POTHOLES-FILLED ROADS, ADDS TO COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA.

 

Icheoku just wonders what it is really that government in Nigeria is doing or what their responsibility is when they allow roads necessary for moving people and goods around to become dilapidated to this degree. Now when goods could not get to their various destinations or arrive there badly damaged; marketers cannot help but increase their prices to make up for this shortfalls. It must indeed be frustrating for those people who daily ply these roads. Icheoku condemns this lack of care for roads by governments in Nigeria as mind-boggling anti-people governance!

THE THREE NIGERIAN MUSKETEERS, THEY SCREWED NIGERIA UP SO BADLY, IT STILL SUCKS!

 

Left to right are Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari; former military despots who severally and respectively ruled Nigeria with iron-fist. Obasanjo in his second coming as civilian president introduced a totally new and very strange dimension, civilian dictatorship, into Nigeria political lexicography. These men are the reason why Nigeria has remained under-developed all these past 50 years of her existence, principally due to their crass incompetence and gross ineptitude. Between the threesome, they have collectively and directly ruled Nigeria for a period of 22years and as proxy-rulers for majority of the other 28years. Their contribution or rather lack thereof to the development of Nigeria is reflected in the parlous state of affairs in the country today and there being nothing really much to remember them for or show for their stewardship. So Nigerians when next you become frustrated about the state of affairs in your country:- dearth of infrastructures, insecurity, joblessness and general despondency cum malaise in the polity, take a serious, good and long look at these three human-beings and you are starring directly at the root cause of your problems. They caused them all; so when next you are mad about what is, remember these men made you mad. Nigeria has problems, IBB, OBJ and Buhari caused Nigeria's problems; therefore Babangida, Obasanjo and Buhari are Nigeria's problem. In mathematical analysis, it is stated as QED - what has been given has been proved.

BRISTOL PALIN, DWTS HEADED THE WAY OF AMERICAN IDOL.

 Regrettably the skewed voting pattern in Dancing with the Stars is fast pushing the daughter of Sarah Palin into winning this season's edition. Tea Party activism at it best are block-voting the Alaskan teenage mother contrary to what the watching audience as well as the judges are seeing live and on television with their eyes. Icheoku says the producers of DWTS should try and find out from those guys at American Idol why their once top show tanked; and the same fate awaits DWTS should the unexpected and inexplicable happen with a Bristol's win. Alternatively, the judges should be allowed to overrule the voting public with majority votes in some circumstances such as the present effort by the Tea Party to rig the votes in favor of the daughter of their alter-ego, Sarah Palin. That she is in the final is to say the least a big SHOCK and DWTS will be shocked-double in the event she finally wins the season. The viewing public will reject such result and follow it with boycotting the show

THANKSGIVING 2010, HAPPY, HAPPY TURKEY DAY AMERICA!

There are so many things to be thankful for this thanksgiving day 2010 in America: - your life, your health, a shelter over your head, some clothes on your back and of course some food on your table or in your stomach. Your family and friends as well as your enemies' good state of health and wellbeing, should also give you joy and reason to be thankful this thanksgiving day 2010. As for Icheoku, we are thankful for all God's merciful and wonderful blessings in 2010; and above all for giving us real happiness and the ability to just lay our heads down and doze off effortlessly and soundly.

So as you savor the tasty big birds and associated toppings as well as drinks to wash them down, please be grateful that you can eat and equally have some food to eat. Some people can eat but have no food and so many others have food but cannot eat due to medical discomfitures. Also as you indulge yourself with all the goodies of mother earth, remember that so many people including women and children the world over, went to sleep today without any food in their stomach. Therefore learn to share and be charitable today, volunteer or give alms by donating to some charities.Have yourself a good turkey day, friends!

NB: The facilitator will be out for one week thence - our final vacation for 2010 before it runs out; we shall be back and resume our affair with the keyboard, first week of December.Thank you.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, A CONSESUS CANDIDATE WITHOUT A REAL CONSENSUS?

 

Technically speaking, Abubakar Atiku lost 4-5 in the final vote for a northern consensus candidate; five out of the nine northern elders electoral officers voted against his candidacy including the father of consensus himself, Adamu Ciroma. Icheoku says that with less than half of all the votes cast received by Atiku, it is a misnomer to still call him the consensus northern candidate for president because he does not have a comprehensive mandate. By consensus is meant that all parties have agreed without let that the candidate be declared unopposed as the choice of all aka CONSENSUS CANDIDATE. But Atiku only got minority votes of four and not majority five or consensus of nine; yet he is their 'consensus candidate?'

Atiku also have a lot of baggage and obstacles to contend with to clinch the PDP presidential candidacy talkless of being elected president of Nigeria; including his former boss Obasanjo who swore long ago never to let Atiku become president under his watch. Icheoku says, hopefully those northern elders forum electors gave this Obasanjo's 'No Atiku' stand the serious thought it so badly deserves. Atiku also barely scraped through past the evil genius Babangida, who would have easily been the north's strongest challenge to President Jonathan and therefore the north's best shot.

Anyway Icheoku is waiting and watching; but with just only 4 votes against Babangida's 3 and Saraki's 2; Atiku's consensus is suspect as his votes tally is not highly reflective of a typical consensus candidate's votes. With such a thin margin of 1 against Babangida, Icheoku expected the northern elders to have called for second balloting between the two top vote-getters to see how the nine votes would have been split amongst them. But nay, they are very old and apparently senile to think proactively in the present and in that trajectory. So without a total mandate, Icheoku wonders if Atiku Abubakar could rightly still present himself as the north's consensus candidate and whether the north will even support him in the primaries in view of their elders implied rejection of him at the consensus level.

