THE SACK OF IWU, A CAPITULATION BY ACTING PRESIDENT JONATHAN?

Icheoku regrets that Nigeria's Acting President Jonathan Goodluck went against all grains of his thought to still fire INEC's Professor Maurice Iwu, despite expressing confidences in him and stating publicly that the ex-chairman is capable of conducting credible elections in Nigeria; and that he was not the problem militating against elections in Nigeria?

Just for the records, Icheoku is not holding fort for Maurice Iwu nor are we on his retainer-ship, but in order to hold Jonathan's feet to the fire regarding a commitment which he earlier made to himself and in front of world cameras. Query, if Professor Maurice Iwu was not the problem and is capable of conducting free and fair elections, why then did the acting president go along with those crusaders calling for the head of the ex-chairman of INEC and had it axed? The answer seems to be to placate the United States of America which desired that singular outcome, since what America wants America gets? Meanwhile the electoral officer/s that gave America Gore v. Bush 2000 is still in office and so also is the American Supreme Court that validated such anomaly?

Yet a man who did his best under the most excruciating of circumstances, successfully wresting power from an unyielding and power-drunk Olusegun Obasanjo; and effectively transferred political baton from one democratic government to another, the first time it was ever achieved in Nigeria has been axed? Icheoku asks, has anyone in America called for the trial of the deity of Otta, Olusegun Obasanjo for the mayhem that was his eight years in office? Has anyone in America or elsewhere castigated Obasanjo for micro-managing the subject-matter INEC's election result, that has now completely destroyed Iwu's career and profile? It is Obasanjo who wielded the big stick behind Iwu's head and forced him to produce or rather read out an already collated election results, which were arrived at ever before the first ballot was cast into the ballot box? But no, Maurice Iwu is a sacrificial lamb and under the bus was he thrown; now to be known as the worst election-umpire Nigeria has ever had.

Icheoku's beef with Jonathan over the sack of Maurice Iwu is not with regard to his inherent authority to so do; but that there is no basis or grounds to sack him after the same Jonathan had earlier acknowledged that Iwu was not the problem and is capable of conducting free and fair elections. The question remains, why punish an innocent man; who is still qualified to lead INEC according to Jonathan's own estimation and under the circumstances? If Maurice Iwu was a partial election umpire and was fired for this malfeasance, what should then become the fate of all those beneficiaries of his manipulated election, including Jonathan Goodluck? It is just not fair to hate a thief and at the same time cavort his loot. If one hates a thief so much as to despise him, common logic and fairness demands that such a person should not appreciate the pillage of the thief's brigandage. But here is Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, a product of Maurice Iwu's alleged electoral malfeasance, pretending to be holier than thou in firing the same man whose warped election produced his government. Icheoku asks, if Jonathan Goodluck was so disturbed by the election conducted by Iwu, why did he not decline the then vice presidency or insisted that a fresh election be conducted after Obasanjo had handed over to them? If Iwu must be sacked for the election he conducted, what happens to the wise men of the Supreme Court who later held the elections valid? What also become the fate of Jonathan Goodluck and his fellow political beneficiaries or are they going to resign and apologize to Nigerians for being collaborators in an alleged Maurice Iwu's orchestrated election fraud?

Icheoku says, it is a cruel irony to hate the hen for laying eggs and yet, savoring such eggs? If one does not like something, let him/her please completely reject it and whatever it represents or brings to the table. But it does not make sense to hate something so much and still like some other thing about it or its product? It is akin to a stone-throwing protesting Middle-Eastern boy shouting "I hate America" and is wearing a Nike cap, a Jordan's tennis shoes, a Gap T-shirt and drinking Coca-Cola to quench his thirst? It is the same logic on its head wherein a woman is condemned for having adulterous affair while the married man she had it with is exonerated; and you ask yourself wherein was the consummation or completion of the illicit affair without a culpable party?

The sacking of Professor Maurice Iwu is done and there is no amount of brooding that will make undone what is already done, so Nigeria's elections must move on without him. However, Icheoku rejects this cherry-picking of culpability and the scape-goating of only Maurice Iwu, in a motley crowd of election riggers and manipulators including Acting President Jonathan Goodluck who was installed a vice president on the orders of Olusegun Obasanjo to Maurice Iwu's INEC. Maurice Iwu was not the only participant in the election malpractice and fairness would have seen everyone who benefited from such election fraud suffer some consequence or reprimand for their roles, including Olusegun Obasanjo himself, the master-mind of the outcome and who was pulling the strings of puppet Iwu. Like earlier noted, Icheoku does not hold the brief of Iwu, but that justice would have been had in what was an apparent capitulation of Nigeria's Acting President Jonathan Goodluck to an over-bearing American influence. Hopefully this Washington's arm-twisting will end with this firing of Iwu; but Icheoku is afraid that as we reported earlier this year, the Obama administration is going full-stream and head-on to make the second coming of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida a fait-accompli. But that is where the cookie will crumble as Nigerians will resist such selfish imposition with all they got, including protests, riots, work-stoppages and demonstrations.

Finally, the only good thing out of this Maurice Iwu's humiliating dismissal is that it sends a message to so many other would-be willing collaborators on how not to be shriveling servants of these brute politicians and army men who usually use and dump them after realising their objective. Professor Humphery Nwosu was similarly used by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, but unlike Maurice Iwu, he produced a credible election result of MKO Abiola's June 12th, despite the dark-wish of Babangida for him not to carry through with the election and declare its results? This makes Professor Nwosu a more respectable election conductor within the Nigeria political forum.

