MULLAH OMAR, THE ONE-EYED LEADER OF TALIBAN IS DEAD.

Icheoku says hopefully Osama Bin Laden who predeceased him will have him welcomed in whatever "paradise with seventy virgins" they might have wherever they are now; and also accord him the hospitality which the now dead leader extended to Osama while he held sway as then henchman in Afghanistan. It is the way of everything alive, there is always time to live and then time to die and now the one-eyed former leader of the Taliban has made his exit from this world.  

The consolation for his followers however seems to be that their leader died of his own accord and was not bombed to smithereens or captured alive or hunted down and executed like Osama Bin Laden followed with a sea burial. But whatever happens, it is one good riddance of a very nauseating pain in the neck for the Western countries being hounded by terrorism as well as the Afghanistan government; except that his successor Mullah Akhtar Mansoor has now vowed to continue their jihad until their brash brand of Islam is imposed on everyone. The implication being that the rest of the world is still mired in a very long haul in the battle against Islamic terrorism and only a staying power will see us all through. Anyway, may the restless soul of the late Taliban leader now rest or continue with his jihad wherever he finds himself in the land of the dead and buried. 

CECIL THE LION WHACKED BY ANIMAL-HATING DENTIST, WALTER PALMER.

Icheoku says what a bloody dentist this man is that would spend $55,000 just to take the life of a beloved African lion named Cecil. Meanwhile people are dying of starvation everywhere including in America, but he is simply too selfish and mean to care!!!

WALTER PALMER DDS, THE AMERICAN REPROBATE WHO KILLED CECIL THE LION.

Icheoku says the Minnesota dentist, Walter Palmer, who would rather pay to take life than to save life, paid a whopping $55,000.00 just to snuff the life out of a world famous and adorable lion with the black mane named Cecil in the African country of Zimbabwe. Icheoku queries how sadistic is this man who would do this bloodletting and paid for the right to carry out the gory orgy. Only a wacko drives joy in seeing any life taken, regardless whether a protected human life or in this case, the life of a majestic king of the jungle, whose pride has now been left without a head. Worse still, he and his gang of despicable trio, laid in wait, lured the lion out from its sanctuary and killed it just to satisfy their penchant for gaming wild animals. 

Icheoku asks why would this dentist prefer animals dead than alive if not that he is a bloody jackal and you wonder how many unnecessary root canals he had recommended and performed just to continue to be able to afford his weird habit of gunning down wild animals just for the fun of it. Icheoku says regardless, if this man is my dentist, Icheoku will walk in protest and could not imagine what drives this kind of ruthless fascination to just kill such majestic animals for fun instead of paying for their conservation. This man could have done a whole lot of good with the $55,000.00 helping the needy and helpless of society, but he did not. His selfishness confined him into just satiating his bloody past-time and for a hefty amount that would have bettered the lives of so many needy Americans, many of whom will be sleeping under the overpass tonight and some on empty stomachs too. Icheoku hereby calls for the boycott of and a continued protest at his dental practice until he makes a full mea culpa with an amount in excess of what he paid to kill Cecil also paid by him into some conservation efforts or to some Wild Life protection Fund. Walter Palmer DDS, Icheoku says stop killing wild animals so that posterity would have something for the children and the unborn to someday look at.

POLLARD THE AMERICAN TRAITOR AND ISRAELI SPY, WALKS A FREE MAN.

Icheoku says Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier are still languishing in prison while a traitor who took up arms against his own country, compromising its national security, is let go; released to pacify and appease an irate Israel still smacking their mouth over the reached Iranian nuclear deal. A capitulation or appeasement or sucking up to make up for the Iranian deal of some sort, one might argue? Icheoku says in the same vein, the Obama administration should similarly release Mumia as well as Peltier as what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. 

Icheoku has nothing against the release of Jonathan Pollard as a lot of wheeling and dealing goes into international diplomacy and politics; but takes umbrage in the continued detention of Mumia Abu-Jamal who has been behind bars since his 1982 conviction for the murder of a Philadelphia policeman Faulkner as well as Leonard Peltier who is serving two consecutive life sentences for the 1977 Pine Ridge Indian Reservation murders of two FBI agents. Icheoku maintains that both of these men have served enough time for their alleged crimes and should therefore be similarly granted clemency too. So as the family of Jonathan Pollard celebrates this year's Thanksgiving for a real Thanksgiving gift of his release, Icheoku hopes that someday the families of Mumia and Leonard will similarly celebrate following their own release. Icheoku is hopeful too that just like the government did not oppose Jonathan Pollard's parole this time, they will similarly not be on the way when similar parole hearing is due and granted the duo here mentioned. Let freedom ring and it now rings for Jonathan Pollard.

BILL COSBY SHOULD BE SMART ABOUT IT, KEN LAY HIMSELF NOW.

Icheoku says there is no need waiting for the inevitable, the impending wiping out of his fortune, which hefty jury awards to the hordes of women bringing law suits against him, will bring about. A smart and calculating Bill Cosby will save himself and family that added misfortune by seizing the bull by its horn and making an audacious exit now. He has lived and enjoyed life well and long enough that exiting now will not be too much of an asking. He should seriously consider this option in order to leave a benevolent purse behind for his ever supportive wife and family; and in order not to let those who have succeeded in destroying him also get an upper hand over his fortune. 

Like late Enron's Ken Lay, Bill Cosby can put an end to all his current lingering women-troubles by quickly inducing himself to sleep from which he never wakes up again. Icheoku therefore urges Bill Cosby to man up, be of great courage or cowardice as some will term it, save whatever face is left of him and take the exit ramp off this world and do it now. Icheoku says lingering around any further can only spell doom to him, his family and fortune; as many more women, embolden by the current development in his past perverted sexual dalliances drama, will show up with law suits to try and collect their own share of whatever remains of his fortune as damages. Icheoku further opines that it is most likely that a sympathetic jury will graciously indulge these women and bountifully too. These potential jurors are part of the greater society which is appalled at what have so far dripped out from the Bill Cosby sexual perversion saga and which society have concluded that Bill Cosby has to pay a price for his unlawful indiscretions. Icheoku says, Bill Cosby, end this your problem now, just do it. 

50 CENTS NOW 10 CENTS, NEEDS PROTECTION FROM PREDATORS?

Icheoku says the world has not heard the last of the lifestyle of the "rich and famous" as Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cents, told an astonished bankruptcy court that his bling bling lifestyle is a mere optical illusion, a complete fantasy. During his bankruptcy proceeding, Fif-tie testified that he makes only ten cents on each record sold and that all the jewels and flashy cars he flashes go back to their dealers once the promotional event is over. That in actuality, he is not worth anything near the projections being made about his riches. According to Fif-tie, 'one gets a bullseye painted on one's back once one becomes rich and successful, as so many people wants a slice off the cake. But unfortunately, he is not that rich and therefore needs protection of the court in order to survive. 

50 Cents is worth a mere 4.4 million dollars, including 380 million cents he made from record sales; a total far cry from the estimated 155 million dollars net-worth ascribed to him by Forbes Magazine. Icheoku says this is mostly true in life, as many people who people envy and wish they are or could be like, often have it tougher than could be imagined. Ditto with people supposedly having a marital bliss but who behind closed doors, are in a living hell. Most times is all about putting up appearance of the Jones and nothing more. So today, learn to curb your enthusiasm and also how to make do with what you have. Learn to be happily fulfilled within you ways and means as contentment is the key. To 50 Cents, Icheoku says then please tone it down and live within your means; learn to live a life of moderation and stop all these flashy, flashy, bam, bam, unsupported lifestyle if you cannot afford to pay claims and damages against you. Keep it real and say no to fakery.

