MADIBA, IN MEMORIAM.

 

Icheoku says he made today's reality in South Africa possible, rest in peace Nelson Mandela, Adieu.

GOOD LUCK TO PRESIDENT GOODLUCK, THE OBASANJO LETTER.

Icheoku says this Baba Iyabo must have majored in artful deceit and rewriting of history. If not that Icheoku lived through the two times Obasanjo happened on the national stage as Nigeria's head of State and President, Icheoku would have queried if Obasanjo has an avatar called Obasanjo too who is now pontificating these thoughts. Anyway it is for President Jonathan to threat the letter as he deem fit but Icheoku maintains that Baba Iyabo, with his past antecedents, lacks the moral standing to so advise a sitting Nigerian president on the way forward. Just like Obasanjo recently said of Mandela that people should aspire to emulate his lifestyle when he personally did not, now he is prescribing medicines for the current president which himself never took while in office. 

Hear him, Obasanjo is against Jonathan's second term when himself completed two terms and cavorted a third term which was denied him. Obasanjo advises Jonathan not to go hard against his opponents when the "do or die and never forgive his opponents politics" were just a recent history of Baba Iyabo. Obasanjo complained about releasing Mustapha calling him a MURDERER while he forgot that himself made Omisore the murderer of Bola Ige a senator? Obasanjo complained about obscene rulers opulence and wealth while he never explained to Nigerians how he catapulted from having only 20000Naira in his bank account before his first term in 1999  to now being a multi-billionaire or very close to it? Obasanjo complained that a water project was stopped in Port Harcourt Rivers State but forgot that he shut down Slok airlines, Hallmark bank, Savannah bank, Ibeto cement, halted work on Enugu airport as well as the second River Niger bridge purely due to his "pettiness and unpresidential actions?" Obasanjo complained that President Jonathan should not consider his critics as enemies when Nigerians know how far Obasanjo went to stifle his perceived critics including his own vice president Atiku Abubakar. Needless to mention that Harry Marshall as well as many others were never fortunate to live to tell their stories. 

Finally he talked about Boko Haram and insecurity in the land and how it is not being effectively dealt with or tackled with sledge hammer BUT forgot that Odi and Zaki Ibiam massacres was supervised by him. Concluding, Icheoku does not care a hoot if the house of card that is PDP goes into a free fall BUT suffice it to say that OLUSEGUN OBASANJO is not the person to write as he has written. He lacks every moral  authority to stand in judgment over any Nigerian president including President Jonathan for crying out loud. 

FYI: please the epistle is very long, admitted it has a lot of poor grammar, BUT it is good to patiently read through and be the judge of its merit or lack thereof. It is vintage Baba Iyabo trying to reinvent himself by throwing President Jonathan under the bus. Icheoku says the time is now for the president to stand firm and once and for all consign these old Nigeria nemesis permanently where he belongs alongside his other coup plotters compatriots Babangida, Abubakar and Buhari. Icheoku says all these past military heads of state should, ought and must be contained and confined outside Nigerian democratic onward march as they are not helping matters at all. But surprisingly these three men are still being held in lofty heights by some Nigerians as statesmen when they are the real problem of Nigeria. 

NELSON MANDELA, WHY HE STOOD SO TALL.

Icheoku says of all the many things Nelson Mandela did right to deservedly earn the global encomiums being poured on him following his departure, the one thing that stands miles apart is his spirit of forgiveness. Like Jesus Christ he took pity on his traducers and said to them 'your transgressions are forgiven;' and with that he earned an indelible place in the annals of history. Did he forget what happened, no. Did he like every human-being wish he had taken revenge, Icheoku does not know the answer but suffice it to say that Mandela was very pragmatic and tactical in approaching the issue the way he did. Having calculated that his persecutors were still much entrenched within the then South Africa society and that their backers in the West were trigger-ready to respond to save them in case of any anarchy, he called a truce and strategically disarmed both of them in one fell swoop. Icheoku says the reconciliation was more a calculated strategic necessity than a genuine generosity from a magnanimous heart. However no one can begrudge Madiba's judgment and for being that wise under the circumstances of 1990 South Africa. 

