REAL MEN STAND UP TO THEIR BELIEVE.

"The greatest mistake Nigerians would make “is to give their mandate to an individual who does not believe in democracy.” - Governor Sule Lamido, Jigawa State

BUHARI CERTIFICATE-GATE, THE REAL UNFOLDING SCANDAL?

Icheoku says the certificate or no certificate saga of the APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari is suddenly taking air on its own because of the inconsistencies of explanations surrounding it. From 'my certificate is with the army' to 'YarAdua is my classmate' to now a released testimonial with a different name and varying subjects that were taken, as well as variations in relevant dates of consequence. In a more civilized society, the candidate would have since done the needful and stepped aside to avoid the current bleeding which the none satisfactory clarification of his qualifying credentials is causing his party. But a Nigerian society with so many contending disparate primordial interests, the parties with interest in his presidency, are huffing and puffing, and threatening Armageddon in their futile attempt to intimidate inquiries thereto, and desperately trying to sweep the matter under the carpet as if it is no big deal. 

Icheoku says assuming, ordinarily, it may not have been a big deal that a candidate's certificate was lost either during the Biafran war or in a fire or whatever circumstance, but for a candidate who has protested so much about his incorruptibility, such evidence of his certification and necessary qualification for office of the president therefore becomes an imperative. It touches and concerns the very root of his professed candor for truthfulness and capacity to keep upright and therefore he ought to validate same by producing his certificates. Only a cheat would not have necessary qualifying certificate and pretends otherwise to have it and Muhammadu Buhari has led the world to believe he is a Mother Theresa and should therefore prove same. Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari should satisfactorily explain the where-about of his necessary qualifying certificates and in any other event, step aside for lacking the necessary requisite qualification to become president of Nigeria. 

As a matter of fact, majority of these Northerners do not have formal qualifying education or training or even certificates.  Icheoku makes bold to state as follows that even the senate president David Mark did not finish school; Ibrahim Babangida too does not have any qualifying certificate; likewise the late maximum ruler and midget of Kano Sani Abacha. Jeremiah Useni also does not have qualifying certificate and same is Abdulsalam Abubabar as well as Atiku Abubakar and also the Customs Director Dikko and former IGP Abubabar. The problem with Nigerians is that they are often very selective in apportioning blame  otherwise the proper thing to do in this circumstance is to demand that every public official in Nigeria re-present their qualifying certificates for verification in order to make sure that they are properly suited for the job and offices to which they are appointed. 

Icheoku asks does it ever occur to Nigerians to ask why  their country continuously run out of gas and always in the negative charges, leading to series of its institutions disappearing over the years, including the Nigeria Airways, National Shipping Line etc. It is simply the result of a shifty feudal machinations that punishes merit and rewards mediocrity; which sees incompetents placed in authority, who do not have a clue or idea of what needs to be done to move things forward and stay the gears permanently engaged. Icheoku recalls that not too long ago the deputy senate president Ekweremadu lamented that in the senate close to 75% of senators cannot even read or write and are only interested in collecting their allowances and benefits; and then you wonder the kind of legislations that will be churning out therefrom. So what Icheoku is saying is that public officials' cheating on their curriculum vitae is pervasive in the country and that Buhari should not be needlessly singled out to hang alone.  

As one who has had an insider personal experience and knowledge dealing with the wide disparity in educational development/attainment in Nigeria, Icheoku says this Buhari certificate scandal is but a tip of the iceberg. Icheoku once lived in Birnin Kebbi, then Sokoto State and capital of present day Kebbi State before the December 31st 1983 Buhari coup that toppled Shehu Shagari. A very good friend was simultaneously doing his NYSC in the same town at the Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic as a teaching staff. One day I visited him and he was grading the students examination papers and low and behold, out of the over forty five candidates he had already finished grading their papers and scored, none of the students managed a pass - they were all below 32 percentile. He said he will take the matter up with the head of department and subsequently informed me that he was mandated to "grade to pass them" and should not worry about their proficiency or knowledge thereof their subject areas. 

Also for anyone who has lived in the core North, there is also a prevalent of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis as well as Indian staff throughout their system including medical staff and teaching staff as well as agricultural consultants. These people would rather hire these foreigners so called, than tenure their supposed fellow Nigerians from the South. Icheoku recalls that during the said stay in Birnin Kebbi, that the then State commissioner of health was on the television one day, decrying the poor state of health in the state as well as lack of indigenous medical doctors from the state, which he put at around ONLY TWO DOCTORS throughout the state. Today, the very same Sokoto State has been sub-divided into Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi States - just one state; but whether the health care situation has improved, Icheoku is not in a position to tell. In the same vein, then Kano State with its phantom forty-four local government areas, had Jigawa State carved out of it, and still retained its original forty four local governments areas and you wonder, what local governments area then constitutes the new Jigawa State. It is all scam.

The fact of the matter is that this Northwestern Nigerian people have been getting a free ride on the back of the camel called Nigeria and for so long that they have lost any sense of personal responsibility for anything; and unfortunately this is at a very great expense to everyone else in Nigeria who is not one of them. Also everything North is always about them such that they have produced four presidents and heads of state of Nigeria and now rearing to produce the fifth; and you ask yourself how about the other Northerners? So the real question should be for other Nigerians to demand that everyone actually sit down and address all these existing imbalances and inequities in Nigeria; and if the concluded National Conference covered this, then lets implement them. The only fear is that the conference is also an issue in this election as an APC win will spell death to it because they are against it. Imagine this people for example, banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in their domain, yet they partake in the disbursement of VAT revenue derived from taxes levied on sale of alcoholic beverages in the South and other places where people are still allowed to consume such drinks. 

Anyway, Icheoku will stop thus far because often times, delving into this people's arrant arrogance makes Icheoku wanna puke. It is quite unfortunate that they were allowed by other Nigerians to get away with this much and for too long; and once again they are impetuously queuing up behind one of their own Miyetti Allah member to again run for president when he is not even qualified to so do. To them, it would appear that different rules applies to different people in Nigeria and this certificate requirement should not apply to them; after all they were born that way - BORN TO RULE, no questions asked. Icheoku says it is about time Nigerians called their bluff, rise up in unison and tell them enough. This 2015 they must be told to their face, "if other Nigerians cannot rule them, they cannot be allowed to rule other Nigerians', period! Who gives a damn if their founding father conquered Northern Nigeria; Nigerians have got their independence from Britain and must also declare their independence from these Hausa/Fulanis of Northwestern Nigeria. So Buhari, Icheoku says show your certificate or take the exit door out of the presidential race NOW!

