THE SLAUGHTER IN NORTHERN NIGERIA MUST STOP AND NOW!

Once again the people of northern Nigeria are spilling the blood of innocent fellow Nigerians, whose only offense is that they believe in a different way and manner of praying to a God; other than the knocking of foreheads on the ground. Icheoku says these extremist Muslims need to be told in a very strong language that they are not the only repository of violence; and that they must either stop all forms of violence forthwith or have violence visited on them twofold. Alternatively, since these northerners have continuously shown and manifested their inability to co-exist with other more rational and reasonable Nigerians in one geographical entity, may be it is high time the impending Sudan/South-Sudan solution is equally adopted and applied to Nigeria. Let Southern Nigerians as well as Christians of the northern Middle-belt be allowed through a referendum to decide whether they want to continue living in such a state of insecurity, sharing the same boarders with these barbarians or opt out of the contraption called Nigeria. 

It is indeed time enough really becomes enough and this madness of incessant blood shedding of innocent Nigerians by fellow Nigerians came to an end. These northerners have been killing innocent Nigerians since 1966 which led to the war of self preservation forced on the Igbo people of Biafra, through various coups and counter-coups, Maitatsine, Gideon Akaluka, to the latest Boko Haram domestic terrorists, terrorizing the country. Their present staging grounds is  the former pristine temperate Jos which they have extended to Maiduguri; and Icheoku understands the underlying philosophy of trying to now also capture and completely Islamize these areas which never fell to the Hausa/Fulani Othman Dan Fodio's Islamic crusade (jihad) of the last century. The worst is that the leadership of these northerners appear either powerless to stop this recurring mayhem or they simply look the other way just to remain in power; and the government in Abuja is not helping matters either by not decisively and drastically dealing with the situation. Till date none of the White papers on the several panels set up in the past to unravel the cause majore of these incessant bloodletting have been released nor did any of the well connected instigators and financial backers/sponsors of this terrors been brought to book; and the government knows or at least have a faint idea of who these sleuth-anarchists are. 


Even the white paper on the penultimate Jos massacre which forced President Goodluck Jonathan to set up  an investigative panel is yet to be made public several months after they concluded their work despite presidential promises to timely do so. The president it would seem is pandering to political expediency and in order not to jeopardize his current political adventure by not releasing the findings of that investigative panel. Icheoku's recommended solution, in the absence of guaranteed security of lives and properties for some Nigerians within Nigeria, is to convene a national sovereign conference for the different nationalities therein yoked in Nigeria to revisit the terms of their continued co-habitation and decide what is the best way forward. But to continue to be delusional in sustaining the current arrangement whereby one section of the country continually visit mayhem on fellow countrymen and women with impunity is unacceptable. 


A country that cannot guarantee freedom of religious worship and security of lives and properties of all her citizens in whatever part of the country they may chose to reside is not a country properly so called and something has to give way - either things change for the better or the entity yields its contents. Enough is enough. Nigeria is not at war yet her citizens are dying in hundreds, being killed in the country and by fellow citizens and the government looks helpless and unable to stop the bleeding?


Icheoku says victims and targeted peoples of this recurring Northern Nigeria slaughtering deserve not to be so regularly traumatized in their own country and by their fellow citizens. Enough is enough! But the government's continued tolerance and accommodation of these northern Nigeria murderers by not decisively dealing with them as well as their sponsors is an implied call for complete anarchy in Nigeria. These victims and those victimized peoples of Nigeria reserve the right to defend themselves and it is about time they exercised that right; and respond in kind, in similar manner of an eye for an eye according to Mosaic Law. This crass and arrant nonsense must stop immediately or the country is sure to implode as there are certain limits to elasticity of human-being's tolerance. If these perpetrators do not want to live in a peaceful country, they should move out and move faraway to the caves of Toroborah Afghanistan, where their impetuous kind live; but they must leave other more peaceful, more productively engaged and more rational Nigerians alone. Icheoku says, enough of this recurring madness.

ISRAEL'S PRESIDENT MOSHE KATSAV IS A RAPIST, SAYS THE COURT.

 

The people of Israel through their court, has affirmed to the world that they had as a president, a man whose libido was so high he rapes women? Their court convicted their former President Moshe Katsav of various sexual offences including rape, indecent assault and sexual harassment of female subordinates; one of who worked as his (sexual)aide until she was fired because according to her complaint, she was tired of being a sexual object for the president. Icheoku says it appears the former president forgot too soon that hell knows no fury like a woman scorned otherwise he should have been more smart going about the dismissal his former sexual mistress. But what is it anyway with men of power and their inability to keep their whiny zipped up inside their pants, from America's President Bill Clinton to the other Jewish former New York governor Elliot Spitzer? Anyway one thing that came out of this conviction is that the law is no respecter of persons in Israel and that every person is equal under the law; unlike in Nigeria where such dalliances are privileged of the men of power and considered sanctified by the victims that till date, no one has yet prosecuted Olusegun Obasanjo for his incestuous liaison with his daughter in-law, Mojisola Olugbenga Obasanjo. It also appears that there is a permissive culture of sexual oppression and exploitation of women amongst some Israeli men which led one commentator to say concerning the guilty verdict of President Katsav, "the verdict delivered a mortal blow to the macho culture that turns women onto an object of despicable sexual exploitation in Israel." Icheoku considers this commentary too hard and very telling on Israeli men, which is now somehow conclusively buttressed with the rape conviction of an Israeli former first man, President Moshe Katsav for series of sexual offenses. It will be recalled that an earlier reached plea bargain was rejected as an unjust protectionist ploy to shield the president from prosecution. Convicted President Katsav, 66, who served as president of Israel from 2000 to 2007 now faces between 4 to 16 years imprisonment, barring any successful appeal of the verdict or a pardon from the authorities. Icheoku says one of the moral lessons taught by this conviction is for men in authorities to control sexual drive while in public office or authority and never to enrage anyone holding them on the balls, especially when that one is a woman! Finally, Icheoku wants to know whether the convicted Israeli president would be required to register as a sexual predator and sex offender upon the completion of his prison term?