One other lesson from the life of Mandela is that service always triumphs over wealth. He was not a multi millionaire yet world heads of states and governments are lobbying hard to be part of his final and last send-off BUT only ninety were so far shortlisted and approved to attend including four American presidents. He was not the richest African or African former head of government to amass most stupendous wealth, yet four American presidents are en-route Johannesburg to be part of history that will bid farewell to a man that indeed truly lived a fulfilled life. Madiba's life is a teachable lesson that the wealth one accumulated is not as important as the service one rendered to fellow mankind. Just ask yourself, how many once-lived gazillionaires are remembered today compared to men and women of moderate means and chaste, whose lives were tunneled to helping humanity's lot. Think of Jesus, think of Martin Luther King, think of Mahatma Gandhi, think of Mother Teresa and now Nelson Mandela - all these people shared one thing in common:- they refused to accept the evil status-quo and gave it their all to affect a different outcome and succeeded; and thus left the world a better place than they met it. 

So ask yourself today how you would want to be remembered. What kind of legacy do you want to live behind after you are gone? Will it be a person who tagged along just for the juicy life and in order to get along or one who answered or at least attempted to answer the call to change what could be made better. He was described by the United States of America as a giant of humanity; by China as a towering figure born in the African continent and by Brazil as belonging in the pantheon of humanity. Nelson Mandela. like the elephant to the six blind men of Hindu, was so many things to so many people; but above all he was a MAN, a real one indeed.

Remember that Mandela also first freed himself before he was freed by his oppressors and then later re-freed himself one more time. First to effectively mount the freedom campaign for South Africans, Mandela prepared for only two possible outcomes - death or prison; and to do this he divested himself of all his earthly possessions including his wife and children. Once freed from slavery to material possessions, Mandela was finally ready to trek the long treacherous road to and for freedom. Like Jesus said that it will be difficult for a rich man to make the kingdom, it is also always difficult for a man of butter and bread to do the heavy lifting that is fighting for freedom. The threatened always employs every tactics known to man to break resolves including drying the wells that water the fortunes of the vanguard as well as coming full throttle after his wife and children. Mandela was fully aware of this, so he helped make the job easier for the apartheid oppressors by telling them that he didn't care anymore. He was later freed after twenty seven horrendous years stay in a six by six prison cell and then he returned the favor by freeing himself of bitterness and anger by forgiving those who wished him ill. 

Also another lesson learnt from Mandela is that being different is okay because if you blend in then you become invisible and nobody will remember you; as you become an ordinary footnote to be mentioned as an aside instead of the topic or headline for daily discussion. Mandela also thought the world that being principled is a virtue and that you do not have to always agree and be agreeable just for the simple convenience of being acceptable by the society. Finally that one can become the lone hollering wolf in the wildness of a society of compromised lot and let posterity be the judge. Mandela refused to be a company-yes-man and also refused to sellout on his people and for this reason, his people are celebrating the ever fulfilled full life he lived. He stood up for his people and today his people are once again standing up for him as his feet yielded its last strength and cannot sustain his weight any longer and forever. Icheoku wishes that world leaders particularly those within the African continent can imbibe 'Mandelism' in their approach to governance so that they can transmute and become leaders and not just presidents and heads of state. Icheoku prays the lessons of his life will not be lost on present day political leaders or interred with his now transformed body. What a charismatic and enigmatic man that walked this earth. Adieu Madiba.

JONATHAN EXPLODES, CALLS BUHARI AND TINUBU TINY MEN?

Icheoku says surprisingly the often perceived cold, very calculating and silent demeanor of President Jonathan might afterall be masking a steely resolve inside and underneath the presented surface. Icheoku, although not a huge fan, has always wondered why the president does not blow hot and use the powers of his office to OBJ all those critics of his, many of whose criticism often lack foundational basis and are mostly agenda-driven, unfounded, unwarranted, unreasonable and irrational. Icheoku was forced severally in the past to ascribe the president's near-docile attitude in the face of very virulent attacks by certain Nigerians as bothering on timidity; but you wonder how a timid man could possibly have warmed his way right into Aso Rock? Icheoku says it takes a very calculating and deft operator to wriggle his way through and secure a presidency of a any country, including that of Nigeria. Therefore President Jonathan is by no means a timid person and has now shown that he is not intimidated by anyone including Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu presently yoked together in their common unholy marriage pursuant to an Islamic agenda in Nigeria. 