It is with a heart filled with sympathy that Icheoku renders its verdict on Professor Maurice Iwu, whose reputation has permanently been damaged as an election manipulator; and the man who facilitated the emergence of rogue elements, a sick president, a senate populated by 419 operators and pedophiles, a house full of fraudsters, illiterates and marauders and questionable human-beings occupying governorship offices and other elected offices in Nigeria. This is a cross he will have to carry for the rest of his natural life and which Icheoku does not begrudge or envy him about. As we anxiously wait for the 'messiah' who will finally deliver Nigeria's elections from itself, and hand to Nigerians a gift of a Ghana-type election; we pray that IBB does not or is not allowed to run in 2011; and if he runs, is not voted for; and if voted for, is not elected; and if elected, is not allowed to serve!

BABANGIDA CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO LEAD NIGERIA AGAIN - an article by Hasfat Abiola.

I first heard about IBB‘s declaration of intent to run for the position of President of Nigeria while in Jakarta attending the World Movement for Democracy‘s 6th Assembly. Since then, many people on social networks like Facebook have been asking me to join one or other campaign opposing IBB‘s bid to run. So far, I haven‘t done so. Principally because I think all citizens in a democratic country have a right to seek any office in the land. Indeed, this principle was precisely what both my parents gave their lives to defend.

However, as a concerned Nigerian, I would like to register my reservations about his declaration. Nigeria is a long story of stalled potential. So rich in human and other resources, it should be the jewel on the continent‘s crown. Yet, here we are, divided across ethnic nations, religion and class, poorer now than we were at independence. The challenge of moving the country forward is daunting, indeed, and the single leadership currency that stands between failure and success is not past experience, nor capacity, but trust. Nigerian people must trust whoever steps forward to lead them. Unfortunately, trust is an elusive quality even in the best of times, emanating from an individual‘s ability to do what he or she says.

Considered in this manner, no other public figure suffers from a greater deficit of trust than IBB. We could speak about so many reasons for this deficit, but let us focus on one: June 12, 1993. On that day, millions of people lined up to cast their vote because they trusted their head of state who had organised the elections, who had promised to step aside for a democratic government based on the results. These millions saw the elections annulled, their votes set aside. Till today, IBB has given no credible explanation for failing to do what he said, for letting Nigerians down.

In 2011, Nigeria‘s next president will promise to meet the country‘s challenges. So much of his or her success will depend on the people believing what is said. After all, it is the people that must carry out the policies designed to realise his objectives. If they do not believe, they will subvert even the best of plans. Who believes someone who has a record of not doing what he says? Who believes someone who does not take responsibility for his own actions? Who will sacrifice current gratification because this same leader now promises that the future would be better, if we only wait? However much IBB may wish things to be different, under the shadow of his past actions, he will only be seen as a continuation of all that is wrong.

Should IBB wish to be taken seriously, before even conceiving a campaign, he should seek to close his credibility gap. ‘Maradona,‘ ‘evil genius,‘ and all these other epithets point to qualities of a liar, a dupe, a fraud. That persona may have been an asset in the context of a military dictatorship but in the quest for a leader that can move Nigeria forward, it is a liability. Whatever his camp may say, until this credibility gap is closed, average Nigerians listening to IBB will do so with a smirk, understanding that as he has not cleaned his hands, he need not be taken seriously. Ultimately, as the country marks its 50th anniversary, the next election gives Nigeria a chance to turn the corner. Since independence, our country and its peoples have endured one failed promise, one experience of inadequate leadership after another. Perhaps it is time that out of love for our one and only country we vote for a leader we can trust. This will not guarantee success. But without such a leader, failure is assured.

Hasfat Abiola is the daughter of murdered Chief MKO Abiola and the also slain Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

PERSONALIZED WAR ON CORRUPTION, JAMES IBORI UNFAIRLY SINGLED OUT?

It is a cannon of legal jurisprudence of fairness that 'justice must not only be done but must be seen to be manifestly done'; and necessarily following as a sine qua non is the expectation that prosecution of suspects must not be a cover to persecute them, including perceived political enemies? Therefore in his declared renewed fight against corruption in Nigeria, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan must not be seen to be specifically directing the fangs of the EFCC at only James Ibori, since James is but one sliver of hair in the cacophony of corruption and corrupt persons in Nigeria. This apparent rage of vindictiveness at James Ibori is uncalled for; admitted that James Ibori took a wrong bet in the last struggle for power, but real statesmen don't hold grudges? Moreso, no one knows tomorrow as it may be a James Ibori's presidency of tomorrow that might call for the head of Jonathan Goodluck on a platter? Afterall, it was not too long ago that the acting president himself was relegated to the background by the cabal which had Ibori in its membership. But lo and behold, today as the good Lord Almighty will have it, things turned and the first became the last and vice versa.

Now should Jonathan Goodluck grimace at his good fortune and then misuse it in a manner that will not be pleasing to the Lord by abusing it? Icheoku says no wise man would so do; and hence calls on the acting president to retreat from his apparent "Get Ibori at all cost trajectory." So taking a heed from the popular saying among soldiers, 'soldier go soldier come barracks no dey close," the acting president must understand that power is transitional and very ephemeral and avoid its abuse. He must also avoid being seen as using his good office to haunt and hound his perceived political enemies; and being such a vendetta-seeking and vindictive person automatically turns people off. If the acting president is ever in doubt, he should ask Obasanjo why Nigerians hate him the most and with passion. Today it is Jonathan Goodluck's to bestride power, yesterday it was Obasanjo/Yar'adua and tomorrow it might be James Ibori who is calling the shots and directing the states armed enforcers; and the vicious circle continuously churns without ceasing.

