MALLAM NUHU RIBADU IS NOT A SAINT - an article by SIYAN ADEOLA

Politics as usual makes strange bedfellows. The Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), has at least demonstrated its lack of depth by fielding Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as its presidential candidate. Few people would have imagined they would ever see the day when Ribadu and Czar of ACN would ever walk the same side of the political divide. But desperate and drowning individuals always need company.

Just four years ago, it was not always so. To the proprietor of the ACN and his associates, Ribadu was once regarded as public enemy number one. In due course it will become apparent why and how the Action Congress and Ribadu are trying desperately, attempting to rewrite history. For now the most urgent task is to present the unwritten stories of Ribadu’s summersaults and deliberate concealments of extremely important matters involving public interest. Because most Nigerians are very forgetful and because the Jonathan/Sambo administration has been magnanimous, Ribadu is walking about Nigeria today declaiming about corruption even when he still has the problem of accountability and transparency hanging on his neck at the EFCC which he left without being courteous enough to summit a handing over note till today, in a flagrant disregarded for the ethos of public service everywhere in the world. Nigeria will recollect the valiant, but futile, effort of the current EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, to get Ribadu to come and render the account of his stewardship. He left some unresolved riddles which started to unfold in 2007 and remain with us till today.

Perhaps in his bid for re-appointment to a second term, the government of Olusegun Obasanjo led us to believe that the EFCC under Ribadu recovered $5 billion. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was so delighted with the “achievement”, it made that achievement part of its campaign in 2007. But, soon after the sleight of hand, Ribadu went on record, after the elections, to announce that only N53 billion was recovered. Given an exchange rate of N130/$1 in 2007, $5 billion would have meant N650 billion. The discrepancy between N650 billion and N57billion remains N579billion. Till today, Ribadu had never taught it fit to tell Nigerians how much was actually collected. That was bad enough. Worse still was what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), told Nigerians. Fortunately, Professor Charles Soludo is still alive. He was then the Governor of the CBN, he revealed a truth which should have stunned Nigerians, if we were not totally immune to shocks, that the apex bank had not received a kobo of either $5billion or N53billion. That should have prompted the National Assembly to institute an inquiry into where the loot was/is kept. The law prescribes that all moneys collected on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria must be paid to the CBN.

The most important questions then and now remain the same. Where was/ is the money kept? If in banks, other than CBN, on what terms? Lack of accountability and transparency is itself the beginning and the end of corruption. Any man with real as opposed to “media”, integrity, should have answered in 2007 the question raised, but then, Ribadu was an untouchable in 2007 and the frenzy of election allowed him to get away with what was probably a major dereliction of duty – if not an indictable offence. Everybody should also recollect Ribadu’s roles in the Chief Bode George saga. First, Ribadu announced, with the usual fanfare that the EFCC had filed multiple charges against George. Later, Ribadu, with less publicity, quietly withdrew the charges. When challenged by the media, the former EFCC chairman asked anyone who had any evidence against George to come forward with it. What then did he take to court in the first instance? The story developed another twist when the new EFCC chairperson re-opened the case and obtained a conviction.

Ribadu, from far away United States, sent a statement to news media in Nigeria claiming credit for the result. Haba! Can anyone tell us where the integrity in this is? On March 26, 2009, Ribadu, in a hand-written witness statement submitted to the London Metropolitan Police accused Bola Tinubu of diverting the proceeds of the sale of V-Mobile shares belonging to Lagos State. Tinubu was forced to take out advertorials in several newspapers to defend himself. Clearly, somebody was lying. Did Bola Tinubu Fiddle with Lagos state money by diverting funds from shares sales or did Ribadu submit a false deposition? Either way, something stinks.

Yet, these are not exceptions to the rule. On the contrary, they represent a fair rendition of what the Ribadu years at the EFCC were all about. The real Ribadu and media Ribadu was a mirage foisted on the public. These are irrefutable facts which demonstrate that “Mr. Integrity Ribadu” is probably the greatest myth ever created in this country. But, let us end by reminding our people of one incident forgotten so soon. The Federal Government in 2007 allowed appointed officials occupying government houses to buy them. The former EFCC chairman, like others, applied to buy his own official residence. There is nothing wrong or questionable in that. Questions, however, arose, when it was discovered that the building carried a price tag several times what Ribadu has earned as a police officer. The last we heard before Ribadu absconded abroad, was that a relative gave him a “loan” to buy the property. On the surface, that would appear to be an adequate answer. But, it again raised questions not answered till today. A man who wants to be handed the Nigeria treasury should at least answer those questions.

SHOOTING THE PRESIDENT, A GRAVE MISTAKE!

"Who's going to shoot President Obama" asked a supporter of Rep. Paul Broun from Oglethorpe County Georgia during the congressman's political event. It is to be noted that Representative Broun (pictured) did not condemn either the question or the questioner during the event, which evidences his tacit support and approval for such a wicked act. 

Icheoku says that this will not be MLK 1968 assassination and it does not matter who does it; if it ever happens, America will boil over.

Enough of all these threats by racist rednecks and some righteous White Americans who are still indignant that a nigger is occupying "their" White House. America is the land of the free and home of the brave and we practice democracy here. President Obama was duly elected president of the United States of America through the ballot box and can only be removed through the same constitutional means of ballot box barring any impeachable offense. So GET OVER IT RACIST WHITE AMERICA, the fact that his skin tone is off-white notwithstanding, President Barack Hussein Obama is the president!

BODE GEORGE RELEASED FROM PRISON, ADMONISHED BY PASTOR.