But like the popular saying goes, beware of what you wish for Adamu Ciroma; as the best your north presented may not afterall be good enough to face and beat President Jonathan. Babangida was the only candidate the south feared was going to upstage Jonathan hence the barrage of attacks on him to shock his being and force him out. But, as always that 'Goodluck' in President Jonathan came to the rescue as the north unknowingly solved Jonathan and south's main headache, Babangida. In his stead, they anointed Atiku as their consensus candidate but forgot that Olusegun Obasanjo is still around the corner and on Jonathan's side?

ATIKU IS IT, AS NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM SOLVES THE BABANGIDA QUESTION!

 

As the Northern Elders Political Forum finally helps Nigeria resolve the Babangida question and consign him permanently into the dustbin of history of a president wanna-be who never became one; and nominates Atiku Abubakar as their choice consensus candidate, Icheoku says what a beautiful masterstroke. With the evil genius and all the nightmare associated with the possibility of his ever coming back to power now finally rested and forever gone, Nigerians no longer have to contend with that heinous option.

Now that Abubakar Atiku has been chosen as the Northern consensus presidential candidate, Icheoku says it is about time for the whole south to also produce their own southern consensus presidential candidate or officially adopt Goodluck Jonathan as that candidate, so that the battle for supremacy between the north and the south can finally begin and be resolved once and for all. Admitted however  that Icheoku would rather the PDP's gentleman's agreement on zoning be respected and President Jonathan not run; but since he has stopped Babangida by forcing the north into this consensus option, we think his job is done and he can now back down and let Atiku reset the Nigeria button. Atiku would have naturally followed after Obasanjo but for the deity of Otta who was not gentlemanly enough to respect an understanding earlier reached. Jonathan can still do it and be the instrument that God used to restore fate in Nigeria oneness and right the wrongs of Obasanjo.

But should his advisers egg him on and Jonathan persists, he might loose at the convention since Atiku is a more astute political player than the greenhorn Jonathan. Atiku sure do have some fence-mending to do with a lot of people on his way to Aso Rock such as Obasanjo, Orji Uzor Kalu, Jubril Aminu, Muritala Nyako, all Obasanjo boys, and the Hausa/Fulani people of Northwestern Nigeria who always look down on Atiku's people of Northeastern Nigeria as bastards (hausa-bakwais) - a mountain of obstacles for him to surmount in order to get into Aso Rock. Icheoku knows for certain that it is going to be one heck of fight to finish, a tag-team sought of fight with Team Obasanjo/Jonathan led south battling it out against Team Babangida/Atiku led north. Icheoku can't wait for this mother of all fights to finally determine who really controls Nigeria to begin in order to see if the Nigerian question could be somehow resolved too just like Babangida's.

The battle as pitched now between the north and the south-south will only be won with the help of the Middle-belt and the Southeast people, who now have and control all the aces; and will also make the best and most beautiful brides of 2011. The north has a presidential candidate in Atiku so Sambo's vice presidency might no longer be of special interest to them. The southwest will sure go ACN barring any major rigging since it has been their tradition to sustain the opposition once they are not in charge. The south east has no dog in the fight presently likewise the Middle-belt. Jonathan is from south south and Sambo is from northwest while Atiku is from northeast. It is a fight that will be determined largely by who lands the vice presidency of Atiku, whether Atiku will agree to do one term and what he is offering the Igbos for their support, including support for their 2015 presidency. Once the north do their home-work and give the vice presidency to a notable Igbo person, it will be deja vu 1978 all over. President Jonathan has proved that he cannot be trusted with power and such opportunist might not be a preferred partner needed for the Igbo project 2015; but what is Atiku bringing to the table?

In the final analysis, if Atiku wins the PDP primaries, he will have Buhari to content with in the final election 2011; but the odds always favors the party in power except an angry loser incumbent decides otherwise. If Jonathan scratches a victory, then it is going to be a real tough up climb for him against a formidable Buhari in the north with a possible running mate in Bola Tinubu from the southwest. Luckily a northerner is the INEC chairman so who knows where he might align himself at the opportune time; as politics is always about interest and not loyalty. One other good thing coming out of this northern consensus thing, aside of burying Babangida aspiration is that it shows the political maturity of the north, who faced with a motley of candidates managed to come together to resolve the issue amongst themselves peacefully. Icheoku hopes the Igbos of southeast will copy this example when it comes their turn in 2014 to chose their candidate. To Jonathan and Atiku, Icheoku says let the battle for the hearts and minds of PDP delegates begin and begin in all honesty! But one more thing, there should be a meeting and agreement between Jonathan and Atiku's team to respect the outcome of the primaries and support whoever wins and eventually fly the flag of the party in the general election.

HENRY OKAH, MEND LEADER AND TERRORIST, DENIED BAIL!

"Your bail application is denied, your evidence failed to convince the court that you are not the leader of the movement for the emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). The most damning evidence is that in a letter written in her handwriting the applicant's wife refers to him as being the leader of mend." - Magistrate Hein Louw said while denying Okah's bail application. Icheoku says in as much the Niger Delta terrorist and master-mind of the Nigeria Independence day celebration bombing in Abuja deserves the firing squad for his atrocious killing of innocent Nigerians; he should have pleaded President Goodluck Jonathan's own admission and exoneration of MEND as a defense. It does not make sense and defies every logic that a leader of a group that have been absolved of any complicity in a crime should be singled out for prosecution for the same crime. It therefore necessary follows that if MEND is not a terrorist group and also not responsible for the Abuja bombing as Nigerian President Jonathan proclaimed, that its leader should equally benefit from the presidential absolution and not be held so responsible. But not in the case of Okah who is facing charges for the same crime for which his group has been given a clean bill of records by the president of Nigeria himself. Does this make sense, go figure. But Henry Okah, who are your lawyers?

IRAN UNDERMINING NIGERIA, SHIPS TWO EXPEDITIONARY DEADLY CARGOES!