COMRADE VLADIMIR PUTIN, THE MAN WHO RUNS RUSSIA?

Just thinking out loud, Icheoku queries who really is in charge in czarist Russia, a President Medvedev or Prime Minister Putin? Is it true that President Dimtri Medvedev is just a president in name only akin to a ceremonial presidency and that his supposed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is the real man of power who determines what goes and how it goes in mother Russia? Is Medvedev beholden to Putin and holds his office at Putin's pleasure? Icheoku's sudden interest in who calls the shot in the former communist enclave is born out of the now extended prison stay levied on the former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky on the prodding of the Russian authorities. 

While some commentators say Putin influenced the decision of the courts, others thought it was Russia's lawyer president Medvedev weakness and inability to reinvigorate an already supine judiciary that gave room for such manipulation of the courts, in attaching extra six years for a crime which took place about seventeen years ago and which has been to all intent and purposes prosecuted and for which Mr. Khodorkovsky has been in prison for the past eight years. But in Putin's Russia, what Comrade Putin wants, Comrade Putin gets and now he wants Khodorkovsky put away until the 2012 Russia's election when he hopes to remount the saddle again; thus getting back the office which Medvedev is currently holding in trust on his behalf. Should this scenario play itself out in 2012 as is widely anticipated, Russia would have formally transformed itself into a full fledged banana republic where one man calls the shot. Icheoku hopes it does not happen and that Medvedev will develop enough political real estate and muscle as well as courage to emasculate Comrade Putin or even fire him from office before then; afterall he is the president and Putin is supposed to be serving under his pleasure as his prime minister? 

However, Icheoku is not interested in Mikhail Khodorkovsky or his current travails, but makes bold to say that anyone who goes to the devil to accept some favors must be prepared to remain at the devils beck and call; and if in doubt, he/she should watch the movie, Devil's Advocate. If you accept a bequeath from the devil, then be prepared to accept the terms of that gift since the devil does not give any free meals; and in defiance, have the big hammer from hell descend on you to knock you down worse than you were before the encounter. This is the extent Icheoku understands the underlying reasons of the political schenanigans playing itself out before the world with the current six more years of elongation of prison term for Mr. Khodorkovsky. 

The Russian mafia led by Putin made him an emergent oil billionaire overnight and they expected him to at least show some gratitude and a little respect by staying off the political trails; but like all money people all over including Nigerian MKO Abiola, he thought that his wealth can see him through. But boy was he wrong and he was drastically burnt in the process with all his wealth taken in the same flash as it was handed over to him. Mikhail Khodorkovsky forgot too soon how he became stupendously rich and that somebody made it possible by skewering the system to favor him. He also forgot that the somebody who made him can also unmake him and that somebody is still around and in the Kremlin and that somebody's name is PUTIN. Now you know the veracity of the Igbo adage that 'the okro shrub can never grows taller than the planter who planted it;' get it. But this still does not conclusively answer the Russian political question, who is really and actually in charge in Russia; except you bought into the western media talking-point that Vladimir Putin is it.

JIM JABLON, A BIBLICAL DANIEL IN A DEN OF LIONS?

 

Icheoku was thinking that biblical stories were exclusive of that times until we ran into this story of a Florida man who has recreated the story of Daniel in a den of lions? Icheoku does not know or pretend to comprehend the science of this domestication of wild killer lions; but Mr Jablon of Spring Hills Florida knows best and we can only wish him a full and complete command and control of his environment as well as his playmates/guests!

GBAGBO, HIS CUP IS NEARLY FULL.

Icheoku says Ivory Coast hold-over President Laurent Gbagbo won't be laughing for long very soon, as the threat of force is now more likely than not to come to fruition now that he has rebuffed all entreaties to surrender the presidency. The only regret is that Gbagbo is planning to commit mass suicide with a lot of Ivoriens, who will die for nothing trying to defend his indefensible claim to the presidency. Icheoku asks, where are those agents from Langley who served Nigerian MKO Abiola some "sweet" tea? They should infiltrate Gbagbo's kitchen staff and make him some milk-shake or hot cocoa and put him to sleep forever. That way the current political imbroglio in Ivory Coast would just disappear without the added cost of first destroying his rag-tag army before getting rid of him. Icheoku calls it the "Abiola Tea Solution"; and this is exactly what Dr. Democracy ordered to be administered on the Ivorien strongman Laurent Gbagbo. Just get rid of the scumbag, wanna be sit-tight leader and spare the blood of innocent Ivoriens. Another typical case of those whom the gods wants to kill he first make mad; and the world will soon know who laughs last.

GBAGBO, NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS WITH A DICTATOR!

 

"All dictators are alike and all dictators will not negotiate their departure — they are made to leave," - Guillaume Soro, Ivorien Prime Minster. Icheoku agrees that dictators are impervious to reason and therefore parties should end further attempt at persuading this wanna-be sit tight former president Laurent Gbagbo forthwith and set the machinery in motion to forcibly evict him out of the government house in Abidjan. There is really nothing to negotiate with a man who lost an election and has been told in unmistakable words that he is an illegitimate, hold-over president and must go. Icheoku asks where are the bombs as more delay gives Gbagbo impetus to dig in and presume he has something to defend

GBAGBO SCOFFS 'THREAT OF LEGITIMATE FORCE', ECOMOG HOSTILITIES NOW!