'I WILL LIGHT YOU UP' AND SANDRA BLAND IS DEAD, BLACK LIVES DON'T MATTER?

Icheoku says apparently tired of killing brothers, it is now time to face down sisters and put them down too; in their unspoken word, exemplified by their actions, that black lives don't matter. White police officers of America killing black people and now in Texas, the official capital punishment headquarters of America, where their Huntsville death chambers never stops churning, with smell of death by lethal injection ever hanging in the air. Admitted, the saying "don't mess with Texan" should normally put everyone and anyone coming in contact with any Texan on notice, but unfortunately Sandra Bland, a transplant from Illinois, seemingly was not informed ahead of time of this standing rule and she paid dearly with her life. Icheoku does not care whether it was suicide as they claimed (was it voluntary); but was she suicidal before the officer bundled her into detention or did she suddenly develop the flavor to take her own life while in the custody of Texas Sheriff? 

Icheoku is not here to solve the death mystery of Ms Sandra Bland but only to add voice to the cries of the continuing death in the hands of white police officers of black people in America. A beautiful lady who was stopped for not signaling a lane change, was handed a written warning and instead for the officer to walk back to his patrol car and end of story, observed that Ms Bland seemed irritated? The very intrusive officer, who apparently is engrossed in his power and feeling on top of the world, then went further to ask a person within her own space, right inside her own car, smoking a cigarette, to put out her cigarette? Icheoku says if the officer was not comfortable with second-hand smoking, inhaling her cigarette smoke, why did he not space out from her and just move away and back to his patrol vehicle afterall he has already finished the reason for pulling her over and should have left her to be and alone. But of course nope, she was black and the white officer felt he can have his way with her, however he chooses. He ordered her out of her vehicle with threat to light her up, she complied. He ordered her to move to the curbside, she complied. He ordered her to put down her phone, she compiled. Yet he still went ahead to put handcuffs on her and succeeded in provoking her enough and to the extent that made her to lose her minds and allegedly "kicked and punched the officer?" So query, since when did smoking in one's own vehicle become an offense? As far as Icheoku is concerned, the officer escalated the situation by not walking away and back to his patrol vehicle after the reason for initially stopping her was completed with the written warning which he issued her, period. 

Icheoku says any person in that lady's position, especially a black person, with the racial prejudicial records of white police officers against black people in America, including needlessly often stopping them in traffic, will be equally horn-mad angry, thus eliciting the altercation which took place. A clear case of a white police man feeling all powerful and out to confirm their race's usual stereotyping of the black person as very angry. What was his business inquiring if someone he just stopped and issued a written warning was irritated or did he expect her to be joyous? What was his business asking someone, who was minding her own business trying to contain her emotion with smoking a cigarette and in her own vehicle, her own very space, to put the cigarette out?  Why did the officer linger on after his duty was discharged and not move back to his patrol vehicle if not to goad her into additional trouble? Why did the officer not let her remain in her vehicle until a backup arrives? Icheoku is emphatic that the white police officer unduly overreached himself by continuing to irritate the lady with his nonsensical questions long after completing his reason for her stop and therefore forced the issue leading to the subsequent arrest. Icheoku is curious whether this officer expected her not to blow her fuse under the circumstance or who wouldn't?  It simply does not make sense but adds to the ongoing cat and mouse game that is white police officers and black people's relationship in America. 

Now she is dead and someone says she killed herself by hanging right inside the police cell? Icheoku is not buying this story neither is Icheoku stating the obvious; but warns that everyone and anyone messes with a Texan at his or her own peril. Icheoku says Texas scares the shitload out of many including Icheoku and is one of those flyover states for Icheoku as there is no need tempting faith being there. It was in the same Texas that two white men, sometime ago, hog-tied a black man behind their pickup hitch and dragged him through rural roads until he completely disintegrated. Yes, Texas is a scary place to be a blackman and now a black woman who was threatened with being lighted up ends up being lighted out, her lights permanently put out. White police officer Brian Encina, a rookie, eager to throw his weight around and over a black person, arrested a black lady for alleged "assault on a public servant". An assault which he personally provoked and now the lady is dead; committed suicide in a police holding cell after three days of being held without charging her to court? Icheoku says who is fooling who and whose version of the story should America believe; except that there is now only one version as the lady is dead and gone forever? RIP Sandra Bland.

PRESIDENT BUHARI'S WASHINGTON VISIT, ECLIPSED BY OTHER WORLD EVENTS.

Icheoku says on a day that would have been his to shine, the constellations conspired to simultaneously throw up so many other world events, more important than just a visiting black African president. That was the fate of President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria on a private visit to President Barack Obama of the United States of America. Except for the photo-ups and passive mention of it in the media, nobody outside the Nigerian community knew that a President of Nigeria named Muhammadu Buhari is in America visiting the White House. 

Icheoku states that despite what his management team would like for Nigerians back home to believe was an historic visit to the White House, it passed as a none event overall; as a near total media blackout of the event made many Americans ignorant of the visit, not that they cared anyway nor would care, regardless. Icheoku monitored the three major Networks - NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, ABC World Evening News with David Muir as well as Cables CNN, FOX and MSNBC to gauge the Americans interest in the President Muhammadu Buhari's visit to President Barack Obama and it was close to zilch. It did not make any headline, nor any extended coverage nor narrative either. 

But it is understandable as the visit is not a state visit but a private visit to President Barack Obama. Moreso, Nigeria is such a gravely damaged country which nobody is interested in, that it is going to take a miracle worker to burnish its image to the point that these heavily prejudiced White people with their crass racism, will start paying attention to it and what is happening therein. One Buhari personal visit to Barack ain't gonna cut it as the country's image is in the deep sewer and will need more than a mere laundry to make it shine again. Icheoku agrees that it is not President Muhammadu Buhari's fault, admitted the onus is now on him to try and repair the broken humpty-dumpty to whatever extent possible. But a very daunting task it is really indeed and one Buhari cannot and will not get it accomplished. It took a long time to get where it is and it will take a longer time to get it out. 

Icheoku says the PMB visit to Washington could not have happened at a worse time than when so many events, more attention-grabbing and of historical nature, are taking place simultaneously both in Washington DC and around the world. First, Cuba just flag-mounted in Washington DC, an American soil; re-opening their embassy for the first time since the 1961 diplomatic freeze between the two countries. Second, Islamic terrorists ISIS inspired and organized bombing attack in Turkey killed so many Turkish people and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed a punishing reiteration. Third, Iranian Nuclear Deal with the West was approved by the United Nations Security Council and Fourth, the economically-challenged and comatose Greece just reopened their banks.  All these left the whole watching world giddy with expectation on how all these unravelling events will eventually pan out. 

Now, this is the time President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting the White House and somebody please tell Icheoku that any serious news editor will assign more coverage to it or additional correspondents to the White House to cover such a visit in lieu of all these other developing wild-fire stories. Then add the racist pig Donald Trump's thumping of Senator John McCain's war hero status plus the Highway 10 viaduct linking Arizona and California that collapsed and you have a perfect storm against PMB's visit to Washington. 