BOKO HARAM, A MERE REGIONAL PROBLEM - JAMES SPARKS

"The stack difference is that while world leaders are in complete solidarity and outrage against what happened in France. Truly, that should be surprising because what is happening in Nigeria is real madness, but it is not a priority. The United States can get rid of Boko Haram in Nigeria if it wants. It could be a long-term effort, but it can be done. The US has the capability, it has all the elements and power to do it, but it is just not a priority. 

This is the problem, we are committed elsewhere in the world, but black or Western Africa, is not the US priority. That is the case right now and it may be hard to say but Boko Haram is just a mere regional issue. But if it appears in some other regions of the world, like white Africa, which is North Africa, or in the Middle East or somewhere else, we would be alarmed into doing something to stop it. But for now it is a mere regional issue which can wait.” - Major General James Sparks, US Army, retired. 

Icheoku says Nigerians now you know why there is no help coming forth from the West towards fighting Boko Haram; because as far as these white people are concerned, Nigerians and black Africans lives as well as black Americans lives, don't matter to these White people.

TEAM JONATHAN 2015, HEDGE YOUR BETS WITH CAUTION?

Icheoku asks what would Nigerians do if they wake up on February 15, 2015 to find the reality of a defeated President Goodluck Jonathan? Like it happened in Ghana few years ago when sitting President John Agyekum Kufuor lost his reelection bid to the opposition, how would Nigerians react, faced with such similar situation? Would it be a pall of mourning and grief cast over the nation or would it be an exultant and jubilant citizens, thanking the almighty for a good riddance? What type of exhilaration and excitement would it be that would herald an elected new president named Muhammadu Buhari; or would Nigerians, like King David, throw ashes on themselves and in loin sack clothes, mourn the cruel fate which suddenly became their portion? Icheoku says the only one way anyone would know is to live till that fateful day and find out for themselves. 

However, Icheoku dreads the Buhari-outcome so much the thought alone is akin to having a drowning-nightmare; admitted not necessarily because we are that invested in Jonathan, no, but simply because Icheoku is convinced that Jonathan is a lesser evil that Muhammadu Buhari. But unfortunately Icheoku has his fears and the tell-tale signs everywhere  are not helping Icheoku to overcome these fears. They seem to suggest otherwise differently, including an apparent  handwriting on the wall of Aso Rock reading "Mene Mene Tekel, Upharsin" and foretelling a possible post Valentine's day 2015 occupant therein, whose name is not even found in the Bible? Icheoku does not want nor wish or desire this outcome because of the resident-evil who might benefit from such an eviction; but fast developing circumstances has forced Icheoku to prepare for whatever outcome that flows from the election of February 14 and hopefully, you will do the same. Like a popular aphorism goes, the expectation of the worse is usually the beginning of a life of liberty and one free of agonizing misery. 

Just few days ago, the PDP deputy governor of Niger State Cletus Ibeto defected to the APC with his supporters? Although many die hard Jonathanists might dismiss the development as just an ordinary disgruntled deputy governor leaving the party, but it is still part of the bleeding which the PDP is lately suffering which no member of Team Jonathan have yet found a bandage to stop. Icheoku maintains that President Jonathan, if he loses this election, will have himself to blame as he is doing so many things wrong and has not decisively stepped up his game like someone with some fire in his belly and desiring something so badly it hurts. Imagine a president from the Niger Delta South-south going into a major election against a Fulani North-westerner and left his party's chairmanship still in the hand of a Fulani man? So also is the NSA also in a Fulani hand; the Defense Ministry in a Fulani hand; the IGP in a Fulani hand; the INEC in a Fulani hand; even his own campaign chair he equally left in a Fulani hand? Not even the bombast and bomb-throwing Ojo Maduekwe was deployed into battle by Team Jonathan and you wonder what is the hidden secret they are planning to use in order not to lose the keys to Aso Rock? So Icheoku queries what manner of a political operative would so naively trust his reelection in the hands of the kindred of his opponent and expect them to work assiduously to help him defeat one of their own brother? Icheoku does not know about you but this Jonathan is exhibiting every trait of a puerile politician, too trusting and in the wrong people. What motivation would make these team of Fulanis, whose people desperately want a power shift, to work against or to prevent such stated agenda with such a Jonathan-given golden opportunity at midwifing a power shift through a Buhari presidency? Icheoku says any investor in Team Jonathan 2015, who like an ostrich has dug his/her head in the sand and pretending that all is well with the Jonathan campaign, would have some teeth gnashing to do on the morning of February 15, 2015 if the momentum on the other side continues as it is. 

Icheoku laments that for a sitting president to be lacking a  real traction with his campaign, at this stage of his reelection bid, with barely just three weeks left, does not bode well. Icheoku wonders why the president did not take his campaign directly to the Nigerian people and like President Obama did, make them the decider in chief instead of his botched planned reliance on Olusegun Obasanjo which now left the President somewhat stranded with no Plan B to surge on. The erosion his campaign is suffering is such that even in PDP previously controlled firm states, it is no longer at ease with Jonathan. Just a few short days ago, while Team Jonathan was campaigning in Anambra State, Dame Patience had to claim the citizenship of Anambra State when she pleaded, "Ndi Anambra, please if not for any other thing, please vote for your inlaw"? Her statement left Icheoku wondering if Dame "dar is god ooooo" is no longer from Rivers State but now an Anambra woman, just to curry votes? Icheoku berates, if indeed her husband Jonathan did something great for "Ndi Anambra" or at least delivered on his 2011 promises, would she have a need to claim citizenship of the state or descend to such emotive sentimental evocation just to get their votes? Unfortunately, the report card is practically the same everywhere, throughout Nigeria; that even his Niger Delta terrorist compatriots MEND, whom he had cause to defend in the past, even threw their support to the other guy. 

Anyway, any critical observer would agree that President Jonathan has some serious challenges going into this election and that in no state does he have a commanding lead including in his own Bayelsa State; and you wonder if not in Bayelsa, is it Katsina State that he would then win convincingly? Icheoku has observed repeatedly and is once again here observing that President Jonathan did not perform creditably well enough otherwise his record would have been his best campaign tool. Ordinarily he would have been campaigning at every state by pointing to this and that as the things he has already done with further promises to do more if reelected. He would have compelled that village woman to say the person that put this borehole for me is  the person that I know and who I will vote for. But where there is nothing to campaign on, his team can only claw on needless distractions such as his opponent's lack of producing a qualifying certificate, advanced old age and/or nearing his grave? Furthermore, if Jonathan's apologists and town criers are to be believed that their man is a wonder-worker, who has wrought so many miracles of developments in Nigeria thus far, why does their man still need anybody's validation before Nigerians? In a democracy, a candidate takes his campaign straight to the electorates and does not need to beg Olusegun Obasanjo to validate him before Nigerians. 