Icheoku says the fact that two highly dangerous and illicit cargoes from Iran came into Nigeria within just the last few weeks is not any ordinary coincidence. It is a methodical, well calculated and carefully orchestrated Iranian state policy out of Tehran geared towards destabilizing Nigeria; or at least force the authorities in Abuja to pay greater attention to the Persians. First there was a large consignment of arms which was shipped into Nigeria from Tehran but which the Iranian authorities initially, tried unsuccessfully, to deny knowledge of once the dreaded Israeli MOSSAD unmasked them. But facing mounting of incontrovertible evidence of their culpability, the Islamic state relented and later put up a feeble claim that the discovered arms cache was meant for Gambia; which country when faced with Nigeria's diplomatic pressure caved in and denied ownership of them. Iran has since accepted responsibility for the lethal cargo shipment to Nigeria but is yet to convincingly show the whence and purpose of these weapons; and diplomatic moves had gotten into high gear to investigate the shipment and punish Iran if need be; the matter is presently with the United Nations.

However just as investigation was continuing into this shipment, another unfriendly cargo came ashore in Nigeria from Iran through the same consignors that brought in the previous one. This time, it was large quantity of heroin, carefully concealed with motor spare parts and shipped as the later in a 40-foot maritime container; and as crack-heads would confirm, those gluey substance are more dangerous than firearms. So which friendly country that means well for another would permit or allow these life-wasting materials to leave her shores for the others without alerting the recipient country and so clandestinely? Were such cargoes to have originated from some freer countries and not such a religious, highly conservative closed country as Iran, then it would be possible to say that it is the handiwork of a criminal gang. But not when it is from Iran where no bird could fly without first securing the state's approval of its right to be airborne. Icheoku therefore is of the opinion that both firearms and drugs were shipped into Nigeria with the blessing of the authorities in Tehran as represented by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or the Ayatollahs religious council; which begs the question, why? What is the state objective of Iran in trying to sabotage Nigeria or undermine its government's effort to crackdown and rid the society of crimes and criminals? Why would Iran export ammunition and drugs to Nigeria concealed as building materials and vehicle spare-parts?

Hopefully investigations will provide some answers to these burning questions and Icheoku urge the Nigerian authorities to go for the jugular in this matter with Iran since Nigeria can do without Iran, their joint OPEC membership notwithstanding. The aggressor here is Tehran and Nigeria did not in anyway provoke this their action; except of course it is Islamic based because Nigeria currently have a Christian president who is not receptive to the tele-guiding influences of those Middle East  and Persian Gulf Islamic countries. Whatever reprisal action that may be taken by Nigeria, including a recalling of her diplomatic personnel from Tehran, will be understandable both by the rest of the world as well as Nigerians because what Iran did amounts to a declaration of war or at best very hostile action. As Icheoku together with the rest of the world await the outcome of the UN investigation into the arms shipment, we urge Nigerian authorities not to relent in pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion in order to send a strong message that such Islamic undermining of secular countries will not be tolerated by Abuja. The other time it was Libyan Moummar Ghaddafi who was advocating for Nigeria's breakup and now another Islamic country is shipping arms and drugs into Nigeria, covertly, trying to undermine the country's structural integrity and cohesiveness.

Icheoku condemns the Iranian action in its totality as unfriendly, provocative and unbecoming of a supposedly friendly country. Thirteen containers of arms and ammunition covertly brought into a country suffices as an attempt at insurrection or causing serious mayhem and anarchy within the host society. In fact it should be treasonable felony for those Nigerian collaborators who aided and abetted or connived with the shipment and attempt at clearing the deadly cargo. It even gets madder to learn that it was the same shipping company that brought in those weapons that also brought in the subsequent drugs and Icheoku asks, is this company still operating in Nigeria with their government issued license? As Icheoku congratulates Nigeria security agencies for not sleeping on duty this time around or glossing over necessary tail-tale signs that led to these impounds; they should also be further aware that other dangerous cargoes possibly are on the high seas en-route Nigeria from the same Iran and should remain on eagles alert. To Iran, Icheoku warns that your jihadist intentions against Nigeria will not succeed as Nigerians are smarter and more united when their country is involved in any skirmish with another country; not withstanding the often acerbic political jaw-jaw and intermittent shedding of the blood of one another prevalent in the country. Tehran must therefore cease and desist forthwith from further acts of aggression against Nigeria as Nigerians will resist them, being too sophisticated to bite their bait to trigger a consuming conflagration which will be detrimental to her existence. Icheoku says, enough Tehran!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, TREADING ON THE PATH OF FLIPPANCY?

'It is now GAME OVER for militants in the Niger Delta' so said President Jonathan while assessing the latest (in)security situation in the Niger Delta. Icheoku says just because some encampments in the creeks of the Niger Delta were overrun by the Nigerian army now makes it a game over, militants-free zone. Lifting a line from al-Queida statement to 'foreign invaders' that 'we live here but you guys will someday pack and go back to your countries,' Icheoku queries Mr President, for how long does his military plan to encamp in the Niger Delta?

Just last month, the same President Jonathan emphatically told a surprised world, ever before any investigation started, that 'the Abuja independence day celebration bombing was not carried out by MEND.' He took a step further to somewhat completely exonerate those MEND anarchists, claiming that 'MEND is not a terrorist organisation?' Icheoku observes that the military did not just go into the Niger Delta this time to flush out al-Queida or Boko Haram, but the same MEND urchins who the president had earlier absolved of being terrorists; but practically deemed them Nigeria's Mother Theresa(s)! Anyway it is only Mr President who knows or should know what he is actually talking about, but Icheoku worries that he is beginning to sound like someone without any real knowledge of the happenings around his surroundings.

Analyzing some of his recent utterances, it appears that the president is steadily exhibiting and manifesting his lack of actual knowledge about the real situation of things in the country he is supposedly in charge of and running? We hope that the disagreement between his lips and his thoughts is not an early warning signs of something more ominous and sinister such as a medically out of sync neuron which has gone rogue on the president. We are however comforted that it may not be anything to worry about since the president is not the only Nigerian in a leadership position whose mouth precedes his/her thoughts. However, just like Lai Mohammed advised the other flipping top party official, lets hope too that President Goodluck Jonathan's utterances do not soon start becoming irrelevance and the butt of jokes among Nigerians, which would not bode well and will sure see the roof crashing on those revelers at Aso Rock!

DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL; WHY DO YOU CARE?

 

Straights banter about their wives and husbands all the time and sometimes even carry their pictures around in their pocket-wallets. Some of them even fashion them into wearable pendants and rockets won as their personal lucky charms. 

Celibates also brag about their healthy sexless lifestyle, unperturbed by the peril and burden of commitment; and the unceasing associated high blood pressure caused by constant worrying about your spouse cheating on you. But whose business is it anyway who any person chooses to love or share his/her life with. Icheoku says any legislation or policy which unduly discriminates against a group is an unjust attempt by man to treat another man as inferior, thereby diminishing their human-value.

Whose duty is it anyway to decide who should not and cannot do as he pleases in a country of the free? Discrimination of any kind is inhuman including the 'don't ask, don't tell military policy and therefor should be repealed for general psyche wellbeing of all the service personnel. Icheoku therefore calls on the Senate to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell now as it serves no useful purpose being kept around. If the so called "crooked" could wear the uniform and die for our country, they should not in anyway be limited, restrained or in any unfairly restricted on how or with who they want to enjoy their life with; including their right to brag about their love interests. These Americans reserve the right to love one another including the right to brag about them, while openly gay, and still serving their country. JUST REPEAL THE DARN THING NOW, US SENATE; the heavens will not fall.

NANCY PELOSI BALKS TRADITION, REFUSES TO FALL UPON HER SWORD!

Icheoku has been accused in the past of being a chauvinistic portal and that we unfairly pile on women; so as we hold-out Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not following tradition and disemboweling, we are fully aware of what could be headed our way as a result. Despite that, Icheoku will proceed with the commentary as a speaker who lost control of the house refusal to make way is a topical issue and we pride ourselves in rendering our opinion on such issues.

Historically speakers of America House of Representatives follow in the tradition of Japanese Samurais and their generals who upon losing a battle will fall on their sword and die. They resign the speaker-ship and often times outright resignation from the membership of the house generally follows. This principally is in order to save face and party, as well as take responsibility for their party's poor performance in the midterm election. They also do this to help their party reorganize and strategize; and to get its house in order for the next election. 

Last November 2, 2010 American voters developed amnesia and voted back in Republicans as the majority party in the House of Representatives. Like former speakers Newt Gingrich and David Hastert who respectively presided over their Republican party's loss of the control of the house and went into retirement, people expected Democrat Nancy Pelosi to follow suit. But lo and behold she proved herself the woman she is and clawed and scratched to retain the leadership position of the new minority democratic party. Icheoku asks, why did you not respect tradition Madam soon to be former speaker and quit or is there something in the water of power that is so intoxicating and difficult of many incumbents to just do the honorable thing? Does this clinging on power by Speaker Nancy Pelosi typify what would happen in the event a woman becomes president of America; would such madam president change the constitution and demand for a third term?

In her acceptance speech, she refused to take personal responsibility for her party's loss last November but instead blamed it on a stubbornly unemployment situation in the country. Icheoku asks Madam Speaker, on whose desk does the buck of fixing or solving the unemployment problem in America stop but the formerly democrat controlled house presided over by Madam Speaker. Icheoku likes madam Speaker a lot; but we are not love-struck on her speaker-ship as to not to call her out on this her adamant refusal to take responsibility for her party's loss of control and step aside or even quit the scene for a rebuilding of the party. Now she had to condescend, stepping down from her former high perch to displace natural minority leaders; which denudation continued, sweeping away the only black man in the power structure of the house, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina; admitted that a ceremonial new House No.3 Democrat position was created to assuage some black hurt-feelings. Icheoku asks the democrat, why  must it always be black democrats being asked to make way for their white counterparts - Governor of New York, Senate candidate Meek of Florida, President Obama at one time and now Jim Clyburn.

Icheoku however appreciates those 46 free-thinking democrats, especially Madam Speaker's only challenger Representative Heath Shuler of North Carolina, who voted their conviction in the 150-46 fall in line votes that secured the minority leadership position for Nancy Pelosi. It is the right thing to do by these democrats who truly voted as majority of them thought but lacked the balls to go the whole nine yards. It is this diddling by democrats that led to their trouncing by the more vociferous Republicans who goes to the jugular not minding obstacles on the way. it is still mind-boggling that democrats lost the last November election despite what they have been able to accomplish; judging from where things were when they took the baton from President G.W Bush and company. Election have consequences and Madam Speaker should have left the scene to make way for new leadership to emerge and steer the party back to relevance.

Having been in power for the past eight years as house leader, madam Speaker finds it very difficult to just give up all the perks and power that come with such high office; but is justifying her  position as the person to lead democrats back to majority status. Icheoku however disagrees with Madam Speaker that she is the only one that could lead democrats back to majority soon enough. Madam Speaker was one of the main reasons why democrats lost in the first place as people voted in protest against her, even when she was not on the ballot in several states, against the running democrat. But hey, democrats love their 70 year beautiful grandma Speaker and soon to be new minority leader and Icheoku wishes them well. Anyway, congratulations Madam soon to be minority leader.

EVA LANGORIA AND TONY PARKER, "UNTIL HEIGHT DIFFERENCE DO US APART.'"

 

For those realists amongst humanity, it was no surprise as it was long in the coming, there being no chemistry between them. But unfortunately so many people in this world are delusional and fantastical with residences in the land of make-believe. They often mistake infatuation and star-struck for love; and the result as always is the same as the assured fate of a house built on sandy foundation. She was smitten and telephones calls were made between agents leading to the fairy tale nupital, nothing more. So it is very easy to see how the wheels came off the bus so soon and within such a short period of time since they lied to each other, "until death do us apart?"

