OSU - THE IGBO UNTOUCHABLES!

For a preamble and for the benefit of those visitors without the necessary background knowledge of the subject here discussed, OSU, like the “Dalits” of India is a caste system in the Igbo speaking areas of South Eastern Nigeria, Africa. OSU are people tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure and less human. According to legend, OSU came into being as a result of human sacrifice to the gods wherein a person usually a slave or a war-spoil, instead of being physically killed as a sacrifice to the gods is spared the butcher’s knife and instead dedicated symbolically to the deity as its’ property. The implication therefore is that such a person breathes and exists for the deity and none other; and assumes the stature of a lesser human who has been sacrificed as an offal to the gods. Regrettably these human-sacrifices married and procreated thus transferring unto their descendants the stigma of their “burnt-offering” status; which also make them properties of the gods that their forebears were sacrificed to. The downside is that these “people” because of their very lowly and sometimes “non-existent” status in the society are forced to reconcile their fate to the worthless and basest of a given Igbo society; wherein they found themselves and nobody seriously speaking, wants any association with them be it marriage, neighborhood, business and/or other associations that brings people together. One who is a free born cannot marry the lowly caste OSU and vice-versa. An OSU cannot also aspire to be a high chief or ruler/king in the society wherein they are born. This practice is prevalent within the Igbo society and its denial sometimes is for public relations purposes only. Several legislation have been targeted at this practice which so many have come to regard as inhuman practice aka man’s inhumanity to man; but is the OSU really man or human in the eye of the Igbo society wherein the practice thrives to date?
This blogger remembers quite vividly too, a traditional ruler (king) who wanted to outlaw the OSU practice. He summoned his Igwe - in- council (cabinet) for a parley wherein he intimated them of his intentions. According to the story, this Chief informed his council that he plans to outlaw the practice of OSU in his domain. After he finished speaking, one of the elders in the council raised his hand for recognition to speak or contribute to the deliberation. He was granted the floor to speak and all he did was ask the Chief if he would, as a show of goodwill allow his daughter to be married away to an OSU. The Chief was livid with anger and demanded to know where from the speaker got his audacity to speak on the subject as it appertains to his princess. And this was the last bus stop for the proposed legislation in the Igwe-n-council.
The irony for victims of OSU practice is that no amount of wealth they may acquire is ever enough to wash them off this stigma. Also their rise in the society of their ancestry is always stunted forcing most of them to take a long hard refuge in a foreign soil where they sometimes live out the rest of their lives agonizing of this fate; which though not self-inflicted but a result of generational apron string, are yoked down irrevocably to the tabooed status of being an OSU. It is such a very painful experience to undergo and no one should wish that - being an OSU on his worst enemy, indeed!
This blogger also knows one prominent well to do family who were living happily until one of the daughters decided to marry. She fell in love with this young medical doctor practicing in New York City – they moved in together and within nine months had a baby. Then the traditional marriage rites started in earnest wherein the man sent words to his family still in Nigeria to proceed with formalizing their relationship. Wherein it was discovered that the bride came from an OSU family and this was no brainier; so the child notwithstanding, the marriage or jactitation or semblance thereto has to be terminated forthwith because the father of the groom was a politician who would not want any taint whatsoever, of an OSU, as a daughter in-law. The girl moved to the west coast with her daughter and presently lives in southern California as a single mother. The groom has since re-married but the girl has not been that lucky as all the men who came around always jumps the ship as soon as the story of her ancestry reached their ears.

In an article written by one Mr. Leo Igwe and published on April 24th, 2008 in http://www.politicalcortex.com/ titled “CONFRONTING THE OSU PROBLEM IN NIGERIA”, OSU caste was succinctly stated as affecting millions of people in Igbo land; who live with this OSU stigma which haunts, hurts and hamper their lives, self-esteem and development till death. According to this writer, the OSU status is permanent, irremediable and irreversible. Further that some Christian churches have preached against the Osu practice but these sermons have fallen on deaf ears and have not in any way positive impacted on this despicable practice. It is so ingrained in the Igbo society that even some of these churches have acquiesced with the practitioners of this OSU and are now practicing it in some fashion; wherein some free-born are indulged their habit of avoiding sitting near with or holding hands with those alleged to be OSU during church services. And during thanksgiving ceremony for instance, according to some reports, sometimes the harvests or offering of the OSU are kept separate from that of the freeborn.
Continuing, the author stated that OSU is of a permanent social disability wherein the OSUS are perceived and regarded as unclean and capable of defiling the free-born. As a consequence of this their very low ebb in the society, the Diala (free-born) relate with OSU as a master relates with a slave or as a healthy person interacts with a leper in order to avoid any social defilement and contamination by an OSU through untoward and/or unsanctioned interaction. An OSU is not allowed to marry or be married from the community of free born and such OSU can only marry a fellow OSU from their own society of OSUS or elsewhere, where they are not identified as such or outside the Igbo tribe. However their offspring remains OSU ad infinitum. OSU brings a generational curse or stigma along with it; and nothing ever washes it away since it is a genetic or hereditary infection which is passed unto offspring after offspring.
OSU are still hated, despised and discriminated against through out practicing areas in Igbo land. It cannot easily be wished away and no amount of money or material acquisition can otherwise dilute the stigma to an acceptability level. Some unforeseen necessary consequences of this social ostracizing in Igbo land is that many development projects have been abandoned because the community will not accept donations from OSU who sometimes are the wealthiest in the society; many marriages have also been dissolved after it was discovered that a party thereto is an OSU because it is an abomination to have an OSU as an in-law and where pregnancy has resulted, many of such pregnancies have also been terminated just to avoid the transmutation of this social virus down the family tree.
What exactly is the solution to this nefarious social quarantine of a group of citizens simply because of the ancestry of their birth defies every logical fix. There has been several legislative attempts to just legislate it away; but such ingrained-social practice has defied such effort at reformation. It has thrived for so long that to certain degree, it now forms part of the societal bedrock. Even the government championing the reformation is populated with citizens who half-heartedly push it because they silently wish it does not go away. More so, they will not do what it takes to make these untouchables acceptable by allowing their own sons and daughters to show good leadership by example through marriage to these sub-human citizens aka OSU . All the monies in the world cannot also wash this social leprosy away and such an unfortunate pedigreed “person” is bogged down in the quagmire of a caste system which he or she accidentally and by virtue of birth found him/herself in.
There is no known clear pathway forward towards absorbing or at least tolerating these lowly-births within the Igbo society. Various opinions exists as to the way forward, which Mr. Leo Igwe described as “three schools of thought representing three different dispositions on the issue”. These schools he further categorized into “the denialist, the apathetic and the realist”. According to Mr. Igwe, the denialist claims that the OSU caste system has been abolished and that it is no longer practiced in Igboland. Coincidentally majority of this school of thought members come from the OSU constituency itself and these are people who would rather wish the practice quietly goes away; and currently live in a state of euphoric hysteria where the practice no longer existed. But to successfully champion the believe of this school of thought, in view of the prevalent practices in Igbo land regarding OSU caste, one has to suspend disbelieve itself. Unfortunately this is not the true position as even the law, purportedly abolishing the OSU caste system, has been merely a paper tiger which has no plausible way of meaningful enforcement. The intent of the legislation has not been met as it has not primarily stopped people from discriminating against OSU. The “denialists” therefore are not helping the matter at all as they are delusional as to the actuality of existence of OSU caste and hence their position is deceptive and misleading and would not in any way help in eradicating this obnoxious custom.

Further the “apathetic” tells us to ignore the practice and pretend as if it does not exist. They acknowledge its existence but would rather it is not given much weight if any - they adopted this indifferent attitude because they find the practice very embarrassing to be occupying the front pages of discussion in Igbo land. According to this group of postulators, if the OSU system is ignored by all and for so long, it may die off without the need to make it remain very radioactive with its continuous discussion among the populace. For them, the OSU practice should be ignored so that it would fizzle out on its own. But they forgot that there has not been any case in history where oppressive traditions just fizzled out that way. In most cases they are consciously and conscientiously fought, rooted out and defeated. Was it apartheid in South Africa, slavery and racism in United States of America, independence for colonized countries of the world, military dictatorships etc such vicious practices were confronted head-on before they would yield way for a more harmonious society. Should that be the case with the OSU caste system and whether it will work is debatable. The apathetic disposition is cowardly and would not in anyway help in combating this vicious OSU caste system of man’s inhumanity to man which practice has transcended several generations cutting across multiple traditional tenets in Igbo land.
Then enters the the “realist” who acknowledges the existence of OSU practice in Igbo land but admits its complexity; they posit that it would require a lot of hard-work, time, education, reorientation, social, political, and cultural will-power to finally put an end to the practice.