 

Icheoku says the hold-over president of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo must, should and have to go and without any negotiated pre-conditions whatsoever. To accommodate such will only succeed in bolstering and encouraging other sprouting Mwai Kibakis and Robert Mugabes of Africa to always reject the will of their people, the electorates and refuse to cede power when voted out. 

So far ECOWAS is following the Ivorien political impasse as is expected of any regional power bloc or pressure group and must now that the de-facto president Gbagbo has thumbed his nose on them, follow through with their threat of force. What is needed now is for their diplomats to lobby the United States of America and France for logistics and weapons to do the job that needs to be done and immediately. Gbagbo's threat of taking foreign nationals living in Ivory Coast hostage or expelling diplomatic staff is a no brainier and must not operate to attenuate the military option. 

This sit-tight wanna-be scumbag has been in power for 10 long years and Icheoku wonders what else he wants to prove therein in Abidjan; except as he shamelessly intoned there are other African leaders who have been in power for ages without legitimacy and you now see what is driving his obstinacy and refusal to yield power. He just wants to become another African henchman in the mold of Hosni Mubarak, Moummar Ghaddafi, Robert Mugabe and of late Mwai Kibaki. A highly noted Mafiaoso once said, never make a threat unless you are willing and capable of carrying it through; so ECOWAS chairman President Jonathan of Nigeria must now show cause to remind Gbagbo that if only Sadaam Hussein had listened to international entreaties to quit, may be he would be alive today and on an exile somewhere, living out his old age. But dictators everywhere always believe that somehow they will extricate themselves from any given woven yarn. 

Icheoku calls on ECOWAS to immediately fire some warning shots across the bow of former president Gbagbo today. Or does Gbagbo need a direct talking, unscripted Olusegun Obasanjo to be sent to him to drum the message right into his cranium before he can understand the seriousness and urgency of the time. Icheoku calls on ECOMOG and even the CIA to take this suicidal power-hungry maniac out now and not allow him take down Ivory Coast with him into the abyss! Gbagbo must go and now and unconditionally without any landing cushion or parachute!

OLD MAN WINTER STRIKES EAST COAST.

 

Icheoku marvels at the awesome power of mother-nature as nothing and nobody or authority controls what it does. This car was illegally parked in a no parking zone at her insistence and was supposed to be ticketed; but hey who will be the responsible party assuming the parking maid para-glides her way there to write up a parking ticket? Or is it a case of buried alive in a pack of powder?

MERRY XMAS TO YOU, ICHEOKUANS!

Baby-Jesus in the manger the story goes and his birth is the reason we celebrate today. It is Christmas and so have yourself a merry happy Christmas. Icheoku loves you all fans and visitors!

CHIEF (DR) ALEXANDER EGEMASI EMEZIEM, KSM; DEATH OF A COMMUNITY'S GIANT!

CHIEF (DR) ALEXANDER EGEMASI EMEZIEM, KSM

The  family of Chief (Dr.) Alexander Egemasi Emeziem of Obibii-Nguru, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria, announces with a heart-filled with sorrow but joy for a meritorious life well spent, the passing away of their dearly beloved father, husband, grand-father, father in-law, brother, uncle and patriarch of the Emeziem family, Chief (Dr.) Alexander Emeziem, Knight of Saint Mulumba. Chief Emeziem died in the United States of America of old age related infirmities, complicated by diabetes; he was 81 years old.

A noted second republic politician/businessman, Chief Emeziem was a commissioner under the late Governor Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe NPP government of then Imo State from 1979 to 1983; and variously held different portfolios as Commissioner in charge of Ministry of Public Utilities; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development as well as Ministry of Establishment respectively. 

During his early days before venturing into politics, Chief Emeziem variously worked as a teacher, a banker, an oil industry executive and rose to become regional Manager for British Petroleum (BP) in Northern Nigeria region. He left BP and went into private business from where he joined politics. To his credit as a politician and commissioner were series of infrastructural developments including several regional water projects, rural electrification and the establishment of three independent power stations, including Izombe and Amaraku Power Stations in Imo State. He also facilitated the formation of Progress Bank of Nigeria PLC. When the military junta led by Muhammadu Buhari interrupted Nigeria's democracy in 1983, Chief Emeziem was one of the many politicians that were clamped down in detention by the junta which lasted for 22 months before he was released without any charges, having being found  clean as a wind driven snow by various military investigative tribunals which looked into various politicians stewardship. Thereafter he went back to business spreading into real estate acquisition and development, haulage and manufacturing.  Chief Emeziem was a respected community leader in Nguru and environs, a benefactor, a philanthropist, a visionary, a church patron and above all a very meek and humble man; who in 2004 set up the 'Chief Alexander Emeziem Foundation' which gives educational grants and scholarships to indigent peoples of his area. Chief Alexander Emeziem will be sorely missed by his wife Chief (Mrs) Maria Emeziem and surviving children Charles, Kenneth, Vincent, Alexander, Anthony, Augustina and Florence; as well as his Nguru community, friends, beneficiaries and people who were lucky to have been touched by his most benevolent large heart. His life is a definition of a fruitful fulfilled life well lived; and he left an indelible footprint on the sand of time while his sojourn on this mother earth lasted.  His long drawn burial proceedings commences in the United States of America on December 29, 2010 with a requiem high mass/viewing by 4.00pm at Cathedral of Christ the Light, Grand Lake Merit, 2121 Harrison Street Oakland, California 94612. It will be followed by the  celebration of his life/wake-keeping by the Nigerian community in Northern California and their friends by 6.00pm at Bayshore Pavilion, 2203 Mariner Square Loop, Alameda, California 94501. His remains will be flown back to Nigeria thereafter to continue the process of his transition to his ancestors; which will climax with his interment in the new year at his country home, on January 7, 2011.  One mourner who described his loss as irreparable said that the late Chief Emeziem "was very religious and always one of the most trusted, enterprising and generous individuals around. His people of Nguru as well as their local community's Holy Trinity Catholic Church will greatly miss him". Icheoku says if to die is to continue to live in the hearts of those people who love you, then Chief Alexander Egemasi Emeziem is not dead but have merely transited to a higher plain, from where he will continue to overshadow his family, his people and countless number of well-wishers, mourners and beneficiaries with abundance good love and protection from On-High. Icheoku says, Adieu Chief! RSVP Charles Emeziem - 510.385.5912 Kenneth Emeziem - 510.772.2822.