“If you are involved in any shady deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It does not belong to any president. As from today, you are expected to represent Christ. You are an ambassador of Christ. Never again will the name of God be soiled through you. Shun thuggery. Shun violence. Shun greed. Shun rigging and whatever that can cause trouble.”  - Pastor Venantus Tayo Aduloju admonishing the freed ex-convict Bode George, during a thanksgiving service held in his honor to mark his completion of prison term. Icheoku says a word is enough for the wise; but with the keeping of the company of people like Olusegun Obasanjo, Bode George can at best hope to return to prison as it is simply too late now to teach that old dog some new tricks. Moreso, he is a politician; and politicians are not consistent people but are always shifting their position like quicksand provided there is something in it for them? Simply stated, Bode George will overdo and outdo himself on these vices, prison or no prison experience and pastor or no pastor admonition. He is a Nigerian politician, period!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, THE HARDEST WORKING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

Icheoku queries why other parties and their presidential candidates are not traversing the land campaigning or are they waiting to later charge that elections were fraudulent and then head to court? PDP presidential candidate President Goodluck Jonathan is the only one who have visited all the 36states including the Federal capital Territory, visiting some of them twice and even thrice marketing his candidacy. Regrettably when the did is done and he most likely wins in a land-slide, some of these presidential candidates will start alleging election malpractice; but until then, Nigerian you got yourself the hardest working presidential candidate, working hard to secure your votes. Icheoku wishes Jonathan well and prays that he will work that hard for Nigerians the next four years when elected president. We shall see!

JULIAN ASSANGE, LETS WATER-BOARD HIM FIRST BEFORE WE EXECUTE HIM?

Icheoku says water-board the leaker from hell before executing him for daring to take up arms against the United States of America. Arms is arms and it does not matter whether his weapon of choice was cyberspace. The important thing is that he freely and conscientiously made that decision to wrestle with America and he should not be heard now to say he is the victim? His leaks went beyond fair exposition of information and crossed-over to the realm of an arrant attempt at sabotaging the world, especially the United States of America and its way of doing business. Every action has a reaction and every offense has a deterrent and so should Julian Assange be maximally punished to avoid future Assanges of this crazy world.

Even some school of thought has it that the political earthquake presently ravaging the Arab world is partially a result of Assange's exposure of Egypt's Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah recommendation to the United States of America that the snake's head be cut off in Iran. Consequent thereof, Iran is carrying out preemptive strikes on his Wiki Leaks exposed enemies, using their own tired and frustrated people as readily available tools - fighting to cut off the heads of their enemies first before they got their wish come through. So Icheoku asks what would be an appropriate punishment for such an illegal exposure by basket mouth, Wiki-Leak's Assange Julian; and what would be the best way possible of punishing him for this intransigence and maximally now that he is on his way to the United States of America via Sweden.

Icheoku says a time like the present Assange's calls for the "fond" memory of the tenure of Dick Cheney and GW - men who would have gleefully supervised the water-boarding of this Australian turn-coat as a prelude to his execution by lethal injection. For all Icheoku cares, Julian Assange possibly could be working for those enemies of the United States of America who wish her ill, such as Osama Bin Laden. Also the argument could be made that both Julian Assange and al-Querida share a common objective to either bring America down or at least cut her to "size"; hence he deserves similar extinction-geared treatment as is being meted to al-Querida operatives the world over. Icheoku says Assange is al-Querida and al-Querida is Assange or at minimum, their mole; and deserves to be summarily dealt with.

Icheoku is delighted that the British judge is wise and would not be easily misled by a rapist who was too cowardly to face his accusers in the country where he committed the alleged sexual crimes and threw so many curve-balls to pervert justice and prevent his extradition to Sweden. As the judge ordered Julian Assange's extradition to Sweden to face justice, Icheoku says that is one log removed on the way to his final place of retribution - the United States of America; where he shall face American justice system for leaking thousands of classified American documents. Icheoku says if there is one time and on one point we ever agreed with the Alaskan airhead Sarah Palin, it is now and on the matter of Julian Assange, that he should be neutralized by the US as if he were himself a terrorist. Icheoku agrees and says yes he is a terrorist - a cyber terrorist! Like those other terrorists who strap bombs on themselves and fly planes into buildings, Julian Assange's terrorist weapon of choice is the Internet using the instrumentality of his Wiki Leaks. Like all terrorists whose terrorist acts lead to loss of lives, Julian Assange deserves the death-penalty to teach him a lesson that no one messes with America and its values and he should not be an exception.

When Assange published what was allegedly said by American officials, it is one thing; but for him to disclose the location of some vital national and international interests of America, especially during this time of war with terrorists, crosses the line. It is an affront on our national security as he provided Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist al-Querida network immeasurable intelligence on where to mount their future attacks. Julian Assange's Wiki Leak's leaks is condemnable and Icheoku condemns both the thought, the act and his silly attempt at now defending an indefensible provocative act of terror against the United States of America. But like the Godfather made us to know, revenge is best when served cold and all years for Assange and now is time for America Justice system to take care of business. Guantanamo Bay, here comes your latest inmate, condemned espionage criminal Julian Assange! There is simply no sympathy for a terrorist and Wiki-leaker Julian Assange deserves none..

SHUTTLE DISCOVERY MAKES ONE LAST FLIGHT INTO SPACE.

 

Behold the pride of America's ingenuity as it makes its last flight into space. It is retiring; what an awesome piece of science that this flighty cylinder is. The world and America will miss its grandeur but life goes on and who knows what comes next? So long Discovery! FYI:- Discovery is the shinning star in the middle with its two separating launch rockets and their orange after-burners on either sides. It is all about mathematics and physics combined aka rocket science!

$200 FREE MONEY, CHASE BANK HANDS IT TO YOU!

 

Icheoku says they made us believers - all you have to do is to walk into any of their branches and ask how you can be two hundred dollars richer today. The best of it all is that it is FREE or don't you have something you can do with extra two hundred dollars free money in your pocket, wallet, purse or even your hand? There is no obligations except that they will help you open a new account; so you have nothing to lose but $200 gained

MUAMMAR GADDAFI HANGING TOUGH, SHEDDING HIS PEOPLES BLOOD?