However, this school of realist is the nearest best articulation of the general situation in Igbo land that OSU caste system is very much alive. OSU caste system, it must be admitted is evil, primitive, inhuman and barbaric and hence must be done away with in order for a really modern, homogeneous, enlightened, harmonised and civilized society to truly emerge in Igbo land; and there is no better time to do it than in the present 21st century - the time to do that is NOW !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIEF DR. AUSTIN CHUKS-ORJI

Icheoku congratulates our dear Chief Dr. Austin Chuks-Orji on his birthday! What a milestone! We wish you many more happy years ahead. Once again, CONGRATULATION!

KEITH OLBERMANN HOLDS HILARY CLINTON ACCOUNTABLE!

This transcript of special commentary by Keith Olbermann of MSNBC captioned "Clinton, you invoked a political nightmare by referencing RFK's assassination as a reason for staying in the race is unforgivable" delivered on Friday, May. 23, 2008 is hereby republished just in case you missed the fireworks. Happy trails!

Asked if her continuing fight for the nomination against Senator Obama hurts the Democratic Party, Sen. Hillary Clinton replied, "I don't. Because again, I've been around long enough. You know, my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know, I just don't understand it. You know, there's lots of speculation about why it is. “
She actually said those words. Those words, Senator? You actually invoked the nightmare of political assassination. You actually invoked the specter of an inspirational leader, at the seeming moment of triumph, for him and a battered nation yearning to breathe free, silenced forever. You actually used the word "assassination" in the middle of a campaign with a loud undertone of racial hatred - and gender hatred - and political hatred. You actually used the word "assassination" in a time when there is a fear, unspoken but vivid and terrible, that our again-troubled land and fractured political landscape might target a black man running for president. Or a white man. Or a white woman! You actually used those words, in this America, Senator, while running against an African-American against whom the death threats started the moment he declared his campaign?
You actually used those words, in this America, Senator, while running to break your "greatest glass ceiling" and claiming there are people who would do anything to stop you? You! Senator - never mind the implications of using the word "assassination" in any connection to Senator Obama. What about you? You cannot say this! The references, said her spokesperson, were not, in any way, weighted. The allusions, said Mo Uh-leathee, are, "...historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer and any reading into it beyond that would be inaccurate and outrageous." I'm sorry. There is no inaccuracy. Not for a moment does any rational person believe Senator Clinton is actually hoping for the worst of all political calamities. Yet the outrage belongs, not to Senator Clinton or her supporters, but to every other American.
Firstly, she has previously bordered on the remarks she made today. Then swerved back from them and the awful skid they represented. She said, in an off-camera interview with Time on March 6, "Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June, also in California. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual. We will see how it unfolds as we go forward over the next three to four months."
In retrospect, we failed her when we did not call her out, for that remark, dry and only disturbing, in a magazine's pages. But somebody obviously warned her of the danger of that rhetoric: After the Indiana primary, on May 7, she told supporters at a Washington hotel: "Sometimes you gotta calm people down a little bit. But if you look at successful presidential campaigns, my husband did not get the nomination until June of 1992. I remember tragically when Senator Kennedy won California near the end of that process."
And at Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on the same day, she referenced it again: "You know, I remember very well what happened in the California primary in 1968 as, you know, Senator Kennedy won that primary." On March 6th she had said "assassinated." By May 7 she had avoided it. Today... she went back to an awful well. There is no good time to recall the awful events of June 5th, 1968, of Senator Bobby Kennedy, happy and alive - perhaps, for the first time since his own brother's death in Dallas in 1963... Galvanized to try to lead this nation back from one of its darkest eras... Only to fall victim to the same surge that took that brother and Martin Luther King... There is no good time to recall this. But certainly to invoke it, two weeks before the exact 40th anniversary of the assassination, is an insensitive and heartless thing
And certainly to invoke it, three days after the awful diagnosis, and heart-breaking prognosis, for Senator Ted Kennedy, is just as insensitive, and just as heartless. And both actions open a door wide into the soul of somebody who seeks the highest office in this country, and through that door shows something not merely troubling, but frightening. And politically inexplicable. What, Senator, do you suppose would happen if you withdrew from the campaign, and Senator Obama formally became the presumptive nominee, and then suddenly left the scene? It doesn't even have to be the “dark curse upon the land” you mentioned today, Senator. Nor even an issue of health. He could simply change his mind... Or there could unfold that perfect-storm scandal your people have often referenced, even predicted. Maybe he could get a better offer from some other, wiser, country. What happens then, Senator? You are not allowed back into the race? Your delegates and your support vanish? The Democrats don't run anybody for President? What happens, of course, is what happened when the Democrats' vice presidential choice, Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri, had to withdraw from the ticket, in 1972 after it proved he had not been forthcoming about previous mental health treatments. George McGovern simply got another vice president. Senator, as late as the late summer of 1864 the Republicans were talking about having a second convention, to withdraw Abraham Lincoln's re-nomination and choose somebody else because until Sherman took Atlanta in September it looked like Lincoln was going to lose to George McClellan. You could theoretically suspend your campaign, Senator. There's plenty of time and plenty of historical precedent, Senator, in case you want to come back in, if something bad should happen to Senator Obama. Nothing serious, mind you. It's just like you said, "We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California." Since those awful words in Sioux Falls, and after the condescending, buck-passing statement from her spokesperson, Senator Clinton has made something akin to an apology, without any evident recognition of the true trauma she has inflicted. "I was discussing the Democratic primary history, and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns both my husband and Senator Kennedy waged California in June in 1992 and 1968," she said in Brandon, South Dakota. "I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nomination primary contests that go into June. That's a historic fact. "The Kennedys have been much on my mind the last days because of Senator Kennedy. I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive, I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever."
"My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to and I'm honored to hold Senator Kennedy's seat in the United States Senate in the state of New York and have the highest regard for the entire Kennedy family. Thanks. Not a word about the inappropriateness of referencing assassination. Not a word about the inappropriateness of implying - whether it was intended or not - that she was hanging around waiting for somebody to try something terrible. Not a word about Senator Obama. Not a word about Senator McCain. Not: I'm sorry. Not: I apologize. Not: I blew it. Not: please forgive me. God knows, Senator, in this campaign, this nation has had to forgive you, early and often. And despite your now traditional position of the offended victim, the nation has forgiven you.
We have forgiven you your insistence that there have been widespread calls for you to end your campaign, when such calls had been few. We have forgiven you your misspeaking about Martin Luther King's relative importance to the Civil Rights movement.We have forgiven you your misspeaking about your under-fire landing in Bosnia. We have forgiven you insisting Michigan's vote wouldn't count and then claiming those who would not count it were Un-Democratic. We have forgiven you pledging to not campaign in Florida and thus disenfranchise voters there, and then claim those who stuck to those rules were as wrong as those who defended slavery or denied women the vote. We have forgiven you the photos of Osama Bin Laden in an anti-Obama ad. We have forgiven you fawning over the fairness of Fox News while they were still calling you a murderer. We have forgiven you accepting Richard Mellon Scaife's endorsement and then laughing as you described his "deathbed conversion." We have forgiven you quoting the electoral predictions of Boss Karl Rove. We have forgiven you the 3 a.m. Phone Call commercial. We have forgiven you President Clinton's disparaging comparison of the Obama candidacy to Jesse Jackson's. We have forgiven you Geraldine Ferraro's national radio interview suggesting Obama would not still be in the race had he been a white man. We have forgiven you the dozen changing metrics and the endless self-contradictions of your insistence that your nomination is mathematically probable rather than a statistical impossibility. We have forgiven you your declaration of some primary states as counting and some as not. We have forgiven you exploiting Jeremiah Wright in front of the editorial board of the lunatic-fringe Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. We have forgiven you exploiting William Ayers in front of the debate on ABC. We have forgiven you for boasting of your "support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans". We have even forgiven you repeatedly praising Senator McCain at Senator Obama's expense, and your own expense, and the Democratic ticket's expense.
But Senator, we cannot forgive you this.
"You know, my husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California." We cannot forgive you this -- not because it is crass and low and unfeeling and brutal. This is unforgivable, because this nation's deepest shame, its most enduring horror, its most terrifying legacy, is political assassination. Lincoln. Garfield. McKinley. Kennedy. Martin Luther King. Robert Kennedy. And, but for the grace of the universe or the luck of the draw, Reagan, Ford, Truman, Nixon, Andrew Jackson, both Roosevelts, even George Wallace. The politics of this nation is steeped enough in blood, Senator Clinton; you cannot and must not invoke that imagery! Anywhere! At any time! And to not appreciate, immediately - to still not appreciate tonight - just what you have done... is to reveal incomprehension of the America you seek to lead.
This, Senator, is too much. Because a senator - a politician - a person - who can let hang in mid-air the prospect that she might just be sticking around in part, just in case the other guy gets shot - has no business being, and no capacity to be, the President of the United State
Good night and good luck.

