OUR FREEDOM-THEMED HOLIDAY MESSAGE, BE THAT ONE !

Our Lord Jesus Christ self-exampled that you are guaranteed as much freedom as you are prepared to pay for,  hence he sacrificed himself to purchase mankind's eternal salvation. So as you continue to cower in fear of your fellow human-being, who peradventure, happens to be in a temporal authority over you today; and like a cry-baby, looking for someone to bell the cat for you, just remember that the slave-master thrives on intimidation; and until you rise up and say ENOUGH, he will continue to hound you down with his cudgel into slavish submission. 

Remember the saying that you get what you pay for and there is no free lunch anywhere in the world. If you want something so badly, then go get it, freedom included. If in doubt ask Nelson Mandela of South Africa what the price for freedom is all about. Martin Luther King Jr also bargained hard for minority freedom in America likewise so many world famous freedom fighters of this world. Myammar's Aung Sui Kyuu is also one such heroine who took it severally and in all forms including years of isolated house arrest in order to get it; and surely the country formerly known as Burma has progressed enough in allowing freedom for the people as to earn a recent visit by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Icheoku says such would not have been possible but for the selfless sacrifice of Aung, who by her unwavering resolve has earned freedom for her Burmese people. 

Mohamed Bouazizi purchased freedom for Tunisians by a selfless sacrifice of self-immolation, which led hundreds of thousands of Tunisians to claim it. Who could have previously imagined in their widest dream that an ordinary street vendor or hawker of wares named Bouaziz, was capable of bringing down the government of dictator Ben Ali of Tunisia? So as you ponder quiveringly about what difference you could make to effect change in the society, always look unto the Mr Bouazizi of Tunisia of this world to see what it takes to bring about a desired and desirable change - simply a will to make a difference. Following Mr Bouazizi's inspired Tunisian peoples lead, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians bought their freedom from Hosni Murbarak; which was copied in Libya and Yemen while the struggle continues today in Syria. Icheoku knows and believes that someday very soon, the Syrian people shall be free of Bashir Assad's shackles and so would all other freedom loving peoples of the world, currently living in tepid fear of a Lord of the Manor in their land. Even the Russians are now no longer intimidated by their petite spy-chief Vladimir Putin as they took to the streets to tell Putin that Russia is not his ordinary third world country where the dictates of just one man holds sway. 

Hopefully those two men, Medvedev and Putin, trading offices or places in Kremlin and toying with the people of mother Russia shall read the handwriting on the wall before a tornado of the peoples revolution sweeps them both into the abys of history. It has happened before in Russia with the Bolskevik revolution so the chances of it happening again is not too remote. Icheoku calls on Vladimir Putin to respect the top-ranking status of Russia among the comity of nations and just do the right thing for and by the people of Russia. Putin, a recycled leader of Russia, is not such a flattering name for him to possess; and should therefore avoid it at whatever cost to his ego. Better still, what did Vladimir Putin forgot inside of Kremlin president's office that he wants to now go get. Icheoku just finds it too hard to understand that Vladimir Putin thinks he is the it in Russia and the only thing good for mother Russia. Before Putin were so many leaders and long after old age or even death shall conscript him and force him out, there will still be several leaders to guide and pilot the affairs in Russia. 

It is usually not going to be easy but broken bones mend. As is usually the case, most always, you will survive to become a greater being, more than you were when they took you captive. And assuming the worse comes to worst, everyone dies and only once; so what if you pay the ultimate sacrifice for what you believe? As you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the expectant arrival of the new year 2012, please ask yourself how can you help tame or stop the oppressor holding you down today and stop waiting for another Jesus Christ to do it for you. One more thing, Times Magazine was coy in naming a faceless protester as its person of the year 2011 since Tunisia's Mohamed Bouazizi aptly qualified as such person of the year; the fact that his selfless act which triggered the Arab Spring revolution took place in late 2010, nothwithstanding. Therefore by the powers conferred upon Icheoku by our many visitors and admirers, as well as critics for good measure, Icheoku hereby names Arab Spring revolutionary, Mohamed Bouazizi of Tunisia, as Icheoku's person of the year 2011. He deserves a statute erected in his honor in Tunis's city center as well as have a national holiday declared and observed in his honor. Mohamed Bouazizi was made of a sterner stuff and by his selfless act, have triggered the transformation of the political landscape of the Arab world and have thus transmuted into a legend.

It is being an awesome ride so far, especially this year 2011 and we hope to continue to strive to earn your visits to Icheoku.com. in the new year and many years to come. We appreciate you dearly, inclusive our critics who sometimes are so damn brutal with their acerbic comments. But hey, out of the furnace comes the steel, so keep the darts coming. Happy Holidays and see you in the new year. Off to vacation!

Sincerely,

Facilitator, Icheoku.com

STOP PRESS, FEBRUARY 2ND IS OJUKWU'S INTERMENT?

The peoples General and Hero numero uno, Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu will be interred to mother-earth on February 2nd, 2012. Please mark your calendar accordingly and if you cannot make it to Nigeria to participate in one of a kind send-off of a worthy son of Igboland, mark that day as the day the struggle begins anew. Like Martin Luther King, Ojukwu had a dream for a wonderland called Biafra, but genocidal Yakubu Gowon sabotaged the effort. Long live Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu as he did not die but merely transited and now have transmuted into a LEGENDARY HERO. So long Ikemba, Dikedioranman of Igbo people world-wide; we shall miss your masculine presence in Igboland, oh defender of the people.

