AS TONY HAYWARD FINALLY GETS HIS LIFE BACK, WHAT ABOUT THE PELICAN?

Reports has it that the wimpy cry-baby CEO and President of British Petroleum, Mr. Tony Hayward, whose company BP caused the worst environmental disaster with their apocalyptic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is finally going to get his wish - he is going to get his life back! Mr. Tony Hayward is quitting his job as the CEO and President of BP.

Icheoku says, at least Mr Tony Hayward has that choice and opportunity to just walk away from the messy spongy-orange fossil gooey substance, which have overrun the gulf courtesy of his BP. Unfortunately the pelicans as well as numerous other sea animals in the gulf of Mexico do not have that elitist choice; and so also are those several thousands of men and women of the Gulf States whose sole means of livelihood is dependent on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico truamatised by the BP's oil spill.

Icheoku does not begrudge Mr Tony Hayward the right to exercise his contractual option 'to get his life back' in matters as this; but only says that BP should not have granted him an exit at this time. BP should have delayed his resignation until he has fixed what was broken under his watch in the Gulf of Mexico.

To allow him to just take a walk at this critical time in BP's history is to encourage lame passing of the buck; as he should not be CEO and President just when the going is smooth but also now that BP has some serious mess to clean up at the gulf. By letting Tony Hayward to walk away shows that BP is elitist and does not really care about the 'little guys' whose lives have been choked off, at least momentarily, by BP's reckless and negligence oil exploration in the gulf. Icheoku asks, why now BP; or have you guys not insulted and tasked our patience enough with your numerous gaffes and half-measures ever since that spill from hell brought to the surface your incompetence in dealing with a hole in the earth 5000feet below the sea level.

Mr. Tony Hayward's exit will only complicate matters at this time as a new CEO and President might want to review and inaugurate a new approach to the cleaning effort at the gulf; causing further delays and more pains and suffering on the residents of the Gulf States. His unpardonable gaffes during this oil spill notwithstanding, Tony Hayward should have been compelled to restore the gulf of Mexico to its pristine state before he is allowed to go 'get his life back.'

What about the pelicans and other sea animals, the waters, beaches and the way of life of the Gulf of Mexico residents who were impacted by the atrocious mess of Tony Hayward's BP? According to one analyst, "a change in leadership will not change the mammoth tasks ahead of BP, from stopping the offshore oil gusher for good, to cleaning up the millions of gallons that have already leaked, to paying billions in claims — all while defending its stock price and repairing its battered reputation." Icheoku could not agree more that irrespective of the captain saddled with the messy BP's ship, the journey is still very far and unpredictable.

To some gulf residents, Tony Hayward's departure is a good riddance; and according to one commentator, "I just hope they replace him with somebody who understands the situation; from the beginning it was obvious this guy was not the leader needed in this crisis." Another said, "his departure doesn't matter, whatever happens with the corporate dudes is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is what they are going to do about this mess." Another said, Tony Hayward seems like a pretty self-absorbed person, so I'm not surprised to hear he would walk away in the middle of all this. If anything it will help. They need to get him out of the way and get this cleaned up." And lastly, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat Louisiana added that BP's attitude about making things right is more important than who is running it.'

Icheoku says, hopefully the change of leadership at BP will help to repair and restore what was taken away by their spill and every other person and animal in the gulf can finally get their lives back like the outgoing Tony Hayward. But the most important lesson to be drawn from his exit is that when the president of the United States of American wants something he gets it; and so it was that Mr. Tony Hayward's exit is coming in the heels of President Barack Obama's retort that if he were calling the shot, Mr. Tony Hayward will not have a job any longer and the president's wish is finally coming to fruition. But does Tony Hayward deserve to be fired or forced to resign for the gusher of the gulf, Icheoku answers in the affirmative since as the CEO and President of BP, the buck stopped at his desk and someone ought to take the fall for the BP's mess in the gulf. Under the circumstances and judging the grand scale of the mess, Tony Hayward best fits the tab of that someone! So enjoy your retirement with your golden parachute, Mr. 'I want to get back my life' Tony Hayward.

It will be recalled that about three months ago, on April 20, 2010, an offshore drilling rig operated by BP exploded off the coast of State of Louisiana, killing 11 workers and setting off the hellish spill. Admitted that a temporary cap placed on the leaking hole about one week ago has succeeded in plugging the spill, but not before between 94 million to 184 million gallons had already leaked and fouled the turquoise waters of the Gulf.

FYI: - Mr. Tony Hayward, 53, joined BP in 1982 with a PhD in geology as a geologist; and currently makes 1.045 million pounds (US$1.6 million) a year in salary and about 2 million pounds (US$3.1 million) in performance bonuses plus other remuneration which totaled his take home in 2009 to more than 4 million pounds (US$6.1 million). Now you know or at least have an idea of the kind of golden parachute that will help Tony land in his retiement land; go figure!