BEHOLD THE INCOMING FIRST COUPLE!

This is what the portrait of the next first couple of the United States of America looks like! Are they not awesome - a couple to die for? Their happiness is deep; their love for each other is infectious and Icheoku strongly believes that they will extend same to the American people and the world at large. You have the support of the American people and the goodwill of majority of the good people of the world in this your once in a lifetime journey! You are sure-footed and you shall not stumble or trip. God's speed and protection is all that we wish you. Congratulations Barack & Michelle Obama for making this moment possible! Have a blissful presidency and first ladyship. For more information, visit http://www.barackobama.com/

WHAT A LOYAL SUPPORT!

I took this picture of an avid Barack Obama supporter in her volvo car with a rzr camera phone . She and her companion lives and breathes OBAMA08 without shame, let or hindrance and like every other Barack Obama supporter is proud to be identified as such. Icheoku supports Barack Obama for president and we proudly give our support. Barack Obama is the man! This is the kind of support needed of any one intending to lead us as a nation and Barack Obama is the one, America!

HILARY CLINTON IS A VULTURE!

Today, Hilary Clinton confirmed the fear of this blogger and numerous others on why she had stuck in there despite the mathematical impossibility of her viability as the Democratic Party's Presidential nominee. SHE IS A VULTURE waiting for Barack Obama to drop dead! With her ghoulish comment alluding to the possible assassination of Barack Obama in June as the reason for her continued stay in the race, it is now conclusive that this woman is very mean and heartless. The statement by Hilary Clinton is confessional of her inner yearnings! Like William Shakespeare said, you cannot decode one's mind from the construction of the face but now Hilary's mind has been ventilated by her very own statement. However, America should pray that nothing evil happens to Obama, otherwise there may be nothing conducive for a Hilary Clinton to step in and govern. Like Don Corleone said in the Godfather concerning Micheal during a peace meeting between the various families, he is a superstitious man that should thunder strike Michael's America-bound plane, he will hold other families responsible for it. Hilary Clinton's comment together with the "pointing a gun at Barack Obama" supposed joke by Michael Huckabee at NRA convention are not mere coincidence and we as Americans should pray that nothing evil happens to our dear Barack Obama. The over 75,000 people that came to Barack Obama's rally in Oregon is a testimony that Obama now belongs to the people of America and his martyrdom will not go unanswered. Touch not the peoples' anointed one, that there will be peace in the land!

Many people including this blogger have been wondering why Hilary Clinton has refused to yield the podium for the inevitable Barack Obama in the Democratic Presidential nomination contest. The answer is not far fetched and it could be surmised simply as DESPERATION! Hilary Rodham Clinton is desperate to etch her name in history as the first woman president of the United States of America and considers this as a life time one-shot opportunity to realise this her age long dream. Regrettably however, nobody wants her in that seat, not this blogger, not the American people and not even her libidinous husband, Bill Clinton. If anybody strictly speaking, has sabotaged her campaign so much this far, that person is her husband, Bill Clinton - the Jesse Jackson comment in South Carolina, different foreign policy direction wherein Hilary is fighting against NAFTA and her husband Bill was receiving $800,000dollars USD speaking fees from the same Columbia government agency lobbying for free trade deals with Washington, giving different versions of Hilary's "misspeak" alleging that it was due to her fatigue that Hilary "misspoke" about sniper fire in Bosnia when she was trumpeting her ability to pick up a 3.00AM phone call touting that as her experience. Bill's fairy tale comment to Obama's aspiration was also another avoidable gaffe which Bill anyways, made. All these Bill's "deliberate misspeaks" is fuelling the conspiracy school of thought theory which posits that Bill silently is jealous of his wife's aspiration to the presidency as she would have trumped him being a US Senator as well as the president. However this is just mere theories as we now go to the facts. Why is she still hanging around?

Like a vulture, Hilary Clinton is waiting patiently for Barack Obama to stumble so that she can cash a check she did not write or that which was not written in her name. Does that sound opportunistic, you bet! Does that sound like a desperado, sure! But will the American electorate allow such condescending antic, not this time. For over a month now, Hilary Clinton has been trailing Barack Obama in every facet of the Democratic Party's nominating primaries - the number of States won, number of elected delegates, number of popular votes, fresh super delegate endorsements as well as fund raising and yet she has refused to bow out. Barack Obama also has trounced her in effectively managing his campaign with such class and finesse as is only befitting a master political tactician and operative. In other words, Barack Obama had thumped Hilary Clinton and also former President Bill Clinton as well as the well oiled Clinton machine which had spanned over two decades. That Barack Obama, a political "neophyte" in contrast to the Clintons could achieve such a political earthquake is more than enough for the Clintons to throw in the towel but they will not; they are not that very honorable to read the handwriting on the wall of the American political landscape. They have gone from Obama being a Muslim, to being a fanatical Christian, to being a fairy tale, to being a Jesse Jackson, to being an Arab, to being unpatriotic, to being unelectable, to being unAmerican, to being black, to being euphoric and now to being elitist. But the Oxford/Webster's dictionary definition of elitism has to be changed for Barack Obama, who was raised by a single mother and who lived in the south side of Chicago to qualify as one. As is always the case with the Clintons, they live in a fantasy world where they believe things are so because they think so - the power of living in lies for so long that they become delusional and hallucinate as to what is real!

What will the Clintons not do to realise an age long selfish, ego driven power-drunk ambition. BUT NOT THIS TIME! Hilary Clinton's negatives among the electorates are too high and this blogger strongly believes that if given the right support he will even go toe to toe with Hilary for the nomination, talk less of our dear Teflon Barack Obama. What is wrong with Hilary Clinton's desperation is that she might not recover from her delusion when the tree finally falls as it will surely be cut and very soon. PLEASE HILARY, DO THE RIGHT THING AND NOW; WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE THAT YOU MAY SAVE WHATEVER MODICUM OF DECENCY THAT IS STILL LEFT IN YOU. All the eggheads have calculated that absent a major catastrophic upheaval that there is no chance in hell that Hilary Clinton will win the nomination. Which begs the question, what is she then waiting for before bowing out? This is a bridge too far and Hilary Clinton must correctly assess that or tell the world especially the democratic party electorates how she plans to perform this miracle of biblical Lazarus. Hilary Clinton, please if you loose the nomination, try not to also loose the people at the same time - you are a politician and you will need the people as much as a fish needs water to survive, politically.

This is probably this blogger's last commentary on Hilary Clinton on this matter and pray that a word is enough for the wise - and a lawyer should be? In any event that you continue on this path to nowhere and you are finally thrown into a political garbage bin by the super delegates, history will not forgive you for missing a wonderful opportunity to engender your self in the hearts of millions including this blogger, Ebekuo as a sport. Do not be a vulture since Barack Obama will not just drop for you to ravage. Cut down your losses and NOW!. So long, Hilary.

VIRGIN AMERICA IS IT!