KIM JONG-IL OF NORTH KOREA IS DEAD!

 

Icheoku says 2011 will go down in history as the year which dealt many dictators world over, most fatal blows. Ben Ali of Tunisia, Moummar Gaddafi of Libya, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and now Kim Jong-Il of North Korea, a member of the infamous Axis of Evil; alongside Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Ahmanejadi of Iran. 

Icheoku says the six blocs of US, Russia, China, South Korea, Japan and the European Union should use the window provided by the death of the former reclusive leader to try and resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis; and in as much as no one's death is joyous, Kim Jong-Il departure may be what North Korea needs at this time to free itself of the shackles of so many decades. North Korea's neighbor to the south of the demilitarized zone, South Korea, will also breathe a sigh of relief that the ever present threat of a nuclear nightmare is now over, at least for the moment. 

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il, died on December 17, 2011 of "physical and mental exhaustion. He was 69years old. Hopefully there will not be a succession showdown between his heir apparent and the old generals who constitute the old guard of the late leader. Icheoku says may his communist soul rest in peace. Before Icheoku forgets, that brings to two, comrades of Russia's Vladimir Putin who had died this year, the other one being Moummar Gaddafi of Libya.

CHILE EBOE-OSUJI WINS ICC JUDGESHIP, CONGRATULATIONS.

Icheoku congratulates Nigerian Chile Eboe-Osuji on his election victory to a nine-year term as justice of the International Criminal Court. What a prideful moment for all well-intentioned Nigerians, who believe in the infallibility of merit and urge that same yardstick should be the controlling indicia for affairs in motherland; and in order to truly move the country forward. Once again congratulations Justice Eboe-Osuji and Icheoku prays the latest judge-entrant to the ICC shall approach his adjudication with fervor and fairness, irrespective of the transgressor appearing before his panel. 

Also Icheoku cannot wait for the day to come when a leader of another part of the world, not Africa, is brought before The Hague's office of the ICC to face accountability. Admitted that some African leaders deserve the shackles in which they are marched to The Hague, but some other Western, Latin American as well as Asian leaders deserve being ferried to the ICC for such crimes as running their economies aground, pseudo-despotism and for other acts of aggression towards members of their populace and/or external aggression of other weaker countries. What is good for the goose should also be good for the gander and despotic Africans alone, should not be the only scapegoats justifying the existence of the ICC.

BRITAIN NOW A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY - DAVID CAMERON?

Icheoku says if the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had his way, the country formerly known as Britain or Great Britain will become known as "Christian Republic of Britain." A man desperately trying too hard to reassert himself both in Britain and Euro, following the blunder that was his British attempted veto of European Union fiscal rescue plan for the struggling Euro currency. In search of something big to do or say in order to get himself back up and running, David Cameron, declared "We are a Christian country. And we should not be afraid to say so." So make way Islamic Republic of Iran, as Britain has now emerged as the latest theology based government country in the world. 

Politicians, what would they not say or do when trapped in a corner by either policy or politics of the moment. Icheoku says it is a denial of fact for the British Prime Minister to so assert, not taking into cognizance that Britain is now a mixed-religious country and the days of Great Britain Christianity dominance is long since gone. Icheoku would bet the Prime Minister, Mitt Romney's $10,000, that Christianity might not be the predominant or majority religion in Britain today. Moreso majority of younger generation White people all over the world do not go to church any longer, whereas other religions have and continues to advance their follower-ship upwardly. It is also an absurdity of phraseology and/or errant play with words for someone to declare himself "a committed Christian" and at the same time inform that he is only a "vaguely practicing Christian?" 

What an oxymoron irony of active and passive interplay of ideology. If this add and remove equivocated positions of the British Prime Minister on his Christian faith, makes sense to anyone, that one is certainly not Icheoku; as it is simply illogical for a matter to be both hot and cold at the same time as Prime Minister David Cameron implied by his assertion. However Icheoku agrees with the Prime Minister that virtually all Christians the world over have lingering doubts about certain highly improbable biblical accounts as well as stifling theological issues. So to state it another way, the Prime Minister is not alone in his doubting Thomas state. 

Icheoku adds, since according to the Prime Minister, "moral neutrality or passive tolerance just isn't going to cut it any more," may be it is about time for Britain to emulate those Islamic countries of the Middle East and Asia and formally declare Britain, The Christian Republic of Great Britain and replace their constitution with the Bible? Or better still make it Her Majesty's Christian country? How about that Mr Christian Country, Prime Minister David Cameron for your thoughts? Also it is equally noteworthy that the Prime Minister now equates the Bible with William Shakespeare's works that one wonders if this Prime Minister truly have faith which is the rudimentary requirement for Christianity.

NEWT GINGRICH, PALESTINE EXISTED WHEN IT WAS CONVENIENT?

