ICHEOKU says is so far impressed with the new Crown Prince Mohammed Ibn Salman of Saudi Arabia in the quiet revolution he is currently carrying out in the Kingdom of Saudi and prays that he continues in that tract without ceasing, let or hindrance. Transforming the Kingdom will definitely be a good right step in the right direction in the effort for both Western and Arabian civilizations as well as the greater Middle East, to finally have a meeting of the mind as it looks forward to a world with less conflicts, especially one arising from religion. Provided there is an acceptable framework within which the two can co-exist peacefully, the world will know greater peace with a reformed Saudi Arabia, as it refocuses its sights on other more pressing needs of mankind, rather than remain mired down in the context of superiority of faith and religions.
The Crown Prince actions going forward will surely translate this into a reality, because once all the fundamentalism of Islam is done away with through an effective reformation, it will become much easier for people of different faiths to relate to each other and also be able to sit down as brothers and break bread together; following which they can go on worshipping their respective God and/or Allah however they see fit, fully aware that there are always several roads to a destination.
ICHEOKU says thanks to the reformist Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia women can now drive cars without the need to have appointed drivers driving them around. The prince have also indicated his interest to have the extremist fundamental Wahhabism reformed into moderate Islam, in line with 21st century dictates and practises of an ever changing and evolving world where some ancient religious practises are no longer germane nor considered civilized. This will be an effective tool in his reform agenda and will be handsomely rewarded by an eager world waiting to flood the Kingdom with millions of tourists, who hitherto stay away from the Kingdom, afraid and cautious of running afoul of draconian Islamic laws and rules. Once the extreme observances are lifted or done away with, people will flock to the Kingdom to enjoy the sights and sounds as well as the culinary delicacies of the Arabian desert.
The most far reaching step thus far is the current clampdown on royals of the Kingdom, who have appropriated the Kingdom and made it their private fiefdom and to the exclusion of majority of the Saudi Arabian people. Once these previously untouchables are realigned with society and made to understand that they are also citizens of Saudi Arabia and not Saudi Arabia unto themselves, things will definitely begin to take a turn for the better; as a fully mobilized citizens of any country, including Saudi Arabia, can make miracles happen once they feel they are part of the society and have equal stake in it. Corruption is rampant in societies where a few consider themselves above the law of the land and can do whatever they like including engaging in business practises that fall short of expectation of the ordinary citizens.
The Crown Prince also plans to reform the public sector and diversify the country's economy away from oil and gas, which will see increased investment in tourism. As long as the Crown Prince means well and is altruistic in his drive to reform the Kingdom, the journey which he has embarked upon is a worthy one. ICHEOKU wishes him all the best, regardless of some commentaries which see it as a power grab odyssey to no where; a consolidation of power which the Kingdom has not seen before. It also does not matter whether the Crown Prince has successfully staged a coup de grace against the old order as some pundits claim. What is most important is that Saudi Arabia is transforming into a 21st century country and not stuck on stupid; and on very ancient religiosity which can only keep the Kingdom in the cold and out of modernity as far as integration into the world through tourism and other cultural exchanges are concerned.
With the consolidations of the security branches now made, Crown Prince Mohammed, as new commander in chief, now effectively controls all the three branches of Saudi Arabia's security apparatus - the Ministry of Defense which is in charge of armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior which is in charge of domestic national security and The National Guard which oversees the protection of the Saudi royal family, as well as important religious, oil, and gas sites. This will help the Crown Prince make faster decisions as it effects the running of the Kingdom, as opposed to the former unwieldy arrangement which often triggers bickering leading to their inability to take timely decisions.
ICHEOKU says this is yet another havoc done by the Crown Prince to the old order, put in place by Saudi Arabia's founder Ibn Saud several decades ago. It saw the separate branches of the royal family running the three branches of security, exerting influence and curbs any personal power grab within the Kingdom. It also forestalls infighting among the princes and preserves family unity. But with power over security now consolidated in one person, as is usually done in most countries, the Crown Prince can now run the Kingdom as a society of one and under the command of one; a structure. ICHEOKU hopes the current reform will help his Vision 2030 succeed; as he tries to successfully pull Saudi Arabia over to the current 21st century. ICHEOKU says kudos to Crown Prince Mohammed Ibn Salman and may he remain steadfast in his drive to reform Saudi Arabia. God's speed.
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Christy 'Apena' Essien-Igbokwe , the wife of Jegede Shokoya of the New Masquerade and Nigeria's lady of songs is dead; she was 51years old. Although her family claimed that "brief Illness" killed her like so many Nigerians; Icheoku retorts that it was most likely AKwa Ibom voodoo and remote control that was used to arrest her. It is on record that she had fallen out with the governor of her native Akwa Ibiom State and have been having a relentless war for political turf with the governor? So who knows whether she was sacrificed to Ekpe cult or even Alusi-Okija as an offal; afterall African science is still very much alive and portent. May her soul rest in peace.
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