Acting President Jonathan Goodluck should show some maturity and magnanimity by letting James Ibori go through normal channels of prosecution as enshrined in the constitution; but not forced to go through a special vice, different from the rest of the other thirty-three former governors who were similarly, previously investigated and were said to be indictable? Icheoku queries why only Ibori out of the 33 former governors that were determined to have dipped their filthy hands in the pots of their states commonwealth funds, is being so hounded by the EFCC? Icheoku have nothing against the EFCC's enforcing the law on corruption and prosecuting whoever investigation turns up a being corrupt; or personally against the acting president, but all is fair that seems fair and just; hence we say that James Ibori is currently being persecuted with the manner he is being hounded by the EFCC on a direct orders from Aso Rock. It is not fair and hence unjust for James Ibori to be the only one being hounded just because he lost out in the power tussle at Aso Rock. But should acting President Jonathan Goodluck cash in on that to humiliate and possible jail Ibori; it is not a good course and the Lord Almighty will not take kindly to Jonathan to use oppression to glorify his name for the miracle of his present day position in Nigeria.

According to the narrative, James Ibori is suspected of corrupt enrichment of self from the coffers of Delta State; but is he the only one of such former governors who couldn't resist the pile of carrots? Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is similarly accused of embezzling $12 billion dollars Iraqi war oil windfall but no one in EFCC has ever considered inviting him for questioning, talk less of declaring him wanted? Yet Babangida has declared his intention to run for president in 2011 weighted down by the allegation as well as the most recent one of partaking in the $180 million dollars Halliburton bribery of some Nigerian leaders? Where is Madam Farida Waziri on this or is she telling the world that Babangida is untouchable or licensed to loot; while Ibori is not so privileged; and would be crushed being from the minority south-south? How about the other 32 former governors who the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu accused of abusing their office by misusing their states financial resources? And please do not get us wrong as we do not carry water for James Ibori or any of the corrupt Nigerian politicians and their oil bunkering military counterparts who are holding Nigeria captive since independence. No, our interest is that James Ibori be prosecuted using due process and alongside others and not just singled out for who he is and because Acting President Jonathan Goodluck said so? The presidency or it acting capacity should not be used as instrument of vendetta or an avenue to cut pounds of flesh for whatever anyone including James Ibori may have done against the acting president when he was out of power as vice president?

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and some day, Jonathan Goodluck will himself be out of power and may expect a soft landing if he extend same to others currently in need of it. The south-south is capable of being torn apart as a result of the fallout from this face-off between two of their illustrious sons with the masses on either sides seeing it as an affront on their own "illustrious" son by the other side's acting president? Could someone just tell Icheoku that the "wanted dead or alive" on James Ibori not personal and why should Mr. Acting President Jonathan Goodluck make the hunt for James Ibori a priority issue over the so many troubles facing the nation particularly energy? What is so urgent, affecting the national security that James Ibori should be declared wanted dead or alive as if he is Osama Bin Laden in President GW's tunnel vision? What is so terribly important in an alleged crime committed over three years ago that the acting president has to call up the Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo and bark such orders; and allegedly banging the phone before reasonable response could be proffered by the IGP. The trouble with Nigeria is that supposed leaders are very fond of micro-managing every aspect of the society; otherwise what is Jonathan Goodluck's business pushing for James Ibori's arrest and "prosecution" when the Attorney General and the EFCC are there to do their jobs whenever crimes are committed? Mr Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, Icheoku calls on you to butt out of the present James Ibori's legal pursuit and let the law take its course; but as the leader of the nation you must not been seen to be victimising a citizen just because you have an axe to grind with him. If James Ibori committed a crime, let the law be the one determining that and calling out the hounds on him. We learn from history and you must not allow yourself to fall into the trap which had ensnared Olusegun Obasanjo and damaging him forever. Be a statesman and keep off.

Be that as it may, Icheoku calls on James Ibori to surrender to the law and stop being fugitive on the run from justice? He should just turn up and hand himself in and let Nigerians bear witness to his persecution if that is what all these is all about. As a democrat who has benefited immensely from democracy, James Ibori should not be afraid of suffering some inconvenience of prosecution because of democracy that gave a Jonathan power over James; hoping that the innocent fears no accusation? Bode George is almost completing his prison sentence at Kirikiri and so James Ibori should not be afraid of being locked up if it boils down to that but lawyers are there to say wait a minute, what offenses were committed? But should James Ibori chose to continue skipping "justice," then many Nigerians will condemn his action as the guilt being afraid.

As a solution to this constant abuse of powers by the executive, Icheoku would like to urge the national assembly to enact a legislation to water down executive powers of the president; just like they recently did in Pakistan. Such pruning of power will checkmate such an executive from such pettiness of getting personal at a person just in an attempt to settle old scores or force them to capitulate and become subservient. Icheoku takes a strong exception that Acting Jonathan Goodluck is not any different from the rest of other discredited past leaders who use the instrumentality of the state to go after their rivals in his going after James Ibori? With such a feud working itself to implosion, what becomes of the south-south alliance and their agitation for resource control since a house divided is bound to fall? The victors here as always will remain the Hausa-Fulani north, who must now be salivating that at last, the strong opposition of the oil producing Niger Delta is being weakened by the Jonathan/Ibori feud. Acting President Jonathan Goodluck should stop driving the mechanics of Madam Farida Waziri and cease instigating any actions of the EFCC regarding James Ibori; and if he must, then extend it to all those 33 other former governors who were investigated and implicated as corrupt.