 

Icheoku says pictures don't lie as Mr Blow-hot, verbal bomb-thrower, Newt Gingrich, once cavorted with the "enemy" - the now, according to him, fictitious Palestine people? According to Professor Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, a Nobel Laureate, "History matters, records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future." So America, especially the fanatical right wing Christian fundamentalists Republicans propelling the current surge of Newt Gingrich, please think twice about your irrational support for the philanderer. Icheoku says if Palestine is a figment of Newt's imagination, who did PLO Leader Yasser Arafat, pictured with then Speaker Newt Gingrich, represent and why did Newt embrace him so warmly if not as a representative of his now none existent Palestinian people? What a phony, wife-cheating, obese and too old to be president, this son of Georgia is; and who would just lie about everything simply to cover up his past and attempt to fool everyone that there is a difference between six and half a dozen - yet he is a historian who is not guided by his own lengthy and shameless history? Icheoku says what a shameless Pharisee, this NEWT is; he sure needs to be neutered, politically that is.

NEWT OR MITT, REPUBLICAN PARTY'S HOUSE OF CARDS?

The current crop of Republican Party's presidential candidate wanna-bes fortifies a popular Igbo people of Nigeria's aphorism about two knives found in the household of a wretched person - the one sharp knife has no handle while the other one that has handle is not sharp. And so it is that among the current jostling candidates of the Republican party, have emerged two front runners - one that is possibly electable but cannot and would not be nominated by the party fanatics and the other one, the most likely to be nominated who is conversely not electable. 

Now the dilemma, a Catch 22 scenario; that shows either way, the Republican Party loses the presidential election come 2012. Icheoku says, salute and welcome, President Barack Hussein Obama 2012 second term! But isn't it hypocritical that the Republican Party, supposedly a party of family values, is even gravitating towards a man who trades in his old wives as would used cars? Thrice married and twice divorced, with numerous adulterous relationships in between; yet those Republican Christians seem not to have qualms with that or is it a case of George Orwellian Animal Farm or a "special" Republican whose sins are forgiven? icheoku says, it appears the Lord Jesus Christ had the Republicans in mind when he preached about the Pharisees. What a huge joke, Mr Gingrich's soaring lead is; but hopefully it is going to peter-off soon. Or does Republicans need a Divine intervention to help them stop NEWT's insurgence?

CHINESE NAVY PREPARES FOR WAR - PRESIDENT HU JINTAO

 Icheoku says finally what a welcome relief to learn that the Chinese is now ready to stall their economic progress and possibly depopulate their over-crowded cities. China had ridden undisturbed for too long, thus finding time to grow their economy and feed their stupendous 1.6 billion population. 

The threatened war, a third world war may be, will be a nice welcome relief to the sputtering world economies that will greatly benefit replacing what will be depleted and rebuilding what will be destroyed. China has more enemies than the West, especially within Asia, so the alignment of forces will stack heavily against them leading to their eventual defeat and final partition into several manageable countries. Therefore, Icheoku says may the Chinese government fast-track their war effort and let the showdown begin NOW. 

It may be a harbinger of the end of the world in 2012 according to the Mayan calender. What a bombast by Chinese President Hu Jintao as if anybody really cares what the Chinese thinks about dominating the Asia Pacific. Fortunately, wars are now won by smart bombs and technological prowess and not necessarily the size of the army. If war breaks out, that will be the end of China as it is presently configured, as it will certainly go the way of the old Soviet Union following its routing. May be the billions of trapped people will finally breathe air of freedom especially the Tibetans and the Uighurs.

DRONE IN IRANIAN CUSTODY, FORCEFUL ACTION NEEDED.

Icheoku says atimes like the present calls for a cowboy's shoot first and ask questions later kind of reaction to the increasing taunting by Tehran of the United States of America. 

A President Ronald Reagan or Bush would have issued an ultimatum to the Iranian regime to return the plane within 48hours or face damaging air-strikes as the mullahs in Tehran only understands such show and use of force. Whatever Iran thinks they can do and which they did not do during their eight year war with Iraq, they should do now. 

Icheoku calls on the United States to take all steps necessary to either have the drone returned or have it remotely destroyed or even target it in a massive bombardment of Iran. Enough of the Iranian brazen sticking of their fingers in our face, dating back to the seventies hostage taking. If China could return a US plane and Pakistan too, who then is Iran not to follow suit. Icheoku says the reason many of us are not in politics is that we do not have the patience for lengthy negotiations, especially when we are convinced we are on the right path. 

As far as Icheoku is concerned, this drone incident is enough to send in the First Airborne and Marines to go clean house in Iran and let the world implode if that is what it will take to forever cut the Iranians to size. ENOUGH of this their unearned and unmerited sense of importance; afterall which war have they won lately or better still, what have Tehran done lately that they should be running their mouth in this way. Icheoku says to Washington, just get back the damn drone from those mullahs NOW and at any cost.

IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA, TOO RISKY.

Do you know that ADULTERY is a death-penalty offense in Iran and that APOSTASY is also a death-penalty offense in Saudi Arabia for which you will suffer the fate of this man? Be thankful for your freedom, those of you who are not confined in both enclaves, especially the Elliot Spitzers and Arnold Schwarzeneggers of this world; and should we add former President Clinton, except that those possibly mullahs do not consider polishing the knob sexual enough to qualify as adulterous.

IRAN MUST RETURN THE DRONE NOW OR RISK WAR!