GBAGBO'S REMOVAL, NIGERIA SHOULD ASSERT ITSELF!

 

Icheoku says an opportunity calls for President Jonathan of Nigeria to become an international statesman by leading the current effort to shove former President Gbagbo of Ivory Coast out of power. The defeated former president is boxed in and merely clinging to power; so any little push or threat of it is all that is required for this African wanna-be sit tight leader to turn tail and scurry from Abidjan. 

Therefore President Goodluck Jonathan should give the former Ivorien president an ultimatum - a maximum of two weeks to vacate the seat of power or have the Nigeria fighting machine sent his way to destroy his rag-tag army and capture him alive for trial at The Hague. If he is even killed in the process, good riddance! Hundreds of Ivorien people have already died as a result of his obstinacy and he could be held accountable for their loss as an enemy of democracy who would rather see Ivory Coast go down in flames than concede a lost election. President Jonathan should therefore re-assemble ECOMOG and with it set Ivory Coast free of this impending despot and thereafter reassert Nigeria as the regional power in West Africa. 

However, President Jonathan must first extract a binding promise from France, America and the United Nations to foot the tab of such international assignment, both in weapons and cost of the exercise; - remuneration and upkeep of soldiers as well as logistics of moving equipment and troops must be underwritten by these interest groups before Nigeria embarks on such nation saving mission to Abidjan. Icheoku is confident that former President Gbagbo, faced with a threat of Nigeria fighting forces and the prospect of becoming a war criminal will drop his claim to the Ivorien presidency like a hot-potato. President Jonathan, this one is for you and an opportunity never called this rosy!

WIKI LEAKS JULIAN ASSANGE, HIV POSITIVE?

 

Icheoku asks how can a sexual liaison between two or more consenting adults possibly become an assault? This becomes imperative in view of the Swedish authorities impending charges against WikiLeaks Julian Assange, who claimed that both women-complainants are among the numerous women who in his own words, 'have been very generous with their bodies to him'. 

According to the story, his condom broke during one of the encounters resulting in the assault claim. Icheoku says the only way consensual sexual contact between two adults can become an assault is where the resulting sex was not that which was bargained for or consented to, like an HIV positive person not disclosing his status prior. Admitted that the fear of such infection suffices; but what could have founded such fear in the two women? Does it mean that WikiLeaks Julian Assange is HIV positive or suffering from some other sexually transmitted disease (STD) to trigger this sexual assault charges. Icheoku hopes Julian will make himself available to the Swedish authorities asap and clear his name as well as exonerate himself of these charges.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA GETS IT DONE, HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES!

With just a stroke of a presidential pen, the previously 'archaic and retrogressive' don't ask don't tell military policy finally came to an end. It ceases to be the law of the land and in its place is a new policy which could aptly be called "Ask N' Tell" policy; and now our brave men and women who happened to have different sexual preferences can now openly profess their love as they heroically face-down our enemies. President Barack Obama signed into law the legislation repealing the policy which the House of Representatives and the Senate had earlier voted for. Icheoku says, this president gets it and he gets it done! Well done Obama and thank you for equalizing the battle field for all its players. Fair minded and conscionable Americans shall never forget, as 2012 hurries into focus. It is been a wonderful two years of milestone accomplishments with you in the saddle of power. Icheoku says, have yourself a jolly merry XMAS Mister President.

DIEGO FERNANDEZ CEVALLOS, FREED AFTER 7 MONTHS AND A KING'S RANSOM.

It would appear that kidnappers in Nigeria are afterall, still very amateurish, dirt-cheap and not daring enough compared with the kidnappers in Mexico. There a wealthy and powerful high profile lawyer and politician, an influential member of the president's party, a senator as well as a former presidential candidate was nabbed and held for seven long months until a king's ransom of $20 million was finally negotiated and paid for his release in what was described as the highest of the high profiles and most brazen kidnapping in Mexico's recent history. The fact that the negotiation lasted that long is a testament to the Mexicans trouncing their Nigerian counterpart in the mastery of the game and it safely ended without the shedding of blood. There was no shaking on their part; but a steady and surely footed bandits turning into ransom negotiators?

Diego Fernandez de Cevallos who was freed Monday, December 20, 2010 said that as far as the kidnappers are concerned, he being a man of faith, he has forgiven them; but as a citizen, he thinks the authorities in Mexico have some work to do to stem the tide. Icheoku says if it takes such a high profile case to awaken the Mexican authorities, may be those Nigerian kidnappers should target those high profile politicians in Abuja and elsewhere instead; and leave poor innocent and hardworking Nigerian women and children alone. A statement by Cevallos' kidnappers said that he is "corrupt and arrogant" and that his kidnapping was "a blow against the plutocracy and an act of reparation." Icheoku can understand the frustration of many hungry people in a highly corrupt country but does not in anyway support or approval of such criminality of kidnapping for ransom or any other untoward means to achieve a means or make a statement.