Is he truly demented or simply putting up a show? The revolution is being televised and the whole world is tuned in. So Icheoku asks, when shall the Libyan embattled leader throw in the towel and vamoose? If only his delusion will leave him alone so that he can be in a position to separate reality from his fictional state.

But the revolution is already afoot and gathering momentum, so Icheoku says, woe betide Gaddafi if ever he does not scamper out of town now that he still has the window of opportunity, before the window permanently closes on him. The resulting consequence is better imagined than seen and with it, Icheoku wishes the revolution more impetus and says, Viva liberated peoples of Libya!

IBB SEEKS RELEVANCE IN JONATHAN'S CAMPAIGN, BEGS FOR AUDIENCE?

 

Icheoku says President Goodluck Jonathan should simply ignore the evil genius as he has no utility for the campaign at this point. The Jonathan/Sambo train has since left the station, leaving Babangida and his ilks behind and because it is fast coasting to the end station, those naysayers like IBB are now cleverly seeking to be counted as engineers that made it possible? So Babangida, Icheoku says, please keep your deal to yourself and allow the young Turks deliver Nigeria from the bondage which your types put her into. President Jonathan must therefore say to IBB; just say thanks but no, thanks to his Greek offer! PLEASE JONATHAN, NO DEALS WITH IBB

"I AM LIBYA" - COL. MOUMMAR EL-GADDAFI

In a pattern reminiscent of all dictators, Libyan previously life-long leader, Colonel Moummar el-Gaddafi defiantly proclaimed that 'he is Libya and Libya is him' and that he is not going anywhere, not alive and not very soon! He promised to also visit the most hellish crackdown on his protesting country's people whom he described as rats, cockroaches and mercenaries. Icheoku says give it up to dictators, whenever they feel cornered and are on their last rung of life, they huff and puff, trying to superficially maintain an assumed relevance and reverence in a futile attempt to still appear strong and in control. Icheoku says we have heard and seen it before with the executed despot of Romania, Nikolai Ceausescu, who once proclaimed himself the spirit of the Danube River; boasting that without him the Danube would have no force to flow? And you call that sanity; yes of course, except in the jaundiced eyes of those ego-maniacal dictators strewn all over the Arab world.

They all brag and boast about their patriotism and how they will fight until the last man standing falls; creating a gory, bloody fight to finish scenario. But when the chips are down they turn tails, fleeing into exile except where they are unfortunate and extra-unlucky to be cornered by the same people who chased them out of office and are put to death - executed by hanging or through firing squads. As always, it never ends well with dictators and Icheoku would be surprised if Libyan Muammar Gaddafi's end will be any different. So far his response to the Libyan peoples revolt is to dig in; threatening thunder and brimstone and vowing to die in Libya as a martyr. Facing the greatest threat to his 41-year rule and having already lost the eastern part of his country Benghazi, Maommar Gaddafi said those protesting Libyans are "rats and mercenaries" who wanted to turn Libya into an Islamic state. Icheoku queries, when did Gaddafi become a Christian or such a secularist to now mind if Libya becomes an Islamic republic or not. It can only be a posturing to divide the already galvanized world opinion against his despotic antics. But who still listen to the ramblings of an unsound mind when despite all the evidence to the contrary, suggesting his lost of grip on power, he still pretends to be in charge of Libya.

In his own words, Gaddafi said "I am not going to leave this land. I will die here as a martyr ... I shall remain here defiant. Muammar Gaddafi is the leader of the revolution, I am not a president to step down ... This is my country. Muammar is not a president to leave his post, Muammar is leader of the revolution until the end of time. We shall cleanse Libya house by house of these protesters. From tomorrow, families collect your children, leave your homes, all of you who love Muammar Gaddafi, go out to the streets, secure the streets, don't be afraid of them. Chase them, arrest them, hand them over to the security forces. They are only a few, they are terrorists. You are millions while they are only 100. Peaceful protests is one thing, but armed rebellion is another. We have not used force yet, but if we need to use force we will use it."  From the assessment of the situation by Gaddafi it is clearly obvious how oblivious he is to the situation starring him on the face - he is urging Libyans to to go and secure the streets while his diplomats and army are deserting him in droves? He said those protesting are only 100 and you wonder if Arabs counts numerals differently? He said he not a president; which may be correct since he is the chairman of Libya with absolute executive authority. But lets hope that he commits the impending suicide as promised, but alone; in order for peace to reign in Libya. As the world awaits the eventual outcome of the ongoing peoples' rebellion in Libya, Icheoku says only time shall tell who the final victor and the vanquished shall be; but Libya and Gaddafi shall never remain the same post this revolution.

RUSSIA PRACTICES IMITATION DEMOCRACY - GORBACHEV.

"We have everything – a parliament, courts, a president, a prime minister and so on; but definitely not democracy. It's more of an imitation democracy. It's not Putin's business to decide who rules Russia. It must be decided by the Russian people in elections." - 80 year old former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev of the "Gorbachev, tear down this wall" fame.

President Mikhail Gorbachev was reacting to Putin's comment that he and President Dmitry Medvedev would decide between them who would (rule Russia) run for office of president in March 2012. Icheoku adds, what a pity that the once mighty Russia has so degenerated that it has now become the private property of this two petite men? If only Russians would disengage from their love for the Vodka, may be they would be able to organize like those Tunisians and Egyptians and shove this two little men aside. Or is a Czar Putin in the pipeline and in the future of mother Russia?

MALLAM NUHU RIBADU, PLAGUED BY LACK OF A VIABLE RUNNING MATE.

A political neophyte by his own right, former EFCC mallam from Adamawa State and now presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has yet again fumbled in the latest choice of a running mate. Call it the proverbial "double wahalla for dead body" syndrome of a novitiate presidential candidate saddled with a nobody political greenhorn vice presidential candidate?