But regardless, it was good that President Muhammadu Buhari was invited to visit like every other newly elected president of Nigeria usually is. The usual unspoken purpose, to read the riot act of his dos and don'ts and the expectations of the American government of his administration. Icheoku says to that extent of conforming to this somewhat established tradition of the American government inviting newly elected Nigerian leaders to the White House, the visit was mission accomplished; but there is nothing more to gloat about with President Muhammadu Buhari being invited to the White House. It is normal and to an extent routine and ordinary; so Nigerians, especially those Buharists and APC rabble rousers should not needlessly disturb the peace of Nigerians that PMB went to America, invited by President Barack Hussein Obama.  

Icheoku says the only two things that stood out from their Oval Office meeting were President Obama assuring that America is ready to discuss "how we can be helpful in addressing the issues that have held Nigeria down"; and President Muhammadu Buhari's saying that "we (Nigeria) will forever be grateful" for America's meddling in Nigeria's election. Anyway, Icheoku wishes President Muhammadu Buhari and his delegation a peaceful stay while their visit lasts and a safe flight back home to go start the heavy lifting that governance is and without any further delay or more ado. Goodluck and all the best to Team Buhari.

CHIBOK GIRLS, HAVE THEY BEEN BROUGHT BACK YET?

Icheoku says in the world of wheeling and dealing political shifting chairs, once an objective is realized, it is move on to the next agenda. Their whole objective, the Bring Back 'Their' Girls motley crew, is to get rid of President Goodluck Jonathan. Now that their wish have come through, their placards are all down and securely tucked away, out of sight and out of mind likewise the fate of those allegedly kidnapped school girls. Icheoku queries, are these placards and all the protestations down because the Chibok School Girls been found and brought back to their parents?

THE GREEK BAILOUT FUND, A GREEK GIFT?

Icheoku says what an irony of fate that the Greeks who are customarily used to giving others questionable gifts with hidden trip-wires inside them, the proverbial Greek Trojan Gift, are the ones now at the receiving end of such spiked gift? Talk about paying someone in his very own coin as the European creditors just did that with the release of conditionalities-laden Greek's bailout funds of $94billion; which probably will do the opposite and instead of bailing the Greeks out will sink them deeper into irrecoverable economic quagmire. Icheoku says by providing this additional bailout, the third one in a row, it appears those European creditors have only succeeded in postponing the Greek day of reckoning just for one more last time? 

The Greeks did not account for what they were previously given and there is no guarantee this time that they will make judicious use of this tranche by using it to turn around their economy and quit being an Oliver Twist with hands always stretched out in a beggarly fashion. Icheoku is not a seer but makes a projection that it will surely come back full circle when the present tranche is up and due for repayment and the Europeans will still find an insolvent Greece which rather than pay what it owes, will still be begging for another bailout. Before that time comes, the acute austerity terms of the latest bailout package would have forced the Greeks through the haranguing gates of hell, from which many of them might not return again leaving a Greece that cannot be self sustaining any longer, never again, ever. So what will happen when this day comes  and things come to a head with a Greece still unable to repay what it borrowed and still asking for some more borrowing? Will Europe still accommodate them or show tough love and let Greece fail or fall out of European Union? Icheoku does not know the answer but time will tell. 

Icheoku's says like the Greeks, there is palpable fear that Nigeria is also headed the bailout highway to hell. A fear made more eerie because the bitter potion these creditors will particularly brew for Nigeria will make that of the Greeks taste like a rose champagne. If Nigerians think that Ibrahim Babangida's SAP's conditionalities were harsh, they should wait until President Muhammadu Buhari goes cap in hand to these Western creditors for money. Then he will appreciate what it means to make someone really horn-mad and then want the raving mad person to help him out with some funds? When this time comes, a person like IMF Christine Laggard for example, will have the opportunity to really tell him how bitter she is that she cannot bring her partner on trips to Nigeria for fear of prosecution? Needless to add that gay heavy weights like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Elton John might bring their influence to bear on denying a gay-hating country Nigeria any financial bailout unless they reverse their anti-gay marriage law? 

That so many other financial institutions that would be called upon to contribute to whatever bailout Nigeria might need is in the firm control of LGBT or their protected interest will not bode well for a Nigeria in need of cash life line. Most likely, they will seize the opportunity to remind President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria's anti-gay marriage law is still on their books as the law of their land. Icheoku is certain that any conditionality the West will give Nigeria will most definitely include reversing the anti-gay marriage law. So if Nigeria does not want to reverse this law, they should find a way to stay out of seeking financial bailout from these international lenders particularly those in Western gay-friendly countries; because they will be made to either swallow their vomit or take a hike. If these Western countries could be this harsh to fellow Europeans, the Greeks, with vaulted gay acceptance, imagine what they will do to black anti-gay country Nigeria? But until then, Icheoku asks the Greeks, what has become of you that you cannot manage your economy and turn it around? Please remember that he who goes a-borrowing always goes a-sorrowing and that a beggar  usually has no choice. Therefore, you need to do the needful and quickly get back on your feet and save your face, otherwise the humiliation will only get worse.

PRESIDENT BUHARI GOES TO WASHINGTON, NO GAY NIGERIAN IN HIS DELEGATION?

Icheoku says with cap in hand and a lengthy wish list in tow, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari jets out to Washington DC at the invitation of American President Barack Obama on Monday July 20, 2015 for a three day summit with the American government. After listening through President Muhammadu Buhari's lengthy beggarly sermons of what he would like the Americans to help him achieve for Nigerians, atypical Americans will then like to know what is in it for them? What are they getting for all the things they will do for PMB and his Nigeria? What is the bargain for consideration? 

Oil is becoming an unwanted polluting thing of yesterday which nobody, including the Americans, wants any longer? There is no regional conflict affecting America's interest within the West African sub-Saharan region to ask for Nigeria's help? Sending Nigerian soldiers to help out with ISIS in Middle East is not an option either since Nigeria is inundated with their own fight against Boko Haram? So Icheoku asks what would be the bargain or consideration to induce the Americans to act on what PMB brings along to Washington DC? That then leaves only one possible thing, one thing only that the Americans most probably would ask of the Muhammadu Buhari's government as a quid pro quo for any help and assistance they will render to Nigeria. It is a king's ransom and it is going to be like the Greece bailout term - take it or leave it. It is the reversal of Nigeria's anti-gay marriage law. Icheoku says this is the billion dollar trade America will ask of President Muhammadu Buhari in exchange of their assistance. Icheoku is emphatic that the successful outcome of this trip to Washington will be literally SOLELY predicated on his acceptance of gays right to freely  mix and mingle and of course marry in Nigeria without more, period.

Unfortunately it will be a near impossible undertaking for PMB to accept to take, judging by the near universal cultural rejection of sodomy throughout Nigeria diverse ethnic groupings. But a proactively thinking PMB should have seen this request or rather demand coming and adequately prepared for it. At least have a response that will give the Americans some assurance that all their hope of pushing a gay agenda in Nigeria are not entirely lost. PMB would do this convincingly by at least adding a gay Nigerian as a member of his delegation to Washington DC, even if it means finding someone acting gay to fill the role and present the image that gays are not yet extinct in Nigeria. A person who would assure the Americans that things are being done to reverse the anti-gay law in Nigeria, using himself being in the delegation as a testament that PMB is not entirely personally conflicted with the idea of men doing men etc.  A role which the Senate President Saraki would have been well suited to play if the rumor is true that he likes little boys; except that the president is still keeping him in the cold? Thereafter, PMB will personally give his words that where the law could not be reversed because of cultural peculiarities of Nigerians, his government will not enforce the law in the same manner the Obama administration refused to enforce the DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) but did not expressly reverse it. 