It would be recalled that the family of Cevallos during the negotiations for his released urged the Mexican authorities to "stay out of this process in order to help the negotiation." Icheoku says they probably understood the game better than the government, and what it takes to play to win and did not want any government meddling with the negotiations. Icheoku congratulates Cevallos for making it through the seven months his ordeal lasted and hopes he will write a book about his experience to assist other would-be kidnap victims live through it and survive to write or tell their own stories.

RODGERIO DAMASCENA, A BRAZILIAN, OUTDOES NIGERIAN IBRAHIM BABANGIDA!

 

When one thinks that Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida was out of his mind when he killed his best-man of his wedding, Mamman Vasta; here comes Rodgerio Damascena of Recife, Brazil who in addition to killing his bestman also killed his newly wed wife as well as himself. Icheoku says this world is full of crazed-out people and Nigerians might start treating their evil-genius as a case of a psychopath that needs help instead of the current derision with which he is treated by decent Nigerians. 

According to the story, the newly wed man announced to guests at the wedding reception that he had a surprise for them before he started shooting his victims with a gun he brought hidden to the wedding. What made him snap no one knows, but it is possible he was not prepared for the societal imprisonment that is marriage or he felt caged, trapped into what he cannot handle; ensnared by a scheming wife? Anyway, the rest as they say is now history; as Ibrahim Babangida now has a comrade in best-man's killing?

EQUALITY AT LAST, ASK N' TELL IS THE NEW POLICY!

 

Her wish as well as millions of other gay Americans, particularly servicemen and women, just came through as the Senate voted 65-31 to repeal the discriminatory 1993 "Don't ask don't tell" law. Now the policy has changed from "don't ask, don't tell" to "ask n' tell" and henceforth, all brave men and women who prefer same sex can now openly enlist and serve their country, freely as newly emancipated gay service men and women of America's military. Their shackles have been broken and the fog of unacceptability lifted from their shoulders with this legislation. According President Obama, "It is now time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed' and Icheoku concurs. But whether the already dismissed 13, 500 homosexual service personnels would be allowed to re-enlist or return to the military is not known at this time; but one prays it is the case as what one does in the battle field should not be equated with his private moments or preferences. Icheoku congratulates the 55 Democrats, 2 Independents as well as 8 thoughtful Republicans who made the passage possible. Icheoku says to gay people of America, President Obama has now made you a firm believer and it shows what is possible when both parties work together in order to solve real problems. President Obama, this congratulations is for you for yet scoring another humongous victory with this repeal now added to your accomplishment in office. What a wonderful and beautiful Christmas present to give to the gay-world.

IS YOUR AQUARIUM BIG ENOUGH?

 Never knew that they could grow this big so Icheoku will start a new feeding regimen for our five pet goldfishes which have steadily grown from being fish-feeders to proportionate table-sizes, just few years of bringing them home from the pet store. Raphael Biagini reeled in this 30 pounder from a lake in southern France; but being a pleasure catch and release fishing outing, the golden one did not make it to anyone's dinner plate but is back in its abode packing more pounds. Now who still says there is no hiding place for the gold fish?

TP MAZEMBE ENGLEBERT FOOTBALL CLUB OF CONGO, STANDS TALL IN DEFEAT.

Icheoku watched the finals of FIFA Club World Cup championship played in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate, between Congolese Tout Puissant Mazembe Englebert (TPM) and Italian Internacional Milano (Inter Milan), and came out happy and proud of the Africans performance against Europe's best. Admitted they lost 3-0 to the Italian side but the two first goals could have beaten any other goalkeeper as placed; including the third goal which was also well played. 

Icheoku is particularly impressed at the heads-up performance put up by TPM faced with star-studded Inter Milan side, the current European champions; yet they played as if they were playing any other side without unnecessarily being intimidated or afraid of the big names on the Italian clubside. Such confidential performance is what every African needs in any given situation; but not shere timidity and cowardice faced with Europeans, Americans, Asians and other peoples of this world. The same level of courage is alos required of African political leaders as they deal with their counterparts the world over as they strive to get for African and Africans equal playing field in global issues. 

However some interesting points emerged out of this soccer encounter including a fascinating TPM's butt-hopping goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba, who celebrates every goal his side scored by butt-dancing while throwing his funky hairdo about. Also standing out of the pack and worth our particular mention is TPM's African Senegalese coach Lamine N'Diaye, who was a great sight to behold cheering and urging his side on as their number one fan in chief. That he is as dark as it comes out of Africa and indeed Senegal is rehashing the obvious; but Icheoku admires his calm mien under pressure and his white-toothy smile on the few occasions he shared it with the world. The road traveled to the finals by the Lumumbashi Congo based TPM to and in the Abu Dhabi was such as is required of champions - they real passed through crucibles of champions; beating CONMEBOL's Sports Club Internacional  of Brazil 2-0 in the semi finals; thus becoming the first African club side to progress to the finals of the championship, where they lost to Europe's finest FC Internazionale Milano. 