However Icheoku sympathizes with Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for being unable to free himself from the leech of his sponsor, Bolaji Tinubu, in choosing his running mate. Bola Tinubu cannot afford to let Nuhu Ribadu run free and has to maintain a stranglehold on him by wily-nilly imposing a candidate on him. Moreover, the ACN being a Yoruba party, cannot afford to have other tribes producing both their presidential as well as vice presidential candidates of the party. Otherwise what does the ACN stand to gain by spitting the Igbo South-East by removing the former running mate of Ribadu, Sunny Ugochukwu; and now venturing into the mouth of the Tiger, Ogun State, to get their latest running mate? Newest Ribadu's running mate, Afolabi Tajudeen Adeola's Ogun State is the home of Otta Deity Olusegun Obasanjo, the incumbent Governor Olu Gbenga and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Bankole. Icheoku wonders what the political calculation is in selecting Mr. Adeola, all of these competing odds considered. So with Yoruba vice presidential candidates for both Buhari and Ribadu, and Obasanjo influence included, the Yoruba South-West votes will now be split into three; leaving the entire South-South and South-East just for President Jonathan; with the entire north still at play?

Icheoku queries, who are political advisers to these opposition political parties or don't they have any for them to know about catchment areas of politics? Anyway those whom the gods want to kill he first make mad and so it is that the candidacy of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has suffered a still-birth with this latest choice of a running mate, singing its requiem even before the April election! As it stands now, Icheoku says, all hail President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, president and the commander in chief of the Nigerian armed forces for the next four years!

THE CPC/ACN ALLIANCE THAT NEVER WAS, HIGHLY REGRETTABLE!

 Just when you think they have got their acts together and now gets it - the need to close ranks among themselves and for the greater good of Nigeria's democracy, here they come again, fumbling or should Icheoku say, fumbled? As the 2011 journey for Aso Rock and other satellite seats of power in Nigeria begins, it is now obvious that Nigerians have once again been shortchanged by her political class - selfish politicians who are in it for their own good only. A bunch of individuals who severally wants to wear the pants and in the colors of their own political parties, notwithstanding their regional and sometimes zonal pigeonholed existence and lacking in national spread and outlook; instead of unifying under a broader banner and for a purpose greater than themselves and in what would be in the best interest of the country.

Icheoku says Imam Muhammadu Buhari screwed up big time in not utilizing an opportunity of a lifetime which would have put him in a serious contention for the Aso Rock prize; by choosing to go it alone with his Sharia-driven Conference for Progressive Change (CPC) instead of joining forces with the much entrenched Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in a broader alliance that would have kept the Peoples Democratic Party sleepless as they strategize how to overcome such awesome political force. But no, the stubborn Buhari would have none of that and today, Nigerian political landscape is once again left with no strong opposition to the dominant PDP and in essence guaranteeing their victory in the forthcoming April 2011 general election. To make matters worse and as if he is not already in enough deep waters politically, Imam Buhari settled for a political no brainier, his fellow extremist of the other side - the christian far right as his running mate. Icheoku wonders what religion got to do with Nigeria politics in 2011 that made Imam Buhari think that Nigeria is now ready for their extremist duo; or is it a case of those about to die that are struck deaf and dumb by gods of politics? Better still, it may be the gods of Goodluck Jonathan that is sarcastically paving his way in this manner by making his potential challengers fall by the wayside in this manner. First to go was Umaru Yar'Adua who death took away; then followed by Ibrahim Babangida who Adamu Ciroma Consensus arrangement took care of and now Buhari another would have been strong opponent is being taken care of by the collapse of the CPC/ACN alliance as well as his mediocre choice of a running mate.

Like so many other well intentioned Nigerians, Icheoku thought that with the Otta deity Olusegun Obasanjo now gone and out of the way, that 2011 would have provided a good opportunity for the so many mushroom opposition political parties, currently in the wilderness of power in Nigeria, to come together as one strong opposition party and effectively challenge the ruling PDP. But to the greatest chagrin of many political observers and watchers alike, this did not materialize as the present crop of selfish politicians Nigeria is now cursed with, whose personal interest always conflict with the national interest, refused to make necessary sacrifices required to give the ruling PDP a run for their money. By their selfishness, another golden opportunity of having a truly contested democratic election in Nigeria have once again gone up in smoke; and  what a wasted chance at further entrenching democracy in Nigeria. They are all aware that a party winning election requires a broad geographical spread, logistics, money and a well-oiled campaign machine that does not sputter but continuously churns with a message that the electorates can relate with. Imam Muhammadu Buhari does not have any of this and wasted a great opportunity to leverage on some of them through an alliance with ACN but he blew it anyway; yet he is running, hoping to file lawsuits but not necessarily to win.

If the over sixty registered political parties in Nigeria were pregnant mothers, only six of them would be allowed to carry their gestation to full term; as the rest would have been aborted for lack of fetal viability. These six viable parties include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Labor Party (LP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) and the latest Buhari contraption, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Until very recent inexplicable development, Icheoku and millions of Nigerians expected these parties to unite or forge a formidable coalition to challenge the ruling PDP and peradventure stop President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP now almost assured victory in the April general election. Prelude to these parties decisions on who runs and who does not run, some of them held marathon meetings aimed at breaking whatever wall that stood in the way of a formidable alliance; but their respective principals' egos stood in the way. Today, they are all going it alone as political Lilliputians and one is forced to wonder whether those people who invented the statement "people are stronger when united" did mince words? 


Icheoku thought that 2011 would be a good year for the opposition to step forward forcefully on the Nigeria political landscape but they fumbled and flopped as their prospective alliances collapsed and it was deja vu to your tents all opposition parties once again. These mushroom parties are already operating on a position of deficit, so much weakened by not being in power since 1999 and looking vanquished before the fight, and you wonder what chance they have,  standing by themselves and going it individually into the April elections. Icheoku says if only these political parties knew better and really in it for a change - to change the party in power, the PDP. But unfortunately the sponsors and principal officers of these parties are in it for the road-show and name of an also-ran presidential candidates and governors etc. It is very obvious that Nigerians have become tired of the ruling PDP uninspiring leadership of the past twelve years and hunger for a change, but the opposition parties have not given them an alternative they can count on and have failed to provide them with a meaningful exit from the lost in the wilderness PDP to enable them vote the PDP out of power. Just an off-cuff, assuming there will be an election this time around; admitted PDP were never voted for in the first place but out-rigged other riggers into office!