Instead as a sitting president for this past one, two, three, four, five or six years, depending on how anyone chose to count Jonathan's number of years in office, has Jonathan not got enough name recognition to go forth and campaign for a second term based on provable accomplishments? Has Jonathan never heard of the legal maxim "res ipsa loquitur" and that his achievements should have been his best advertiser and not the 'Alusi (deity) Ota. That good wine needs no bush is not just a mere aphorism or statement but a truism of practical applicability. No one disputes a fact standing before one's eyes and there is the fork in the road of a president seeking a reelection but one who has not adequately accounted for the years he was granted a lease on the seat of power to deserve its extension or renewal. As a solution-based guy and one not easily given to plenty of emotional sentiments, Icheoku desires to see the evidence, that the same four years which it takes to graduate from college or university, is not enough time for a president to have left some indelible marks on the landscape of Nigeria; otherwise Obafemi Awolowo would not have declared that he just wanted to be president for just 24 hours.

Ordinarily a well performed president, who met and surpassed the peoples expectations, would just stand by, hands akimbo, and let his records speak and campaign for him. But now, like a deer stuck in front of a high beam, President Jonathan is running around and looking for somebody to bail him out and lie to Nigerians that their president performed brilliantly so well that he earned a second term. But every dispassionate and truthful Nigerian knows the reason for the current hysteria and panic in Aso Rock with February 14 fast approaching. It is because there is no substantial record to run on, all things considered; and having alienated all his primary constituencies including his erstwhile Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who has since abandoned ship and pitched his tent elsewhere, the president is now crawling for every and any life-support for his 2015 project which he can find. Also the Nigerian coup plotting army generals are now ganging up against Jonathan; except that no one should be truly surprised that these democracy deniers are once again standing against an elected president seeking a reelection; after all, they overthrew a former elected President Shehu Shagari. 

Just for the records, Icheoku is only airing what filtered through our information gathering network as Icheoku has no greater desire than to see Jonathan secure a second term because of reasons already previously canvassed. But as a precaution, Icheoku urges all those people who are so vested and have sworn in the outcome of a reelected President Jonathan, to please tread softly in their anticipation, just in case. There is nothing more convulsing in life than to be unprepared when a jolt of a rude shock comes anyone's way. So fellas, ask yourselves, in the event February 15 comes without the expected outcome, are you cushioned enough to absorb the shock? Like sports, politics should be a game playfully played without so much heart-wrenching and heart-wrecking investment therein; it comes around ever four years, so if you don't win this time, may be next time. 

Finally, Icheoku says anything short of an outright victory by the PDP over the APC and which gives the APC any basis to also simultaneously declare victory, might give the Western countries including America and Britain reason to quickly recognize the APC-led government as the legitimate government of Nigeria. These white people are not interested in helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram but the speed with which they would intervene in the event of an inconclusive election, will shock many Nigerians. Similarly if APC wins and Asari Dokubo and co want to start another trouble in the Niger Delta, they would have the US Marines as well as the British special forces to contend with. Please Nigerians, let everyone, regardless of party affiliation, include the February 14 election in their supplications to whatever they believe in and ask that what the enemies of Nigeria have planned and mapped out and are ready to implement towards destroying the country will not be our portion IJN. Icheoku, speaking matter of factily, is indeed more troubled with the post election consequences than who eventually wins the election. But hey, simply just my thoughts. Salute!

ENUGU STATE PDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE, DANGEROUSLY OVERWEIGHT?

Icheoku says with extra pounds of unneeded flesh in excess of 250lbs and on a frame of less than six feet tall, the Enugu State PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi might be an accident waiting to happen? Icheoku asks is the guy simply waiting to first explode or burst open, before he look at himself in the mirror with his eyes wide open and see that his size is a health emergency seriously knocking on his door? What would it take to sensitize the governor-in-the-waiting to truly understand that excessive weight is an unhealthy life risk and that he needs to declare a life emergency now and do something about his overweight obese condition. Icheoku calls on this guy to go forth and map out a Marshal plans geared towards drastically reducing and shedding off those extra load of flesh which no one needs and definitely not a guy soon to be burdened by the duties of running a state. The candidate needs all the health and lightness of both the head and body to properly function and function optimally too. 

Icheoku does not wish him any harm, but judging by how FAT he is, it is just a matter of time before something very catastrophic happens, either before or after his election as governor of Enugu State in 2015 or anytime soon thereafter? Icheoku is emphatic that the PDP governorship candidate is certainly overweight and there is nothing sexy nor healthy in bearing such extra load of flesh when he could easily do without it. But unfortunately his town criers and people leeching off him will be telling him only things musical to his ears and would be praising him for looking indeed "WELL FED"; but that is besides the point. The fact of the matter is that medical sciences have determined that excessive weight is dangerous and when added to the extra stress that is running a state, might jeopardize the person's life. Ironically too, the guy's pet name is "GBURUGBURU" which literally means "ROUNDLY", and you wonder if a name ever played this type of cruel joke on its bearer. 

Icheoku does not care what his town criers are probably telling him about his weight and deceitfully too; and it also does not matter to Icheoku how much he has made representing the people of his constituency in the National Assembly, but at least he has to be alive and healthy in order to enjoy his life. Moreso, as he is now answering the call for a higher office as soon to be  governor of Enugu State, he needs to smarten up his appearance and personal appeal, not political appeal, by losing some of these excess weight. Icheoku says the people of Enugu State want to enjoy his governance as well as its second term; but would not be happy to have a governor who will be in and out of the hospital or a governor who is battling debilitating diseases or who will fall victim of a sudden heart-attack by reason of being overweight. Icheoku maintains that being obese or over-weight is neither cool nor sexy; and the demands of the office of governor takes a toll on a person and an overweight person will be worse for it. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, a "GBURUGBURU" governor in USA, was similarly overweight and was forced to do something about it. 