This is the name of the game and this is how it is played played in international wheeling and dealing as every nation wants to mile every relationship exchanges. It is diplomacy 101 and nations earn their peeps through tough bargains as there is no sympathy in the juggle of world economy; only respectfully earned and  deserved returns are permitted. So if PMB is seriously desirous and in need of assistance from the Americans, he must be prepared to show the Americans the proverbial money. Like the American will say, 'show me the money;' only that in this instant it will be 'show me the reversed anti-gay marriage law in Nigeria.  Anyway, Icheoku wishes the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's delegation to Washington DC a safe and successful trip. May their lips not quiver faced with the Americans and may they only say what the Americans want to hear and in return bring back all the goodies from Washington DC as Nigeria could use quite a lot of them. God's speed. Salute.

CHATTANOOGA SHOOTINGS, ANOTHER ISLAMIC TERRORIST STRIKES AMERICA?

Icheoku says how does one fight an embedded enemy within or should America now be forced to adopt racist pig Donald Trump's solution and like 'all those no do good Mexicans', similarly deport every Muslim in America back to the Middle East and wherever the heck they came from? Unfortunately, these Muslims are in their millions and effectively deporting them will be an unattainable task despite what Donald Trump wants anyone to believe; otherwise Donald Trump might see his wish come through this time around with the Muslim induced terror in Tennessee? But acting the devil's advocate, Icheoku queries, if these Muslims are to be deported to their Muslim enclaves of origin, how about those white people who nurture domestic terrorism or who have similarly terrorized Americans? Would they be equally deported to wherever the heck they came from in order to stop them from carrying out any future acts of terrorism? 

Anyway, it is rather very unfortunate that a guy who literally grew up in the United States of America, having migrated to America with his parents and three sisters when he was very young; attended high school and university in America where he obtained an electrical engineering degree could now turn into a domestic terrorist of the worst kind. But indoctrination is a very powerful aphrodisiac and once immersed in, the end always turns out to be very disastrous. That this killer was a Muslim did not help matters as it furthers the narrative and stereotyping; otherwise a bad person is a bad person regardless of religion or color of their skin. The killer left two memorable quotes:- "My name causes National Security alerts, what does yours do?"  and "Life is short and bitter." Icheoku says regrettably he acted out the alert which his name triggers and at 24 years old, he lived a very short and now apparently bitter life too. What a jerk.

Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24, a naturalized American of Jordanian origin killed four Marines, wounded three other persons before losing his own life in the process in Chattanooga Tennessee. Another gun violence incident of domestic terrorism on American soil, but this time with Islamic fervor; and begging the question, any solution at sight? As far as Icheoku is concerned, until NRA becomes more rational and decides to do something about the easy availability of guns in America, these senseless shootings will never end. Until then, the killing field that is America will continue to gobble her citizens, thanks to plentiful cuckoos and easy access to weapons. Today these four Marines are gone, victims of another senseless killings by another deranged American who happened to be also a Muslim; thus leaving Icheoku channeling Donald Trump whether the Muslim world is equally exporting or rather dumping their lowest of the lows and worst of the worse on America, just like  Mexico who need to be deported. May their souls rest in peace.

BILL COSBY IS A PERV, A RAPIST - OBAMA?

Icheoku agrees with the President and rephrases, 'if you spike a woman's drink in order to override her lucidity to  make an informed consent and you have your way with her, that is a prohibited rape defined; thus making you a rapist. If this becomes a pattern of behavior, occurring on more than one occasion, then you are a serial rapist. Should the woman succumb to the overwhelming influence of the date-rape adulterated drink and dies as a result of ingesting same, you could be charged for murder, having poisoned her. In the words of President Barack Obama, "If you give a woman — or a man, for that matter — without his or her knowledge a drug and then have sex with that person without consent; that's rape." This, thus makes Bill Cosby not only a criminal rapist but a serial rapist for that matter, admitted no formal conviction of him was recorded in any of these allegations but for his own personal admission in a deposition to the criminal act/s. A sex offender like Bill Cosby deserves no mercy and should be shown none.

Regrettably many of us came to the defense of Bill Cosby when these allegations were initially unfolding, thinking he was merely being victimized by some fortune-hunting women. But based on now available information including Bill Cosby's own personal admission of guilt in spiking women's drinks in order to have sex with them, Icheoku hereby apologize for defending an indefensible crime. Like many others who were then similarly positioned, Icheoku was mislead by the once father of America into previously believing in his innocence. But now that his guilt has been established by admission, Icheoku, reechoing the words of President Obama says that this country or any other civilized country should have no tolerance for rape. 

If only the Statute of Limitation have not ran on these offenses, may be a life behind bars would have been a prescribed medicine for his ailment. What a pervert this man is that conned millions into believing he had character and Icheoku wonders what his "dutiful" wife is still waiting for hanging around such demon-possessed sex maniac. Icheoku hereby adds his voice to the growing calls that every honor ever bestowed on Bill Cosby including the Presidential Medal of Freedom should be revoked as what supposedly earned them was never there in the first place. His character sucks and his existence should be better filed away in a cobwebbed cold underground basement somewhere very distant. What a fall from grace into the sewer; and all along, he lied barefacedly that he was innocent while these women were out to get him.

NUCLEAR DEAL AGREEMENT, AN IRANIAN VICTORY?

Icheoku says a sure psychological victory for Iran, having held out for such a long time of two years plus, with several extensions and still came out with most of their positions in tact? From demanding that Iran "eliminate" all nuclear activities to now accepting that Iran can "limit" their nuclear activities. This is what earning one's feathers really looks like as many other similarly situated countries would have since capitulated and surrendered. But Iran, faced down by all the world powers, did not cave in to fear, or intimidation or threats; they did not capitulate but maintained their grounds till the very end and got an outcome of their choosing, one might argue? They earned some respect, exactly what any country entitled to their sovereignty needs, but not sympathy. 

For assenting to this agreement and coming out unbloodied, Icheoku congratulates the Islamic Republic of Iran for finally turning the corner in their effort to mend relationship with the West. President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry led negotiation team also earned Icheoku's commendations for patiently putting up with Iranian constantly shifting of the goalposts and accommodating all the curve-balls thrown their way by pro-Israeli groups to derail the negotiation, including aborting it entirely. Icheoku alongside the entire excited world hopes that a new chapter has been opened with this nuclear deal between Washington DC and Tehran; geared towards finally reestablishing diplomatic relationship between the two countries. If not, why not; as this will help heal old wounds as well as help damper the so many hot spots around the Middle East and the Arabian peninsular. Icheoku says congratulations to all the parties that midwifed the deal to   fruition. Well done for a job well done and the deal is done and finally here. What a relief.

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI DOUBLES DOWN, GIVES NDIGBO MIDDLE FINGER?

Icheoku says fifteen appointments so far, yet none for Ndigbo, as no onye-Igbo (person) in the eyes of President Muhammadu Buhari is qualified enough to make his cut thus far? A people who constitute more than 1/3 of the country's population, being marginalized so blatantly in this manner, thus begging the question are Ndigbo still part of Nigeria or are they still in the dog house as a result of the supposedly 'no victor no vanquished' Biafra war of forty years ago? This is the president who said that he is president of everybody and for everybody; except that his actions so far seem to suggest that his 'everybody' excludes some people who in his eyes still remain suspect and not Nigerian enough nor worthy to be trusted with core appointments? 