Now back to the parties presidential candidates and their running mates. The biggest story in this 2011 unfolding political drama by the legion of irreconcilable opposition political parties is the manner of people they chose as their presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates respectively. Icheoku is particularly miffed by ACN's choice of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as its presidential candidate, a matter made worse by the later's choice of one Sunny Ugochukwu as his vice presidential candidate and running mate. Imam Muhammadu Buhari's vice presidential pick of Tunde Bakare is equally ridiculous and Icheoku wonders whether these parties never had the great fortune of having a vice presidential candidate search/select committee do this job for them as is done in civilized democracies the world over. Governor Shekarua of Kano State and former Governor John Odigie Oyegun as presidential and vice presidential candidates of the ANPP will not factor much in this discussion as they stand second to zero chance of ever winning the election; so Icheoku shall concern itself with more serious contenders.


Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as a presidential candidate is laughable and the butt of rude jokes the world over as an "Nza" the bird which after eating belly-full, challenged its gods to a wrestling match. Icheoku asks what makes Mallam Nuhu RIbadu suddenly viable as a party's presidential candidate or is fighting crime now tantamount to building a strong economy or having necessary foreign policy experience required of present day leaders? Icheoku simply rejects the notion that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is qualified to be president of Nigeria just because he selectively pursued Olusegun Obasanjo third term agenda; hounding people who were opposed to Obasanjo third term in office. If only this mallam could explain to Nigerian electorates what suddenly changed that he now cavorts with his then EFCC's enemy numero uno, Bola Tinubu; or has Tinubu's economic and financial crimes now been forgiven just because he has bankrolled Nuhu Ribadu's presidential campaign, after first foisting him on the ACN? What manner of man is this Mallam Nuhu Ribadu anyway?


Icheoku says this particular mallam is too full of it as he now thinks himself as a very important politician in Nigeria just because he selectively pursued a vindictive war on corruption against his mentor's opponents and vocal critics? Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as a presidential candidate is a blind man leading another blind man; a matter made worst in his choice of a vice presidential candidate. A blatant political neophyte presidential candidate, whose first ever decision as a "potential president" exposed his underbelly as a non-starter, with his choice of a political-nobody as his running mate? Icheoku wonders aloud whether Mallam Nuhu Ribadu's selection of Sunny Ugochukwu as his vice presidential running mate ever had the benefit of any vetting or politically informed decision. If so, what were the high-points and strong selling points or criteria for choosing Sunny Ugochukwu and who is this Sunny Ugochukwu other than being an educationist residing in America? A somewhat complete stranger to the Nigeria political scene who is hardly known in his Anambra State community in Nigeria; talkless of the Nigerian American Diaspora is running as ticket with a skinny mallam from Adamawa State and you wonder what derivatives these two green horns bring to ACN chances at the April 2011 election.


Icheoku says if this selection is a test-case for the kind of policy-decisions a "president" Mallam Nuhu Ribadu will make, then Nigerians do not deserve such embarrassment from her "president" and might as well have late President Umaru Yar'Adua resurrected instead. Icheoku concedes that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is not too ambitious by running for the office of the president; but it is arrogant, foolish and stupid for him to to think that he has solid grounds to offer himself for the office. It is also incredulous for Mallam Nuhu RIbadu to compare himself with America's Barack Obama, admitted they both are youthful; but Nuhu Ribadu was never his law school journal's editor in chief; was never a keynote speaker in his party's national convention; was never his State's legislator; was never a Federal Senator representing his state and above all, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was never a community organizer nor is he endowed by the creator with oratorical prowess. So it infuriates Icheoku very much whenever the comparison is made about Nuhu Ribadu with America's President Obama; needless to say that even a fourteen year old American is usually more exposed than a 45 year old mallam in Nigeria's police force. Icheoku borrowing a phrase from one American politician reiterates " Barack Obama I know, but Mallam Nuhu RIbadu ain't Barack Obama"! The consolation however is that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu will not make any dent in the outcome of the April 2011 election as he would not even win his hometown or local government or his Adamawa State or any other northern States for that matter; that one wonders why Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu is even wasting resources on him, instead of running himself as the presidential candidate since neither of them would win anyways. So the question that still remains unanswered is who and what sprang Nuhu Ribadu on top of the ACN ticket?


As for Pastor Gbolahan Sindiku Babatunde Bakare, Buhari got himself a poodle for a dogfight as this vice presidential candidate has no electoral value or political capital for Buhari to mine, in his uphill battle to sell himself to Nigerians as fit and proper person to be their president. His choice of Tunde Bakare is another lost cause as Bakare brings nothing to the Buhari ticket other than being just another religious extremist bigot and will not win any state for the ticket; not  even in his catchment South-West. Icheoku concurs that “Bakare has no business in politics; the kind of politics that he should be playing is  to reshape people in the way of the Lord; to make them follow the path of honor and integrity” but not to formulate policies. Another commentator also described Bakare's choice as vice presidential candidate as that which only an extremist, fanatical, maniacal, religious zealot like Imam Buhari could make and Icheoku agrees. Imam Muhammadu Buhari further alienated the Igbo South-East by not choosing his running mate from the region and as a result will not win any State in the South-East. Buhari will also not win any state in the South-South either, it being President Jonathan's bastion and likewise the North Central Middle Belt states. Eventually Buhari will be left with only his five northwestern sharia states which he has to fight with PDP for; creating a scenario of a quick game-over for Buhari in the forthcoming April election. Icheoku says a Buhari/Tinubu ticket would have been the most formidable to challenge the institutionalized PDP's Jonathan/Sambo now seemingly unassailable ticket. As it stands, President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo are still the party to beat in the April election, with well-secured stronghold in the South-South, South-East and North-Central zones added to a strong governors support in others. Icheoku wonders what hope really exists for the other opposition political parties in their attempt to wrestle power from the PDP in the forthcoming April election.