Furthermore, what type of a moral giver and health advisor would an overweight governor be to the young impressionable people of Enugu State, who will suddenly assume that it is suddenly okay to pack the pounds, after all their governor says so, with his own looks? Icheoku says the health negatives of having excessive weight is legion, including diabetes, gastroenteritis, arrhythmia, organ failure, apnea, lack of quality of life, laziness, clumsiness,   sluggishness, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypertension, heart attack as a result of a heart laden with so much pumping-grounds to irrigate that it just can handle it anymore and suddenly packs up. Icheoku will not belabor this issue any further, but hereby urges and calls on Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu State Governor-in-the-waiting, to please loose some weight. If it means gastric bypass surgery, hiring a dietitian, a personal trainer or even doing personal FASTING, just get it done. Whatever it will take will be a good measure and an effort well undertaken; but please get rid of those excess pounds.

FATHER MBAKA'S VILIFICATION, A LYNCHING OF THE MESSENGER?

Icheoku rejects the current holier than thou piling-on and condemnation of Reverend Father Mbaka, coming from all corners and shades in Nigeria, as unwholesome and undeserving. What did the man do, other than speak truth to power in a country where such display of rare courage is in a very short supply. What offense did he commit to warrant his being harangued and hung up to dry in this manner? Icheoku queries, is it that what the man said is not true or that he shouldn't have said it in the first place? What did he say that feeds the shark of the current mob action, harpooning a Reverend Father who merely braved the truth about the sordid situation in the country,  brought about by a clueless government of a shoeless man from Otuoke? 

Ichoeku reminds Nigerians that Professor Wole Soyinka agrees that the man in Father Mbaka has not died and faced with so much tyranny of the government of the day as well as those it succeeded, decided to speak up. But in a heathen society like Nigeria, which abhors truth and where going up against the grain is always frowned at, it has become an abominable act to call it as you see it; and this is the only offense for which Father Mbaka is being crucified? In defense of Mbaka, Icheoku says Nigerians are probably the most abhorable things walking on two legs in this planet earth, otherwise why didn't they first ask themselves if there is any scintilla or iota of truth in what the man said before embarking on their current lynch-mob attack? Why all the shouts of crucify him, crucify him, when he is neither Barabas nor Jesus; and did not commit any crucifiable offense to warrant his head on a platter? 

Icheoku decries the madness that is the attack on Father Mbaka because it smacks of an unthinking mob action, wherein attacking the messenger rather than the message is a fair game because without the messenger there would not be a message. A more conscionable society would have first examined the content of the message to see if Father Mbaka lied or exaggerated his facts and then approach their response accordingly; but not this full throttle barrage of attack on an innocent truth speaker or rather call him whistle blower on the inept administration. The matter is even made worse because some cassock wearing supposedly men of "God" have joined the motley crowd in hauling bricks at this man. Instead of coming to the defense of their courageous colleague, they are now part of the irate mob demanding for the head of John the Baptist on a platter of appeasement for the Lord of Manor at Aso Rock.  They are condemning Mbaka for what he said when they should have, in support, upped the ante by joining him in holding all these uncaring and unfeeling governments to account for all the unfulfilled promises they made to the electorates. 

Stuff like this, what a man said about a government, can only take such whirlwind reaction in a country where mundane  and primitive believe in something still rules very supreme. Just because of what one man said, the whole country is running around to denounce him with some calling for this resignation or being defrocked and saying that he must have listened to the wrong God or that his vision is from something else other than their own true God? A people now the scorn of a world, which is beginning to question if every Nigerian has gone mental with the manner they now proclaim a direct line of relationship and fellowship with "God?" Nigerians fantastical fellowship with God have left many in the world wondering in bewilderment, if the Jewish people, who historically are "God's" own chosen people, have suddenly lost that position to Nigerians? Even the Jews are not this fanatical with their claims of having a connection with God, despite that Jesus is one of their own kinsman. But in Nigeria, every tom, dick and harry now claims one form of nexus or the other with the heavens and allegedly hears voices; and you wonder if they are all afflicted with some form of schizophrenia? It has also become  fashionable in Nigeria to direct-dial heaven in a sort of sociology with heaven; and Icheoku wonders if indeed these people are receiving any message from anywhere or are merely hearing voices in their heads and other surround noises around them?  

Icheoku asks if indeed these people are hearing or receiving messages from "God" and there is only one God, why are these messages varied and not exactly of the same uniformity across the board? Also why does God not just settle on one person and telephone all his messages through him or her for onward distribution to the rest of his Nigerian people? But may be these people have their own various "Gods" respectively, who speak to them personally and privately, otherwise it does not make sense to have so many people claiming a direct telephone line with God yet getting different messages. Icheoku asks in that situation,  which of them would be a more reliable source of heavenly information, which the people of Nigeria can rely on or through which they can channel back their own communications to the heavens? How would Nigerians indeed know what the real wishes of God for them is or what God has planned for them and/or their government amidst these disparate links with heaven. So query, if Father Mbaka's God says Jonathan is finished and Pastor Joshua's God says Jonathan is not finished, which of the clergy would Nigerian people believe and rely on to make their future plans based on what they said God decreed or the message they said God conveyed to the people through them? 

Icheoku says underneath all the noises and kitchen-sinks being thrown at Mbaka, could be found the main problem and likely real reason why he is being piled on. It is simply  because he is an Igbo man and as an Igbo man, he should not be heard to contribute or say anything about the happenings in Nigeria? It would appear that the rest of Nigerians are free to contribute to debates in Nigeria but not the conquered Igbo man, who is forbidden from adding his voice to the discourse. Like many other things involving the Igbo man in Nigeria, Mbaka's antagonists were furious that Mbaka dared voice his concerns about what is going wrong in the country, not that what he said was not true or false or made up? They are angry at the messenger irrespective of the truthfulness of the message conveyed; otherwise what did Mbaka say that was not a rehash of what so many other people have said in the past before? From Olusegun Obasanjo to Archbishop Olubumni Okogie to Governor Kwankwaso to El Rufai to Bola Tinubu to Lai Mohammed to Muhammadu Buhari to Rotimi Amaechi to John Odigie Oyegun to Adams Oshiomhole to Muritala Nyako to Sule Lamido to Abubakar Atiku to Babatunde Fashola to even Femi Fani Kayode and every other person who comments on Nigerian political situation or comatose, all have said similar if not worse thing before Mbaka.  