Icheoku congratulates the African side with an African coach for putting up quite a stellar and impressive performance at the FIFA Club World Cup in ABu Dhabi. It shows that African coaches are as good if not better than their European and Latin American counterparts and should  be encouraged by African Football Clubs to always do their best. Icheoku is an apostle of internal salvation for Africans such that they must start looking inwards for the solutions to their numerous problems instead of constantly looking overseas for solutions. Icheoku also congratulates Inter Milan on their victory lifting the FIFA Clubs World Cup gold trophy which now makes them in addition, the best of the best football clubside in the world. Concluding, Icheoku reiterates the governing principles behind TP Mazembe Englebert success which according to the narrative is their coach's insistence on hard-work, concentration and team-spirit. According to the coach, these three tenets of success are very important as "Hard work is good, because without that, talent is useless. And total concentration is good because, as without that, hard work is pointless and then team spirit, which makes each player play as if he is ready to die for the other out on the pitch.” Icheoku says, good, good and good. Congratulations TPM for doing Africans proud and showing to the world that soccer artistry can also be found in motherland. What's up with those hairdos; or is it the in-thing in Congo; and Icheoku also observed that no 'pigmy' made your team or have they all gone extinct?

RUSH LIMBAUGH, THE MAN WHO RUNS AMERICA, IS DESTROYING OBAMA'S PRESIDENCY?

Icheoku says the time is now for all those pretensions to be over and a rapprochement move made by the Obama administration to woo Rush Limbaugh. Destroying the destroyer is also an option should the former not work out fine; but not to do either is too costly a nonchalance that will bite big time later. Enough should be enough and let the truth be spoken that Rush Limbaugh has a listening audience that is steadily growing in every leaps and bounds; and these people listen to his radio show as a divine instruction to which they are beholden to, being "real Americans?"


As a result, all the diatribe he lobs against President Barack Obama and the Democrats is getting across to millions of his listening Americans, who are rapidly taking in his message and incensed that the president is destroying their America. The presidency should either take Rush Limbaugh frontally head-on or send an emissary of peace to broker a truce between both parties; and former President H. Bush Sr or even the junior 'W' will suffice as an affective go-between to at least reach out to the mega-phone and let him tone down his rhetoric or at least be a little fair with his attacks on the president. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California did it once, he reached out to Rush over a cigar and Rush took him out of his cross-hairs. President Barack Obama should therefore invite Rush to the White House over cigars and implore him to tone down his anti-Obama message.


The current posture and attempt to pretend or act as if Rush Limbaugh is just an ordinary distraction or nuisance is foolery as millions are listening to this man's message and millions more are enlisting daily and being swayed. A man who commands the air-waves and delivers his punches where and when it matters most should not be taken lightly by any of his opponents including the opponent-in-chief, President Barack Obama. Icheoku tunes in periodically to the Rush Limbaugh's 'Excellence-In-Broadcasting (EIB) show out of curiosity and somewhat interest; and could easily have been persuaded to jump on the bandwagon but we have some independent head on our shoulders. To say that Rush Limbaugh is effective in delivering his punches is least gratuitous and simplistic; the man is a talker extra-ordinary and very effective in effortlessly swaying opinions; admitted some of his positions are somewhat ultra-right winged.


But the problem with President Obama and the bashing of his administration by Rush Limbaugh is that so many of Rush listeners have no time or the mental acuity to do some independent research on some of his positions to either validate or thump them. These Dido-heads, millions of them, are simply satisfied with any position of their idol; all that they require is that Rush said so. So once Rush Limbaugh says anything on any issue or about a person, so it is and shall remain with these lock-step adherents; and the loser are those people not in Rush Limbaugh's good books including President Barack Obama. The irony of the gamesmanship is that even the Tea Party Republicans, RINO Republicans as well as Conservative Republicans are all afraid and scared-stiff of the acerbic mouth of Rush Limbaugh and easily fall in tow rather than attract his ire. The result is that even members of the Congress are easily intimidated by Rush Limbaugh as they tread softly in order not to make Rush mad at them as well as millions of his followers; who form most of their voting bloc in their various constituencies.


This in essence makes it utterly difficult for bipartisanship or for anything to go on amidst such polarizing figure as Rush Limbaugh and the debate over the Tax-cut bill is of great significance. But unlike so many other Americans who think that by just tuning off Rush the problem will go away, Icheoku says all that is required is for the president or one of his minders to sacrifice three hours in one week-day and listen through Rush Limbaugh's show and they will be convinced on the great damage he is doing to their boss, President Barack Obama. One day, Icheoku counted thirty times Rush negatively mentioned President Obama within the first 60 minutes of his 180 minutes show; and they were all tailored to deride the president or accuse him of destroying "their" America or in someway, belittle or diminish his presidency with such words as "man-child president" or "Obama does not love America" etc. Icheoku wonders how someone who does not love America will be toiling day and night and all other times in between, trying to solve the numerous problems Americans are facing including an itinerant unemployment situation which has so far defied the stimulus package and every thing thrown at it.


Perception is everything and regardless of what the president is doing to fix what is broken, once Americans feel or are convinced that he is not doing enough or everything that could be done to help them; that is what usually sticks. This is the fork on the road for President Barack Hussein Obama and his administration as all their efforts to solve problems are being portrayed by Rush Limbaugh as their attempt at destroying America and this is the message getting across the news cycle. Third Reich's Goebbels was right when he intoned that propaganda and publicity are the best instruments of warfare; and unfortunately Rush Limbaugh is so far winning this particular battle as Americans are increasingly becoming despondent about the president and his presidency.


The worst situation anyone can find himself/herself in life is to have people who could careless about him/her or what the person stands for; and the last November midterm election showed that the President have seemingly lost his power of conviction; chiefly due to Rush Limbaugh's saturating the airwaves with his anti-Obama message. A word is enough for the wise and there should be no shame or ego interference in this matter. If the president wants to succeed and be seen to succeed, he must reach out and make peace with the man who runs America with half his brains tied to his back, Rush Limbaugh, before it is too late with Obama becoming a one-term president. The drubbing of Democrats last November really put the fear of Rush Limbaugh into some people's minds - that Democrats lost with such a wide margin despite their best efforts to wrench the country back from its near abyss. Rush Limbaugh is vile and his message so petulant and vitriolic that only the victim who feels the sting can explain its pain; and this time they are chiefly directed at the person of President Barack Obama who must do something to turn the tide or stand to pay a hefty prize if he chose to ignore it and do nothing. Concluding, Icheoku says the proposition is admittedly a tough one but still doable; and Obama should make a move now or have his presidency destroyed by Rush Limbaugh!