May be Tony was finally tired of having to bend down every time to kiss his petite wife when he cannot scoop her up in one arm or there is no stool around for her to perch herself on and decided to solve the problem the only way he knows best. Or could it be that Eva was expecting too much from a black-man NBA star who is the toast of so many superior and taller damsels world over; otherwise which man doesn't play an aside once in a while. Eva should have been happy that his Tony was caught only texting or what would Ellen Nordgren Tiger Woods do; may be jump off the bridge? It is a trite saying that winners don't quit and quitters don't win; so as emotional-weakling Eva now moves out to make way for the other stronger woman to move in, Icheoku asks who is the final, biggest loser.

$46 MILLION PINK DIAMOND, AN EYE-POPPER FOR MILLIONS OF GRAFF-GIRLS!

If it is a truism that diamonds are girls best friend, then London based diamond dealer Mr. Laurence Graff must have 46 million girls now swooning over for his affection, no matter how shallow and trifling. Mr. Graff just doled out $46 million USD for the mother of all diamonds - the 24.78 carat Fancy Intense Pink diamond; a sort of heirloom from 60 years ago when it was first sold by American Harry Winston into a private collection.

The pink diamond, sold and purchased at a rare gems auction held in Hotel Beau Rivage, Geneva, Switzerland by Sotheby's; is graded as 'Fancy Intense Pink' by the Gemological Institute of America. It is classified as type IIa diamond and regarded as the best there is - flawless, purest and the most coveted of all diamonds in the world; which explains the jaw-dropping amount of money that changed hands as bargain for its ownership. It comes from a genre of diamonds that make up only two percent of world's diamond population which makes it as rare as they come. The ladies magnet numero uno was described by David Bennett, chairman for Europe and the Middle East at Sotheby's international jewellery department as "a stone that has huge character and appeal." 

But regrettably no one ever told the world the origins of the diamond, where the diamond originally came from; whether it was from India where pinkies were first discovered or from one of the numerous mines in Africa which have been exploited over the many years fueling ceaseless and needless blood-letting in the continent; which the movie, 'Blood Diamonds' tried to shine light on. Like the story of America, with history books replete with Christopher Columbus as discovering it and intentionally glossing over the facts that the Indians were here long before Columbus was even borntalkless of setting sail; so this diamond's history began 60 years ago when an American jeweler Winston sold it? Icheoku asks, why was the mine from which this diamond was harvested not mentioned for historical perspective or did America's Mr. Winston mine the diamond from underneath his ranch in Wyoming? We are talking about giving due credits here, people! 

'Pinky bling' was described by the Sotheby's as "exceptionally rare and truly magnificent pink diamond of the purest, vibrant hue." Enough encomiums to melt souls were stones animated and put millions of daughters of Eve into a tizzy as they profess their undying love for the diamond, masked as for Mr. Laurence Graff; the gemstones connoisseur who now owns the only very one stone which any connoisseur would die for just to get their hands on.Icheoku asks, how about that for bragging rights for Mr. Graff and also for being the payer of the most money for any diamond or jewelry or gemstone ever sold in an auction; shattering all records with his check? Finally as Icheoku says congratulations to this gemstone collector extra-ordinaire for his prized stone; we must add that millions of girls world over must be swooning at the thought of ever getting close to Mr. Graff, whether as a friend, acquaintance or 'just having any form of relationship with that man, Mr. LaurenceGraff!

SEX MAKES MEN LIVE LONGER!

Wives, girlfriends, guys and ladies, you now know; if you want him to stick around longer then do what the researcher ordered - give him limitless sex. Some Italian medical researchers, led by one Emmanuela Jannini, have determined that a healthy sex-life prolongs the life of men. According to their findings, good sex greatly reduces cardiovascular problems and is also a great fat burner; two ingredients necessary for longevity. It also produces more testosterone which decreases depression and improves metabolism in men. Icheoku queries does this mean that women who outlive their husbands starved them of sex; and if so and because of their great number, so many men must be going without getting some. Further how does this finding explain the fact that many women are usually more depressed than men since it takes two to tango! But hey, an Italian did the research and who knows if Uncle Berlusconi paid for the final report

ONE BILLION WORLD MUSLIMS, HAPPY SALLAH!

Clever Saudi Arabians as they have figured out a permanent source of foreign revenue; so even in the unlikely event the oil wells were to magically and calamitously dry up or disappear today, they will still be very liquid. Imagine Muslims all over the world required to make the Hajj at least once in their lifetime; translation - one billion people plus and counting who are expected to make the Hajj. So plus or minus this number, coughing out some hard currency to visit Saudi Arabia in their lifetime, is not a mere drop in the bucket foreign exchange earner. 

Flight, transportation, lodging, shopping, dinning and drinking whatever they are officially allowed to drink - that's tons of money that Las Vegas would salivate for. Anyway, that is evidence of Saudi-smarts and two million adherents just poured into the Kingdom to observe the Haji and with it came some foreign currency. Who said the kingdom never figured out all these things long before time and Icheoku asks when would the Vatican and Jerusalem follow suit; afterall religion is politics. But lest Icheoku forgets, what about those who cannot afford Mecca or Hajj? What is the fate of all those beggarly Muslims, too poor to go to Hajj or would they not make their paradise upon death? Anyway to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, both rich and poor as we do not discriminate, Icheoku says Happy Sallah to you!

PRESIDENT JONATHAN, NIGERIA'S SPENDER IN CHIEF EXTRA-ORDINAIRE!

 

When President Goodluck's team took over government in Nigeria in May 29, 2007, saved in Nigeria's coffers was a whopping sum of $20 billion (dollars). Today, less than 3.6years into their administration, the money has disappeared - depleted to less than $1.2 billion. It would be recalled that late President Yar'Adua before he kicked the bucket, was too sickly and perpetually absent to have had time to spend any much; so Icheoku asks President Jonathan where is Nigeria's money?