As if tone-deaf to all the cries of marginalization and concentrating of all his appointments so far made in the North, President Muhammadu Buhari announced the appointment of six military and security chiefs with four of them from the North, one from the Yoruba Southwest and one from Ibibio South-south leaving the entire Ndigbo of Southeast with no appointee? Defense chief Olonishakin is Ekiti Southwest; army chief Buratai is Borno Northeast; Navy chief Ekwe-Ibas is Cross River Southsouth; Airforce chief Abubakar Dauda is Bauchi Northeast; Defense Intelligence chief Riku is Benue Northcentral and Security adviser is Borno Northeast. Three Northeasterners without even a single Southeasterner? This is the same pattern they did during states creation, giving Northwest seven states while Southeast was pegged at five. Icheoku asks has Ndigbo's fate in Nigeria so degenerated to such lowly level of nothingness that even Ibibios are now considered more important for appointments than Ndigbo? 

It is possible that this president is clueless about the tripod on which Nigeria used to rest upon or he does not really give a damn about what anyone thinks or could care less if an entire one third of the country's populace are left out in the cold of his government, holding the plate. Fifteen appointments, eleven from the North, two from the Southwest, one from the Southsouth but none from the Southeast? Icheoku asks where are Igbo leaders of thought, especially Oha na Eze Ndigbo on this or are they waiting until it is too late to start their protestation for inclusion in their own very Nigerian government. It is high time Ndigbo started re-articulating their politics and alliances in Nigeria if they are to still matter and in order to remain somewhat relevant. Imagine the entire ethnic group which make up more than one third of the country's population being so relegated to the background in the affairs of the land that even Ibibios are now considered far more important to and above them? Needless to add that an Ijaw minority was first considered and allowed a five year stint at the presidency before an Igbo person. 

May be it is about time Ndigbo drops their buying and selling hustling for more political activism and participation; and instead of making the pure-water money they are currently getting from their shops, learn how to plug into the hard currency machine that have made hard currency billionaires out of so many Northerners and Westerners alike that they can buy and command such enormous power and influence in policy-making decisions in Nigeria. Icheoku asks how much spare parts does an Igbo man hustling at Nkwo Nnewi or Idumota market needs to sell in one year to be able to make the same amount of money a Kano oil-well owner makes just within only twenty four hours? Or a Miyetti Allah who owns thousands of heads of cattle grazing freely on Ndigbo soil at 265,000 Naira each makes after selling the same cattle to Ndigbo during Christmas for example? If these cattle are grazed in the Southeast Igboland and sold to Ndigbo, why can't Ndigbo start their own cattle rearing operation and save for themselves all these money they are pouring into some Alhaji's pocket somewhere in Kaura Namoda? 

It is just a radical thinking forced on some militating circumstances and this is what can truly and competitively reposition Ndigbo in Nigeria and not all these hustling in Alaba or Idumagbo or wherever the heck the trading is going on, who cares even if it is in Mars? Icheoku does not know about you but this shabby fifth class citizen treatment being meted to Ndigbo in Nigeria is driving someone crazy here; yet Ndigbo are supposedly bona fides Nigerian citizens? It is becoming too shameful that fellow citizens of a country are treating fellow citizens as unequals, while still claiming that Nigeria is one? Icheoku recalls the genocidal Yakubu Gowon claimed he waged his atrocious war against Biafra in order to keep Nigeria one and you ask as what type of one? An Animal Farm type one or what? After the loss of the war, Icheoku has been a huge advocate of one Nigeria; but if these people don't want Ndigbo in Nigeria they should simply let them go but must stop all these disparate treatment of Ndigbo in the affairs of Nigeria. 

Icheoku says all these their attitudinal "we don't want you, we don't like you, we hate you, we detest you" which they manifest in everything they do and that goes on in Nigeria, especially on issues of positions and authority in Nigeria, must STOP. Indeed the Biafra war is apparently still going on, admitted in a cold fashion; otherwise how can anyone explain the President Muhammadu Buhari's FIFTEEN appointments so far that actively excluded the entire Ndigbo? Therefore, it might be a good hedging of bet if Ndigbo started seriously thinking home and start fixing their homeland just in case the inevitable happens someday down the road. But Icheoku says all these "you don't count, you don't matter in Nigeria" must stop and stop, it should and NOW. Whats going on Ndigbo or is no one putting his or her thinking cap?

MAJOR GENERAL TUKUR YUSUF BURATAI, A GOOD CHOICE TO LEAD THE ARMY.

Icheoku says President Muhammadu Buhari got it right with the appointment of Major General TY Buratai as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS). A man with his resume` is what the Nigerian army needs at this infamous juncture in the war against Boko Haram. He did it in Niger Delta and Insha Allah will do it again in Northeastern Nigeria infested Boko Haram hotbed. This is exactly what putting a round peg in a round hole looks like; a perfect fit for an army fighting a fight of their life against an amorphous insurgency that seems to have the proverbial cat's nine lives. He is a solder and he will fight to win the war, no politics. For so long have Nigerians heard about a Boko Haram that is on the throes of their last life and for that many times have they miraculously rose from their ashes, become more invigorated and more devastating a fighting force. But finally this pick will seal their fate and whatever happens thence from will be the true testament as to the correct position of things in the war effort against Boko Haram. 

Icheoku is not a fan of President Muhammadu Buhari and has neither repented; but gives him every prop for making this very appointment because TY (not the Danjuma's) will get the job done this time. Icheoku had previously lamented that a political army or rather a politicized army or one with an agenda has been in charge with confronting Boko Haram all these years since the inception of the insurgency; except for the little window when General Ihejirika was put in charge until his thoughtless firing by President Goodluck Jonathan just because Governor Nyako demanded it? But with this particular appointment, a soldiers' soldier has been put in charge of soldiers and Nigerians will now witness how wars are fought battle by battle until it is finally won and conclusively shall it be won under Major General Buratai, what a name! Two good factors working in this guy's favor are the two languages which he speaks - the local language of Kanuri, being the majority of Boko Haram recruitment and catchment area language and secondary, the language of violence and he dishes it out in quantum and not in half measure. 

Icheoku says a soldier has only one job - to destroy. They are not nation builders nor mother Theresas and this is how Icheoku would like the Nigerian war effort against Boko Haram insurgency repositioned. There should be only one option for these marauders, surrender or be destroyed and not even war prisoners should be entertained this time, not any longer. Enough of this banditry and hostage taking of Northeastern Nigeria by these bunch of heartless killers who are even killing Muslims right inside mosques; yet they claim to be Muslims? 

Icheoku is very optimistic that Major General TY Buratai is the man to do the job and he will do it excellently well. He should  probably start by declaring every part of Northeast a war zone and ban all media coverage of the area until the house is totally and completely cleaned of these imbeciles. General TY is not a political soldier like some of these potbelly soldiers of the past whose hands were tied by interests and could not get the job done. He is a man with proven ability and whose credentials of being 'a can do it 'guy speaks volume. A Kanuri from Borno state, he was the commander of the Boko Haram multinational joint task force headquartered in Ndjamena, Chad before his appointment. He once served as commander of Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade, Port Harcourt with direct supervision over the Joint Task Force fighting Niger Delta insurgence.  He was once  the commander of Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State. He has two master’s degrees – one in history and onein philosophy. So he can think and he can fight; a good asset.

Icheoku also commends the appointment of the new National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and says a would be chief security officer of Nigeria with his vast experience in intelligence matters is a sure good fit for the job. A retired Major General, also a Kanuri from Borno state, Babagana (not the Kingibe's) held several command and staff appointments including during his service years including: commander, Guards Brigade; deputy commandant, National Defence College; chief of defence intelligence; chief of defence logistics; and commander, Training and Doctrine Command. He is an architect. Icheoku says a security adviser should be someone knowledgeable with gathering intelligence and this guy comes highly qualified; unlike the other guy whom Jonathan picked simply because he is from a royal family without more.