Be that as it may, Icheoku says Nigeria does not need and will not have a theocracy which the government of Imam Muhammadu Buhari and Pastor Bakare would portend; hence the duo must be handily defeated. The good news is that both zealots do not stand a chance in hell of being elected as president and vice president in Nigeria and they will not be elected in April either. Both men are religious fanatics, representing fringes of both religions as typified in Boko Haram branch of Islam and some sliver of Pentecostal Christianity respectively. So if this ticket is elected "elected", other denomination as well as none-denominated Nigerians including animists and atheists alike, will feel completely alienated, encumbered that they are being ruled by zealots who do not understand them and will not be their best advocate. Anyway theirs is a losing ticket and for all intent and purpose, dead on arrival.


Imam Muhammadu Buhari is an unapologetic religious extremist and Icheoku is still haunted by the knowledge of his extra-judicial murder of Bartholomeo Owo and three others for an offence which was not a death-penalty offense when it was committed; but which the blood thirsty Islamist made punishable by death through a retroactive decree just to shed their innocent blood. That Buhari has till date, not considered it right and proper to apologise to Nigerians, particularly the families of his draconian-decrees victims and for his arbitrariness in office offends Icheoku's sensibilities and baffles our sense of decency. Islamist Buhari blew it when he did not pick Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a formidable running mate notwithstanding their alleged Islamic angle; afterall Abiola and Kingibe ran a joint Muslim ticket and they won on June 12th? Anyway even a messianic vice presidential candidate would not have made any difference in the matter of Imam Muhammadu Buhari as he is simply too extreme with his religious views to be freely elected president of Nigeria. Nigerians have not forgotten Buhari's extra-judicial murders of Barthlomeow Owo, Bernard Ogedengbe and Lawal Ojuolape; those 53 suitcases allegedly stuffed with currency which were smuggled into Nigeria by Buhari's ADC Major Jokolo in 1984 despite Buhari's ordered boarder closure; the very subjective draconian Decree 4 as well as the mother of all his offenses - the overthrow of a then democratically elected President Shehu Shagari's government in December 1983. And this skeletal and gaunt-looking religious fanatic that is now posturing and presenting himself to be democratically elected as Nigeria's president in 2011? Therefore it does not really matter who Buhari might have picked as his running mate, he simply has too much baggage and is unelectable and cannot be elected president in Nigeria, not in 2011 and not anytime ever.


But had there been a successful alliance and Buhari chose Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as his running mate, may be he would have stood some chance at putting up some fight against PDP's President Jonathan in the April election. With Buhari's stronghold in the core Northwestern Nigeria Islamic Sharia states of Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Zamafara and Bola Tinubu's bastion in the Southwestern states they could force a coalition government with the eventual winning party with their nine states? But no, he settled for a mediocre vice presidential candidate, a fellow religious fundamentalist Tunde Bakare for a running mate. A man who brings nothing new nor adds anything of value to a ticket already encumbered by Buhari's personal excessive political negatives. Muhammadu Buhari is an irreparably, politically, damaged goods in Nigeria; he is not marketable to moderate Nigerians who happen to be in the majority and therefore cannot be elected in a general election as president. Tunde Bakare is  a political nitwit who cannot even guarantee his Later Rain congregation's votes for the ticket of two religious radicals; talkless of his Egbaland or Ogun State or the greater Yoruba Southwest. So what use is his choice one may ask; but Imam Buhari knows best. Like Wole Soyinka, Tunde Bakare has no business dabbling in politics and should have remained the society's conscientious objector and a credible voice among the rambling voices of so many rabble-rousers that abound in Nigeria. Unfortunately however, his acceptance of Buhari's offer to be his running mate has now perpetually marked him as a partisan who used the SNG for his personal aggrandizement and to achieve some iota of political relevance. Henceforth, whatever action Pastor Tunde Bakare takes will be viewed by majority of Nigerians through the prism of a person with an agenda - scheming to preserve his self-interest. 

So this is how the cookies crumbled for Nigerian opposition political parties whose quest to wrest power from the PDP has suffered yet a major blow. A setback  caused by their inability to unite for the common purpose of providing a viable alternative to Nigerians in place of the discredited PDP; thereby leaving PDP coasting home to an assured victory in the forthcoming April  2011 elections. So just for the heck of furthering this discussion, assuming the Islamic party CPC wins the five northwestern Sharia States of Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano; the ACN wins four states out of the six Yoruba South-Western States, the ANPP retains or wins three states of Bornu, Yobe and Gombe States and APGA retains its Anambra State, the PDP still wins in about 23 states - six South-South States, five South East States, six North Central States and minimum of two South-West states of Ogun and Oshun States as well as another two North-Eastern States of Adamawa and Bauchi and may still also win Niger and Kaduna States.

Admitted that so many Nigerians crave for an alternative to the uninspiring PDP leadership of the past twelve years, but in the absence of a formidable alternative, Nigerians will come to terms that the available even though detestable PDP, might as well become the desirable party. Or could it be the proverbial goodluck of President Goodluck Jonathan that is at play here - using the irreconcilable squabble amongst the opposition parties to solve the potential Buhari challenge; just like it used Adamu Ciroma's consensus arrangement to solve the Babangida problem? May be Godwin Daboh of the "You Tarka me I Daboh you" fame was right that President Jonathan's rule was destined; and that any and all those constituting stumbling blocks on his way shall be bulldozed by a higher authority? Nigerians are increasingly becoming believers and soon it shall come to pass as April is just a few more weeks down the year. Since the opposition have failed to give Nigerians a meaningful alternative, come April, Nigerians will go to the poll, even if it means with their noses covered, to elect PDP's President Goodluck Jonathan to a four year completion of tenure term. As usual and after the fact of the election result, some of the opposition parties will grumble and possibly head back to court to contest the election result. But now that the opportunity of fairly winning the election themselves by presenting a strong joint ticket called, they have refused to make use of it by disagreeing on a joint opposition ticket. Icheoku wonders what manner of uncalculating politicians these opposition parties are constituted of - may be some weakling cry babies!

