NOVEMBER 4 2009, ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY HISTORY WAS MADE!

It was exactly one year ago today that Americans rose up in unison and did the unexpected, they put a 'nigger' in their White House! Millions of Americans who, believing in the 'Hope and Change' themed campaign of then candidate Barack Obama, trooped out enmass to give him the much needed tail-wind that pushed him into the presidency. Their only motivation, a young, ebullient and eloquent African-American with an exotic sounding name, who talks like someone well intentioned to carry out what was promised this time around? However, one year down the road, people are beginning to wonder aloud whether they gambled wisely or got a lemon in the bargain?

Icheoku says, President Barack Obama will only have himself to blame if he fleets away the goodwill of the American people that propelled him into the White House. His Democratic Party has controlling majority in both House of Representatives and the Senate and no one can ask for anything more to perform? The president's handicap is that he seems to defer so much to so many people, who he considers his political senior or who he feels somewhat somehow indebted to? Icheoku says, President Barack Obama, you do not owe anybody anything as the American people unconditionally voted for what you represented; and will not buy into any contrary argument for any possible failure or your none performance. The president have no reason not to deliver on his mandate and must be prepared to break some legs if need be, just to deliver on the 'Change We Can Believe In' as the American people cannot 'HOPE' forever. It is called having a 'BACKBONE' and if it means firing your present chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, or any under-perfoming member of your cabinet, so be it; but you must not fail or disappoint the many millions of Americans who hope and trust in you to bring the change they can believe in.

The American people are aware that efforts are being made by your government to fix the economy; but a jobless man cannot appreciate economic jargons until he can secure a job? A popular saying goes "show me the money!" Tangibles speaks more volumne than intangible projections and this is why it appears that your government is sleeping on the wheels of governance? Since these jobs are taking time to come and not materialising soon enough, may be you should adjust your strategy and focus on other areas that could easily translate to more visible and tangible results. Just order Guantanamo prison closed and let Americans see the gates shuttered forever? That is an example of a tangible achievement that journalists could fly down there to confirm that at last, President Obama had performed as promised with the closing of the terrorists vacation home in Cuba? Any terrorist that his home country cannot or refuses to take back should be flown to that country in the middle of the night and dropped off somewhere in the country to find his way. Just like the CIA infamous rendition; but this time a reversed rendition. if such marked terrorist is ever found again or captured in any battle field anywhere, let the operatives summarily deal with him. On Iraq, you can order the troops home now and let Americans watch their military start to bring their troops and equipment home; drastically reduce the stationed troop in Iraq to under 100,000 and do it now for effect. On Afghanistan, give General McCrystal his needed 40,000 troops and let him be the fall guy on that front; and in any event that mission fails or did not succeeded as envisaged, you can always blame that on the military since you gave them all they demanded and you cannot personally go down to the trenches yourself?

On the proposed missile shield base in Poland that is now scrapped on your orders, may be such was conceded without anything in return? The Iranian nuclear malady would have been extracted from the Russians as what the have to pay to play, before the final announcement scrapping the proposed missile shielf? It is called quid pro quo, trade off; what I get for what I give? May be some firm ultimatum could be given to the Iranians to behave or have some bombs dropped on those Natanz sites? Or the North Koreans could be told in a firm unequivocating terms that enough is enough with their bullshiting the world? Whatever it is , just do something that American people can visualize as your government doing something with the mandate they gave to you on November 4, 2008. Also, consider hiring someone like James Carville and give him the full authority to play the role of an attack dog for your government since your well-intended pacifist Washington seems not to have been well received by the other side. It is about time trenches are dug for the shooting-war for the hearts and minds of the American people to really begin? Shake up something, talk tougher, make threats, issue ultimatums and drop some bombs somewhere if you must; but let us see some movement from your government. If the health care reform is not working, summon the party officials and let them know what you promised the American people and the loss of face its failure will bring on everyone. Just do something?

You should also remember that you have no co-presidency with anybody, not Hillary Clinton, not Joe Biden, not anybody; the buck stops squarely on your desk. If you need to fire anybody, just do that but let the engines of your administration start to roll. Our greatest fear is that if this trend of appearing to be 'doing nothing' continues, President Barack Obama might regrettably, be another President Jimmy Carter waiting to happen, a one term president? But he still have the benefit of three more years to prove he can do what he promised the American people: - fulfil their hopes and bring about the change the can believed in, which motivated them to troop out exactly one year ago today to put you in the White House! Failure to fire up the engine of your administration and now, will make the possiblity of your one term very probable and a great may be? But never say never as President Obama may yet again survive a re-election, being the amiable masterful politician he is? However, these attempt at pleasing everybody must stop as compromises does not win elections; keeping and fulfilling election promises does and this is the only thing that matters now. President Barack Obama should look no further but to the promises he made during his election campaign and should strive to keep them.

The American people had previously weighed the options of Senator John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and a motley of others before deciding that you are the best and elected you as their president. You had no qualifying surrogate then and should not fear or feel like you have one now, just go full trottle and do what you were elected to do. Firm your back and start presiding as a duly elected democratic president of the United States of America and nothing more. Trying to woe the people who did not vote for you in 2008 is not a good strategy as they failed and refused to vote for you not because of the message but the messenger, who does not fit their template of 'their' White House occupant? As far as they are concerned, the message not withstanding, once it is coming from 'that one' makes it unpalatable and untouchable. Try as you may, they will always view you with jaundiced eyes as 'that one' and there is nothing anyone can do about it to change mindsets, already ingrained in the stone of skin coloration?

One year after, the hope we voted for is still just hope? The change we can believe in, is still incubating and who knows when it will hatch if ever? Remember, no drama Obama and please roll up your sleeves now and go to work as the days of pandering or trying to be too nice to too many people including the opposition should be over. You did not get into the White House with their approval and hence you do not need their approval to govern. If the baseball bat needs to come out, so be it; but Icheoku says, you must get back your mojo and start governing. Americans need tangible things they can point to as pointers that their Obama is delivering on his election promises. Whether you will pivot from your current approach to governing or win a re-election lies in the womb of time; but your once charged supporters are nearly crest-fallen, wondering what is holding their BO. As we wait for you to finally roll out full steam, may we felicitate with you on the occasion of the anniversary of your earth-shaking and all ceiling shattering, election victory of November 4, 2008. Happy one year anniversary President Barack Hussein Obama, and may the Almighty God continue to protect you and guide your actions, our dear 44th!