Icheoku says the Iranians should have no option but to return their illegally acquired United States of America drone plane forthwith and they should be made to understand the ramifications of holding out on this. It is called the Chinese example and this is the only meaningful option available to Tehran; which Icheoku expects the State Department, through its Iranian liaison, to drum it into their mullahs' ears. In April 2, 2001, the Chinese navy pilot brushed into the wing of a United States reconnaissance navy plane forcing it to land in China. The American government then under President George Walker Bush demanded forcefully that China return that plane. After an initial blustering bluff, the Chinese, weighing the implication of a United States face-off, returned the plane piggy-backed by a Russian Tupolav cargo plane to America. That is what Icheoku expects of the latest Iranian hold-over of the RQ-170 Sentinel drone operated by the CIA and nothing more. 

Also it does not matter how the Iranians got possession of the plane - whether they shot it down, jammed its communications which forced it down or even found it as a treasure trove lying somewhere in the vast Iranian desert following a malfunction; it is incumbent on them to return it forthwith and any contrary position taken by Tehran should be considered an act of war. Icheoku says enough of this recurring Iranian petulant nuisance; if they want to martyr themselves so be it; but the United States must respond forcefully this time around to yet another one of their many provocations. In response to the Iranian position that "No one returns the symbol of aggression to the party that sought secret and vital intelligence related to the national security of a country,"  Icheoku says that the Chinese had previously returned a downed US plane and so did Pakistan similarly return a damaged US helicopter used during operation kill Osama Bin Laden in Abotabad, Pakistan. Now if Iran is looking to save face, they can reference China and Pakistan as precedent and return our drone before they pay a heavy price for it. Except of course and as some school of thought posits, the found drone is a Greek gift Trojan horse made available to Iran as part payment on the gathering storm of an almost now inevitable confrontation between it and the United States? But what does anyone really know about the ways of the intelligence service, especially the United States Central Intelligence Agency; otherwise, why was the drone not rigged to self-destruct upon malfunction? 

NEWT GINGRICH IS A FAT OLD WHITE MAN - MICHAEL SAVAGE

Icheoku says thankfully it took a white guy to call out another white guy to remind him that he is simply too old for present day America. While offering Newt Gingrich a bribe money of one million dollars to drop out of the Republican Party presidential race, talk-radio shock jock, Michael Savage, said that Newt Gingrich is just an ordinary old white guy who brings nothing new to offer Americans as a real alternative to President Barack Obama. It is his opinion that a Newt Gingrich candidacy will offer President Barack Obama an easy second term victory on a platter of gold. Icheoku says in the event Newt does not bite the bait and take the one million dollars, it will be a race between a grandpa and his son and in America, appearance is everything as America would see a flabby old white guy trading tackles with a sporty lanky man young enough to be his son or even grandson.

LAURIE ANN MARTINEZ, THE SHRINK WHO NEEDS A SHRINK.

Icheoku says once again, another daughter of Eve has concocted a make-belief crime just to get her wish and have her way. What this crime shows is not necessarily the length some pieces of humanity will go to get what they want; but that some, if not most, alleged crimes by women, especially against their spouses, most always is a hoax or self-inflicted just to get even or have him removed and confined. Imagine a woman who had to self split her own lip with a pin, scraped her knuckles with sandpaper and had her friend punch her in the face all in an attempt to blackmail an unwilling and ill-prepared husband to relocate? Not only that, the fake-victim tore her blouse, peed on herself just to make her tale that she was mugged and raped by a stranger seem and sound believable? 

The helluva story here is not that a woman faked a story, but that this woman is a psychologist who supposedly helps prisoners get a handle over their mental issues; and Icheoku wonders whether it is not this woman herself who actually needs all the help a shrink can render and not the other way round. As always, she had some outside help from her "best friend forever;" another unthinking woman who helped her perpetrate the hoax that she was beaten, robbed and raped by some fictional stranger? Icheoku says this goes to confirm the childish nature of some woman, who like kids, sometimes tells their husbands tales of how "your brother was seductively eyeing me when you went out?" Anyway, the blame goes to a society skewered against certain gender and always defer to the other gender in situations as domestic disputes etc. 

According to her "Hollywood scripted story," she came back home to find a stranger in her kitchen and tried to run away. But the suspect grabbed her and struck her on the face, following which she lost consciousness; only to wake up to discover that she has been raped with her pants and underwear pulled down to her ankles?" She reported missing from their home were some electronics, computers and credit cards; which according to her were stolen by the invading stranger, but which to the chagrin of the investigating officers were cleverly stowed away in her conspiratory friend's house. Get the drift - the length some of these lecherous daughters of bovine could go to implicate things? It is quite interesting to note that this woman, upon sighting the responding emergency police officers, started crying profusely to further dramatize her agony. 

This leads Icheoku to recall a popular Igbo aphorism of the hysterical crying woman who usually kills her husband and then blames him for bringing it on himself. Icheoku recalls of a woman who called 911 and upon sighting the strobe lights of the responding police officers, intentionally fell on their glass coffee table, broke it and received lacerations and accused her husband of inflicting her with the injury. Anyway like one man of wisdom says, women are the strangest wild animals walking the face of the earth, love her or hate her you always needs her; but you must master the art of cajoling and playing possum very well to survive their fury which erupts more times than the sun rises and falls. In Sacramento California, a mental health-giver professional woman just proved that she too can use some help and Icheoku says get her some counselling!