GADDAFI STOP KILLING YOUR PEOPLE, LET THEM CHOSE WHO RULES THEM!

 The madman of the Arabian desert Muammar Gaddafi is at it again, this time fighting for his dictatorial life. He has chosen the path of dishonor, the bloody path, killing his Libyan people just to cling on to office in which he has been since 1968 - 43years now! 

However Icheoku calls on the Libyan armed forces to stop killing their innocent unarmed brothers and sisters and like the Egyptian armed forces, just say no to being used by Gaddafi to perpetuate himself in office.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, WHY HE IS GOING NOWHERE.

 

Buhari murdered three innocent Nigerians - Batholomew Owo, Ojulope and Ogendegbe by retroactively enacting a decree prescribing death for an offense which was not a death penalty offense when it was committed. Buhari authorized his ADC Jokolo to illegally smuggled 53 suitcase of mixed currencies into Nigeria during the currency change in 1984. Buhari overthrew a democratically elected President Shehu Shagari's government in December 31, 1983. Now Nigerians, a man with such anti-people and anti-democracy records is not a fit and proper person to be president of Nigeria. Icheoku says until Imam Muhammadu Buhari reaches out to Nigerians, explains satisfactorily these issues, apologizes for his obtuseness and asks for forgiveness; irrespective of the success of his WAI, he shall remain an unacceptable presidential candidate before Nigerians. But just for the heck of it, how is Buhari funding his presidential campaign? Ribadu is being funded by Tinubu and Jonathan by the Governors Forum; so who is financing Buhari or did he mortgage it on future oil concessions or are his Muslim brothers from the Middle East and North Africa bankrolling it? Lastly CPC is an anti-Igbo party with a Middle Belt national chairman Tony Momoh, a northeast national secretary Buba Galadima, a northwest presidential candidate Buhari and a southwest vice presidential candidate Bakare; so which accommodation is left for the Igboman in Buhari's CPC? The good news however is that he is going nowhere; moreso, he is a religious fanatic in the mold of Boko Haram and too extremist, hence not good for a secular Nigeria. Nigerians, say no to Buhari!

FLEEING LIBYANS, GO BACK HOME AND DEFEND THE REVOLUTION!

Icheoku implores those fleeing Libyans to please go back home and fight for Libya's freedom and win freedom for Libya. Only cowards run away faced with similar circumstances and these runaways ought to stay back and join forces with those brave Libyans fighting to ensure that the revolution succeeded and that LIBYA IS FREE.Our conclusion, either these people running away are not Libyans or they are too cowardly to face down the man they seek to overthrow and take their country back. Libyans, please stop running away from your nemesis and instead, join efforts to have him defeated, arrested, prosecuted and possibly hanged for his 43 years of dictatorship and crimes against humanity - the people of Libya!.

NO BLOOD FOR JONATHAN, JONATHAN NOT A VAMPIRE!

Icheoku calls on all Nigerian politicians especially those presidential candidates to denounce thuggery, blood-letting and all forms of violence in the forthcoming April election. They should follow in the footsteps of President Goodluck Jonathan and call on their thugs and henchmen not to shed blood in their names. Icheoku commends President Jonathan for taking the initiative by warning that neither his ambition nor that of any Nigerian politician was worth the blood of any single Nigerian. So in one voice, may all Nigerian politicians declare "NOT IN MY NAME shall blood of innocent Nigerians be shed during the coming April 2011 election.

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND WANTS ANEMIC NIGERIAN NAIRA DEVALUED FURTHER?

 Icheoku queries how far is too far and how can a man already on his back fall down again except into his grave? Otherwise how does one explain the International Monetary Fund demand that the Nigerian Naira which already trades at 150N to a dollar at official market and about 157N on the black market be further devalued.

Icheoku says it does not smell good nor sound encouraging for the IMF to be putting undue pressure on the infantile stabilizing democracy Nigeria to further weaken her currency or does IMF want Nigeria to become another Zimbabwe that its 1trillion dollars trades for 1USD? President Jonathan must not allow this and should resist such SAP-curse which Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida acquiesced to during his military interregnum. If President Jonathan cannot stand up to these anti-third world economies financial institutions, then he should step aside, get out of the way for a real man with some backbone to get into the saddle and face down this economic merchants of death. Not in our name Jonathan and Nigerians please say no to IMF new conditions!

A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FROM ICHEOKU TO THE ARAB REVOLUTION!

To the brave people of the Arab world who are desirous of affecting a political change in their respective countries, Icheoku says to you do not waiver, do not falter. Revolutions come with a price and do not let the killing of a few of your own people deter you since this is the very instrument of cohesion that has sustained your despotic governments all this while. They are counting on your perceived cowardice that the moment a few of you are shot and killed, the rest will take to their heels. Icheoku wants you to prove them wrong and say to their mean faces, NOT THIS TIME. With a firm resolve, let them understand that a life in chains is no life at all; and that you might as well die trying to live free than to accept the fate imposed by one man's greed for power. So from Algeria to Libya to Bahrain to Iran to Saudi Arabia and all those other places on earth that have kept her people in bondage, Icheoku says rise up people and take your destinies in your hands! Like those brave Tunisians and Egyptians who sent Ben Ali and Mubarak away after such a long stay in power, you can as well send your own despots packing - YES YOU CAN! It can be replicated in your country and it is your responsibility to get it done, GOODLUCK and GOD'S SPEED!