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CURTAILS SPEECH IN NIGERIA, AN EMERGING DICTATORSHIP?

 The other time he disrupted the meeting of Igbo Elders and Leaders of thought in Owerri; then followed it up with the disruption of Buhari's campaign in Bayelsa. Now the same opportunist who wants to usurp what does not rightfully belong to him wants also to muzzle Nigerians and stop them from exercising their freedom of speech.

President Goodluck Jonathan warned Nigerians to 'mind their utterances' but failed to understand that 'truth' is a complete defense to defamation; and that it was leaking WikiLeaks that took off the emperor's clothes for Nigerians to see his political-nakedness. But now he is behaving like a petty dictator handing down instructions on what to say and what not to say; thereby limiting and curtailing speech. In his ever reactionary-manner, he is now trying to punish Nigerians for learning that he is not "a fit and proper person' to lead the nation. But hey, Icheoku says if this south-south agitator thinks he can succeed where others failed and silence Nigerians which the joint resident-evils Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida and Abacha could not achieve, then he has another thing coming. 

This is democracy dividend in action in Nigeria - freedom of speech; and the last time Icheoku checked, the thieving national assembly have not purged the freedom of expression clause from the constitution. So to hell with Jonathan's attempt to gag Nigerians with a threat that “Government will not take this lightly." As every one knows, history has shown that Nigerians are not easily intimidated and if anyone is presently taking Nigeria for a ride, it is Jonathan who is unnecessarily over-heating the polity by trying to appropriate the presidency in 2011 when it is not his zone's turn yet. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Icheoku says to you, quit hollering as your threat does not mean anything to Nigerians who have seen worst case-scenarios in the past and outlived such evil persons. So make it easy for everyone, just get out of the 2011 race in order to restore some sanity to the contest. Let the truth be told, the North should be allowed to complete their term as 2011 is not South-south's turn, get it Mister Loudmouth.

ANTHONY ENAHORO IS DEAD!

The once chairman and face of NADECO, a group which gave the midget of Kano Sani Abacha hell and forced him into a killing frenzy of innocent Nigerians; the man reputed to have moved the motion for Nigeria's independence, Anthony Eromosele Enahoro is dead.

A foremost politician, statesman and fearless advocate for democracy, partly tainted by his participation in the criminal starvation of the people of Biafra, including pregnant women, infants and children during the civil war conducted by the genocidal Yakubu Gowon led federal government of Nigeria, died an unhappy and unfulfilled man. His dreams of a viable Nigeria where minority rights are recognized by the majority, where citizens rights are respected, where there is equal opportunity for all and where things are so well ordered that security, power, good roads, employment and a buoyant economy moves like a well-oiled machine eluded him.


Icheoku is convinced that Anthony Eromosele Enahoro passed on also regretting his role in the sabotage of the Biafran effort, just like General Alani Akirinade similarly regretted his participation in aborting the Biafran dream. But the judgment is mine says the Lord and Icheoku wishes Pa Enahoro a speedy trial before the Almighty for his sins of commission and omission while he held sway in Nigeria. Enahoro was 87years old and died of old age related natural causes, although he had a debilitating stroke that left him in comatose few weeks ago from which he never recovered. Enahoro was survived by his family and friends; Nigeria will miss his virile 'force-majure' contribution and participation in Nigeria politics. Adieu Enahoro!

RICHARD HOLBROOKE, US DIPLOMAT EXTRAORDINARY, DEAD AT 69.

 

He brokered the Dayton accord that made the 1995 Bosnia peace plan possible and until his death, was President Barack Obama's special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The president eulogized him as "a true giant of American foreign policy." Mr. Holbrooke served under every Democratic president from John F. Kennedy in 1962 to Barack Obama in 2010. Richard was also once the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Richard fainted and was rushed to the hospital while meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department on Friday, where examination revealed a ruptured artery (aorta); but he did not survive all best effort made to plumb it and died Monday December 13. Icheoku says his old weak heart could no longer take the punishment anymore of a grueling, stressful and pressure-cooker of intensive diplomacy between two defiant countries; and it sputtered to a full final halt. Still wondering why people are expected to retire at age 65? What a life of service Richard Holbrooke lived; and he served till the end and literally died on the job. Mr. Holbrooke was survived by his wife, Kati Marton, and two sons from an earlier marriage, David Holbrooke and Anthony Holbrooke. Icheoku wishes the family well and prays that Richard's soul rests in peace; Adieu DIck!

LUKE SCOTT, ANOTHER WHITE-MAN WHO PRESIDENT OBAMA LIVES IN HIS HEAD!

Icheoku says just when one is beginning to think that Rush Limbaugh is not winning more crazed-out converts and fast enough, here comes a dude from Baltimore Maryland who plays baseball with the city's Orioles joining the club of Obama Haters of America Incorporated. In a recent interview, without any justification or provocation whatsoever, this incompetent slugger left the base-ball and started slugging it out on President Barack Obama; ceaselessly dissing the president of the United States of America. The tobacco-chewing redneck baseball player, without any serious national reckoning, has now joined the cesspool of those white-men of American suffering from the disease known as OIMBS (Obama in my brain syndrome).