PALESTINE IS A FICTION - NEWT GINGRICH

Icheoku says never in the history of US politicking has pandering to the Jewish nation been this blatantly lowly that a Republican presidential candidate wanna-be mouthed off that a bona-fide people, the Palestine people, whose history squarely placed them in the same geographical location as the Israelis, are invented fictional people? The man whose middle name could pass for marital infidelity and the current front runner in the race to secure the Republican presidential nomination, Newt Gingrich, dismissed the Palestine as ghoulish and phantom terrorists who have no nexus or business contending a claim of right in the area around and near Israel. Icheoku says this blabber-mouth is either ignorant of history or is a shameless panderer trying just too hard to fool the Jewish people into thinking he gets their back; but not knowing that he had just poured gasoline into the smouldering Israeli/Palestine conflict with his unfortunate comment.

Some responses coming out of the Palestinian Authority to Newt Gingrich's guffaw says it all:- "These are extremely trivial, demeaning and ridiculous remarks, even the most extremist settlers of Israel wouldn't talk in such a ridiculous way" - Palestine Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. "Ignorant" and "despicable" said another official. "This is the lowest point of thinking anyone can reach, the comment only increases the cycle of violence" - Palestine Negotiator Saeb Erekat. "This proves that in the hysterical atmosphere of American elections, people lose all touch with reality and make not just irresponsible and dangerous statements, but also very racist comments that betray not just their own ignorance but an unforgivable bias" - Palestinian Liberation Organization official Hanan Ashrawi.

Icheoku says even Tel Aviv would be astonished at the vomit of Newt Gingrich as their relative peace might now unravel and give way to conflict since the Palestine might not be willing to wait to find out what a Newt Gingrich's White House will make of a none existent people. It is indeed unfortunate that this is the type of human-being the Republicans are clamoring and routing for as their presidential candidate to be. Imagine calling the Middle East peace process for which an Israeli Prime Minister Rabin was killed and for which many have died on both sides and for which many American presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, have spent countless man-hours a delusion; and then labeling an entire people terrorists? Icheoku says we don't know about you, but this Newt Gingrich will put America into real trouble if elected and therefore the Republican Party should deny him a platform to propagate his parochial agenda. What a nut this Newt is

PUTIN PUSHING RUSSIANS, STOKING ARAB SPRING IN RUSSIA?

Icheoku says the signs are ominous and Vladimir Putin seems not to get it. He easily forgets that those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable. How a man thinks he is the best thing to happen to Russia since the Bolshevik revolution defies every logic. He has been president and prime minister before and now wants to yet again recycle himself back as president. 

Icheoku says this emerging petty-dictatorship smacks of third world political shenanigans; but Russians are simply too smart and wise to allow such a one man take over of their motherland. Put in another way, Icheoku says that secret agent Vladimir Putin is by necessary implication, gradually but steadily courting Russian's Arab-Spring to envelope Russia and the picture of a dead Gaddafi in the street of Sirte should give anyone jitters. But hey, it is Putin and like every other dictator, it will not happen to him? Gaddafi once entertained such thoughts, once stating that "my people loves me?"

DONALD TRUMP THUMPED, DEBATE REJECTED!

 

Icheoku says it serves him well, the Donald, that is. A showboy blabber-mouth who thinks raising the birth-question was going to sustain a wind underneath his infantile political-sail, has again been shunned by Republican presidential nominees wanna-bes. They (all but just two) declined to honor Donald Trumps debate invitation and told him to stuff it. According to one of them, Texas Congressman, Ron Paul, he didn't know that Donald Trump had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people. Icheoku says what a sarcastic dumping on the Donald who mistakes his straggling hair for pedigree of importance. Now that he has been routed and rejected by Republican presidential candidates wanna-bes, who refused to indulge his ego any further by shunning the proposed debate with the Donald, let see how many friends the Donald still have left. What a loud mouth showboy who has no place in politics and should not be anywhere near and/or around it. Good for him.

NIGERIA ANTI-GAY BILL, PRESIDENT JONATHAN MUST NOT SIGN IT.

Once again Icheoku calls on President Jonathan of Nigeria not to follow Senator David Mark in propagating his anti-humanity inclinations and therefore should not sign the anti-gay/anti-humanity discriminatory bill. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans-genders are endangered species, although very vocal and powerful, with extensive reach into very high places, they should be protected in Nigeria and not suffered or outlawed. To do the latter will put Nigeria in a bad light world-wide and these people can make life tough for Nigeria if they choose to. Like the Jews, they must be protected at all cost and by all powers that be including the Nigerian government except for David Mark. Icheoku says a word is enough for the wise, believing that a PhD holder gets it.

The world's most prominent gayman Sir Elton John, was knighted by the Queen of England and he has access to so many corridors of power world-wide; and so does many other homosexual human-beings around the world such that taking them on, will spell disaster for the Nigerian government. A fact made worst because so many prominent men and women of power world over including in Nigeria, are gays and lesbians or sympathizers of their way of life, admitted they may still be in the closet; so antagonizing them is self-destructive and should be avoided at all cost. Icheoku hopes all those David Marks of Nigeria pushing this agenda to outlaw homosexualism in Nigeria have the best interest of President Goodluck Jonathan at heart; except it would appear they are corralling him into a very tight corner to discredit his government. A smart politician will see such bill recently passed by David Mark's senate as a booby trap and skirt around it with every nimbleness and dexterity he can summon.