What happened to the content of the safe-box that was entrusted to you or was it a case of the rat being made the custodian of the dry fish? This becomes more disturbing in view of the fact that there is nothing much on the ground to justify and show for the massive profligacy. There is still no motor-able roads in Nigeria, no electricity in Nigeria, no jobs in Nigeria, no security in Nigeria, no healthcare in Nigeria, no social security in Nigeria, no $120 minimum wage for workers in Nigeria and the general despondency in the country has not yet abated. Nigerians, you can now see who you have manning the till:- a drunken-sailor like spender!

But don't you think there is something eerie, weird and unnerving about this guy's seeming timid demeanor; yet behind those aloofness lies a spender extra-ordinaire who is been spending Nigeria's wealth as if he just won the lottery! Jonathan, please show Nigerians invoices and receipts for what you have so far spent their $18.13 billion or thereabout on. Even the much castigated and despised Prince of Darkness of Minna, Babangida, at least has Abuja to show for Nigeria's unaccounted for $12billion dollars, admitted Nigerians still want him to pay it back or be punished for it. So you decide

FISTS FOR ALL AS NIGERIAN POLICEMEN FIGHT OVER BRIBE MONEY?

Icheoku says Chinua Achebe was probably wrong in identifying the trouble with Nigeria as lack of leadership. The real trouble with Nigeria seems to be that Nigerians are not a disciplined lot and without discipline nothing much can be accomplished. An undisciplined mind is a mind running riot which impacts every strata of the society as exemplified by these policemen, fighting over how to share bribe money which they strong-armed from cowering innocent Nigerians. Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the fearless one(ajanaku), rightly articulated it when he compared Nigeria with the infamous Ojuelegba roundabout in Lagos - confusion everywhere! Icheoku says, Etu Mopol!

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, NOW A BUDDHIST?

As a senator he visited Africa, the land of his father, where his father's kinsmen honored him, dressing him up in a turban traditional attire. Some people and press in America went gun-ho that he is of an African-Kenyan anti-colonialist tribe? His name is Barack Hussein Obama, oh no, that is a full evidence of his being a Muslim and an Islamist with a secret agenda to destroy 'their America?'

President Obama while in Japan for the just concluded APEC 2010 summit, visited Kotokuin Temple of the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Japan and that must now make him also a Buddhist? Icheoku says, wait for the next few days before some media talking-heads of America will start propagating the idea that President Barack Obama is now a Buddhist. It is coming and such oddity of misinformation adds to the inexplicable naivety exhibited by many Americans which have made us all the laughing stock of the rest of the world; which marvels at the depth of misinformation or lack of any information in America.

As they most probably read such misguided statements within the next several weeks, they will be cracking their ribs laughing at our ignorance or appearance thereof that a mere ephemeral association by visit to a temple due to reverence or deference automatically now makes the president an adherent of Buddhism. Strangely enough no one called the president Jewish when he adorned the yarmulke while visiting Israel and when former CNN's Rick Sanchez complained out loud about who controls the media in America, he got fired. Icheoku admonishes Americans that President Barack Obama is not a new convert to Buddhism; he is still a Christian but merely visited a Buddhist temple just like you would Disney Land. Meanwhile welcome back home Mr. President from your ten day Asian trip and let the new war in Washington with those extremist Tea Party led Republican Congress now begin!

MANNY PACQUIAO, PHILIPPINES FIGHTING CONGRESSMAN!

 

Manny Pacquiao is the new World Boxing Council super welterweight champion. He defeated much rated Mexican Antonio Margarito in round eight of their scheduled twelve rounds fighting-bout. Icheoku asks, admitted there is dignity in labor but is it not about time this lawmaker hung up his groves and concentrate on his new legislative assignment for the people of Sarangani District in Philippines in the House of Representatives in Manila; just thinking about the dignity of his new office? Meanwhile congratulations Manny!

AUNG SAN SUU KYI, MYANMAR'S APOSTLE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY!

She is the latest symbol of democracy in the world; now joining the ranks of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and such other freedom loving personalities the world have come to know, who accepted personal tribulation in order to bequeath their people freedom. But unlike the three, her people of Myanmar are still to taste real freedom of democracy but her release is a step in that direction and a testament that soon and very soon they sure will join the democratic nations of the world. 

In Yangon Myanmar,  the lady with a steely resolve who vowed to enthrone democracy for the people of Myanmar have finally secured her freedom from house arrest; seven long years after the military dictators holding the country to ransom failed to break her will and make her to renounce her pro-democracy credentials and activism. She was released from her somewhat private prison in a dilapidated lake-front villa where she was forced to call home the last seven years.

Democracy heroine Aung San Suu Kyi, 65, Icheoku and the world are proud of you for standing firm behind your conviction and not selling out on your people by accepting your persecutors' terms. Like Jesus Christ said, they can only break the temple housing the being and your eventual freedom just added another proof of that statement. 

Like President Barack Obama said of this hero of his, a prison is a prison and it does not make any difference whether it is someone's living room or state's or federal prison; as what is important is that a person's freedom has been emasculated. In his own words, "Whether Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house, or the prison of her country, does not change the fact that she, and the political opposition she represents, has been systematically silenced, incarcerated, and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes." Icheoku agrees intoto and adds that a confined-space freedom, be it in a home, house, apartment or even a mansion is no freedom at all; and Suu Kyi attests to this fact too. 

Like Nigeria's 1993 election won by MKO Abiola was declared inconclusive by the military who later annulled it , and refused to handover to the winner, the military in Myanmar equally refused to hand over to Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy which won an election in 1990. But there ended the comparison as MKO Abiola was poisoned and died in prison; while today, the world is celebrating with Suu Kyi on her release from prison of house arrest. It will be recalled that in 2009 an American man swam uninvited to Suu Kyi lake-side house-arrest home and she was punished for sheltering him briefly. Finally Icheoku greets Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, on her release and wish her more courage on the thorny road ahead. The military is the same everywhere in third world countries - they are so much entrenched and do not usually yield the fountain of power upon mere wish-washy agitation but persistent mass action and sometimes lots of blood flow. Aung San Suu Kyi, please enjoy your freedom while it lasts, except you are ready to hang up your groves, as the fight is not over just yet; but as they say in freedom world, "aluta continua!" 