Also the Halliburton scandal which have unearthed some high-level Nigerians who are neck-deep in the bribery saga, but who nobody have touched or invited or declared wanted dead or alive is a sore sticking point for Jonathan to occupy himself? Then the Jubril Aminu implicated Siemens' $12 million dollars scandal which seems to have assumed room temperature; as well as other numerous scandals awashed in the land are still begging for attention; yet it is only James Ibori's alleged corruption that is in the burners as he is being hounded by the dogs of the state, led by the EFCC. Icheoku says, it is not just right; it is not just fair, it is totally unjust and does not paint the Acting President Jonathan Goodluck in a good light to be seen as a very vindictive and mean fella? But while running from justice may not be the best approach, Ibori's fear in going under the mattress may possibly be well founded in view of the acidic vituperation of his traducers who went to unimaginable steps in declaring him "wanted dead or alive?" What if James Ibori is murdered by the agents of the states acting on direct orders or a subliminal instruction that his death will not be investigated; agents who in turn will accuse him of resisting arrest or allegedly engaged in a shoot-out with the police? In Nigeria all things are possible and a former governor running for his life may know more than the ordinary Joe-Nigerian knows and sure that his life is really in danger, since we do not want to believe it is out of fear of some bodily inconvenience that he will be running away from? Icheoku advises James Ibori to turn himself in through a powerful lawyer in the mold of Femi Falana; or any of such ranked attorney and then take his chances that he will get a fair disposal of his case. In any event, Jonathan Goodluck will not remain in office forever and a person with some sympathetic ears may someday come in and release a detained James Ibori? So James Ibori, turn yourself in now and quit being a scofflaw; and as for Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, please do not abuse your office by hounding your rivals out of circulation.

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN, THE FATHER OF ARIZONA WACK-JOB STATE SENATORS?

Worried about the wacky-doodle crazed-out Arizona racists legislators, who just passed a legislation demanding that all non Caucasian, non blond hair and non blue eyes Americans take a hike from their state, Icheoku says, worry no further as the Federal government will certainly intervene to check Arizona State's excesses and encroachment into an otherwise purely federal matter, and within its exclusive list. The last time we checked, all immigration matters in America are still vested within the authority of the federal government, who holds same on behalf of all the fifty states of the union; and Arizona State alone cannot unilaterally act to take away what was given to the federal government by it alongside 49 other states?

But just in case you have forgotten, it was Arizona Senator John Sidney McCain that started all these anti minority gang-ups which have now ballooned into the 'Birther Movement' which is still questioning the nationality and loyalty of our President Barack Obama almost two years since he was duly elected and sworn in as president of America? Even a McCain's copy-cat Arizona state senator Cecil Ash publicly on CNN AC-360, stated that President Obama may have dual loyalty - one to America and the other to some imaginary foreign country somewhere in his racist's head? Senator John McCain, the sore loser of the last American Presidential election, planted the seed of doubt that is rapidly taking roots inside America's fringed extreme right wingers heads about President Barack Obama's nationality? During his last presidential debate with then Democratic presidential candidate and now President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain overtaken by rage refused to acknowledge Obama as a person known to law with a legal name; instead he simply referred to him, without even looking at his direction, as "that one!" Icheoku says, without mincing words that thus begun the questioning of Obama's American-ess and which persists till today. Yet Senator John McCain has not withdrawn or repudiate the two-word statement or in some way apologise for it. But is there still any honor and candor left in this septuagenarian US Senator from Arizona; who now denies ever being a maverick? You ask yourself, if a US Senator who should know better, had such suspicion about the other party's presidential candidate nationality and his former colleague at the senate; and goes on to voice his suspicion publicly on a national television; subliminally sent a coded message that Obama is not one of us but an outsider, how then does anyone expect the dregs of the society, the bottom feeders, tethering at the lowest end of the ladder of the American far right extremists society, aka the 'Tea Partiers' to be well informed? A people who can see Russia from Alaska?

The matter is further compounded because these American-Talibans would not research anything for themselves, but would rather rely and be herded by their so called leaders (blind leading blind), reciting after them whatever rubbish that filters down to them from their filthy mouths? Such falsehood is so repeated and with such frequency that these knuckle-heads begin swearing by it as nothing but the truth; thus talking points turns these zombies into some fringed lunatics. No one gave that African a chance, not even the democratic party; and the republicans thought that 'good-ole-boys' and their ladies are still in control until an over one million votes differential left John McCain in the dust in that race fir the White house. President Barack Obama has since been sworn in and for over one year now; yet these rednecks of America now led by their latest poster-boy for hate, Arizona State, still doubt the president's nationality with many of them strongly believing that President Obama is a foreign agent, the anti-Christ?

But what these scoundrels do not understand is that it is a new day in America; and according to the census bureau projections, within the next 50 years, white Caucasian will be the new minority in America! Icheoku prays the day never comes when white Americans will be forced to pick lettuce in the farms at $50 per day; or forced by economic circumstances to operate street pharmacies to dispense cracks just to buy milk for their babies. Now the government is merely plugging up some of the loopholes through which they hitherto distributed amongst themselves only, unmerited $40 million dollars a year bonuses, and they are crying holy murder? They are complaining that they are now left with only a misery $12 million dollars a year salary, and that they can no longer throw a $4 million dollars birthday bash for their wives or buy an umbrella stand costing $10,000 dollars? Icheoku says, until the census projection gets here and they will begin to see what today's janitor feels; or what it means to be confined only in the mail-room in an office; despite one's educational qualifications and earned degrees? Icheoku hopes that the day will not come when the Indians will be able to demand with a loud voice, that their experiences under the Mayflower early arrivees and their descendants be qualified a genocide of the Indian nation? Let us hope too that the day shall not come when a white minority boy is beaten up by six racists black cops on the streets of Los Angeles ( and captured on video-camera) only to be acquitted by a jury of their peers - an all black or Latino jury? Let us pray also and hope that the day will not come when the new white minority of America will become the last to be hired and the first to be fired; regardless of there being a family to feed, a mortgage to pay as well as car notes, gasoline and groceries etc?