A sportsman whose job is to entertain fans should not unnecessarily dabble into the highly divisive pastime called politics as he may in doing so rile some of his fan base, made up of different people from differing backgrounds and varying political affiliations. The more troubling part of this hill-billy's diatribe on the person of America's first man, is that he cannot even speak good English which is his primary language; yet he had the gut to say stuff against the person of the president. Icheoku is also certain that this hating pale-skinned hermaphrodite does not have any proficiency for any other language either, including his native-Scot; but here he is rehashing a time-worn issue. Were baseball player Luke Scott paying enough attention or listening to the news he would have known that the matter of President Obama's place of birth has been extensively discussed and argued by the Tea Partying Republicans and had been conclusively exhausted, addressed and now long rested.

But when an issue or a subject-matter or even somebody permanently resides in someone's head, even the person's double vision translates to that object of fear. Without any directed prompting, this slugging dwarf veered into attacking the president's bio-data as if he owned the copy-right to the matter and hence can visit it whenever he pleases. And for Luke Scott to shamelessly put across that he loves to shed blood - of animals that is; now makes him a twin brother in animal killing of the Alaskan wild-life poacher, Sarah Palin. Icheoku says it might be a good idea for Tea Party Republicans to pair both of these people up in 2012 as their presidential/vice presidential candidates; what a ticket of "real Americans" animal killers the duo will be - their "slugger" and their "lady" against the "man who was not born in America". What a trouncing relief it shall be to have the man who was "not born in America," defeat both "real Americans" - the man and woman who wrap themselves in American flags?

A simple question from a reporter, "So how's Obama doing" was all it took to set off this grenade of a person, unearthing a combative racist who dove into the sewer in his attempt to knife the American president. Hear his response, "Obama ... hmm ... Obama does not represent America. Nor does he represent anything what our forefathers stood for. This country is basically built on an attitude. It's a way of life. It's not because you're born here. It's not that you're supposed to take from those who have and give to those who haven't." Yet this supposed Christian forgot the teachings of Christ to be your brother;s keeper? Continuing, Luke Scott said, "He was not born here. That's my belief. I was born here. If someone accuses me of not being born here, I can go — within 10 minutes — to my filing cabinet and I can pick up my real birth certificate and I can go, "See? Look! Here it is. Here it is." The man has dodged everything. He dodges questions, he doesn't answer anything. And why? Because he's hiding something. People who tell the truth, they're very easy to ... their actions prove it. Something as simple providing a birth certificate. Come on. If you're born here, there's plenty of documents. But you know what? There's no documentation of him. No legal documentation of him. There's been lie after lie after lie exposed, but people put it under the carpet. Hence, the problem we have in this country." And this Luke Scott forgot that in Hawaii "Certificate of Live Birth" is evidence of someone's being born in America; but what does he know except that he is a "real American?"

Icheoku says Luke Scott's outburst is a clear insight into the thinking of so many white American males, who do not believe that any person is good enough or better than them to lead or head anything in which they are involved. This is the cross President Barack Obama bears as he works tirelessly to find solutions to our country's numerous teething problems; including an unyielding unemployment. So for all intent and purpose, majority of the attacks on the president is not because his policies are horrendous or for lack of 'E' for effort on his part, but because his skin-color is not "normal" for an occupant of the White House; hence the left, right and center barrage of attacks directed at President Obama. Icheoku without laboring to be politically correct says the attacks on the president are mostly racist-tinged as evidenced by the latest Luke Scott idiotic and imbecilic outburst. But what does anyone expect from another misguided and disgruntled white man suffering from OIMBS, the shameless Luke Scott of Baltimore Orioles!

ERA OF STEALING ELECTIONS IN AFRICA IS OVER - JOHNNIE CARSON

According to the United States assistant secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, the United States will together with African Union resist any attempt by African sit-tight leaders to steal or manipulate election results. While speaking in the matter of the political impasse in Ivory Coast, Carson said "America thinks that the era of stealing African elections is over and this should be an example for all Africa that this can no longer be tolerated. Theft of elections should not be a part of the democratic process." Icheoku says better late than never and had this position come alive earlier, maybe Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Kibaki of Kenya would have been former presidents; but hey, at least it will stop others including President Jonathan of Nigeria should he attempt the expected in 2011

MADDOFF HANGS HIMSELF, THE WORTH OF LIFE?

 

Tired of carrying the burden of a tainted family name described by some as "toxic" and which meant fraud to the world, the eldest son of convicted jailbird Bernard Maddoff, Mark Maddoff, hung himself in his multi-million dollar SoHo Manhattan New York City condo. Mark who was 46 and a father of four, now becomes the latest casualty in the saga that sent his father to prison for 150 years for swindling thousands of their life savings. Mark was found hanging on a dog leash while his 2-year-old son slept nearby.The wife who has since jettisoned their last name was vacationing when she received a distressed text from husband Mark urging that someone check on their 2year son. The rest as they say is now history and Icheoku asks, what is life's real worth?

IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABANGIDA, TOLD TO TAKE A HIKE

“IBB should learn to live with his changing political fortune and not further diminish himself by playing games which only political novices should play. If he wants to go to another party, he does not need to blackmail anyone to do so. He should just go. The PDP has taken a decision on zoning and rotation; IBB can either live with it or leave the party”. - Sully Abu, director media & Publicity Jonathan/Sambo campaign 2011.Icheoku says that is what happens to a person when he or she makes him/herself a rat, the cat disrespectfully snatches him/her up. So has Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida made himself so hated in Nigeria that his threat to leave the PDP if zoning was not respected, is taken as a welcome relief and has been brushed aside as a none issue