Strangely no one is disputing the fact of consequence that what Mbaka courageously pointed out are true; but their beef happens to be who said it and why should he say it? Some creeps even went to the extent to point out that as a clergy, he should not dabble into political matters or say stuff like that against a political office holder? To these people, Icheoku asks what is Olubunmi Okogie? What is Tunde Bakare? What is Yemi Osibanjo? What is John Odigie Oyegun? What is Reverend Father Moses Adasu? Icheoku admonishes that Reverend Mbaka would not be the first man in cassock to dabble into politics in Nigeria and that he reserves the inalienable right to so do, if he chooses. 

So now that it has been established that Father Mbaka rightly pointed out the things he pointed out, could Team Jonathan 2015 therefore rebut Reverend Father Mbaka and tell Ndigbo what their man has done for them lately to deserve their votes again this February 14, 2015. This is what is paramount and not what all these praise singers are mouthing and surprisingly Okogie inclusive, who went further to say that he would have closed the Adoration Ministry if he could?  Icheoku asks Olubunmi Okogie, did anyone close his arch diocese or parish in Lagos when he was actively involved in politics as Archbishop of Lagos fighting, commenting and criticizing every governments of the day during his time? Even when he recently called current CAN President Oritsejafor names because of his plane's involvement in the arms deal scandal in South Africa, he did not remember he was adorning cassock and dabbling in politics; yet no one called him out or said Okogie, remember you are a clergy and you should know your place? But for Father Mbaka, Okogie is now playing God and usurping the right to seat in judgment over him? 

Icheoku calls on Nigerians to be matured in their criticism and to understand that fairness is an universal palliative; that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. If you are going to criticize Fagther Mbaka for making a statement considered dabbling in politics, for God's sake, please do also criticize Olubunmi Okogie when he makes similar political utterance. But to be selective and partial with things like that riles Icheoku badly and this is reason Icheoku descended into the arena in defense of Father Mbaka. No one, especially those living in glass house, like Archibishop Olubunmi Okogie, should throw stone at Father Mbaka for merely saying what is there for the world to see and confirm as truth; also no one has the right to dictate what anyone including Father Mbaka can or cannot say in Nigeria. Icheoku says, like every other Nigerian, Father Mbaka enjoys the freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution, which President Jonathan affirmed severally to uphold and never to interfere with. So who are these people criticizing Father Mbaka and under which authority are they acting? Who made them judge over Mbaka or a censor of what is an acceptable speech by a clergy? 

Icheoku says let the truth ring out from Adoration Ministry grounds to Aso Rock to Lagos to Kano to Chibok to Sokoto to Port Harcourt and even to Otuoke that Jonathan has left so many Nigerians holding the plate. Like Osita Okechuwu once said, he is the former shoeless kid who became president and forgot the shoeless of Nigeria. Icheoku is emphatic that Father Mbaka spoke the truth when he said President Jonathan Goodluck has failed Ndigbo by not fulfilling his election promises of 2011. Icheoku says Father Mbaka spoke the truth when he said Jonathan failed in his duties as commander in chief by not arresting Muhammadu Buhari when he said he will make the country ungovernable for him. Icheoku harps that Father Mbaka spoke the truth when he said that millions of unemployed but employable youths are milling around in the country without jobs or any hope of finding one. Icheoku maintains that Father Mbaka spoke the truth when he said that insecurity is a serious problem in the country. Icheoku adds voice to Father Mbaka who spoke the truth when he said or implied that the same God who anointed Saul, King of Israel equally dis-anointed him in preference of David. Icheoku says regarding every other thing ancillary to what he said or connotation thereat, including his expressed concluding opinion, his freedom of speech right covers all of that; regardless of how unpalatable it may sound or be to the powers at Aso Rock or any other quarters in Nigeria  But in any other event, like President Jonathan once said, 'who gives a damn'. 

YORUBA WILL VOTE APC, THE YARDUA EFFECT CONSIDERED?

Icheoku says the Oduduwa nation would be voting for the APC come this February 14, 2015 and for a single strategic reason. Their calculation is simply that another YarAdua-windfall is once again in the offing and beckoning in the person of sick and old Muhammadu Buhari?  This would give them another quick shot at the presidency of Nigeria and so soon after their first rejected son had served their regions eight years two terms presidency. According to their calculation, since Jonathan became president by default of Umaru Yar'Adua's demise and since the vice president usually steps in to finish whatever is left of the term of such departed president, their "best president Nigeria never had" could eventually materialize by proxy of Awolowo's son in-law, APC vice presidential candidate Yemi Osinbanjo? 
This conspiracy theory seems to take flight because Muhammadu Buhari is advanced in age and his health is rumored not to be quite stellar; and given that the Ota Deity is always up to no good; his present support for the Buhari/Osibanjo APC ticket is suspect and may have something to do with this fast developing Oduduwa concert. Even Mr Kongi himself, Wole Soyinka who had previously denounced Muhammadu Buhari in his "Crimes of Buhari" treatise, has now denied ever endorsing any one and you ask yourself whether he also wants to withdraw his earlier criticism of Buhari as being unfit for and undeserving of Nigerian presidency? Icheoku says the answer could be found in the  ever unwavering "kpalakpo" camaraderie of the Yorubas in Yorubaland. Icheoku wishes that Ndigbo could somehow emulate this Yoruba common purpose on issues involving their race in Nigeria. 
Apparently the people of the Southwest has agreed amongst themselves that the possibility of another presidency exist with Buhari's and therefore they must act as one to take it if it avails itself. Obasanjo is in agreement with Bola Tinubu on this and it seems that Wole Soyinka has also bought into this agenda with his tactical silence on the forthcoming election; especially with his none endorsement of Jonathan and lack of criticizing Buhari as he normally does. Icheoku says it is Politics 101 and in Nigeria, no one plays it better than the sons and daughters of Oduduwa, regardless of what those Miyetti Allah would like to otherwise believe or think about themselves. Icheoku sometimes envies those Yoruba people because they usually know what they want, they understand the name of the game and how to play it and together they go as a force of one pursuing it and even if it means cheating and cunning to get it done, they do get it done. Unfortunately, Ndigbo do not believe in a force of one and individually shout themselves hoarse, which make other peoples of Nigeria to laugh them off as needless nuisance, not serious people and never goal directed, 
Icheoku is emphatic that a conspiracy of no mean magnitude against Jonathan is fast brewing in the Southwestern Nigeria which will see them voting massively for APC Buhari/Osibanjo ticket to achieve their objective and at worse they will have a vice president. Otherwise why has Adeboye not laid his magical hand on Jonathan with just few short weeks to the election? Where are the Ebenezar Babatopes, Olugbenga Daniel and other notable Yoruba bomb throwers vociferously campaigning for a Jonathan's second term? Oba of Lagos Akiolu recently told Jonathan to his face in his palace that PDP cannot win Lagos State and for emphasis said that he has already presented APC candidate Ambode governorship petition before Allah when he went on pilgrimage to Mecca. Icheoku adds that the said pilgrimage took place long before even Ambode was formally anointed as the candidate. 
When you add the developing scenario in the Southwest with other Jonathan's fault lines going into election 2015, the only inferable conclusion is that Jonathan 2015 adventure is emitting very negative pulses. The road map to get there is getting fuzzier and the route of travel fast shrinking to nearly a footpath now with all these unforeseen developments. So with the two most populous Lagos and Kano States gone Buhari, alongside possibly the entire North (West, Central and East) and likely Edo and Rivers State, the third largest voting bloc in the country also gone Buhari, then the calculation of how to win a second term is almost becoming a mathematical impossibility. A look into the Ouija board also says things are not too kosher for Team Jonathan and his campaign 2015. 
Remember that the Emir of Kano as well as Governor Kwankwaso have sworn never to allow Jonathan win their state and for effect, Team Jonathan campaign team is technically banned in Kano as no Jonathan's painted vehicles dare ply the roads in Kano for fear of being vandalized. Truth be spoken; and although it is very painful to hear but just do the math and you will agree that the math to Aso Rock is not adding up. A fragmented Southsouth and a grudging Southeast would not be enough to keep Jonathan inside Aso Rock without more; and that more or where that more will come from is what is still not visible, at least not from Icheoku's observation post. But in any event If you see anything different, please holler!