In summation therefore, Icheoku commends this two particular appointments as well made. President Muhammadu Buhari got both right and very right indeed. Icheoku says if any two good heads can liberate Nigerians from the scourge of Boko Haram and put a final full stop to their madness as well as contain other insecurities in the country, these two fine officers will get the job done. They can and they will and their credentials attest to this affirmation. Both men are from Borno State, the epicenter of Boko Haramism and would not tolerate any further desecration  of their land by these jackals. Both also speak the native language of Kanuri as well as the language of violence. Both are Army Generals and cannot afford to turn tails, fleeing before these reckless criminals and murderers and on their very own turf - they own the land and not these Boko Haram munchkins. Therefore President Muhammadu Buhari has by this very unique appointments, given Nigerians reason to hope again and that in the war against Boko Haram, Nigerians will see the light at the end of the tunnel. With this appointments PMB has affirmed that defeating Boko Haram is a task that must be accomplished; and if ever it is doable, this duo will get it done. Congratulations PMB, Buratai and Mungono and let Boko Haram now see hell.

CHIMAROKE NNAMANI OF ENUGU STATE, A ROGUE WHO DESERVES THE GALLOWS?

Icheoku says the former governor of Enugu State and looter in chief of Enugu State Chimaroke Nnamani ought to be marched off to the gallows and hanged for such a callous brigandage and wanton looting of a states' assets. Icheoku admonishes that such robbery of a collectively owned states assets cannot be adequately punished by recovering them but the perpetrator of such massive looting should be condemned to a very long prison sentence short of outrightly executing him for lack of death penalty in the laws for such high economic banditry of a state. This is one such case where Icheoku wished Nigeria was China so that this bloody thief would have been marched off straight to the gallows to have his neck broke for the crimes he committed against a state he was charged to mind. Imagine the greed of just one man, coveting so many things that hitherto belonged to the entire state to himself and you ask yourself for what purpose? Does Chimaroke Nnamani need all these stuff to be somebody important? 

A Federal High court sitting in Lagos ordered a forfeiture of assets which the former governor stole from Enugu State to the Federal Government. Icheoku hopes the Enugu State government will suo moto apply for a transfer of those assets back to the state, the original rightful owners. The former thieving governor of Enugu State Chimaroke Nnamani used four rogue companies to facilitate his looting of Enugu State  including Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria limited, Mea Mater Elizabeth High School, Cosmos FM Radio, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital. Included in the assets Chimaroke Nnamani stole or converted from Enugu State are twenty-two Duplex buildings in Ebeano Under Tunnel Estate now known as Fidelity Estate; former Parkland Hospital which he renamed Renaissance University Teaching Hospital; Cosmos 105.5 FM Digital Station and Ceuna Communications; and Capital City Automobile Limited, located at 12 Station Road, GRA, Enugu. Also properties acquired under the name of Hill Gate Investment including Plot Numbers H12, H13, H14, H15, H21, H116, H188, H10, H11, H16, H17, H18, H19, H20, H49, H50, H117, CP/4 (HCR2), CP5 (HCR2) CP/6(HCR2) CP/7 (HCR2) CP/8 - a total of twenty three plots of land. Then other land assets spread throughout Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha, Awka and Umuahia which Chimaroke Nnamani acquired using funds belonging to Enugu State. Also included in the forfeiture order is about N35 million in the frozen bank accounts of these companies. 

Icheoku says nothing else will serve this former rogue-governor of Enugu State better than to send him away to prison for a very long time to enable him have time to think through his actions. A man who is supposedly educated but who turned out to be an untrustworthy  bandit of the worst kind, not fit to be governor or even answer an educated person and stealing from a state he was minded to take charge of. Chimaroke Nnamani  by his thieving action thus defeated the old saying that the rat does not eat the fish which was handed to it for safekeeping? If Icheoku had his way, Chimaroke Nnamani will be deprived of the last penny to his name and made destitute in order for him to understand the hard way that crime does not pay, especially economic crime and crime of high office such as governor of a state committed against a state. What a denigrate person this Chimaroke Nnamani is that does not deserve to be accorded any honor as a former governor of Enugu State. He should rather be in prison or better still officially denounced by the Enugu State government as not being a representative of them nor their people and therefore treated henceforth as a pariah. What a scoundrel of the worst kind this Chimaroke Nnamani is that thinks he needs to steal this much to be somebody very important or significant. What a shame!

PMB AND ABT, WHEN THE GOING WAS GOOD?

Icheoku says if only there is a way to correctly judge the affairs of man regarding the inner workings of their minds, one would have known that a day will come when this two hitherto political twins will fall apart and no longer at easy with each other? Just a few short months ago when the food was being cooked they were best of pals but now that the food is ready, party PMB decided to lock out party ABT from the dinning table. Icheoku says President Muhammadu Buhari to remember that "daris God ooooooo!!!!!!"

AHMED BOLA TINUBU, THE LION OF BOURDILLON CAGED?

Icheoku asks what now for the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, the man who made President Muhammad Buhari president but who has now been sidelined and marginalized out of power by the Miyetti Allah power lords of Northern Nigeria? Without a doubt, no other member of the All Peoples Congress worked harder than Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu to make the take over of government from the PDP by the APC possible. So ordinarily it is expected that having labored so much to achieve what was achieved, that he should be allowed to reap the fruits of his labors; except that the Northern Hausa/Fulani usurpers have a different thought all together.  They apparently have now said no and not under their watch would such a Yoruba 'outsider' be allowed in the inner chambers of power of their very own Northern government? According to their warped thinking and calculation, President Muhammadu Buhari's government is their own government and it is for them only to enjoy it fully and exclusively too? Icheoku asks these Miyetti Allah Hausa/Fulanis, where were you people when Asiwaju Ahmed Bola TInubu was doing all the heavy lifting that ushered in the presidency of President Muhammadu Buhari?

A case, one would analogize with the Serengeti male lions which lazily lumber around, while lionesses and leopards are toiling, chasing down preys, only to come and chase them away from their spoil and steal same? Icheoku asks would such "baboon dey work, monkey dey chop," attitude of these people help in creating a lasting and more stable political environment in Nigeria where endeavors are mightily rewarded? Icheoku says notwithstanding our usual disagreement with the Bola Tinubu's winner takes all attitude brand of politics, but the current hand being dealt the Jagaban of Boku Kingdom by the Northern feudal oligarchs is not fair nor right. Query:- where were these mallams when Bola Tinubu was working his arse off to make Muhammadu Buhari president? Icheoku says the present gang-up against Bola Tinubu by the Northern power elites can only end badly for President Muhammadu Buhari if he lets them have their way and throw his mentor under the bus. It reminds Icheoku of when the South-south Niger Delta people exclusively claimed President Jonathan and deceived the former president into pushing away and out of corridors of power his erstwhile godfather. Former President Jonathan received the result with his second term failed bid. Icheoku reiterates that only an unthinking fool ever goes up against his godfather or the man who made him as he can always un-thread the thread and bring him down, if.