LOU DOBBS JOINS FOX TELEVISION, HE IS HOME AT LAST!

 

Icheoku says what a predictable move as everyone always knew that his heart and mind were with the extreme right megaphone but he only had his body then at CNN. Fox is where he belongs, his natural habitat, where together with other extremist right-wing crazies like Glen Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly, they can now rev up their racist agenda megaphone to enthrone their envisaged 'White-only' America. Icheoku therefore asks, it must feel so good to be finally at home, Lou?

CHRIST THE KING STATUE IN POLAND, THOU SHALL NOT MAKE AN IMAGE IN MY NAME?

The spate of edifying monuments being erected by Christians all over the world to honor Jesus Christ are growing daily in number and scale. The latest of such human gratification of self-ability is the Christ the King Jesus statue in Swiebodzin Poland, courtesy of a catholic priest, 78 year old Sylwester Zawadzki.


The statue which took five years to complete, at a total height of 167 feet, now dwarfs both the Rio de Janerio Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue at 125 feet and the Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia at 133 feet, which use to be the tallest of such Jesus statues in the world in that order. The statue weighs 440 tons and is visible from Highway A2 linking Warsaw and Berlin.


Icheoku says what an awesome work of art that the Polish were able to put up at Swiebodzin; but queries whatever happened to the biblical injunction 'thou shall not make any image in my likeness?' Or perhaps the argument could be made that it was his father, God the Father, who abhors and forebode image being made in his name and that baby-Jesus later turned adult-Jesus at 33, would not mind being honored in such manner? Being the affable guy he was and still is, Icheoku believes that Jesus Christ wouldn't mind that his statue is now the king of all statues in the world, including New York's Lady Liberty at 121 feet high as well as the other Jesus statue at 133 feet high Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia.


Further, the biblical injunction was purpose-specific that such images are not worshipped if made, so it appears from reading the scriptural lines that it will be ok to still make images provided they are not worshipped in place of the only living God who is both jealous and not entertaining of any rivalry or of divided attention whatsoever. The injunction in specifically mentioned "an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water under the earth" for purposes of worship (Exodus 20:4-5; Leviticus 26:1). So plus minus it is either you make an image and not worship it or you do not make any image at all; so God left the choice to humanity which the Polish people have so far exercised and made their 'Christ the King' statue. Deuteronomy 5:8, 27:15 says "cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret. so it appears that the Polish are safe from this curse as they did not keep their Christ the King statue in secret but set it high up in a public place where it is very visible.


Contextually, these passages are dealing with the same subject matter - an admonition against worshipping of images as God does not want people bowing down before such images and worshiping them as God or God-alternates. Provided these statues do not become objects of worship, being public artifacts to which the general populace could become familiar with and thereby risk falling into their idol worship, it appears to be ok for what they represent - a reminder and memorial of our Lord Jesus Christ. So it would appear ok and appropriate to have an image made of anything and anybody including Jesus Christ provided it is not worshipped in any form as God or God-alternate. Therefore the Christ the King Jesus statue in Poland as well as others in Brazil, Bolivia and elsewhere are sanctioned by God, provided humanity does not mistake them for God himself or his son and bow down to worship them. So once this fine-line is isolated and distinguished, then it is ok to have the 164feet Christ the King Statue in Swiebodzin Poland as a God approved edification of his son, Jesus Christ.


But the jury is still out on the appropriateness or otherwise of the project and whether the $1.7million spent on this statue was money well spent or could have been used in a more profitable venture like building schools or feeding the Polish hungry? But the priest behind  the construction of the project seems to have his own secret agenda to take Europe back to Christ as according to him, "He will be the greatest teacher of the faith and Europe needs preachers like Christ". So through this, all those Islamists trying so hard to Islamize Europe has been put on notice that Christ the King is watching their actions and will not allow them take over his continental Europe. Icheoku says, luckily too, Poland is not America where the ACLU would have shut down the project on grounds of secularism arguing that such gargantuan Christ the King is a an unfair propagation of Christianity above other religions in a public place. Finally, what would the crusading Islamists say or do with a towering Jesus Christ keeping his watchful eyes over their activities in his Poland, albeit Europe. Icheoku says this edifying statue is a bold statement that rapid Islamization of Europe would not be tolerated by Poland and stopped at Swiebodzin Poland's watershed!

9/11 TERRORISTS, TRY THEM IN NEW YORK OR SET THEM FREE!

The locus in situ and locus in quo of the crime of 9/11 was New York, so why move the trial of those criminals who perpetrated this atrocity elsewhere? Icheoku says if those damn terrorists can brave it to attack and destroy our two most prominent towers in midtown Manhattan, New Yorkers should also be equally as brave and hold them accountable for these crimes in New York?

Why would New Yorkers be cowering at the thought of trying these lunatics in New York when they, terrorists, never blinked when they flew both planes into WTC? Under our jurisprudence, criminals are tried in the place where they committed the crime except they move to be tried elsewhere due to obvious prejudice which might impact their case adversely. But here in New York where the crime of 9/11 was committed, we instead have the victims of the crime, hysterically pleading that those criminals be not tried in New York.

Icheoku says if New Yorkers do not want to try these criminals and bring them to justice in New York, thereby passing up on the opportunity to exert their pound of flesh, then the Justice Department might as well set them free as no other person or place want these human-dungs in their backyard, definitely not Icheoku!

OBASANJO'S ROUGHING UP, A BRAVE AND LONG OVERDUE STATEMENT OF REBUKE!