At an altitude of 38092 feet above sea level cruising at 514mph with outside temperature of minus 71 degrees Fahrenheit, Virgin America is the new way to air-travel. It is so smooth, quiet, clean, nice that you feel you are inside of a clean room with a world-class night club interiors. The inside lighting are very seductive. Food and alcoholic beverages are available on order only by swiping your plastic under the console but you can get as much free soda and water as your thirst may desire. All the seats are soft leather that the tossing and turning becomes a thing of the past. The leg room is equally reasonable. This was the experience of last week when I was delighted to hop on one across the country to JFK. The head-rest in built personal console was a delight as one can watch live feed broadcast from all the major cable networks including MSNBC; such that you don't miss any news as it happens just because you are airborne. One can also tune to any of the numerous radio stations or play video games depending on your preference. I enjoyed greatly the journey navigation system wherein you can monitor live, the flight progression directly in front of you with the help of Google map. I flew red eye and it was so easy to dose off only to wake up the following morning in New York. It was a nice experience overall and I strongly recommend VIRGIN AMERICA for that savvy urbane traveller the next time duty calls. Icheoku therefore strongly recommends Virgin America as the best way to enjoy a quiet comfy air travel; so make it the choice when next you have to just get up and fly. For those visitors whose locality does not presently benefit from a Virgin America flight, just keep this in mind whenever your next trip will take you through one of the major cities currently serviced by Virgin America! I took these pictures with a Nikon Coolpix 8700 camera.

WHO IS AFRAID OF CHANGE & HOPE?

Roswell Georgia newspaper, the Roswell Beacon had adopted a page from Hilary Clinton and Mike Huckabee's scripts targeting Barack Obama. The conspiracy is mounting, from Mike Huckabee's supposed joke at a National Rifles Association convention that Barack Obama has a gun pointed at him to Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton's assertion that the reason she had remained in the race impliedly is just in case Barack Obama is assassinated in June just like Robert Kennedy. Now the deep south enclave of KKK and racist red neck white supremacists town of Roswell Newspaper has followed suit with the publication above, depicting Barack Obama in the cross hairs of a sniper rifle. These are not just mere coincidences and the world is watching the America of 2008 to see if it has moved on from its 1968 self. However, as we pray that nothing evil comes Barack Obama's way, the over seventeen million Americans whose mandate Barack Obama presently holds, will not keep quite should the unthinkable happens. Mike Huckabee, Hilary Clinton and now Roswell Beacon are by this publication being put on notice by Icheoku that the amber of flame which they have ignited is flickering and they would be principally held accountable should their nightmarish scenario ever come to pass! They are all instigators and baiters hoping some nutcase somewhere will bite and bring to fruition their dark sided minds. This is not healthy for a twenty first century America and yet this is the land of the free and home of the brave! Shame on you hate baiters!

PRAY FOR TED KENNEDY!

At 75 years plus old, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts is fairly of an advanced age and hence malleable to the foibles of age related infirmities including malignant brain tumor? It is human! This is a man who has endeared himself to the hearts of so many Americans and some other millions of people the world over, through his numerous people-oriented good works; despite his very upper class pedigree, being a Kennedy. Most recently he came out to forcefully endorse Barack Obama for president against all odds and every expectation since a Hilary Clinton was also in the race. By this edifying act of magnanimity, Senator Ted Kennedy has once again proved that he can go across the board to do the right thing and that past political ties notwithstanding, he can also cross racial barrier to endorse Barack Obama when necessary. For us at Icheoku, this is one of his most stellar action and Senator Ted Kennedy was very masterful indeed, doing this. His vivacious campaign for Barack Obama in Texas wherein he chorused a Spanish song was very uplifting too. For all his good works and worthy examples, Senator Ted Kennedy deserves to stay around and very much longer to complete all the good works he started and see his Barack Obama, elected the first black president of America. Icheoku therefore, prays that the almighty God will send forth his angels to fight off this malignant tumor afflicting the brain of Senator Ted Kennedy. Please pray with Icheoku for Ted Kennedy's very quick and full recovery! As we all know, Senator Ted Kennedy is a fighter and with the aid of our collective prayers he will surely fight off this illness. We at "Icheoku" wish him a very speedy recovery!

THE INVISIBLE NIGERIANS IN AMERICA!

For an average Joe Nigerian in motherland Africa, the Nigerian in God's own country is seen in the prism of the likes of Professor Philip Emegwali, the computing genius. For that Joe, the struggle to get emancipated by securing the almighty American visa is to jet out and in a twinkle of an eye go back to Nigeria, roaring in cash-money. But unbeknowst to this "aspirant", for each Philip Emegwali there are several thousands of Augustine Obi whose dream of realising the fabled American dream has turned into a nightmare. There are approximately four million Nigerians living in America and the Philip Emegwalis among them are less than 0.001 percentile and between the Philip Emegwalis and the Augustine Obis of Nigerians in America are several other Nigerians some of whom life is a daily struggle and juggling of priorities. Which bill should be paid and which other bill will be deferred or recycled into the next billing period, at which time it attracts further interests making it near impossible for a full amortisation of the debt. This billable hang over the neck of majority of immigrants, Nigerians inclusive, as well as many other Americans whose lives are identifiable with a popular aphorism, "one lives in here to pay bills".

Is it a bed of roses? It depends on whether you are asking Philip Emegwali or our own very Augustine Obi. Is it very challenging, you bet, depending on whose paradigm you are measuring it? Is it a refuge for the near hopelessness back home in Nigeria, surely. However one thing is certain - that if you put your daily measure, you will come out better than were you left at the chagrins of a country whose leadership knows no better but to loot the treasury dry. A country whose stock in trade is for her "leaders" to steal and steal until an individual becomes wealthier than the state itself; and her citizens left with virtually nothing. A country whose graduates are made destitute amidst the plenty which the very few had wantonly commandeered for themselves and their families. A country which sprang an Olusegun Obasanjo from prison and without putting him in a half-way house to decompress, put him in Aso Rock in charge of the affairs of the state. How could a prisoner who has been information-deprived, socially ostracised during his incarceration, and who was in a complete isolation from humanity because of the nature of the charges, treason, for which he was imprisoned be foist on a nation without first psychologically evaluating him for fitness to govern? This was a man who the Abacha junta accused of treason and was left in solitary confinement for almost three years without a sense of where he was. The result was a complete brigandage - the magnitude of corruption witnessed under his rule, although presently indeterminate conclusively, is guesstimated so far as the highest ever known to mankind in Nigeria. And Olusegun Obasanjo is still walking the streets of Nigeria, a free man! Where then is the deterrent for future "leaders" not to strive to outdo Obasanjo with looting of the state's treasury?

Anyway, going back to our discussion on Nigerians in the fabled wonderland, there are many who would rather take the plunge back to an unknown quantum - Nigeria but are too hard pressed for cash that they could not even afford the flight ticket out of JFK back to Africa. What then results is a conscience effort to try to stay afloat at all cost possible and stoically await the day of their final home-calling ; at which time even sending their remains back to motherland for interment becomes a community effort to raise the necessary freight as well as funeral home's expenses. This blogger has witnessed quite a number of them and they are surreal indeed. How can a son of man hold three jobs and sometimes four jobs just to get by? How can a son of the soil go from 6.00AM to next day's 6.00Am sometimes for seven straight days every week, with intermittent naps aka sleep just to pay his bills? And at the same time accommodate the needs of his numerous other dependent relatives and friends back home in motherland? What went wrong one would ask? How could a country like Nigeria with her deep oil wells both of unknown and proven reserves, as well as other abundant natural and human resources create such an unwholesome environment for her citizens to thrive; that they would rather forcibly take it through the rear in their attempt to escape from such "Sorbibor" of a place, than stay home? Is it worth the risk, one would ask? But this question can only make sense when one has something to compare the Calvary with. The absence of any meaningful option is no option at all and that is what the successive years of maladministration has bequeathed Nigerians with, which fuels the mad rush to escape overseas and sometimes even to South Africa!

But whether it is jumping from the frying pan into the fire itself will be left for some other blogger to comment upon or at some later date. The summary is that it is not easy and all the hard work notwithstanding, absent of a lucky break, the road to that dream is rather a continuum and goes on ad infinitum. It is not paved! It is a rugged terrain! It is very steep! It is very slippery! It is arduous! It is treacherous! It is not for the faint-hearted! It is not for the quitters, since quitters do not win! As the popular slogan goes "pray until something happens (PUSH), the road to the American dream has a big billboard (signboard) which reads in bold capital letters "KEEP ON WITH YOUR JOURNEY UNTIL YOU FIND IT". For some it takes about 30years; for some others it may be less while some others have journeyed thereon on the dream-road without finding it until they met their final end. Some of these unfortunate and disillusioned many, sometimes become so incensed with the country that forced them out into exile to this no-man's land, that they completely severe whatever relationship they hitherto had with it and even at death elect to be incinerated or interred here instead of being carried back to a country which forswore them. Even an unmarked grave sometimes becomes a preferred option to them than shipping their dead body to a "strange place" which otherwise would have been called home, strictly speaking. Only because their country failed to do right by them and for them. This is the trend despite the fact that getting a good decent burial is somewhat outlandishly very exorbitant. And one wonders why?