2015 ELECTION AND THE DILEMA OF A NO APPEALING CANDIDATE?

Icheoku says many Nigerians are indeed conflicted going into the presidential election of February 2015, faced with two boring choices, none of which they would ordinarily have preferred or identified with, but for the no-choice choice they are presented with. Like many people agree and Icheoku conurs, Muhammadu Buhari is inherently evil; a known resident evil of Nigeria who no Nigerian, would honestly, find him or herself casting a vote for; at least not for him to benefit from the same democracy which he denied others. A bloody coup plotter who overthrew a democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari deserves no better other than to be democratically pre-overthrown before he could even ascend the presidency  Then factor in his murder of three innocent Nigerians and you wonder who in Nigeria, still with his faculties in tact, would not say we are all Bartholomew Owo, Bernard Ojulope and Segun Lawal in this election. Therefore if Buhari had his way and had similarly killed us all then, who would he be campaigning to for them to vote for him now? 

That he imprisoned Fela Anikulapo Kuti for a trumped up currency trafficking charges while at the same time allowing his ADC Jokolo to import currency in fifty three suitcases on behalf of his father, is a double standard of no mean disputation. Icheoku urges Nigerians to remember Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his ordeal in the hands of Muhammadu Buhari as they go into their various voting booths on February 14, 2015. In the words of Seun Fela, "I have personal reasons that others might not have, for example: Buhari jailed my father on currency trafficking. My father did nothing wrong, but he put him in the prison anyway and for three long years. My first three years in life from 1984 to 1986, I did not see my dad; he was dumped somewhere in Maiduguri and almost forgotten. This is my own personal reason for not identifying with Buhari. For a man like Fela who did not commit any crime to be so jailed, shows that Buhari is   inherently evil. You know when you have experienced such blatant disregard for human right by taking away three years of his life for doing nothing, you cannot possibly find yourself identifying with such person." Icheoku says every Nigerian should be Seun Fela in protesting the nemesis that is Muhammadu Buhari in this election 2015. 

Jonathan on the other hand is equally loathsome and detestable because he failed to meet so many peoples expectations; and also drastically compromised his manliness and preparedness for the office. Put in a more terse verse, Jonathan failed woefully and abysmally and did not merit a second term based on provable records of his achievement this past years. Icheoku says but for the tactless APC's decision to swim with the fishes in the choice they imposed on themselves with Buhari, not seriously considering his tough marketability baggage of no redemption, a victory over Jonathan would have been a slam dunk. Icheoku maintains that if Jonathan had performed creditably well as his apologists and town criers would like to have us believe, they would have been running his campaign based on his records of achievements and not that the other guy is too old and did not produce his qualifying certificates. But to this school of cheerleaders trying to take the other guy down, Icheoku wants to remind them that even President Obama did not produce his qualifying birth certificate until much later in his campaign. 

Jonathan's pathetic case is like this "please Nigerians, admitted I did not do enough to merit your second lease of life in the presidency, but trust me I am better than the other guy; I am more humane than the other guy and i am also much younger than the other guy?" Icheoku queries since when has growing old become a vice in Nigeria or is wisdom no longer a virtue to be prided in Nigeria? Chuba Okadigbo tried this old age nonsensical with Nnamdi Azikwe who cursed him, only for Okadigbo to die in his relatively young age, suffocated by tear gas of Obasanjo's killer-cops  and nothing came out of it? Like Seun Fela rightly pointed out and Icheoku agrees, many Nigerians might stay out the election saying, "My not voting is because I am trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea. So, I just refused to be forced into voting for either of them - Buhari because to be honest, Jonathan and his administration is not working. Jonathan, because Buhari is not a good alternative. Personally, I don’t want to vote for Buhari or Jonathan. Jonathan is not a good president and Buhari himself, is not the solution to Nigeria’s problems." 

But since Nigerians need to keep their democracy going on, someone will eventually win or emerge by default of the other guy's abstaining protest non-voters.  Icheoku reiterates using the words of Seun Fela, "I am explaining things the way they appear to me and I can tell you that the picture of the things I am looking at is not good enough to embrace. Not on February 14, 2015 and not at any other future time when Nigerians are forced to choose between two such unpalatable candidates as their president. However, on Valentines day 2015, one of them would hopefully emerge victorious and Nigerians, both those for and against and undecided, would have to accept the choice and move on. Fortunately, like most things temporary, Nigerians will survive and outlive which ever choice was settled on; and hopefully too, in 2019 Nigerians would be blessed with a choice they can truly say alleluia to. Salute! 