Icheoku asks, do these bigoted extreme white men and women ever wonder how resilient these minorities of America are; and that they have refused to die off despite all things and systems designed to bring about that desired effect and since long time ago? Are these racist white Arizona State senators resilient enough to replace those targeted immigrants on the fields, since they can no longer freely and subserviently go about the farms picking the lettuce for their white farmer's and at a pittance? Can these white Arizona senators who have no empathy for the suffering and challenges of an immigrant in Arizona, take a two to three hours of constant bug biting on farmlands? Anyway, Icheoku calls on Senator John McCain to hurriedly restore some sanity in his Arizona wildebeests; who always see America in the "we and them" prism. If you lose, at least be gracious and not a sore loser who continuously whining about the loss. Behold a new day has come, as it is no longer what it is used to be; a potpourri of humanity now inhabit America. Enough of this exclusionary legislation as the world is turning into a global village where every shade of human beings should be allowed to thrive; admitted that Jerry Falwell once said that the God of the white people is different from the God of the black/minority people? Human sociological interaction and connectivity has become so intertwined and closely bonded that any separatist gospel, such as being preached by the Arizona State senate is so ancient, arcane and cannot stand muster.

But who really owns America anyway; and who gave the Mayflower boaters visas to even come to America? Were the Indians ever consulted or their opinion sought before Colombus set sail to the new found-land? What Arizona State senators did is anti whatever we all stood and have been fighting for in this union; - they are the current shame of the Union. Icheoku urges the governor not to sign the legislation into law and adds, if in any event this anti-colored people legislation becomes law, it should be immediately repealed as it is repugnant to justice, equity and good conscience. It is very divisive, encourages racial profiling and not tourist friendly. Imagine a situation where a Spaniard tourist visiting from Barcelona is embarrassingly stopped and questioned under this law; believing he is a Mexican? That Caribbean countries' immigrants have different treatment upon landing on American soil is also an injustice for some future discussion and redress. But such legislation is inciting and may lead to trouble from people resisting it in the not so distant future! Imagine a situation where a Mexican serving in the US marine who just came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan is stopped and questioned about his immigration status? He is not fit to be an American but is good enough to bleed and die for America in the battle front? Icheoku calls on Senator John McCain to try and fix what he broke; he should start by apologizing for what he said by publicly calling President Obama by his name and acknowledging that he is one of us and not just "that one!' He should then follow it with a campaign to re-educate his uninformed Arizona State senators on how to love but not hate their fellow human-beings! We are all children of God and we are all in it together; and just like President Barack Obama reiterated, we shall all fail or succeed together as one America. So Arizona governor please do not sign this anti-colored people legislation and it should be repealed, if. Those lettuce pickers have loving families they are providing for too!

BABANGIDA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED BACK TO POWER, WARNS THE CLERGY?

Icheoku commends the activism of the bishop of Akure Anglican Diocese, Bishop Michael Ipinmoye, who recently called on the evil one, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, to forget about coming back to rule Nigeria again! Icheoku heretofore, invites the other men and women of God in Nigeria to rise up in unison and follow the lead in speaking against the evil that is threatening to engulf Nigeria with the declared intention of the evil genius for the presidency. We believe that anyone of them who remains silent amidst the confusion created by Babangida's declaration of intent to be president again, serves not the almighty One but a special interest!

Evil thrives in a society when good men keep quiet and fail to do something; so now is the time for all the good men and women of Nigeria to unanimously join the lead of Bishop Ipinmoye in saying big 'NO' to Babangida's attempt at a second coming since the first one was more bloody than beneficial to Nigerians and Nigerians are still to recover from his bombardment? Civil rights groups, civil societies, other groups including market women and traders as well as NLC etc must rise up now to condemn the devilish audacity of Babangida and tell him, enough! Babangida's declared presidential ambition after the wrath of his previous eight years of military interregnum was simply very insensitive of his to think that Nigerians were not hurt during his regime?

Bishop Ipinmoye condemned what he called the recycling of past tired bankrupt self-aggrandising leaders who have nothing new or more to offer to the people and the country of Nigeria; and asked Nigerians to resist them and not allow such bad leaders to continuously occupy positions of authority in the country. Continuing, the bishop said that “Babangida should not have dared to raise his head for any political office in Nigeria, due to his antecedent leadership, which woefully failure of colossal proportion; reminding IBB not to forget how he hurriedly left office in disgrace through the mythical "step-aside' volte face? The bishop cited as most damning Babangida's albatross, the death of Dele Giwa, the annulment of June 12 election, which was the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, the death of the winner of the election MKO Abiola, the issue of corruption which took flight during his regime and concluding that Nigerians would not forget in a hurry their experience under the infamous toothy fairy of Minna.' The bishop concluded that 'all these old horses should stay away completely from politics so that we can move forward in this country; and that we have been standing on the same spot, all motion and no movement simply because our tired old leaders lack fresh ideas to move the country forward.”

Icheoku says, well spoken bishop; and lets hope the voice of the clergy is the voice of God and that Nigerians will listen this time and stop the evil genius cold at the steps before he makes his way to Aso Rock. The leopard never changes its spots and as Olusegun Obasanjo proved, once a despot always a despot whether or not the cloak of choice is starched khaki or flowing agbada? Icheoku calls on numero-uno conscience of the nation, Wole Soyinka, to lead the stop Babangida express, notwithstanding that Babangida had once compromised him with a 700 million naira Road Safety contract as the first Marshall General of the Federal Road Safety Corp? This is a time when Icheoku wished that the only man Babangida could not compromise, Chief Gani Fawehinmi was still alive to show Babangida pepper; and tell him to his face, how much he is hated by Nigerians, many of who are now cowering in fear and cannot voice out how really they feel about him and disapprove of his devilish ambition? Cardinal Olubumi Okoje allegedly have a sex-tape of his with Babangida and may not be stepping forward in opposition, so we call on Reverend Matthew Kukah and others to lead the effort and compliment Bishop Ipinmoye crusade to stop Babangida cold. Other political leaders and leaders of thought in Nigeria should also start speaking up against the evil that was witnessed under the treacherous regime of Babangida and how that alone disqualifies him from the presidency in 2011? This is not such a time when silence is golden and the man in all Nigerians will certainly die if they remain silent in the face of the tyranny that is Babangida trying to seize power again in Nigeria for the second time. Enough Babangida, Nigerians have suffered enough in your hands and under your watch, so just go away!.