Is there a solution to this despondency which fuels the mass desperation to escape from "home"? This blogger watched a Nigeria movie called "EUROPE BY ROAD" and didn't cease crying tears of sorrow at the horrible experience this fleeing escapees from Nigerians are made to endure enroute to their fabled promised land. What triggered this massive exodus by many Nigerians out of the country and the somewhat fierce urgency to have it accomplished now need to be properly examined. Why would citizens of a country be so desperate to get out of their country and at whatever risk exposure or danger they may face enroute? The simple answer is HARDSHIP! This blogger believes that there is a solution to starve off this wildebeest-explosive urge to get out of town by many Nigerians! YES there is! The resources in Nigeria MUST be distributed fairly in order to go round the people and not made the exclusive preserve of some very few well connected individuals and the "leaders" so called. These leaders, who have done so much injustice to the people they supposed to look after that they should be referred to as marauders instead. If things were right most many a Nigerian in Diaspora would rather be at home in Nigeria living a good life just like the people of United Arab Emirate of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. UAE is a country whose leader deserves all the toga of a leader strictly phrased. His love for his country is so profound that he breathes every day thinking, how he could better the lot of his people and country. Today the Emirate has been transformed from an arid desert land into a lush destination point in the Middle East. In UAE you will find a growing cosmopolitan, a trading nerve centre of the world, the one and only seven star luxury hotel in the world, the people through their leader are also building the world's tallest building, they pride themselves too as the only country in the Middle East desert that operates a world class skiing resort and you wonder how could ice and snow be available in the desert? The answer is the same reason why Saudi Arabia has the biggest desalination plant in the world and could supply her citizens with enough drinking water and for other domestic usage, from the Arabian sea. The same reason Israelis could transform the Negev desert into one of the agricultural baskets of the world. The same reason Las Vegas desert was transformed into the travelling destination for the world's fun loving and thrill-seekers. It is called purposeful leadership which gets the back of her people which unfortunately does not include Nigerian leaderships, ever! None of the leaders of Nigeria since her independence from Great Britain in 1960 has had the urgency of the moment to inscribe his name indelibly on the soul and conscience of Nigerians by positively bettering their lot. They are so out of sync with the population they govern that many a time when they pass on, the majority of the population celebrate their death instead of mourning them. It is not right! It is ridiculously very offensive that such a chasm should exist between the leadership and the people in Nigeria which lacuna was brought about by a purposeless leadership.

In summation therefore, to that prospective Nigerian selling all his property to embark on the proverbial dream journey, know ye that it is not easy. That the streets are not paved in gold! That it could be frustrating and sometimes very brutal. However, once you have prepared your mind and psyched yourself up enough to convince your spirit that nothing else could be worst than the "hell-hole" you are escaping from, then your problem is nine tenth solved. That is the winning mindset - the expectation of the worst is the beginning of success. But when you imagine it in the minds of a Hollywood movie you have recently watched or the packaged presentation of a country of God where everything is honky-dorry, then you are in for a shocker! Please do not leave yourself open for the dagger's point, shield your expectations so that you may stand a chance at giving it a shot. Otherwise, you will not be able to recover from the shock of what the experience will throw at you and peradventure instead of becoming another Philip Emegwali or somewhat in between, you might end up as another victim of the dream by becoming another Augustine Obi. Only yourself can save you and as the popular saying goes, there is no free lunch in here so as the boyscout motto goes, BE PREPARED!

ICHEOKU ENDORSES OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

Any avid observer and/or follower of politics in America especially the current 2008 Democratic Party Presidential nominee primaries will agree with this blogger that the road travelled so far by the candidates has been as noble as it is commendable. Although it has been a very long and arduous primaries but it has also been an insightful x-ray into what a real working democracy is all about. However one candidate has stood out amongst the many other candidates who initially started out on this race to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and has come up tops in every department of the contest. He is very erudite, knowledgeable, charismatic, intelligent, savvy, cool, personable, eloquent, tall, slim, handsome with an unsettling smile and in every inch of the calculus, looks very presidential indeed. HIS NAME, BARACK OBAMA!

Icheoku has followed this 'president in the waiting's course travelled, very closely and hereby take the singular pleasure to affirm that Barack Obama, all things being equal will win the next presidential election in the United States of America come, November 2008. All the indices are there and in addition to his winning elected delegates, continues to attract both the needed super-delegates as well as the cash which oils the wheels of elections in the United States of America. Icheoku also believes that Michelle Obama, the tall, slender and beautiful wife of Barack Obama will make a very good first lady. She is a strong woman who is well educated, humble and will provide the necessary bedrock for a Barack Obama's presidency.

Ebekuo, coordinating blogger of Icheoku, has made a donation to Barack Obama's campaign effort and encourages all fans, visitors and vested stake-holders alike, to please follow suit and support Barack Obama with any amount they can afford to assist this campaign. It is history in the making and opportunity calls for you to write your name in history, as being a party to the millions who midwifed this moment in time. By visiting http://www.barackobama.com/ you can donate to the campaign and also see for yourself why Icheoku and great many other Americans strongly believe that this is the moment the whole wide world has been waiting for - an Obama's presidency. HE IS THE ONE, AMERICA! So said the peoples' Queen Oprah and Oprah is always right! Stop sitting on the fence and ask your super-delegate to bite the bullet and save everyone the cliff-hanger of a prolonged indeterminate primaries the other side is trying to make of this nominating season.

After a careful deliberative analysis, Icheoku is of the opinion that as it presently stands, it appears that Barack Obama's train to the Whitehouse has unstoppably left the station. THEREFORE KNOW YE ALL MEN THAT ICHEOKU HERETOFORE FORMALLY ENDORSES SENATOR BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT! Please let us all hop on the Barack Obama's train to the Whitehouse and NOW! Participate to celebrate! Once again, remember you can make your donations through http://www.barackobama.com/

THE CAVEMEN OF AMERICA?

The 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries have among other things, revealed to the world that some places in America will qualify as the last frontier and remaining abode of our forebears - the cavemen! The States of Pennsylvania and West Virginia are two states that are still stuck in pre-civil rights era America and has refused to yield ground to all the progress so far made within the American society since the 60s. Take Pennsylvania for example, their energetic governor, Edward G. Rendell told the world before the primaries of April 22nd that his State of Pennsylvania is populated by racist white men who would rather vote for a dead pig than vote for a black man. And the governor was right as the people voted as spoken; they tuned off to all that the campaign of Barack Obama has to say, but instead trained their eyes on the blackness of Barack Obama. Otherwise, how else would it be explained that Hilary Clinton won the State of Pennsylvania with such an overwhelming digits despite that she "misspoke" severally on both sides of her mouth equivocating on what her plans of action were concerning issues that affect the average Joe Pennsylvanian. Even their loved Senator Robert Casey Jr could not assure them enough on the viability of Barack Obama's candidacy, because according to them, his blackness forecloses every other such discussion or matter as may otherwise be arising; instead they moved en-masse to a fellow white person, Hilary Clinton. They went through the election campaign tone-deaf but sighted, and only saw a black man and a white lady campaigning; today, the rest is history. And we are talking about the Penn State as they would like to be fondly called! However the action of Pennsylvania is more tolerable than that of West Virginia because during the Pennsylvania primaries there were still some flicker of hope that the Hilary Clinton's campaign may resurrect but the West Virginia election result has no basis for rationality since Hilary's Campaign was dead at best! As if the action of Pennsylvania was not loud enough, the racist state of West Virginia, one of the last bastions of KKK in America and the State that produced Senator Byrd, the once dreaded KKK Capo as their Democratic US senator; slammed Barack Obama's campaign of hope and change. Are they averse to changing their old ways of hatred and prejudice against people of color? Or are they anti-hope? One may ask? They went to the polls like wildebeest and resoundingly thumped Barack Obama because he is BLACK! According to these former slave owners, proud KKK inheritors and humanity haters, Barack reminds them of their former slaves and it is unthinkable for them that such a seismic shift will eventually happen in America. Some of them intoned that they would prefer to have "a full blooded American as president" - a metaphor for a white American. West Virginia crass aversion to a "black man" was so manifested that some of them longed for John Edwards whom they gave 7% of their votes despite that Edwards long suspended his campaign about four months ago. Icheoku went to town to try and ascertain why West Virginia voted the way they did especially in view of the fact that as at the time they voted, Hilary Clinton was no longer in any serious contention for the Democratic Party's Presidential Nomination. Icheoku discovered that West Virginia is the second poorest and least educated States in the Union; only beating Mississippi to the last place. It was also found that majority of the population are hillbillies mountain dwellers who hardly know about anything happening outside their very closed enclaves. Like some African-American who were not aware of the abolition of slavery until much later date - the reason for Juneteenth celebration, some of these West Virginians still believe that American blacks are still enslaved. Some of them also do not have television set and the only radio they may have is tuned permanently to the local station that feeds them the news they want to hear coupled with a lot of country music. Further many of them have lost their teeth as a result of moonshine and methamphetamine addiction. Also that certain percentage of them are incestuous as they do not know any better. That their men like their women 300lbs big or more and relish tobacco chewing as their past time.That the biggest employer of labor there is coal mining and hence most of them spend their time under the ground, in the coal mines, from dawn to dusk and are oblivious of life outside their immediate nuclear family. People with such a way of life are not expected to behave otherwise but are implored to open up a little that they may assimilate the new America where everyone has become full citizens with equal rights. West Virginians you can still make up for this inexplicable behaviour exemplified in your votes and do right during the November general election, by voting for the Democratic Party!
Because of the crass racism displayed during the last primaries by these the two most racist States of the Union, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Icheoku hereby declare them the two remaining HELL HOLES of America's past! Hopefully a Barack Obama's presidency will help change their minds about other human beings who do not necessarily look like them, by positively affecting their lives and for the better. CHANGE YOUR WAYS PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA AND HOP ON THE BARACK OBAMA'S TRAIN TO THE WHITEHOUSE!Speak Icheoku Speak!