LIBYA SHALL BE FREE, WHETHER OR NOT GADDAFI WANTS IT.

 Icheoku is in solidarity with the brave people of Libya, who following in the footsteps of their Arab-brothers in Tunisia and Egypt, are demanding that Muammar Gaddafi steps down. After 42 long torture-filled years, one would have expected the insanely crazed-out Gaddafi to take the next available flight out of Tripoli into exile now that he still have the window of opportunity. But like the saying goes, those whom the gods want to kill, he first make them mad and is possible the once strongman of Libya might already be in Cuckoo-land? Therefore it does not matter how vocal Gaddafi's rebuttal is and how bloody his present attempt to put the genie back into the bottle might be; and whether those Libyan protesters are under the influence of Osama Bin Laden or hallucinatory drugs infused with their coffee and milk, the people of Libya have spoken and they want their country back; so GADDAFI OUT!

MOUMMAR GADDAFI, CORNERED, NOW PLAYING DICTATOR USUAL FINAL SWAN SONG SCRIPT.

Icheoku says the end is near for the 42 year old regime of Col Moummar Gaddafi. The tell-tale signs are there for any observer and follower of the current Arab Revolution sweeping across Arab North Africa and Middle East to see. The pattern playing out now in Tripoli were preceded by that of Tunis as well as Cairo where Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak tried every trick in their sleeve to cling to power but failed anyways. First they tried to ignore the uprising, then they attempted to downplay the upheaval, they later followed it with some sort of conciliatory speech on their national television trying in vain to exude some sense of normalcy and being in control. When none of those approaches worked, they tried talking tough and threatening thunder and brimstone but as the people persisted in their demand for change, they spilled some of their blood thinking that would scare them. But when they saw a people willing to die to force a regime change; they scurried away - Ben Ali into exile in Saudi Arabia while Hosni Mubarak is under house arrest in the resort town of Sham el Sheikh, Egypt. Now Moummar Gaddafi is reciting the same tested but unsuccessful script trying to bluffing the will of the Libyan people, who tired of a one-man or should Icheoku say one family playing game on them for the past 42 years, have risen to demand for something new and different. Icheoku calls on the Libyan people not to falter and not to despair as their hour of dawn is fast approaching and demands a little perseverance. Like the Tunisians and Egyptians proved, it is doable even in Tripoli and please do not let the spilled blood of few patriots deter you; instead let it be the fuel to the revolution and when it succeeds, may be you can hang the mad-man of Tripoli to cleanse the land and atone for the innocents murdered. Away with Gaddafi, Viva Libya!

PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA NEXT, AS ALGERIAN REVOLUTION BEGINS?

Icheoku calls on Algeria Trade Unions to wake up and smell the coffee. They should join hands with patriotic Algerians and the National Coalition for Democrat to make history by changing the political landscape of Algeria. Tunisia and Egypt showed that nothing is impossible for a willing populace and Icheoku hopes Algerians are as brave as their Tunisian and Egyptian Arab brothers and sisters. Now is not the time to sit on the fence as opportunity calls for every Algerian to rise up and make a difference. Icheoku says let the tinderbox go up in flame and NOW to remove President Abdelaziz Bouteflika from office! Saddam is gone; Ben Ali is gone and Mubarak is equally gone so what are other Arab countries waiting to also free themselves from their despotic leaders or are they not as brave and merely cowards of the Arab world? President Abdelaziz Bouteflaik OUT!

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, EGYPTIANS ARE FINALLY FREE!

Icheoku is happy with those sons and daughters of the Pharaohs who overthrew their present day Pharaoh Mubarak. Congratulations, admitted that no one knows what the day after Mubarak will turn out to be; but hey there will always be a way where there is a will.

AS EGYPT GOES, SO GOES THE ARAB WORD?

From left to right are exiled Ben Ali of Tunisia, soon to go Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Kuwati's Jabar al Sabar. Icheoku asks were they all destined to fall as they are lined up in this picture - another case of nature playing its cruel joke on man? Anyway only time shall tell as Icheoku and the rest of the world continue to watch the unfolding history being made by the Arab people of North Africa, respectively 'deposing' their autocratic governments one country at a time!

MUBARAK OUSTED, EGYPTIANS WIN THE BATTLE OF WILL AND NERVE!

Just less than twenty four hours after his boast that he is not going anywhere, President Hosni Mubarak was eased out of power and he is now gone; GONE FOR THE GOOD OF EGYPT! Icheoku says good riddance. According to a statement by Vice President Omar Suleiman, “Mubarak has decided to relinquish the office of the presidency” and with those words several decades of despotism abruptly came to an end in the land of the Pharaohs.It would appear that Mubarak tried in vain to ride out the wave but would not get the support of the military to do the only thing left for him to cling to power - massacre those 'dissidents' at Tahrir Square and he had to go. This shows that his last statement to the nation was a ditch attempt to hang in there but the resolve of the people proved to be too much for that of one single old despot. Unconfirmed sources said Mubarak had already left Cairo for the Sinai resort of Sharm El-Sheikh enroute exile in Saudi Arabia to join his Tunisian counterpart Ben Ali.Icheoku says as Egypt now joins Tunisia as another liberated country in the Arab world, the tornado of change should move on to other countries in that region of the world and we pray it gathers awesome force enroute. With Iraqi Saddam Hussein gone; Tunisia Ben Ali gone and now followed by Egyptian Hosni Mubarak, the wind of change is packing much punch and must not cease or stop until the Middle East and North Africa are rid of these pestilence holding the region down. Icheoku have always supported the revolution but was inclined to accommodate Mubarak till September, provided it will ensure a smooth transition of power in Egypt as opposed to the madness that was witnessed in Iraq following Saddam's violent overthrow. But hey, Egyptians love their country and will do what is best for it. Congratulations Egyptians on your resolve which culminated into the overthrow of ages of a one-man madness; and should we rename the Revolution 2.0 the River Nile Revolution or what?