2015 ELECTION PEACE PACT, HIGHLY COMMENDABLE.

Icheoku says the Sambo Dasuki initiated, Kofi Annan and Emeka Anyaoku attended, signed peace pact between APC's presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari and PDP's President Jonathan for a peaceful 2015 election, is highly commendable. Icheoku says good idea and congratulations to all the parties involved. At least now it will not let the West find an excuse or reason to destroy Nigeria as they have done in so many other countries under the guise of stabilizing them? Icheoku only hopes that their underlings would listen when they are told to shun and abhor violence; and that they too would also accept the result of the election as a freely and fairly exercised wish of Nigerians. Icheoku prays that both principal signatories to the pact would, unlike so many other African power-crazy leaders, keep their respective obligation as bargained. Finally, if the election 2015 concludes without much violence, it will be a new dawn in Nigeria as election could successfully take place without attendant loss of human lives. 

FRENCH WORLD UNITY MATCH, A CASE OF ANIMAL FARM CAME ALIVE?

Icheoku says Islamist terrorists have been fermenting trouble over the many years and throughout the world, from Iraq to Syria to Russia to Afghanistan to Yemen to Nigeria to Pakistan to Canada to Uganda to Kenya to Somalia to Mali to Spain to Australia to and even to the United States of America with 9/11. So many lives have been lost to their murderous attacks as well as many limbs; while properties worth billions have equally gone with the generated wind of their nefarious activities. Icheoku says not until the recent touchdown in France of their whirlwind has the world woken up in unison to scream that our way of life is under attack; and followed it up with matching millions of world citizens, who matched in solidarity and unity with the French people as a result. 

While Icheoku has nothing against this unity rally and show of solidarity with the hurting French people, Icheoku will like to ask, does it mean that it is only when French peoples lives are implicated that the world listen and pay attention to the enveloping fog of violence that is Islamic terrorism. Icheoku asks how about the thousands of Afghanistan people, thousands of Nigerians, thousands of Pakistani, thousands of Americans as well as other various number of people whose lives were cut short by these marauding beasts of Islam? Why is it that only the French lives mattered enough and in such a way that over forty heads of states and government converged with millions of other world citizens to march in solidarity with the French? Whatever happened to the saying that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander; or does the world not know that peoples of Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Kenya, Syria and even America, would have loved and appreciated a touched and loving world descending on their various capital cities to show some love and affection as a result of the scourge they are going through or went through in the hands of Islamic terrorists? 

Icheoku harps, except it is a case of all animals being equal with some being more equal than others, what took place in France would and should be reciprocated in other countries of the world that were similarly afflicted by this Islamic madness. The French life must not and should not be allowed to have more value than that life in Chibok Nigeria; ditto Waziristan Pakistan as well as Sydney Australia. These people want to similarly feel and have the sense of security that their citizens lives equally mattered to the world and not merely statistics. That hurting mother of a Chibok school girl kidnapped by these beasts of terror would have loved to see the world cheer her up by marching in Abuja in solidarity. By this everyone would have a sense of purpose belonging and being important in a one world; and the world would greatly benefit from this sense of belonging and become a better place because of it. 

Icheoku reiterates  that fairness demands that those other lives, similarly lost to the madness of these Islamists terrorists should all be engraved in the conscientiousness of the world and humanity as a whole. Like the Archbishop of Jos Nigeria Kaigama rightly articulated,"we need that spirit to be spread around, not just when it happens in Europe but also when it happens in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and many other poor countries of the world that we mobilize our international resources to confront the people who bring such sadness to many families." Icheoku says that this man of God held every right thinking person's brief in the matter of the French World Unity March and his narrative is highly commendable. To the French people, Icheoku shares your loss and we were there marching in tandem; and to all the other peoples of the world inundated by this arrant madness, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Hopefully, the West would wake up now to help sell arms to Nigeria to help them fight the virus of Boko Haram Islamic terrorists trying to hurt the country. 

JONATHAN LOST ICHEOKU WITH THAT BABA IYABO'S VISIT?

Icheoku does not know about you but certainly that shoeless man from Otuoke needs to spend money buying some good advisers, instead of spending it all buying the shoes he never had growing up. How can any man, barely less than forty eight hours after calling his estranged godfather a motor park tout, go back crawling on his all fours to beg for his pardon and forgiveness? Did the president forgot he was dealing with the never forgiving OBJ? Icheoku queries what manner of manhood is in between his two legs that he should go back to his vomit so soon after throwing it up. Personally Icheoku does not care about this ball-less, shoeless and perhaps brain-less timid man from Rats behind, but whoever still cavorts with him should let him know he is one BIG disappointment to many men in Nigeria; except that Icheoku forgot that Dame "dar is god oooooo" is running the affairs in Aso Rock as well as his home. Now the Ota Deity has heightened the stake as he just declared that it is going to be "anybody but the weakling Jona". 

Icheoku says this is the problem of empowering very poor people because they readily forget where they were coming from. Like the proverbial Ozo title which a poor man finally managed to take, it usually gets into their head and sometimes translates to madness as instead of the normal two anklets they wear theirs all the way to the knee. Icheoku laments that this Jonathan is lately behaving and talking like someone whose faculty is heavily distressed. Icheoku advocates that in the future, poor people SHOULD never be allowed into the presidency or any leadership position in Nigeria; as it is not their portion to rule or preside over anyone. Imagine the man with PhD in animal science but who never read any literature on how to be an administrator of human beings including the non-elective, Machiavelli, The Prince now running around everywhere like a headless chicken looking for who will bail him out of the 2015 election. Jonathan, win or lose, will go down in history as very inept and unprepared for the office of presidency of Nigeria. Icheoku sometimes wished he got his PhD in some human beings related discipline and not on how chimpanzees interact in captivity of the zoo.

CHARLIE HEBDO COVER, WHOSE FREE SPEECH IS IT ANYWAY?

Icheoku asks is the latest cover of Charlie Hebdo magazine indeed an exercise of free speech or is it an unneeded offensive provocation of the Muslim world, whose Mohamed, they do not want anyone to have or depict his likeness in any form including cartoon? If indeed the publishers of the magazine acted under their assumed freedom of speech right, what freedom then does those Mohammedans, who don't want it published or opposed to any likeness or image of their prophet being made known, enjoy?  Icheoku queries don't these Muslims have a right to at least some privacy to their belief that their Mohammed should not to be so "defamed" by a representation which might not actually be an actual Mohammed's likeness or image, but which is reproduced anyway as what he looked like? 

icheoku says if only religion and religious beliefs are rational, but they are not; so anybody religious dogma should as a matter of respect be deferred to including what the Muslims consider sacrilege, mocking or painting their prophet Mohammed. Therefore let us ponder whether or not carrying forward with making a caricature of someone, whom a religious faith holds in such awe and reverence as to frown at any of his representation, is not by itself, a hate speech and actually inciting? Icheoku admonishes that since the over one billion people, the world over, strongly denounce the depicting of their Mohamed in any form, be it cartoon or otherwise, their wish should have been respected and at worst, treated as a public safety concern issue and decision. The world would not be capitulating to the extreme right wing of the Islamist terrorists by abstaining from that which the Muslim world consider and deem as disparaging to their religious head and in also very insulting to their religious belief. Like other prohibited free speeches such as shouting fire in a crowded theater or falsely raising an alarm that would compromise public safety, the authorities in France and the Charlie Hebdo organization, should have deferred to this religious interest of the Muslim world and leave their prophet alone and desist from further cartooning him. 