IGBOS ARE FINISHED?:- an article by Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai

Facilitator's note: - this article originally titled "BEYOND DISPUTATIONS ON NIGERIAN HISTORY" written by Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai, was retitled "IGBOS ARE FINISHED?" for a more effective journalistic bite. The article speaks volume. Happy trails!

"World history has recorded attempts by composite parts of Federal states, which tried to exercise their right to Self-determination through rebellion or revolution. In their efforts, some succeeded but others failed. In his recent article entitled, "Settling Questions in Nigerian History", which was published in THE GUARDIAN Nigerian Newspaper of April 10, 2008, Dr. Edwin Madunagu attempted to elucidate some historical events in Nigerian history, which are often either misunderstood or misinterpreted. Nigerian history is characterized by chance happenings, of leaders and dealers sprouting like mushrooms from no-where. After a spell of newspaper and TV pictorial appearances, they get accepted as such. Barely ten months in office, advertorials adorn the pages of newspapers singing their praises. These advertisements are inserted by friends. relations, fortune and favour-seekers, who, in the end, push them, irredeemably, down the corruption avenue.
Now, I proceed to address one crucial issue in Eddie's article under review. He wrote, "If the historical perspective is adopted, the following facts come out and become prominent: The Eastern region of Nigeria was declared the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967, on the basis of a resolution passed by the joint meeting of the Consultative Assembly and leaders of Thought on May 26, 1967. At the point of that declaration, the regime was in total control of the region. Subsequently, Biafra was recognized by four independent countries (states, mine), all members of the United Nations ".
My international law students, some now SANs and others- in -waiting, will recall that the international legal status of the Republic of Biafra (1967-70), featured often, in their examinations. Although some Federalist lawyers held divergent views on the issue, the consensus was and still is, that the Republic of Biafra, having satisfied the relevant provisions of the Montevideo Convention of 1933, and having sustained its struggle for three years, was a sovereign, independent state and a subject of international law. What are these relevant requirements? According to the declaratory theory, an aggrieved state , which was a composite part of a Federation, may, by virtue of a collective declaration of independence , assert its right to self-determination, from a sovereign state. In 1960, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Right of Nations to Self-determination up to Independence. The State of Israel declared itself independent by proclamation in 1948. States like the defunct Soviet Union, Cuba, China , America and France, became independent, sovereign states through revolution. It is imperative for dominant groups to treat their minorities fairly or face rebellion.
According to Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention on the Criteria for Statehood, 1933, a state must have a growing population, a defined territory, It must have a government, a judiciary, an armed force in uniform, with officers ranks clearly shown. A state must be in complete or even partial control of its territory. It must have a constitution and be recognized by other states. It must have the capacity to meet its financial obligations and establish diplomatic relations with other states. It must conduct its affairs peacefully, among others.
Biafra fulfilled nearly most of these criteria. It was recognized by Haiti, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, while France allowed Biafra to maintain a Historical Institute, which was headed by Dr. Christopher Mezu. Biafra engaged Nigeria in diplomatic tussle for three years, as result of the caliber of people, who led the rebellion. That a delegation of the Biafran government , which was led by Major-General Philip Effiong , was received by the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon,was significant, in that the surrender ceremonies brought the existence of Biafra to an end.
Federalist constitutional lawyers and international lawyers argued divergently about the international legal status of Biafra. Each lawyer showed clearly where he was squatting on the civil war. It is true that some hegemonists and tribal irredentists sought to use the war to destroy Umu Israel, as my witty mother-in-law, Madam Alice Ebinum-Nwosu, was fond of calling the Igbos. They survived. It is a pity that instead of reviving the spirit of "anyi-anyi", "ekwe-ekwe", "ogbu-mma ihe ofusa ya fusa", the post-war Igbo man accepted supine affiliations and embraced the epicurean habits of their compatriots.In mock mimicry, they took on chieftaincy titles like eze, nze, igwe, without ancestral evidence of royalty. Some of them buried their relations, who probably died of utmost neglect, with pomp and pageantry, as they do West of the Niger. In order to make it big, by hook or crook, some have resorted to fetish practices like Okotoko, Okija shrine membership, etc. One had thought that the Igbos surrendered but did not give up. Well, this is true in the economic field, but politically, they have not fared well as a result of the hurried eagerness by some Igbo leaders , who chose to seek alliances and were always placed second. For example, Mr. Philip Umeadi, Mrs Oyibo Odinamadu, Chief Alex Ekwueme, Chief M.C.K Ajuluchukwu, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, etc. The Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, a respected association of Igbo leaders harbor some leaders/dealers, who have repeatedly demonstrated that they have the ability to negotiate for personal gains, at the expense of the race.
There is a roving Igbo contractor, who has lived off beneficient outpourings from any government in power, always looking for "ebe oga elite" (Onitsha) or "nga oga erite ihekpa" (Owerri). Once upon a time, there were Igbos like the Right Hon Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Dr. K.O Mbadiwe, Chief M.I. Opara, Professor Ikenna Nzimiro, Professor Eme Awa, Dr. Eze Ogueri and countless others, who were advanced thinkers and political giants. Where are their replacements? We can, of course, find them among the Igbos in residence in many Euro-American cities or among those, who took to trading at the age of 15, or among those, who live in Lagos and are found at social festivities( Mo gbo mo ya). The position of the Igbo in the new dispensation is, in my judgment, more fundamental. It should be regarded as vital and should go beyond historical disputations. I am prepared to engage in animated dialogue with "Ndi Ogom" (my inlaws), so that they can re-focus their attention from money-making to Nigeria real-politik. I am ready to discuss these matters in Onitsha Igbo, Owerri Igbo, Wawa, Ngwa, Ohafia, Item, Isunge na Osunge dialects, after all, I passed Igbo in my Cambridge School Certificate.
It can be recalled that in 1999, I published a similar article in The Guardian newspaper entitled, The Igbo Dilemma. Apart from the Anyim Pius Anyim Senate Presidency,I have not much to report on the worsening condition of the Igbos in Nigeria political space. IGBO UNU ANUGO ! Many things happened in Nigerian history, during the Nigerian civil war, which cannot be easily forgotten. After all, Europeans are still talking about the horrors of Hitler's war. They believe that people must talk about monumental injustices and struggles to fight such devastating injustices, which the devil sponsors, to destroy the Sons and Daughters of the Almighty GOD, using satanic, human and spiritual agents.
At times, full knowledge of history, acts as a deterrent to other beastly escapades by Luciferians on Planet EARTH. There are pretenders who would tell us not to go into history. My response is, do not do things, which history cannot but document their ignoble ends and stress to the aspirant( of evil-doing) the powerlessness of evil power. Biafran history was a dark period in our nation's history. Barrister Mrs Elizabeth Ngozi Esiemokhai was only ten years old, when she had to trek from Umuodom to Etchie to buy and sell during the Biafran war. This story, "mkowaya chi ga eji, chi ga abor". What of the story of the pathetic Biafran soldiers, who have been begging for alms at Oji River, since 1972? What of the mass impoverishment of the race through the compulsory devaluation of their financial worth? Lack of knowledge of Nigerian history has produced simpletons, who are found in high government positions and because they have no knowledge of the nation's past sufferings, carry on without qualms.
This is mainly why this nation rotates around a vortex of mediocre leaders, who have to rely on failed leaders and bureaucrats, to the nation's detriment.After the damage has been done to the nation, a cacophony of voices engage in a symphony of condemnations. Ask some of them what they said in historical time when the damage was being done. They will present a bovine stare, with wondering eyes and hanging lips. Those, who benefited most are now calling for a revolution!Haba.
The Igbos may re-align their political strategies, link up with progressive compatriots, unencumbered by the tragedies of the Biafran war, so as to re-focus their energies both economically and politically. Recently, some commentators say that corruption is endemic among politicians from a major ethnic group, and that this is a major impediment to co-operation. I disagree. For example, it was an Igbo Pro-Chancellor and a Yoruba Vice Chancellor, now OFR, who, were sacked for corruption, at the Obafemi Awolowo University , Ife, a decade ago One must search diligently for decent and knowledgeable compatriots. They have been consistently excluded , first , by the military, who did so by legislative props and then, by their anointed iconoclasts. Some think that with the current sunset in the West, people in the Land of the Rising sun, should re-position themselves staunchly in the unfolding dispensation, before Igbo lethargy becomes an acute sociological problem. I disagree, the sins of the arrow-heads of the Luciferian hierarchy in Nigeria, should not be used to rubbish a race. I will comment on the Yoruba in Nigerian history, in due course. Having lived and worked among them for twenty-seven years, I am eminently experienced to enter a fair assessment of the race, without prejudice. At BOSAS INTERNATIONAL LAW BUREAU, Abuja, we run a weekly dialogue on national and International affairs. The audience is growing as we try to find solutions to problems of national development. Join us. Edie's article touched me and I am sure he will understand my concern. After all , the writer’s joy manifests glowingly, when he or she awaken thoughts. Professor Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, has received universal acclaim because, the story stirs deep reflections. I told him so in 1974, when I interviewed him for an American magazine, long before he went to teach and live in the United States of America.
What has kept the Igbo people going is the remnant of that "anyi ga adi" spirit and like the 300 million Chinese Christians, a strong belief in Chukwu or Chineke or Osebuluwa, depending on the dialect you speak. Those, who perceive these musings as a challenge, would be right, otherwise, they would be wrong. That Umu Israel have allowed recent Nigerian history to recede so quickly in their memories, will remain an evanescent mystique".

* Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai is the Academic Chancellor, Bosas International Law Bureau, ABUJA, FCT. He grew up at ABA, in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria.

WHAT A FANTASY!

Behold the greatest sore loser of all times, Hilary Clinton! This is an embodiment of someone who has lived in a lying environment for so long that truth assumes the toga of a lie and vice versa. Monica Lewinsky, it did not happen? Bosnia sniper fire, it did not happen? I am running to win when there is nothing else remaining to be won, it did not happen? We made over $100million dollars USD and therefore we are not elitists, it did not happen? I am for the working class of Americans, it did not happen? Mrs Delusional what do you need to see happen before you wake up from this your coma and realize you have lost the battle for Democratic Party Presidential nomination? Will that be a President Barack Obama saying "so help me God" during his swearing in oath of office in January 2009? Hilary Clinton, it appears lives in a fantasy island where her version of reality is far different from that of a reasonable man in any given society. Her continuous assertion that she is the "strongest candidate" has so far, not been reflected in the polls that one is forced to ask, what is the paradigm for this her continuous extrapolation that her candidacy is the strongest! Only Hilary herself, her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea who can take the world into the mind of this presidential candidate wanna-be nominee and tell us what their game plan is; otherwise we call it for what it is - hallucination! Icheoku can only hope that this her sorry mental state does not metamorphose into a complete psychiatric breakdown needing long time medical intervention and rehabilitation. Only time will tell, Hilary Clinton, please wake up and smell the coffee, it is OVER or what part of that don't you understand?

IT IS OVER, HILARY CLINTON!

She is toast! The results are in and Barack Obama has survived the Rev Jeremiah Wright's anti America and his San Francisco bitter comments. Both were the albatross that nearly derailed his impeccable campaign. Only a miracle of fuzzy mathematics will now resurrect Hilary Clinton's campaign. But are we going to allow this her "if you calculate as i do" tactics to hold sway? As you know the Clintons have their own very prism wherein things are the way they are because they said so. They have different lens with which they see things - they live in a mirage! It is not going to happen and not this time. This is time to finally say the requiem. Adios Clintons and may America be forever spared of your shenanigans. So long!