BABANGIDA 2011, NOT A CHANCE IN HELL, SO JUST IGNORE HIM! - an article by Chinedu Vincent Akuta

I have been following with keen interest the decision by the former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida to contest the 2011 Presidential election. Personally, I don’t think he (Babangida) will go far. A good example was when ex head of state (Gen Gowon) tried to contest the presidential election in 1992/93. He (Gowon) failed in his primary constituency. In the case of Gowon’s attempt, Option A4 Electoral System was in place. Though that we have a different electoral law in place now, he (Babangida) will be shocked the way he will loose election. I also think, he might be seeking undue attention because events have relegated him to an obscure background.

History has indeed consigned him to garbage heap of forgotten tyrants. People should not loose sleep about his plans. Its just that one still wonders how people like him think, otherwise there are other things he should have engaged himself with, other than seeking to come back to power. I had in some of my articles advised him (Babangida) to use his influences to work for the re-introduction of Option A4 Electoral System back to our legal books. He should also use his contacts to lobby the present government to posthumously announce the official winner of June 12^th 1993 presidential elections and for government to pay compensation to the families of Abiola.

Quoting Thewill (an online news publication; http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/4209-Nigerian-Youths-Are-Not-Capable-Leading-Nigeria-IBB.html), Babangida said that Nigerian youths are not capable of ruling Nigeria . I strongly disagree with him. Rather his statement is an acceptance by him, that he lacked leadership skills when he ruled Nigeria as a youth.

I am also sure that some of his (Babangida) colleagues, associates and friends (birds of the same feather) might want to contest other elections (Senatorial, gubernatorial, etc). Now that he has declared his intension to run for the highest office of the land, patriotic Nigerians should also declared their own intentions to mass mobilize Nigerians to vote the rightful candidates. Action should be equal to reaction. I had in my previous articles suggested to Nigerians on the need to start political evangelism using various kinds of media outlets. For the sake of good governance in Nigeria , let all patriots become political evangelists. In addition, this will be an ideal time for Nigerians to constitute a shadow judicial process and retry all cases like Dele Giwa’s death etc.

Amongst the most potent means of political evangelism will be to prepare messages on DVDs, CDs, Videos, etc on local languages. Nothing can compare with picture effects. Using home videos and televised religious evangelism as case studies, one will agree that many people have been changed through those means. In the same manner people can be mobilized after viewing political messages. Another reason for this method (political messages on DVDs, CDs Videos, etc) is because government and some private television stations might not like to air such programs. Therefore DVDs/Video recordings will suffice.

Times International Magazine of April 19^th 2010, pages 18-19 showed where people of Southern Sudan gathered to watch an educational film on fair elections. A well prepared political/electoral documentary on DVDs can have serious impacts on voting patterns. In case of any documentary in line with the above suggestions, I will recommend the following to be included (a) clips/films of how people of Eastern Europe resisted and dismantled communism (b) clips/films of how Thai people (Red Shirts) exercises peoples power (c) clips/films of how South African resisted Apartheid (d) clips/films of motivational speeches by Martin Luther King Jnr, (e) clips of speeches by our own Tunde (Pastor) Bakare etc.

Political evangelism methods have the potentials of increasing political awareness amongst our folks. We can also choose the direct marketing strategy, whereby we meet people one on one and advise who not to vote. Firstly we can start with our immediate and extended families then proceed to the community levels. I know that many people might be vulnerable to following the money bags, that’s why patriotic Nigerians will have to increase their political evangelism so as to win more souls to see reasons to vote rightfully.

Finally, please remember to participate and join the fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria .

Chinedu Vincent Akuta, activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK.

BABANGIDA KILLED MANY NIGERIANS, SO NOT WORTHY OF THE PRESIDENCY!

MKO Abiola, Dele Giwa, Mammam Vasta (pictured right), Gloria Okon, Bongos Ikwue, military officers killed in the Ejigbo plane crash, Gideon Orkar and group, the people of Zango Kataf as well as numerous other unsung and less profiled Nigerians, victims of the state under Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida's terrorist hijack of the Nigeria state, want you to help them stop another hostage-taking of Nigeria by this devil incarnate. They want you to be their voice of freedom as you chorus, 'never again IBB; not this time nor any future time shall Nigerians again suffer under your crass brutality!'

Will you help these Nigerians, crying out aloud from their graves stop this maniacal killer before he strikes again? Remember he made so many enemies including Great Ogboru, John Fashanu, the families and dependants of all those he killed while in office as well as majority of Nigerians who his government tortured extensively, excluding those sycophantic town-criers of his; so he is coming back with vengeance to take his pound of flesh and must not be allowed. It will be a very shameful experience for Nigerians should this madness ever come to pass and becomes a reality; a notorious criminal as Nigeria's president?

Such an unforgiving despot who killed his best friend and the man who was his best-man during his wedding to late Maryam, Poet and army general Mamman Vasta, for daring to question his intelligence to lead Nigeria, will not hesitate to finish off all those his so-called 'scoundrels' as soon as he is empowered. Babangida is daft; mean; vicious, brain-dead; unforgiving; uneducated; ruthless and endemically corrupt; so who wants such a lunatic as his/her president? Nigerians, will you allow this abomination of a Babangida's second coming ever take place under your watch? Please be decent for once and stop this bloody despotic bastard from ever getting near the gates of Aso Rock, never again Nigerians, not this time! Do it for the memory of his victims, do it for Nigeria. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is not a fit and proper person to rule Nigeria again; his forcible 1985 hijacking of the Nigeria state notwithstanding. Babangida is evil and deserves death for what he did to Nigeria; only that Nigeria is not a country that holds real criminals to account; failing which, he ought not to ever be forgiven by Nigerians, talk-less of being allowed back into office as president?