Gaydom is not yet a Nigerian most pressing problem and at best, the David Marks of Nigeria can just look the other way by ignoring them; that way these special breed of humanity can enjoy their fundamental human rights including to marry or partner with whomever they choose without unneeded additional inhibition. of a legislation declaring them less human to freely chose who to tango with. Legislation are made to protect a threatened group and not to further complicate their plight in a society that sees and treats them as an aberration or taboo. Like every other minority group, LGBT is a disparate group that needs the protection of the Nigerian state but not their added scolding. Nigeria's problem is corruption and that is what the world expect David Mark to be outlawing and making illegal and not a God's created human-being right to love whoever or whatever is the object of his or her affection. What the world needs is love and not a David Mark sitting in judgment over who is or is not a correct human-being and deciding by fiat who they should fall in love with.

Gaydom is as old as humanity and is long entrenched in Nigeria; so the David Marks of Nigeria should just get over it as some of their friends might equally be gay and even to their knowledge; admitted they would not owe up to it. These people are born this way and it is not a choice but a function of genetic code which makes them go that way - not straight. As if the message that discrimination against LGBT people would not be tolerated is not yet loud enough already for Nigerian government to hear, the United States of America has now attached conditional acceptance of any country's gay population to its foreign aids and Icheoku hopes that Nigeria's President Jonathan is listening. As contained in the United States government latest memo, "The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States' commitment to promoting human rights." Henceforth any foreign aids shall be disbursed with this as a guiding philosophy.'

Icheoku says the cost benefit analysis is skewered against Nigeria which benefits enormously from such foreign aids and must not act not-smart in order to not disturb the cart. Moreso, since presidents in Nigeria are not elected as in other countries where they must pass some eligibility and electability test by marketing themselves to the electorates, the Nigerian president have nothing to worry about in not signing this bill. He can just ignore it or let it accumulate dust until he serves out his term and let subsequent president worry about it; afterall former president Obasanjo kicked the signing of the FOI bill down the road and waited it out. Moreover, President Jonathan said he is going to be a one-term president and so has nothing to be afraid of such as not being elected to a second term because he did not sign a law to discriminate against a section of his country men and women who just go different direction. Therefore Icheoku calls on President Goodluck Jonathan not to sign David Mark's anti gay/anti-humanity bill that seeks to punish and discriminate against people born that way.

IRAN IS DANGEROUSLY RACING TO THE PRECIPICE.

A popular aphorism has it that those the gods want to kill, he first make them mad; and so it seems with Tehran which apparently does not get it that their cup is almost full. As if they have not provoked the world enough already, their President Ahmadinejad just told the entire mankind to go to hell for all that he cares and that Iran can tough it out alone? 

Instead of apologizing and atoning for its undiplomatic misbehavior, either tacitly or overtly, of invading yet again another country's embassy in Tehran, it is mouthing off its braggadocio. According to Ahmadinejad, Iran will stick to their revolution's ideology at all cost and it does not matter if the entire universe rose up against them? In his exact own words, Ahmadinejad said, "We will stick to our revolution's principles and values with all our power even if the entire world rise up against us." Icheoku says the entire world rising up against any country should be a very frightening situation which no sane country should ever brag of not caring about. With Iran's current unwise stand, it now seems more likely than not that the lighted fuse would certainly make contact with the mother-load. 

Unfortunately though, Iran seems oblivious of this freight-train headed their way and will be made to pay a stiff price in the event a military confrontation results. Iran will be made to answer for all their intransigence over the many years including the hostage taking of the seventies; and they failed to realize that the West hardly forgets or forgives such thumbing of the nose. But it is not yet too late for an about turn mea culpa to starve off an impending payback; but the decision is Tehran's to make.

OJUKWU, GONE WITH THE WAR MEMOIRS

Icheoku says procrastination has once again cost Nigerians and the world an authentic rare insight into the Biafran war courtesy of the man who lead the three year Biafran effort. He promised the world a true account and memoir of the Biafran war, detailing its causes, prosecution, successes and failures as well as the final suspension of hostilities following his forced exile to the then Ivory Coast. Like William Shakespeare said, the good are often interred with their bones and so has this great forensic expose` into the soul of Biafra, unfortunately, died with the man who was Biafra alter-ego and its chief protagonist. Regrettably many Nigerians alive then and now, as well as future generations, have been robbed of a first hand percipient account of what truly happened during Biafra. According to his former ADC, “there’s virtually nothing that happened during the war period that he didn’t know about. He was determined to get justice for the people of the Eastern region. He laid his life down for our people, but unfortunately, many people did not get to know more about him. He never went to war for personal aggrandisement. At all times during the war, he was concerned about his people.”  


Icheoku says this is what has been missing since the cessation of firearms hostility over thrity nine years ago - an account of the Biafran war by someone who actually knew something about the Biafran war. Unfortunately, the world may never know as death has permanently deprived humanity of such golden opportunity at history. Ikemba Nnewi and DIkedioranma of Igboland, the Peoples General Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu has died with his memories of the Biafra war which he prosecuted without getting the opportunity to chronicle same. He said he was going to write a memoir of the war but never got to doing it; except a manuscript exists somewhere to be published post-humus? Icheoku have noted and is writing an article on the lack of or not readily available chronicled history and/or biography of some very important Nigerians who changed or helped change the course of history in Nigeria while they lived. Sometimes Icheoku wonders what history professors at various Nigerian universities history departments are doing amidst such unexplored wild Alaskan history of Nigerian greats needing exploration? Good professors worthy of their pay and tenure would have produced several books on these subjects courtesy of handed assignments to their students and scholars. Term papers, projects and dissertations on these prominent Nigerians would have been enough with little proof-reading to make up so many books on the lives and history of these great men and women of Nigeria. 