Peradventure, the president's often passive attitude may be a ruse employed to deceive his detractors while providing him a cover for his lion's heart. Now the president has stepped forward to let it be known that he is not afraid of battling anyone including his mentor Baba Iyabo as well as the former military dictator Buhari and his newly found BFF Bola Tinubu. Just listen to the president dismissively consign Buhari and Tinubu into the garbage bin of political irrelevance as little men that should rather be ignored than engaged. In short the president called Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu mere barking Chihuahuas that should be ignored and not acknowledged even by swathing. In the words of the president, "If you listen to those of us who are politicians, from all the political parties, the way we talk, some of us see as if Nigeria is a personal bedroom they have control over. If you read the papers, listen to the radio and television, some of us even see ourselves as if we are tin gods. We intimidate, we threaten, we show hate in our communication. These are not the virtues of great men. They are certainly the vices of tiny men."

Icheoku says the message has been formally communicated by the president and Nigerians now have a fuller understanding that all the fire-spitting antics hitherto employed by Bola Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari were meant to intimidate, threaten and indeed show their hateful nature. Nigerians know which politician has been threatening thunder and brimstone ever since he was three times summarily rejected at the polls by Nigerians and the his co-traveller who has been traversing the land in search of national political relevance and throwing bombs along the way. Icheoku says with this remark, Jonathan has formally put Nigerians on notice that he is not perturbed nor intimidated by the Bola Tinubu and Muhammadu Buhari gang-ups and pretensions within the Nigerian political landscape. Needless to add that the president also called Buhari out for what he is, using his real name - A DICTATOR; and reminded Buhari how he railroaded a lot of Nigerians into prison without cause. The president also used such words as "repressive and oppressive" to truly describe Buhari's first missionary (Islamic) journey into power. The president also dismissed Bola Tinubu as simply "EXTREMELY NOTORIOUS"; stating further that Tinubu is nothing more than a paper weight basking in his notoriety to seek political relevance. 

On a hindsight, Icheoku says it must be because the president considers the duo of Buhari and Tinubu as trivial nuisance that founded his lack of action in going full throttle on them in the fashion of Olusegun Obasanjo who drove all his opposition out and under. Why waste valuable time responding to two men who does not have any credibility left with Nigerians, the president must have concluded. Way to go Jonathan, Icheoku is impressed and millions of other decent Nigerians are too. We are all fired-up and waiting for the fireworks to really begin. Mr President, show them pepper, win that 2015 for the SOUTHERN NIGERIAN GLORY.

NELSON MANDELA, HIS SUN FINALLY SETS AT 95.

Icheoku says what a man he was that walked the face of this earth, a real man indeed. He happened on the stage in South Africa when he was needed most and he stood up to be counted. He never wavered, he never flinched, he never shied away. To the clarion call of who shall free his people, he answered 'here, I am present, use me, send me and forth he went. Convinced in the rightness of the cause and abiding faith in a mission to free his people from the yokes and shackles of apartheid - a very inhumane, oppressive, discriminatory and repressive system of white supremacy government of the minority, he courageously stepped forward, never looked back and never floundered; and despite severe mental anguish and pains of grave bodily harm and injury inflicted on him in an attempt to intimidate him to turn tails, he soldiered on. His reward, a death-blow to apartheid and a free South Africa where the majority now rules.  His name, Nelson Rouhiahilia Mandela, whose demise the whole world especially South Africans mourn today, December 5, 2013. Nelson Mandela was 95 years and died at his home of old age related infirmities. Icheoku says our heart goes out to the people of South Africa who have lost their one and only true leader and a role model to the whole world. 

A member of the Xhosa speaking Thembu tribe, Nelson Rohihlahia Dalibhunga Mandela affectionately called Madiba was born in July 18, 1918 in Umtata. Transkei Region of South Africa. He was thrice married and twice divorced to wives Evelun Mase in 1944, Winnie Madikizela in 1958 and Graca Machel in 1998. He is survived by wife Graca and children.

Nelson Mandela had unflinching love for his people and this cost him dearly - a twenty seven years surcharge from his youthful life. He was focused as he was determined not to lose sight of the big prize - freedom for his people and refused to betray it. He refused to trade his peoples freedom for his personal freedom by refusing to renounce the struggle as a precondition for an early release from prison. For Mandela, the emancipation of his people was more important than his personal freedom and he sacrificed accordingly. Icheoku says if the word "selfless" has a twin, Nelson Mandela definitely fits that and put in another way, "selfless" could be Mandela's other middle name. Icheoku says possibly since Jesus, no man or woman has ever done what Nelson Madiba Mandela did for a people - sacrificed self for the greater glory and lived to celebrate it as their crowned leader  - president. From prison he went straight to the Presidential mansion as president, to God be the glory. 