STOP BABANGIDA NOW, NIGERIANS!

ICHEOKU CALLS ON NIGERIANS TO REJECT BABANGIDA !

With 27 killed so far and many more injured, Jatuporn Prompan the leader of restore democracy in Thailand said, "although the road is rough and full of obstacles, it's our duty to honor the dead, who died fighting for democracy, by bringing true democracy to this country." As their struggle continues despite the murder of 27 of their country men and women by the hold-out discredited government on the throes of being showed the way out, the Kyrgyzstan's example; Icheoku says, this kind of patriotic bravado is alien to the Nigerian society. This is the sole reason Nigeria is repeatedly raped by these ignoble 'leaders',including the 71 year old tired despot Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who now wants to recycle himself again back to power? What a shame and only in a banana republic like Nigeria! Nigerians, it is not yet too late to salvage yourselves and country, just reject Ibb in 2011.

STOP BABANGIDA:- NIGERIA'S GREATEST PROBLEM IS RECYCLED TIRED OLD LEADERSHIP!

'The biggest problem in Nigeria is doing more of the same, repetition. The recycling of its tired old brains as leaders remains the greatest undoing of Nigeria, in its failed quest to attain greatness.' - Peter Stephenson, Director of Trade and Investment UK High Commission! Icheoku says, this man spoke the truth and nothing but the truth, so Nigerians hearken to his voice of wisdom and reject this attempt to recycle another 71 years old, tired semi-illiterate and ruthless military dictator, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida back to power in 2011. Do not be a sycophant, say no to IBB 2011, join 'OPERATION STOP IBB 2011' in your area today! Stand up and be counted Nigerians; enough of these Nigeria hostage-taking retired army men; or were you happy with your experience under Olusegun Obasanjo eight years of hell?

ONLY NIGERIAN RETARDS WANT BABANGIDA IN 2011, ARE YOU ONE OF THE SHAMELESS FEW?

"If in 2011 we are still asking for the likes of IBB even after the disaster called OBJ, I think ours should be a hopelessly retarded country that is totally irredeemable. If actions carry consequences, those who created yesterday’s pains should not control tomorrow’s potentials." -Joe Igbokwe!

Icheoku says an IBB presidency will be very calamitous for Nigeria. It will also be evidential of a people so mercilessly traumatized, irrecoverably psychologically damaged, a humanity gravely wounded and eternally scarred that they have given up all hope at survival and cannot fight back? It will show Nigerians as a people completely and totally emasculated, castrated, of spine docility, complacent and moronic, effectively so checkmated that they just turn the other cheek? Icheoku says, IBB's second misadventure in governance will undeniably also depict Nigerians as a people who frighteningly cower in the face of their traducers, with their surrendering hands in the air and cannot fight back these marauders, including this evil genius Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

Think about June 12th, Dele Giwa, Gloria Okon, Mamman Vasta, $12billion dollars first Iraqi gulf-war oil windfall, 419, the unwanted gift of midget of Kano Sani Abacha and all the other sundry crimes against Nigerians which this self styled evil-genius perpetrated on them? Anyway, a country deserves the type of leadership it gets, so Nigerians could prove themselves to be "irredeemable retards"by voting for for IBB in 2011; or reject him like a putrid offal in order to confirm their sanity! Also Nigerians should be mindful of the eight years of torture they endured under the other retired army man Obasanjo, fully aware that this another army man IBB will not be any different? They are both barrack-mentality former army men, one with area-boy background and this other with an almajiri up-bringing. Both men are not savvy nor cultured in the ways of gentlemen; and like Olusegun Obasanjo, Babangida will thuggish(ly) rule over Nigeria if allowed? Worst of all, both men are ruthless and have blood of Nigerians in their hands. So Nigerians, be conscionable, reject PROJECT IBB 2011; it is the correct, moral and right thing to do! At least you owe yourself that much to say, never again IBB.

HALLIBURTON BRIBERY SCANDAL, BAN BABANGIDA FROM POLITICS FOR LIFE!

The Pandora's Box of the Halliburton $180 million dollars bribery scandal has been opened and inside of it was found the stout itchy hands of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida! Now he wants to use some of the proceeds of the bribe money, his share of the Halliburton's kick-back, to buy his way back to power and then mortgage whatever remains of all Nigeria's present, subsisting and future financial interest and pocket the proceeds in his pocket? Recall that this evil genius is yet to account for the $12billion dollars first Iraqi war oil windfall, seventeen years after his forcible misrule of Nigeria. Nigerians please tell Babangida that Aso Rock has no price-tag and that even if it has, that Nigerians will not accept such tainted bank-notes from his filthy hands, in payment for their presidency.

Like he denied MKO Abiola the presidency, now opportunity calls for Nigerians to remind Babangida of that infra-dig and pay him back in his own coin; - mete out to him the same treatment as he gave to Abiola and always bear in mind that with a friend like IBB, no one needs an enemy! Nigerians please say no to Babangida, tell him not this time and never again shall such a notoriously corrupt army man be allowed to enjoy that which he previously denied others - Shehu Shagari in 1983 and MKO Abiola in 1993 respectively! Shamelessly enough, Babangida is now asking that the 2011 elections be free and fair; and that votes be counted with the peoples' elected candidate allowed to govern? Icheoku says, look who is talking, the toothy fairy madman of Minna, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida; a devil incarnate who never allowed a similar free and fair election of Chief MKO Abiola to hold, and thereby denied the people of Nigeria their rightfully elected choice president to govern? What goes around comes around as Babangida now stares his forthcoming nemesis in the face, and Icheoku prays that he will live to feel the humiliation and dejection that come with a denied mandate, assuming he ever gets one. It is called Karmic law!

Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida having been implicated as a partaker of the Halliburton's $180 million dollars bribe money, and thereby tarnished Nigeria's image further; and compounded Professor Dora Akunyili's "re-branding Nigeria" effort more, Icheoku says he is not a fit and proper person to rule Nigeria and should therefore be banned from contesting or holding any future public office in Nigeria, including the presidency. Nigeria's problems are already compounded enough to add another stigma of a country being governed by a notoriously corrupt and bloody president. In the spirit of the newly revived war against corruption, sanctioning Babangida will be a necessary good first step and no other sanction will be more far-reaching than to deny him his dream pet-project of ruling Nigeria legally. The first time was as a thieving illegal coup-plotting junta, which he wants so much to wash away by being duly elected by the people of Nigeria as president and in order to atone for his sins of that nation hijacking.

Icheoku therefore call on the National Assembly to pass a law immediately, banning any person implicated in the Halliburton scandal and/or any other public official bribery and corruption, from ever aspiring, holding, accepting appointment or nomination of or to any future political office in Nigeria; or on Nigeria's behalf, elsewhere, everywhere and anywhere in the world. Such a measure will send a strong message that Nigeria is now seriously and earnestly fighting corruption; and confirm that at last, the issue of corruption has reached its final bus-stop. Choke off the head and the body withers away, so corruption must be fought to finish from top to bottom in order to defeat it once and for all. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is a good specimen for the experimentation of seriously defeating corruption and this Halliburton's bribery scandal provides a golden opportunity to rein him in and set an example with his bloody self.

Evil-genius and president wanna-be, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, must be damned for being such an over-reaching eyesore for Nigeria. Such a notoriously corrupt person and bribe-taker does not deserve to ever wear the toga of a Nigeria's president again; and must therefore be banned from standing in any future presidential election or other office for that matter. A bribe-taker is such a low-life imbecile that should not be allowed to be president of Nigeria otherwise his sin of taking bribe will affect the moral standing of the general populace and by implication, rubbish the 're-branding Nigeria' effort of Professor Dora Akunyili. Who in Nigeria wants a bribe-taker to be his/her president; not any person known to Icheoku and you and you too?

The Senate have courageously done a similar thing in the past when they voted to deny former coup-plotting heads of state any state pension; and should now summon the mother of all courage to stop this corrupt and virile Babangida from ever realizing his eternal dream of becoming a legitimate president of Nigeria or even running for it, his declared intention to run for president in 2011 notwithstanding. Only such a goal-directed action is capable of sending the desired message, loud and clear, that it is a new day in Nigeria; and that no one, no matter how highly placed or notorious he or she may be, including Babangida, is any longer above and beyond accountability. Babangida must and should be held to account for his sins of partaking in the Halliburton's bribery and as a consequence thereto, stopped from marching into Aso Rock! The ban should include the rest of his thieving corrupt accomplices, implicated in this bribery scandal, including Mike Akhigbe, Rilwan Lukman, Philip Asiodu, Oladipo Diya, Mike Okigbo, Aminu Saleh, Ibrahim Aliyu, Anthony Ani, Ismaila Gwarzo, Alhaji Gidado Idris, Tom Ikimi, Orji Kalu, Babagana Kingibe, Patrick Dele Cole, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau and Jeremiah Jerry-boy Useni.

It is instructive that Orji Kalu, the only Igbo person who benefited from this massive bribery largesse; has now risen so far among the echelon of corrupt Nigerians that he now shares in their evil booty?A man Icheoku formerly greatly admired but whose participation in this bribery scandal has greatly tasked our loyalty that we hereby, withdraw all past, present and future endorsement for higher office, hitherto bestowed on this man and abundantly? Icheoku asks where are the NLC, SNG and other NGOs who parade themselves as the conscience of the society protesting this nefarious and heinous revelation from the Halliburton Bribery Files? Icheoku has always known that the weighty list of the Halliburton bribe-takers had hindered its release and/or prosecution of those implicated culprits till now. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan must now show that he has what it takes to be a leader and be bold in stopping Babangida and his band of thieves from going back to Aso Rock to finish looting whatever is left of the meagre treasury; admitted that he is yet to account for the $12 billion dollars first Iraqi oil windfall. Enough Nigerians, stop the roguish IBB from bulldozing his way back into Aso Rock in 2011 - just ban him from standing for the election, period!

So like they say in a popular lingo, 'show me the money;' Acting President Jonathan Goodluck must now show us his courage and determination in tackling the monster of corruption in Nigeria! A good place to begin will be to "Ban Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and his corrupt co-travelers in bribery land, from running and/or holding any future political office in Nigeria or on behalf of Nigeria, anywhere and everywhere in the world! Jonathan's pledge to fight corruption to a finish will be meaningless as long as this imbecile remain the 'godfather' of Nigerian politics. So as Jonathan opens the Halliburton Files, he must instruct Madam EFCC Farida Waziri to immediately go to work, using Babangida as the headline suspect! If Jonathan musters the courage to do this, his name will forever be etched in the annals of Nigeria history as that man who trampled where angels feared to tread.

Icheoku asks Jonathan; now that history has called on you, will you be courageous enough to answer? Icheoku asks Jonathan, as Nigeria is asking who shall I send to fix her, will you be able to say, 'here I am send me?' Please Mr. Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, do not let this golden chance pass-by unanswered; Babangida is the most hated Nigerian alive, second only to Olusegun Obasanjo, except that many Nigerians fear his ruthless maniacal and murderous dispositions; so moving against him will be a very populist thing to do; so give it a shot! Please Jonathan, help Nigeria heal and move forward, force Babangida out of the presidential race, arrest and indict him for corruption, hoping you have the balls to take on such big monster. it is the stuff heroes are made of and you must stand up to be counted as the leader that did big things. BAN BABANGIDA NOW!