Take a look at the Nigerian landscape and you could hardly find historical books on Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Rotimi Williams, Tunde Igiadgon, MKO Abiola, CC Onoh, Balarabe Musa, Maitama Sule, Wole Soyinka, Tai Solarin, Beko Ransome Kuti, Sam Mbakwe,   Ken Saro Wiwa, Sani Abacha, Muritala Mohammed, Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo, Tony Anenih, Theophilius Danjuma, Ibrahim Dangote, Muhammadu Buhari, Shehu Shagari, Alex Ekwueme, Ojukwu, the brains behind Ojukwu Bunker, Ojukwu bucket, Uli airport lantern-illuminated landing strip and such other numerous life-changing events that took place in Nigeria. Such mimeographs would provide insight into these men, their challenges and how they overcame and resolved them and in turn provide a reference point for future generations. Icheoku asks where is the future in Nigeria when the past always dies with their actors without anything ever being transferred to posterity via books of how things were done, who did what,  and why? It is called recorded history and biographies; and Nigerians are not doing well upholding this department of their society. 


So as Icheoku and the rest of the reasonable and rational humanity in Nigeria particularly mourn the loss of the great one, in as much as we shall miss his colossal presence, the thing that will be sorely missed more is that promised excursion into the experience called Biafra which he never realized before he transited. Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu would have done a terrific job educating Nigerians and the rest of the world about the futuristic Biafra as only he could have done; having led that heroic effort. Icheoku says Ojukwu was a man above men who was born before long before his time. He saw in 1967 what is happening in 2011 Nigeria as the wanton killing of Nigerians by their fellow Nigerians has not abated but is still taking place in Jos Plateau State Nigeria. What a man with audacity who called the bluff of the Northern bloody marauders,  committing ethnic cleansing of the Igbos in Northern Nigeria and defended his manhood to protect his people. Icheoku states, without being immodest, that every Igbo man and woman, including the minorities of present day South-south, owe their freedom which they enjoy today to the bravery of the man who stood up to be counted when it mattered most. Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu looked into the eyes of genocidal Yakubu Gowon and told him, the SLAUGHTER OF THE IGBOS MUST STOP and went to war to stop it. But for his bravado, Igbos would have either become extinct or conscript Allah-worshippers in Nigeria today. However all his war exploits are, but for few excerpts, forever lost due to his inability to get to the promised war memoir before death denied him the opportunity to truly and correctly state the case of Biafra. What a best seller this book of the Biafran War, a true account; from the man who should know, having led the effort would have been. 


Anyway, the Ikemba is gone and with him, his Biafra War memoirs; but his spirit lives on in the hearts of millions of his admirers.  The consolatory news is that the cloud of his death shall someday lift  to reveal the way forward for Igbos of Nigeria without their beloved Ojukwu. After rain comes sunshine, dawn follows dusk and the Igbos shall survive the death of their beloved Ojukwu and emerge stronger. They are now made aware of their place in the entity called Nigeria as Ojukwu revealed to them what it means to be an Igbo man in Nigeria. The apostles survived the death of the risen Christ; the Yorubas survived the death of their Papa Awolowo and history is replete with such historical larger than life personalities that shaped and molded opinions, whose death to their beloved people, sounded like the end of the world. But from their death-ashes, rose a phoenix of a more dogged and determined people, championing the course which was imbibed in them by such their departed heroes. Igbos of Nigeria shall survive and have survived; and it does not matter what the genocidal Yakubu Gowon thinks or that the Otta deity shall wait for eternity for an apology for Biafra which shall never come or that the Theophilus Danjumas of Nigeria are mad that Ojukwu died a natural death and not a violent one as they would rather he did. Icheoku says it simply does not matter what any of these munchkins think, as Nigeria has become a joint project for all, with Igbos fully participating and going no where soon any longer. Nigeria is now Igbos own country and they will do better for am. So long, Dikedioranma of Igboland. 

PUTIN AND MEDVEDEV, HOLDING RUSSIA HOSTAGE?

 Icheoku once again reiterates that mother Russia is simply too big and too advanced to be held captive by these two men. It does not matter how good they are or how well intentioned they might be; but for them to subject the Great Russia to their whims is indeed regrettable. 

How dare Vladimir Putin and Dimitry Medvedev think rather arrogantly that without them there would be no Russia or that they are the best thing to happen to Russia after Vodka? Icheoku says it does not make sense for these two men to be playing ping-pong with Russia as there are millions of capable hands in Russia to pilot the affairs of the motherland. It is called democracy and it has no place for recycling or switching seats. Such joke is reserved for third world countries; except they are telling us that Russia has fallen so low?

HILLARY CLINTON'S NEW LOOK, TRIM AND RESPLENDENT.