Nelson Mandela lived like a real man when he looked his traducers in their eyes and said to them 'your cudgels cannot break my resolve' and they did not. They put him through hell, he survived. They cajoled him, he laughed. They punished him, he sang and finally when he had opportunity to take his pound of flesh, he forgave them. Icheoku says this is the type of man William Shakespeare had in mind when he vouchsafed in Julius Caesar through Mark Anthony about Brutus, that this is a man the stars would also attest to. Icheoku agrees and wishes that a Mandela could someday come out of Nigeria to lead the people out of the quagmire and rudderless-ness holding Nigeria down and under. Admitted Abiola's attempted walk on that route was aborted but Abiola was no Mandela as the latter survived the gulag for twenty seven years and later became president while Abiola died or was tea(ed) to death in prison barely four years into his forced sabbatical. Like the Northern Star, Icheoku vouches that Mandela was indeed a spectacular man of whose type there is none other in our firmament. 

Mandela took it severally in the chin, suffered for his people and did not yield to the merciless and concerted effort to break him down. Mandela refused the temptation to trade his personal freedom in exchange for abandoning the cause for a greater freedom for all his people and succeeded. Unlike the biblical Moses, Mandela led his people to the perimeters of the promised land and also entered therein alongside with them. Unlike Martin Luther King, Mandela died peacefully at very ripe old age, of his own accord and not through a violent conspirators' elimination in the hands of his traducers. In short, Madiba came, saw and conquered his whites apartheid oppressors, who only succeeded in making him the larger than life icon he was transformed into. They sent him to Robbin Island prison, a somewhat local political dwarf and he came out a lumbering ten foot global political giant and permanently transmuted into a heroic icon. Like Gandhi, he preached peace and forgiveness to his persecutors. Like Mother Teresa, he showered love and affection bountifully. Like all radicals, he did not and refused to accept what was as is and went on to affect a change; and under his weight of influence, the oppressive white minority apartheid system, like the Berlin Wall, came tumbling down and finally crumbled. Icheoku says a man this huge do not often walk this earth and this generation is fortunate and shall ever remain grateful that Mandela made his stage appearance with them in audience. Icheoku says Nelson Madiba Mandela did his time, left an indelible print on the sand of time and like all mortals, has now departed back to his maker. Hopefully his stage presence was also pleasing in God's eyes and that he earned enough saintly points to be rewarded with eternal life. Icheoku says if Nelson Mandela is a Catholic, he should be made a Saint - a Saint Madiba. 

What else can Icheoku say in this obituary about a man whose mold was destroyed as soon as the creator finished making him. A very unique man indeed with a heart so large and filled with forgiveness; a man whose dignity and charisma made him bigger when he came out of prison than when he went in. A man whose disarming smile and charm offensiveness made his detractors and traducers clinch in agony and friends and admirers clinging to him more. But at last, like all mortals Nelson Mandela is no more, now gone to be with his ancestors in their maker's bosom; but surely the world knew that a man came through this way and in him that was Nelson Mandela.  He is forever immortalized and shall remain in the annals as the icon who looked at his persecutors and said "forgive them for they know not what they did." 

Peradventure the last icon of the world is gone and the world is now left short of one truly honest man with his departure, but Mandela was a man who gave it his all in order to free the all. He got the job done - South Africa is free and now have a majority rule democracy. Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, Icheoku says 'never in the history of South Africa was so much owed by so many to just one man' in the person of Nelson Mandela. Rest in peace Mandela and may the Almighty God reward all your efforts while you lived here on earth, especially in letting racist White people all over the world, particularly those in South Africa to know that we all are God's children. That we all bleed red blood and that we all have needs and wants and also treasure our respective dignities. That irrespective of the shades of our skin colors, whether or not we have different hues and the pigmentation of our skin comes varied, that we share the same humanity and should strive to get along together otherwise Rodney King's plea will go unheeded. Nelson Mandela, Icheoku says adieu great one and may the torch which you lit and passed on in South Africa never quenches. So long Madiba, go in peace.