IGBO REPUBLICANISM - an article by Kizito Ike Osuji

That the Igbo of Nigeria are unapologetically republican in nature is a fact; but whether or not this is a blessing or a curse in the context of Nigeria’s politics is debatable. Whereas one school of thought posits that this is a curse which is at the root of current Igbo marginalization and neglect, the other sees it as a blessing and the catalyst for the significant self help progress made by the Igbo in education, commerce and infrastructural development of Igbo land, even as successive Nigerian governments intensify the neglect and marginalization of the Igbo and Igbo land.
The recently concluded convention of Nigeria’s ruling political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the election of its national officers according to their zoning arrangement, which produced an Igbo, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, as it’s national chairman, has brought again to the fore the lingering question; is the famed republicanism of the Igbos a blessing or a curse? I invite you to a discourse.
But first, let me quickly get this out of the way; this is not a judgment on the qualification of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, the new PDP chairman. As far as qualification goes, I have nothing to suggest Chief Ogbulafor is not; he is Igbo, well educated, with a well honed political pedigree, and not known to be one of those “political rogues”, rather, this is about whether the Igbo have turned one of their greatest positive attributes to a negative and how that has played and continues to play out in Nigeria’s political equations? It is also whether on the one hand the Igbo complain of marginalization, and rightly so, while on the other hand offer to other more political astute ethnic groups the weapons to further marginalize them? Why do I say so? It disheartening that a slot meant for the Igbo that could have been decided in Enugu or some Igbo town by the Igbo and presented on the national stage was foisted on them by outsiders, all because they could not forge a concensus.
I am inclined to believe that the republican nature of the Igbo is a positive trait, it served the Igbo well in the past and could continue to serve them well today and in the future, but in the recent Nigerian history it has manifested as a curse, and only because it has been adulterated and infused with individualism in the most crass form. Today, the term republican as is understood and ascribed to the Igbo is a curse. The Igbo must return to the term’s original content or forever roam the Nigerian political wilderness. Here is my argument.
“Igbo enweghi eze” (Igbo have no King) was a mantra that the Igbos proudly chorused like a badge of honor, and it indeed was. Yes, was. In the glorious era, the traditional Igbo society was an egalitarian republican society where every adult male had a say in the rendezvous of “umunna”, even if the “titled men” had their way. There was always a robust discussion where the impatience and urgency of the youth, the experience of the titled men, and the wisdom of the elderly, all had their say before coalescing into the decision of the community, the disobedience of which attracted repudiation and sanction. In matters appurtenant to women their views were sounded. This democratic approach to civic duties afforded ventilation to all shades of opinions and concerns, filtered greed, selfishness and egotism, and enabled a popular stand to evolve amidst built in checks and balances. With a bellowing chant of “Igbo kwenu!” and an affirmative chorus of “yeah!’ the collective decision was sealed. That was then. Regrettably, while the bellowing chants of “Igbo Kwenu!” are still heard at Igbo gatherings today, the responsive chorus of “yeah!” has increasingly become mellow and unenthusiastic. These days, wherever you hear an enthusiastic “yeah!” take a close look, it is the scripted response from the cracked voices of a motley crowd of “the otinkpus” (sycophants) hanging around the big masquerade, waiting for the crumbs from the table.
The mantra “Igbo enweghi eze” is now nothing more than a metaphor for crass individualism. The term has also been dubiously used as justification for selfish voyages, and for courses of action that are repugnant to the very ideals on which the Igbo society was built and served. The consequence of this is that while the other ethnic groups have strengthened their position and advanced their interest in the Nigerian Project, the Igbo which used to be one leg of the tripod on which Nigeria stood is today of little or no significance. It’s preeminent and trail blazing status has been decimated.
As an Igbo I wonder, is this republicanism in this crass individualistic form something innate in us we should have seen coming? Nothing in all the accounts of Igbo origin or mythology suggests that, whether it is the mythology of the Nri progenitor or that traced to the Hebrews of biblical Israel. If this troubling trend of individualism that is destroying the very fabric and essence of the Igbo has not been part of our nature where then did it come from?
The present sorry state of the Igbo nation in the Nigerian political context did not happen over night, and there are sundry reasons for that, however, to say, as some have argued, that the Igbo today are like sheep without Shepherd because they do not have a common monarchical authority around which they can rally and articulate their position and interest, is to detract from the issue and deny the fact that Igbo republicanism worked in the past. Some have also argued that the present individualism of the Igbo is a natural progression from their republican nature, only waiting to transmute when the time is right, and that time they say has come.
It is my belief and I submit that the present dysfunctional political compass of the Igbo is one of the major fallouts of the Nigeria/Biafra war. Without doubt the war was a devastating blow on the fortunes, unity and psyche of the Igbo from which we are yet to recover, but even more devastating were the policies of systematic, if not brazen, containment, deprivation and marginalization by successive Nigerian governments since the end of the war and which foisted on the Igbo this on your own mentality, the virus that has been gradually killing the Igbo nation. We have lost as consequence thereof, a society with intrinsic progressive qualities, a society with inherent methodology for decision making, leadership vetting and ascendancy. As Prof Chinua Achebe succinctly put it in describing the demise of Umuofia in Things Fall Apart, an apt description of Igbo of today’s Nigeria; a knife has been put in the things that held us together and the center can no longer hold.
Here are some illustrations. When the administration of General Yakubu Gowon upon the cessation of hostilities and surrender of Biafra, treated the Igbos as the vanquished, even while declaring NO VICTOR NO VANQUISHED, and proceeded to hand out the paltry 20 pounds sterling for any amount of cash previously owned by any Biafran person or family, followed by implementation of series of emasculating policies like the Abandoned Property Decree and the Indigenization Decree, the mortal blows were effectively struck. The bruising effects are still sore today; self centeredness, greed, and ambivalence.
We have seen Igbo leaders stand hands akimbo watching states and local governments’ creations, as well as census exercises in Nigeria, drive the Igbo into insignificance. From one leg of the tripod to just 5 out of 36 (plus one) states, we have become inconsequential. Census after census the Igbo population has continued to shrink in proportion to other regions, almost like the Igbos adopted China’s one child policy. Today, the entire population of the entire South East zone is only marginally more than those Lagos or Kano States. Where were the Igbo leaders when this political gamesmanship was going on?
An Igbo re-awakening in the form of demand for inclusion of state of origin in the last census as a way of demonstrating real Igbo population across board, particularly in states like Lagos and Kano, was roundly shut down without as much as a quibble from our leaders let alone declare the threatened boycott. The result of this do-nothing and sidon-look is that today revenue allocation and constituency delineations are on the basis of states, local government areas and population. Any surprise therefore, that a fraction of a single zone in the north or west could equate or cancel out the entire Igbo strength in the National Assembly.
When General Sani Abacha died, General Abdusalami Abubakar, the new Head of State, announced a firm commitment to return to democracy and blew the take off whistle. Like every other ethnic group south of Niger /Benue confluence, the Igbo joined in the clamor for the presidency to be zoned to them. We were not beaten in the articulation of reasons for such clamor, but crushed in that quest by reasons of poor strategy, crass individualism, and lack of leadership. While other groups were coming together to form a united front and a consensus around their common strength as a basis for matching other groups or forming an alliance for the preservation of their interest, the Igbo from every corner and of every shade was declaring for the presidency rather than coalescing around a consensus candidate or around Dr Alex Ekwueme who seemed our best shot then.
The senate presidency, a position the ruling PDP zoned to the Igbos in 1999, could not even be chosen by us. When momentarily it appeared the Igbo had come together behind a pan Igbo choice; Dr Chuba Odadigbo, our more astute political zones panicked at this Igbo consensus and set out to halt it. The rest as they say is history. Senator Evan Enwerem became the senate president. Even when Senator Enwerem lost out of the power game and Dr Okadigbo re-emerged, they made sure his hallways and pathways were laden with banana peels, and sure enough, he slipped and crashed out. A booby trap had been laid and the carrot was dangling in the face of every Igbo senator. One after the other they cut down senate presidents thus ridiculing the Igbo and the post, the one post the Igbo got in the power sharing arrangement.
After President Obasanjo’s 3rd term bid failed and it became obvious that a vacancy existed in Aso Rock, the Igbo again joined other zones in the clamor for the presidency to be zoned to them, but while other zones were strategizing how to achieve this, the Igbo were individually fighting on their own and falling over each other doing it.
Recently, following the election of a northerner, Alhaji Yar Adua, as the president, the ruling party the PDP re-zoned political and party posts, leaving for the Igbo this time the post of party chairman. No sooner that the whistle was blown than over thirty Igbos announced they were in the race. They could not come together behind one of them, and there was no Igbo leader or association to help determine who was in the best interest of the Igbo and help forge a united front behind him or her. We have seen the result, it was the Governors who got together and said to the Igbo and all; take or leave it! Ogbulafor it shall be, and so it became. Even if that deft move failed, the alternative would have been Dr Sam Egwu, the former governor of Eboenyi State, President Obasanjo’s candidate. Either way, none was the Igbo candidate chosen by the Igbo to fill a slot zoned to the Igbo.
Should we begrudge the other ethnic groups for our fate? No. They too legitimately fear a runaway Igbo race lapping the others in the race for progress and development, and they are smart enough, not only to fear this, but to know how to prevent it. And you can see this in the way and manner they have prevented the Igbo from forging any common front on any national issue, with the result that they decide for us, and even chose for us who occupy the crumbs the often skewed arrangements have left for us, and when they like, they change the occupiers whether we like it or not. Even in times that token plum positions have gone the Igbo way, and quite a few have, they had made sure they chose stooges, and where not possible to get a stooge they planted snitches all around them such that the Igbo and Igbo land have fared worse during those interregnums. Because there were no Igbo influences in their appointments they owed no allegiance to the Igbo cause. We had Chief Onyema Ugochukwu head Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for years, we had Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu head Federal Road Emergency Management Agency (FERMA) for years, and also for years Dr Andy Uba was reputed to be President Obasanjo’s closest confidant, yet no tangible benefit to the Igbo may be attributable to these people from the offices they held or relationship they had.
Since the exit from the stage, and eventual demise, of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and his political acolytes, there have been no Shepherds to gather the flock, no credible conveners of Igbo discourse, and no leaders to articulate Igbo views and champion their cause.
Today, what we have is a cacophony from all manner of groups mushrooming about, purporting to champion Igbo cause and looking well intentioned on paper and in their rhetoric, but whose leaders’ sometimes dubious intentions, manifest so soon after the launch. Groups like Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and MASSOB once held so much promise but soon began to self destruct from greed and power tussle as in the case of Ohaneze, and incoherent plan of action and illegible road map as in the case of MASSOB.
In conclusion, as gloomy as the horizon may look I see silver lining in the sky reminding us that all is not lost. While the war was providential, our failure to rise again from the defeat and reclaim our position is a character failing that must be quickly addressed as a way forward. Whatever the prescription for Igbo renaissance and emancipation, the first step, at the minimum, is to have an authentic umbrella association for the Igbo, be it a new one or a revamped Ohaneze, in which our remaining men of staunch standing and following, both at home and in Diaspora belong and are active. An Ohaneze that has Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Ebitu Ukiwe, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prof Pat Utomi, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Dr Phillip Emeagwali, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Prof. Charles Soludo, Prof Chris Okeke, Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, just to mention a few, working together to set the Igbo agenda, articulate and harmonize our views and position, vet Igbo aspirants to public offices whether elective or appointive, define Igbo expectations of our politicians and monitor their performance, coordinate other Igbo groups and associations in line with the common objective, call to order or exact sanctions on deviants individual or group.