Icheoku says we don't know about you but the United States Secretary of State is sure spotting a new fresh look. During her recent visit to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, Hillary Clinton looked a million dollars in her pulled back hair and well tailored blue suit as she met the democratic symbol of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. Icheoku commends the terrific job Madam Secretary of States is doing globally and readily votes her the most successful Secretary in President Barack Obama team. Admitted other Secretaries  are pulling their respective levers well too, but so many happenings in the world including the Arab Spring made Hillary a permanent fixture on our minds as we prayed for her to successfully navigate through the maze of those cascading challenges. 


Madam Secretary, Icheoku likes the new look - younger, smarter and more appealing or should Icheoku confess, more appetizing. Hillary Clinton actually looked royal and queenly. Keep it up Madam Secretary as "HILLARY 2015" is almost around the corner to usher in the first United States of America female president. How about that HC? Before Icheoku forgets, her host did not look bad either and Icheoku commends her for being prepared to pay the price for her unabridged freedom. Well done Aung; your courage inspires millions world-wide. 

OJUKWU WAS GIVEN NO OPTION - SENATOR GANIYU SOLOMON.

“The Ikemba was a source of pride for those who had the opportunity to experience him, and he stood tall against elements of injustice, segregation and oppression, his death is “a monumental loss not only to his family, the Igbo land and Nigeria but also to the entire African continent at large. Ojukwu took up the responsibility as a leader of his region at the time he did, when it was necessary to do so, and it was the only option at the time he could have taken." -  Senator Ganiyu Solomon (ACN, Lagos), Senate Minority Whip. 

Icheoku says 'bee~eni' and only hopes that other Nigerians could be this courageous to speak up and admit that the Biafran war was forced on the peoples of the former Eastern region and that Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu only stood up like a real man to answer the challenge. Icheoku says thank you Senator Ganiyu Solomon for pointing out this much glossed over fact that Ojukwu was not the rouble-rouser some elements in Nigeria paint him to be, but a real patriot who said to the feudalistic north, ENOUGH, NO MORE SLAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE. 

What a sad commentary it is that several decades after the Biafran genocide, that the same genocidal Yakubu Gowon's people of Jos Plateau State, who led the onslaught against the people of Biafra, are today at the receiving end of the butcher's knife; it is now their turn to taste the bloody dish they served on peoples of Biafra. A GOOD KARMA one may say? Anyway, may the restless fighting soul of the peoples warrior and real hero, Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, now find rest in the bosom of the Lord. Ikemba was what every man should be or at least aspire to be. He was simply a giant and a selfless one indeed.

BOASTFUL NEWT GINGRICH, THE NOMINEE?

It is deja vu once again as the revolving chair of Republican Party's presidential nominee wanna-be front runner status has yet again shifted. The erstwhile Speaker and the man so mean as to divorce his cancer-stricken wife on her sick bed, Newt Gingrich of Georgia, is now the latest prince on the saddle. Icheoku says how long his reign will last is anybody's guess; but no one should underestimate the man who rebounded after his entire campaign team left him in the middle of the water this summer and  nearly drowned his presidential nomination bid.

From Mitt Romney to Michelle Backman to Rick Perry to Herman Cain, this mercurial and constantly changing very ephemeral front runner status has now foist on Newt Gingrich. Icheoku says what an early Christmas gift this would be for President Barack Obama and the Democrats should Newt not be displaced within the next few weeks and goes ahead to secure the nomination. A man with such a trailer-load of baggage that even a novitiate Democratic candidate would make a mince meat of his candidacy, is now occupying Republican Party's presidential nominee status and may for the sake of discussion, magically win? This accident of winning possibility is what is principally driving Newt Gingrich despite the obvious fact that his chances of being elected president of the United States in a national election is nearly second to zero.  Also it would appear that Newt Gingrich developed amnesia and have simply chosen to forget his ethical violations, marital infidelities as well as complicity in the lobbying industry; foibles which do not bode well for the electorates. Anyway Icheoku dares the Republican Party to hand President Obama a swift victory in 2012 by nominating Newt Gingrich as their presidential candidate. 

Buoyed by his current front runner status, Newt has gone into overdrive, declaring that he is going to be the nominee and Icheoku wonders what a too full of himself, very arrogant man, this overweight Georgia man is. In his own words, Newt Gingrich said, “I’m going to be the nominee. It’s very hard not to look at the recent polls and think that the odds are very high I’m going to be the nominee. And by the way I don’t object if people want to attack me, that’s their right. All I’m suggesting that it’s not going to be very effective and that people are going to get sick of it very fast. And the guys who attacked each other in the debates up to now, every single one of them have lost ground by attacking. So they should do what they and their consultants want to do. I will focus on being substantive and I will focus on Barack Obama.” 

Icheoku however beg to advise Newt Gingrich not to savor his polling victory just yet as we have seen so many other candidates occupy that front runner seat before his current ascendancy and where are they now? What a funny phony this man is; except of course, he is trying to psyche Mitt Romney out the competition, being the newest man on the block in the nomination process. Icheoku once again admonishes that the Republican Party does not have an electable presidential material this nomination season and would by default of any of these candidates nomination, hand President Barack Obama a second term. If only they have listened to the advise of Bush's brain, Karl Rove, and stayed off the tracks; but hey, their respective ego is more than ordinary hence the jostling. Oh Newt, how do you plan to secure the nomination and how are you so sure that you will be the Republican Party's presidential nominee?