CHINUA ACHEBE, 'HE BROUGHT AFRICA TO THE WORLD" - NELSON MANDELA.

Icheoku says the man who stood up against the decadence and despondence that is Nigeria leadership, by twice rejecting their useless Honor or should Icheoku say "DisHonor" awards, Professor Chinualumogu Achebe is towering in death above his traducers, detractors and haters alike. Admitted he was already tall in life, his "Things Fall Apart" classicus having sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and translated in more than 57 languages; but the encomiums being poured for him now that he has transmuted is staggering indeed. Icheoku says to the man of words, whose personal letter to Icheoku more than 30years ago is still in our guarded possession, may your journey to the land beyond be smooth; may our ancestors welcome you with music and fanfare for your bravery in standing up to the despicable men of power in Nigeria and speaking up against injustice and deprivation in the land. Go well Prof.

CHINUA ACHEBE IS DEAD, ADIEU.

Icheoku mourns a true son of Igboland who happened on the Nigerian stage when Nigeria was not prepared for his kind. Regrettably the world renowned literary genius and scholar died, frustrated at the rot that is Nigeria and the unwillingness of the ruling class to fix an otherwise easy fixable problems in the broken country. Icheoku says sleep well Chinua and may the Almighty reward you according to your works and for at least trying in the midst or apathy, by speaking up against staggering decadence and conspired indifference. Professor Chiuna Achebe died in Boston Massachusetts USA, aged 82 and will be buried at his country of origin home in Ogidi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Icheoku says so long Chinualumogu, Adieu.

A SMILING POPE FOR A CHANGE THE WORLD CAN USE.

Icheoku asks when was the last time the world saw a really happy pope beaming with such an infectitious smile and cracking funny jokes? Hopefully this amiable jolly fella from Argentina will succeed in wooing many deserters back to the church of Rome from which they since left due to its drabness and holier than thou sanctimonious pretensions. Icheoku indeed likes what we are seeing so far of this new pontiff. Way to go Pope Francis.

HURRAY, THERE IS A NEW POPE FROM THE END OF THE EARTH.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, 76years, is the new Pope and he has taken the papal name Pope Francis. The new pope is the 266th pope in Catholic church's 2000 year history and said "I accept" to his election by 114 Cardinals, whom he later asked God to forgive for electing him to lead the Catholic church. In his first papal greeting to faithfuls gathered in St. Peter's Square to wait for the white cloud from the chimney, Pope Francis said "Brothers and sisters, good evening; you know that the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. Thank you for the welcome. Good night and have a good rest." Icheoku says what a well coined and well said statement relating to the geography of Argentina which is literally at the bottom of the earth?

The new Pope Francis is the first Latin American to be elected a pope. He is also the first non-European pope in 1,300 years of the Holy Sea and the first to ever take the name Pope Francis. The new Pope described as a Vatican outsider, is a man with long pastoral experience, not steeped in academic. Pope Francis is an Italian-Argentine Latin American which lead one Latin American commentator to say that the Europeans played a fast one on Latin America in choosing a Latino for pope. According to him, in choosing a Latin American pope, they chose "the most European of the Latinos."

Icheoku says whatever be the case, it is progress to see the occupancy of the papacy shift for once to an outsider Vatican, and technically outsider European; admitted that the pope sired from Italian European parents. The virus which started spreading when President Barack Obama was elected the first non traditional white American president has now spread and infected the Holy Sea too and behold, a non traditional non-European is now the Pope. This buttress the saying that if you live long enough, you will witness so many things and with this Icheoku says to Pope Francis, be a good shephard for the 1.2billion catholics and may God help you.