At last Icheoku has found a man of very courageous character in Nigeria; a somewhat hero, and a man who put in practice what many Nigerians have been dreaming and thinking about for so long. A patriot of sort who did what many Nigerians would do in a heartbeat, were the deity of Otta to be left with them alone in a dark alley or poorly lit street corner. But when the dust of this brazen attack is finally settled, the one question that will be in everybody's lips would be, how did he do it? How did this guy pull off this secret mission and hit his target without being shot and killed by the trigger-happy security detail always protecting Obasanjo from his past; except of course African black magic somewhat played a role?


Icheoku has been accused severally of having no love lost with Obasanjo and at one time, we thought that it was only us that Olusegun Okikilemu Matthew Aremu Obasanjo made raving mad by the catastrophe that was his regime; which was made even worse by the result of the 2007 election which he foist on Nigerians. But this guy who confronted Obasanjo has shown that we are not alone in our disgust for what his government did; and in as as much  as Icheoku does not support violence of any kind on any person, we strongly believe that this is a particular case where an exception would be well understood. Obasanjo bit more than he can chew with Nigerians and took Nigerians for a jolly ride and almost off the cliff. Therefore, Icheoku does not agree with those yellow publications now dubbing the Obasanjo's attacker, a mad man; no, the attacker is not a mad man but a completely sane Nigerian who waited for the time and opportunity to let Obasanjo know how despised he is and how lowly Nigerians regard him and boy, did he succeed!


The fate which befell Olusegun Obasanjo is a taste of the pudding of what awaits practically every Nigerian political and military ruling class, were it not for the army of security guards which they festoon themselves 24/7 with. As between these marauders and the polity, there is no love lost and Icheoku believes that were it Babangida that was similarly cornered, it would have been a more tragic encounter than the slap on the wrist which Obasanjo received. The moral lesson in this Obasanjo's attack is that Nigerians are not happy with their leaders (past and present) for all the iniquities they have visited on Nigeria all these years of their inept leadership and are looking forward to the day, opportunity will call for them to take their pound of flesh. A country with the vast resources Nigeria is awash with is still wallowing in abject poverty, no power supply, no good roads, no jobs, no health-care, no security and a lot of other no nos; while their supposed leaders are swimming in stupendous wealth whose sources are both questionable and unverifiable.


It is very case-sensitive, the insensitivity of these leaders, past and present, who show crass indifference to the plight of the governed in Nigeria while over-supplying their own nests for their generations yet unborn. Icheoku says, whatever happens to this brave patriotic Nigerian, who braved the odds and consequences of roughing up Obasanjo, the statement has been made that all these leaders are marked men and women before many Nigerians; and that the only thing saving their asses, are the retinue of gun-ho security men and women protecting them from their nemesis - Nigerians. To this true patriotic Nigerian, Icheoku says, kudos to you for the vehement statement you made by your action, which unmistakeably registered Nigerians general disgust to the demon that is Olusegun Obasanjo for his ruthless eight years governance which forced down their throats the content of some poisoned chalice.


Even if this patriot managed to land only one blow on Obasanjo, that blow is more than enough and it is a blow for and on behalf of the 150 million Nigerians who hate this monster of Otta with passion for what he did to them during his eight years of despotic power. It further shows that Olusegun Obsanjo as well as other leaders in Nigeria are prisoners in their own country and cannot freely move about for fear of their own people who they molested with their power while in power. Hear the accompanying statement made by this defender of Nigerians' honor while attacking Obasanjo and be the judge as to his true purport:- "God will punish you (Obasanjo) for all your crimes against Nigerians. ...................if you say I am crazy what would you say about Obasanjo. Am I the one that looted the funds of Nigeria, rigged elections and slept with his son's wife?"


As a Nigerian, ask yourself whether this guy was not holding your brief and fighting your fight, holding Obasanjo accountable and letting him know that his sins shall not go unpunished? It is sickening indeed for anyone in Nigeria to pretend that this attacker is mad and Icheoku takes it further to state that, if indeed the attacker is mad, he was made mad by the atrocious Olusegun Obasanjo government and Obasanjo's refusal to go away long after his governance was over, but choose to remain in the public eye, an eyesore of the biggest magnitude. Let there be an indictment of this guy and a trial and let the world watch Nigerians rally around a now hero of the people who stood up and spoke up on behalf of the people through his action.


The attack once again shows the vanity and fruitless of all these supposed security which these public officials imprison themselves with; as it could have been a totally different story were the man to be armed and more dangerous. But he was not a dangerous or insane person but a brave patriot who was only making a statement, expressing Nigerians disgust of Obasanjo; otherwise it could have been an Obasanjo's obituary that Nigerians will wake up reading and not merely that he was roughed-up. But like all the usual passing of the buck in Nigeria, instead for the security to admit that they bungled an assignment to protect the deity of Otta, they are now suggesting shamelessly that there could be a conspiracy involved in the attack? Icheoku queries if there was a conspiracy, why didn't those conspirators take Obasanjo out; or better still, could it be IBB and the boys who were behind this near hostage-situation in their attempt to force Obasanjo out of the 2007 political campaigns and by extension, deflate the President Goodluck Jonathan's main campaign support; just theorising!


But for all Icheoku could fathom, this guy is no lunatic; but was at the airport specifically for this opportunity to send a strong message to Obasanjo and the entire political class that Nigerians are not happy with them. But how he knew the exact time of Obasanjo's arrival, the very car that was conveying him and the general coordinates of his trip such as where and when to strike exactly shows no one is safe indeed. The precision and speed with which the attacker gained access to Obasanjo is disturbingly very mind-boggling, considering such a high value target like Obasanjo's security needs and needed measures. Finally why the doors of the very car Obasanjo was travelling in were not locked is also something that might interest the investigating security operatives into this would-have been biggest embarrassment to the Nigerian government that a former president was kidnapped or possibly killed by one person acting alone and in a Lagos airport Nigeria? Nigeria is a country in serious security crisis and with no foreseeable hope of remedying it in the immediate horizon. Cry for thy country, oh Nigerians!