Icheoku appreciates loyalty to a fault and believes that people should never forget those who made their climb to anywhere possible. Therefore it is imperative that President Muhammadu Buhari contain this Miyetti Allah people who are desperately trying to rubbish his mentor Bola Tinubu and set a do not cross boundaries to protect what he have in ABT. President Muhammadu Buhari must not allow this his so called 'people' to now obtrusively insert themselves in his presidency and claim his presidency exclusively and at the expense of those who actually made it possible in the first place. Icheoku reiterates that regardless of what anyone will like to claim or say regarding the shortcomings of Bola Tinubu and they are many, but Icheoku is emphatic that without him, there would have been no Buhari's presidency for anyone to now claim ownership of. Anyone in doubt should ask President Muhammadu Buhari himself what happened to his other three previous attempts at securing the presidency?  Therefore like every laborer that deserves his earned wages, Bola Tinubu must be allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labor without any let or hindrance. Further, anyone not agreeing with this stipulation should wait or sit out the next four years and then try winning or helping someone else win the presidency of Nigeria and see how easy it could be. Icheoku disagrees that Northern Nigerians own the presidency of President Muhammadu Buhari and therefore reserves the right to exclude other people therein-from  A case in point is the appointments so far made by President Muhammadu Buhari where 8 out of 9 appointees are from the North; and you wonder if only Northern Nigerians or Northwestern Nigerians made him president or he is president for the North only. President Muhammadu Buhari must therefore let Bola Tinubu assert his rightful place in his presidency without any less because he earned the right to so do.

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS DOWN, GOOD RIDDANCE TO A CONTINUING NUISANCE?

Icheoku says but what took it so long and this long; 54 long years of uninterrupted free flustering in the winds on South Carolina's state capital building grounds in Columbia?  What a riddance to a continuing nuisance which has festered for too long and which would have still not been abated but for the uproar generated by the murder of nine innocent black parishioners. A good step in the right direction though; admitted this is not the end nor the beginning of the end of racism in America; but might eventually become the end of the beginning. As once said by the wartime British Prime Minster Winston Churchill, Icheoku hopes this is a step in finally, frontally, addressing the issue of racism and with utmost sincerity in America. The removal of the racist slave confederate flag today from South Carolina state capital grounds in Columbia is not going to end racism nor is it the beginning of the end of racism; but if peradventure, it furthers steps in that direction, then the removing of the flag will cease being a mere symbolic reaction to current public opinion but indeed an assured step towards racial equality in America. 

It is regrettable that it took the killing of nine parishioners inside their church to stir the souls in South Carolina into doing something about a long existing divisive racial symbol called the confederate flag. Icheoku says being good and doing good should be a naturally occurring act which manifests in spontaneity and not prodded or merely responsive to shifting sands of opinions. It should be a way of life and not just something that is predicated on events as they unfold. Query, so without those nine black people being executed inside their church, does it mean that those lawmakers in South Carolina  would have continued to ignore the cries that the confederate flag reminds black Americans of something very sinister and asinine called slavery? That the confederate flag continues till this day to represent racial inequality in America; with a white people claiming superiority over blacks, who are daily subjugated. That there is something about the symbolism of the flag which reminds some people of a dark history and that those on its receiving end did not feel good sighting the flag flying so menacingly on the grounds of their state capital in a way suggestive that the entire state is supportive of their horrendous history?

Ordinarily, Icheoku would have celebrated the removal of that insidious symbol of racism with more fanfare had it happened without the prompting of a sacrificed nine black lives including a member of the South Carolina senate, Pastor Clementa Pinckney. But heck no, as is always the case, some black lives must necessarily always be sacrificed before any inch would be conceded to them as full humans. Icheoku still somehow holds the government and people of South Carolina collectively responsible for the action of Dylaan Roof, who believed in the flag and what it represents, when he killed those nine. Icheoku is of the opinion that had so obtrusively displaying the flag, despite what it truly indeed represents, not been an official policy of the state, may be Dylaan Roof would not have misread its purport and seen blacks in the jaundiced eyes which made him take their lives. The acceptance and tolerance of that flag for this long helped encourage, foster  and feed the behavior which took those nine lives. A tacit approval which telegraphs that yes, white people are superior and black people are inferior; and it takes a higher entity to snuff the life out of a lower entity including in the animal world? 

It took 54 long years of all manners of discrimination, unlawful arrests and imprisonments, beatings, torture, killings and eventually the final killing of nine innocent worshippers inside their church for that flag to finally come down? Anyway, better late than never; admitted never late would have been better. But it is America and the white people are tone-deaf to black peoples centuries of complain of racial inequality and its attendant discriminatory segregation in America. So for listening to the cries this time around and following through by bringing their flag down, Icheoku says commendable. Hopefully, this will help start a new beginning of real racial integration and assimilation in America. At last it will appear that those nine killed did not die in vain, as by bringing down the flag as a result of their death, they died to give black Americans hope and reason to hope again. Salute to their memory and salute to the courage of the white people that spearheaded the campaign to bring down the flag and who eventually brought down this flag of bigotry. A history was indeed made with this action and now the flag can go to where it belongs - an archive or historical museum; where it can now rest without remaining a continuing nuisance and source of irritation on the grounds of the state capital. Like blackhawk down, the racist confederate flag is down, never to fly again.

IRANIAN NUCLEAR DEAL, A SMART IRAN SHOULD DEAL NOW?

Icheoku says if only the Islamic Republic of Iran is smart enough to know that the present opportunity presented at the ongoing nuclear negotiation with the West is a once in a life opportunity that should be grasped with both hands, they would have since done the needful and put their pen on the paper sealing the deal. A great risk which President Barack Obama is taking and against all odds, especially a stiff opposition by the Jewish State of Israel and a United States of America congress which is literally in Tel Aviv's pocket, negotiating what would be literally the mother of all negotiations to end the continuing tension in the Middle East and years of no real diplomatic relationship with the West. So why is the Islamic republic holding out or rather stretching this talk and needlessly trying to sabotage an opportunity of a lifetime which if it goes might never surface again. 

Icheoku says only a non-white president of the United States of America could bravely go up against such entrenched Zionist's interest to keep Iran permanently isolated; and therefore a thinking Iran must as a matter of urgency not allow this presented window to be shut on its face, not now that so many things are this close to being realized. This Iranian nuclear deal is a great opportunity that will also normalize their relationship with the West, a relationship which has been on ice or rather on tundra frost for so many decades since that 1973 hostage taking at American embassy in Tehran. It is an opportunity worth taking now while a president who is not entirely beholden to the wishes of the state of Israel still sits in the Oval office. Icheoku laments that the Iranians are still dragging this thing out and you ask for what purpose or eventual end and conclusion? A deal they should have since accepted on its surface and then consequent thereof, ask for some periodic tweaking as their implementations come alive. But unfortunately world politics is not that easy as so many vested interests particularly President Vladimir Putin's Russia, is flexing its muscles and through back channels encouraging Iranian obstinacy and never landing on this deal. Icheoku is emphatic that but for President Putin's encouragement and arm twisting, Iran would have since put pen on the paper on this nuclear deal that has severally reached set deadlines with new ones set but which never gets to conclusively seal it. 

