only the best Igbo should be fielded to bravely bring back home to the Igbo their own share of the long awaited and over due dividends of democracy. At least there is Lagos for the Yorubas, Abuja for the Hausas/Fulani but no place for the Igbo; Enugu which would have provided the proven grounds for the Igbo is under developed due to many years of marginalization by the Nigeria ruling establishment; with successive government acting in concert to humiliate and deprive the region of its due share of resource allocation. The Igbo region for example, is the only region without an international airport in Nigeria yet the Igbo are the most frequent travellers in Nigeria. But can the Igbo rise above their very selfish individualistic goals? It is the bane of the Igbo nation - their selfish individualistic ego.
According to Professor of Law and former Dean of Faculty/Vice Chancellor of University of Ado_Ekiti, Akin Oyebode, responding to why Igbo were left out during the last transition, posited as follows: -

“The Igbos are their own worst enemy. They couldn’t get their acts together. They ought to have put their efforts together so that somebody would have emerged, a credible candidate that was saleable throughout the country; one that has the profile and the wherewithal to stake a claim to the presidency. If the Igbo were together, they would have been a very important figure that could not be ignored. Quite sincerely, the individualism of the Igbo has been their undoing because they always say the Igbo have no king; every man is his own boss; that they are the quintessential democrats. But in the Nigerian factor you have to gather together your forces so that you become a formidable factor that cannot be ignored. But when you split your vote against different people, then you can be taken for granted. I am not preaching to the Igbo or telling them what to do, but they must try to ensure they have a credible person. So, when you give the impression that you are not together, it is not pleasant. The Yoruba have a saying that “it is only when the wall cracks that the lizard can find an entry. So, the Igbo left their flanks unprotected”.

Quite succinctly and very eruditely put, Professor Oyebode! If only the Igbo could take this candid advise from Professor Akin Oyebode and run to the bank with it; so that their next outing in 2016 will be somewhat more professionally choreographed and elegant. The professor candidly articulated the bane of the Igbo society in Nigeria and something must be done about it and speedily too if the Igbo were to ever move forward again in Nigeria political terrain.

Icheoku has extensively researched this subject and now comes up with such prospective Igbo candidate for the presidency of Nigeria come 2016 to include Senator Kenneth Nnamani, Dr. Andy Uba, Lady Dora Akunyili and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu . As you may recall certain credentials were listed earlier as being imperative for the Igbo presidential candidate and includes being an insider with working-knowledge of the Nigeria Corporation; brave, smart, decisive, intelligent and must not be a pauper. Dear reader, you have to agree with Icheoku that these mentioned men and woman bona fide Igbo are eminently qualified as the Igbo president of Nigeria in the waiting, based on the above listed criteria.

SENATOR KEN NNAMANI: - This former president of the Nigeria Senate has presided over Nigeria before through her senate, hence has acquired the necessary experience of what the Nigeria experiment is all about. He has managed the over one hundred men and women from every part of Nigeria who converged in Abuja as their respective State Federal Senators. Such goodwill is endearing and will be a big plus for him in trying to govern the ever ungovernable Nigeria. Also Ken Nnamani is brave as he proved during the aborted third term machination of Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo when above all odds he stood firm against every threat and intimidation and proceeded with live telecast of the debate; while at the same time refusing all the inducements thrown his way to influence him and the outcome of such deliberation. Further he is a son of the soil with both native intelligence and academic credentials obtained in the United States of America. His days in the Senate proved he is very decisive and highly motivated and efficient. His love for fatherland was also put to test during the provocations of ex-Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State when he cleverly avoided a total showdown with the governor; not because he was afraid of confrontation or the outcome but because he did not want the possible destruction of lives and properties in his dear Enugu State. Ken Nnamani is equally a man of means which he achieved long before he went into service of his fatherland through politics. Age is also on his side after-all Olusegun Obasanjo went back to Aso Rock at about seventy years old. Ken will still be strong in the next eight years, taking a cue from Senator John McCain of the United States of America.

DR. ANDY UBA: - This formally unknown power player in the Nigeria politics has been in the corridors of power in Nigeria as the personal assistant in chief of former president Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo throughout Obasanjo’s eight years misadventure in Aso Rock. Andy as he is fondly called by his admirers therefore has interacted with every section of the Nigeria polity but whether the fallouts of the disgraced Olusegun Obasanjo will taint his candidacy is yet to be determined; but he has the needed insider experience required of a potential Igbo presidential candidate. He has a doctorate degree, so is academically qualified. He is a full fledged Igbo man from Uli Anambra State but his patriotism is doubtful judging that his eight year service to Olusegun Obasanjo was not rewarded with any tangible project in Igboland. He must also have been smart to have survived Obasanjo for the eight years and endeared himself to his heart. He is equally brave otherwise he would not be a power player within the Nigeria political field. That Andy Uba is well-healed is evident in his asset declaration form, during his brief stint as governor of Anambra State, when he declared assets to a tune in excess of three trillion naira as at May 2007.

LADY DORA AKUNYILI: - This "Iron Lady" of NAFDAC has surreptiously crept into the warm embrace of all decent minded Nigerians as a do no evil, see no evil or speak no evil lady whose desire to rid Nigeria of death merchants masquerading as drug manufacturers and importers as well as fake goods dealers has seen her up close and personal with death several times. Her affront with the late strongman of Ibadan local politics equally revealed the core of this amiable pretty face. Icheoku considered her candidacy positively and should Nigerians desire a female Igbo president, she is most qualified among the teeming female populace. She has all the attributes deserving of an Igbo presidential candidate and should eminently hold her own if elected.

CHIEF ORJI UZO KALU: - This maverick of Nigeria politics is a man, love him or hate him, you must acknowledge has swarm the shark infested waters of Nigeria politics very well. That this “Aba boy” former governor of Abia State is brave is only for the naysayer to deny. He spear-headed the fight against third term of Olusegun Obasanjo long before the rest of other patriots joined in chasing the Babalawo of Otta back to his farmland. Enyimba of Aba stands on mountain top attesting to this son of the soil’s fearless bravado. Orji Kalu has mixed and mingled among powerful men and women of Nigeria from the first class Emirs in the North to the First class Obas in the West to all the Chiefs in the East as well as military top brass both serving and retired. He also plays in international arena having made friends among the world’s high and mighty especially in the United States of America. He reputedly mended fence between Buhari and Babangida. That Ojukwu and Ekwueme resolved their differences was through his deft relationship building prowess. He is educated enough not to be an Olusegun Obasanjo. Smart and intelligent enough to make all the money he made to have given PDP the sum of over five hundred million naira way back in 1999.

To date these prominent Igbo sons are what the Igbo need in their quest and adventure to go back fully integrated into Nigeria through the presidency. As the popular saying goes, “it takes a thief to catch a thief” so the Igbo must give Nigerians one of their type who will be acceptable to them. Someone who understands how the game is played and who will not be anybody’s push-over; both by the military and other power lords in Nigeria. Any of these three candidates should be seriously considered come 2016 Igbo presidency as the preferred Igbo candidate to be collectively supported by the entire Igbo nation. They are men of stature, means and immense experience in the Nigeria political arena to survive the shark infested waters of politics and deliver for the Igbos come 2016. Only a real man or woman who can do right by and for the Igbo should be the nominee! Icheoku strongly believes that any of these three men or this very woman Dora Akunyili, is such a REAL IGBO MAN or WOMAN to mount the saddle and represent our cause very effectively!