But hey, like with everything else, talks or diplomacy does have a shelf line. Icheoku prays the Iranians would realize this inevitable fact and strike while the deal is still hot and available or forever regret missing such a golden opportunity presented to them while a president named Barack Hussein Obama still presides at the White House. Icheoku knows for a fact that there are so many people in the United States congress as well as opinion leaders and leaders of industry and some other world leaders who wish this deal is never reached because they are beholden to Israel and wants to do what will please Bibi Netanyahu, the chief antagonist of any deal with Iran. But while President Obama still can, pushing back so the avalanche of pressure from this anti-deal quarters, Iran should do the needful and sign this deal. They should put an end to all these their puerile standoff which is not in their best interest and sign the deal  without any further ado, delay, hesitation or needless shifting of goalpost or making unattainable demands. Icheoku therefore calls on the authorities in Tehran, particularly the Ayatollah, to sign off on this deal and authorize for the deal to be signed. It is in the interest of world peace and the people of Iran who have waited since 1973 to be fully assimilated back to the world community and cease being seen as pariahs or untouchable lepers that this deal is reached and signed now. Unlike Bibi Netanyahu who condemns any deal as bad deal and said that a no-deal is better than a bad deal, Icheoku counters that any deal over the nuclear ambition of the Iranians is better than a deal not being reached at all; as any grey areas could be tweaked later. So Iranians, do the needful, sign the deal NOW.

A NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT ON AUTO PILOT - ARMSFREE AJANAKU

THE framers of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution must have taken the enormity of governance into consideration when, in their wisdom, decided to create a space for ministers of the government of the federation. 

And as if a pointer to the inclusiveness and broad character that must underlie governance, the Constitution makes it mandatory for each of Nigeria’s 36 states to produce, at least, one minister to work with the nation’s helmsman. 

While the ministers hold their offices at the pleasure of the President, the constitution has envisaged them as inseparable components of the entire governance architecture. 

Added to this are the various provisions that give the body of ministers, designated as the Executive Council of the Federation (EXCOF) in the Constitution, wide powers to take certain fundamental decisions that go beyond policy making and implementation. 

If, for instance, the President is incapacitated, the Executive Council of the Federation is one body the Constitution gives the powers to rescue the situation.

It is, therefore, apparent that the Constitution does not intend any form of sole administration in the governance of the country. This is why Section 147 provides, “there be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.” 

The need for ministers as important parts of the governance architecture is reinforced by the provision in Section 148 (2), which holds that the President shall hold regular meetings with the Vice President and all the Ministers of the Government of the Federation. The purpose of those meetings include, determining the general direction of the government, coordinating its activities and advising the President in the discharge of his executive functions.

In the light of these clear insights as provided in the 1999 Constitution, the President’s leisurely pace with respect to the appointment of his cabinet is becoming a cause for concern. This posture runs contrary to what was promised Nigerians in those heady days of the campaigns, when the current governing party talked so glibly about hitting the ground running. 

Frustration is building that the President who swept into office on the back of a near hysteric demand by the electorate for a decisive, urgent and clinical approach to governance, is somewhat pouring cold water on the momentum, thereby frittering away an important resource without which governance will be a nightmare: good will and public support. Going by the reality on the ground therefore, a convincing argument can be made that over one month after President Buhari took over the reins, the machinery of government is yet to begin running. 

Talks about permanent secretaries being in place to carry on in the absence of minister miss the point. While it is true that the core civil servants, who have the technical expertise relating to their ministries are in place, the task of providing a broad vision around set goals, and coordinating all efforts, belongs to the minister. 

As appointees of the President, the ministers are deemed to be people who understand and have ruminated extensively on the specific plans of the President, and are able to guide the implementation of those within the context of available resources. Significantly, there are specific ministries in which the civil servants cannot afford to be second-guessing the actual governing party position relating to what to do. 

The delicate task of policy coordination and balancing requires that in these ministries, an appointee capable of interpreting the President’s and the governing party’s vision should be in place. 

The ministries of power and that of health are cases in point, where someone who understands the issues from the outside is needed for things to run efficiently. If the section of the health workers union, which is already warming up for another round of strike decide to call for an industrial action, would the President jump into the fray to begin negotiations with them on his own? 

On the other hand, it would be somewhat incongruous for a permanent secretary, who is merely concerned with the execution of decisions to be at the negotiating table to make promises that only political decision makers should make. 

Even in the area of scrutinising ideas and policies, the core civil servants may want to be to appear to overbearing in directly critiquing the ideas of the President. A minister on the other hand, if he knows his onions can argue with his other colleagues and with the President on a particular policy direction. How about the close monitoring and supervision required to achieve results and get value for money? 

Whatever may be going on at the moment cannot be coordinated in the sense in which it would have been, if there was a team of ministers. In fact, government business will be more efficiently coordinated with the presence of an efficient Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). 

The SGF is like the clearing house from where the streamlining of the multitude of policies, and plans, is done. In the absence of these key functionaries, it will not be difficult to discern that the machinery of government would most likely function below par. 

If the nascent Buhari administration allows this state of things to continue, it would be read as a blatant lack of regard for the sensibilities of longsuffering Nigerians, who voted for him with the expectation that there would be a giant leap in terms of how government conducts its business. 

Consequently, there are obvious implications of what is coming across as dithering on the part of the President. In the first place, the massive supply of goodwill and the ‘feel good’ period within which certain important things could have been put in motion would have been lost. 

In other words, the aura and the inspiring factor that fired the imagination of the electorate, is gradually wearing off from the minds of the citizens. There is a price to pay for not seizing the moment, especially, when it comes to mobilising the people to support some signature policies and programmes of the government. 

Similarly, the time lag provides ammunition for those with negative narratives to spin about the government. The disconcerting reality, as the emerging pattern of communication from the seat of power shows, is that the government would have to be on the defensive, so early in its tenure. 

This can already be gleaned from the number of statements the President’s spokesmen have had to issue to refute unwanted narratives being peddled by those who have a long term interest in seeing the President flounder. It is in this light that the recent unfriendly exchange between the opposition and the President would be viewed. 

Another manifestation is that a section of the public is creating its own perspectives of what should be happening in the seat of power and is crediting the result of the spin to the President. Specifically, the story about Buhari’s alleged order that nine planes in the presidential fleet be sold falls into this category. The moral in these examples is that a leader carrying a huge burden of expectation cannot afford to keep the people in suspense for too long.

Incidentally, if the time being projected for the ministers to come on board were anything to go by, it would mean that President Buhari has decided to take the unenviable record for the longest time spent before appointing minsters. 

When former President Olusegun Obasanjo took over as President in May 1999, he needed just one month to appoint his cabinet. And even before Obasanjo’s cabinet came on stream, he had sent the service chiefs packing, and had made several important appointments to consolidate his hold on power. In his second coming in 2003, Obasanjo appointed his cabinet by July. 

Similarly, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had his cabinet in place by July 2007. Even President Jonathan, who emerged as Acting President in February 2010, under very difficult circumstances, created by the high-wired politics and intrigues of those heady days, initially named Policy Advisory Council made up of elder statesmen. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan went on to name his own cabinet by March 2010. 

As such, if the pace of the Buhari Presidency and the indications coming from his information managers are anything to go by, it would then mean that the President who was given a clear mandate and who has no legal challenge to his election, would be appointing his ministers sometime around September, four clear months after his inauguration on May 29. 

This would certainly paint the administration in unflattering light. The other fallout of this languid approach to governance is that by the time the ministers arrive, they too could take a cue and claim a similar time frame to settle in and get themselves familiar with the fine details of their ministries.

Another dimension to it is the crisis at the National Assembly, where the President’s party, the APC is seemingly yet to come to grips with the enormity of holding power at the centre. Inaction in the face of growing calls for the cabinet to be constituted would rile many Nigerians. 

In the eyes of Nigerians, the massive expectations built around the mantra of change of the APC would have been dashed if the President doesn’t move quickly to douse the emerging cloud of doubts that have come up on account of the delay in constituting the cabinet. Failure to heed the voices of the people, on this and other sundry issues would imply that the ‘governing’ party is still far from governing in the sense in which many Nigerians look forward to.