Icheoku is not advocating a surrender or capitulation to the heinous murders that took place in Paris or that is continually taking place in Northeastern Nigeria or in Pakistan or in Afghanistan or in Canada or in America or in Spain or in India and in all such other countries which these Islamist nihilists have torched their mayhem, but that the world find a more accommodating way to move everyone forward towards possibly finding a lasting peace between the two civilizations. One thing with conflict resolution is that each side must be prepared to make sacrifices and if not depicting their Mohamed would make us free from their incessant attacks, let us thus so sacrifice our right to free speech their Mohammed's likeness or cartoon image. Icheoku recalls when President Obama was depicted in a cartoon as a monkey with extended earlobes which many African Americans did not find funny; not because it is not in the authors right to free speech a caricature of the president, but that certain boundaries considered discomforting should be respected. So let us all in the spirit of give and take, geared towards a more peaceful world, see how we can voluntarily self-censor our free speech rights as needed sacrifice to stop all these madness that leads to needless bloodshed and wanton loss of lives including damage to properties. 

Icheoku says someones' free speech might be derogatory to another's sensibility; and just like a redneck has the free speech right to call President Obama a NIGGER, but doing so is offensive to black Americans including the president and is not and should not be tolerated, regardless. Would anyone say that former Iranian President Ahmadinejad being a Holocaust denier does not fall within such his freedom of speech right ambit to have an opinion different from the universally held? But such is not a good commentary, especially to the ears of the survivors of that man's great inhumanity to fellow man which is akin to slavery, admitted blacks are not as vocalized as the other victims of inhumanity.  Therefore since what is good for the gander is also good for the goose, let us all approach the issue of freedom of speech evenly and apply our unrestricted right to free speech across the board and not be very selective in so doing. If it is not okay to call blacks NIGGER, whites HICK or Jews HYMIE and not be branded  racist, anti-Jew, anti-Semitic, then it should not be okay to confront a tenet of a religion and expect not to be branded anti-Muslim/Islam; except of course we have all reached the conclusion in our narrative that all Muslims should be held accountable for the transgressions of the few of them that wrought this evil terrorism. Until then, may some good heads prevail and may we find a road-map towards a lasting peace on earth. Like Rodney King once said, 'why can't we all just get along together'; and may his words help resolve these religious problems and in that way those who died in Paris may not have died in vain. Icheoku says 'Je Suis Charlie' and asks are you Charlie; as even Prophet Mohammed declares he is also Charlie!

PARIS SEIGE, THE ENEMY IN OUR MIDST?

Icheoku says the worst type of enemy is that within the house - the proverbial green snake in a green grass, and you ask yourself how do you protect yourself from it or go about fighting such enemy? What the world just witnessed in France last week is giving everybody some chill because if it is France today, who knows where next they would strike, leaving everyone pondering how safe indeed are we after all?  First it was Charlie Hebdo that fell to their murderous rampage, then two police officers including one who was gunned down publicly as he lay down on the pavement writhing in pain and begging for his life; followed by another female police officer Clarissa Jean-Philippe who was  gunned down inside her patrol vehicle. Then a gas station was held up and robbed, followed by a printing shop showdown and then finally a grocery store where the last terror-exhibition took place. 

In all a total of twenty-two people lost their lives to the terror in Paris including the twelve at Charles Hebdo, the three terrorists, three police officers as well as four hostages, with so many others seriously injured and wounded. Icheoku says anybody who says he or she is not afraid and scared following the development in France is not only not telling the truth but is somehow deluded as to the implication and magnitude of the violence which these terrorists wrought on the general world psyche. But the world is very resilient and would, like many other terrifying experiences of the past, get over the terror of Paris. Lamentably though, no one knows what these Islamic thugs want nor what could be done to dissuade them from carrying out any future attacks. But as it stands now, only eternal vigilance is the key; and if only the neighbors of the two terrorist-brothers who had snooped into their weapons-filled apartment had said something by alerting the authorities. Vigilance and vigilance and more vigilance, please humanity!

Anyway, it is all now a Monday night quarter-backing as what happened has happened; and all the world can do is to pick itself up, pick the pieces and soldier on. If only someone somewhere has a solution to curb or stop this Islamic cancer fast metastasizing like a wild Harmattan-fire and threatening world peace and coexistence. How can just one religion or its adherents be causing this maximum havoc every time and everywhere; yet some people are employing political correctness by not naming the real culprit - a warped ideology that propagates this type of hatred and unverifiable redemption in an Utopia paradise? However, with this France terror, names like Said Kouachi, Cherif Kouachi, Amedy Coulibaly and Hayat Boumeddiene have become known throughout the world as the people who caused France to quake in fear, at least for the moment their terror lasted; also Charlie Hebdo has become a universally recognized name of a cartoon magazine. Anyway, life will and must go on and the Eiffel Tower lights would keep on shinning; and if only this Frenchy brush with Islamic terrorism would now make the West to have a change of mind and sell Nigeria some arms to enable them fight their own Islamic Boko Haram terror menace, Icheoku would be completely satisfied. 

JONATHAN V. BUHARI REMATCH 2015 COULD GO EITHER WAY, TOO CLOSE TO CALL?

Icheoku says unlike in 2011 when Nigerians were still giddy with expectation, with the promised 'breathe of fresh air' which has since turned putrefying, 2015 is going to be a completely and totally different ball game because the honeymoon with Jonathan is since over. In 2011 Jonathan had the benefit of the doubt of Nigerians that he was going to deliver on his promises; but in 2015, Nigerians would be voting for or against Jonathan based on provable records or lack thereof of his achievements this past six years with him in the saddle. So unlike in 2011, in 2015 Nigerians are going to have some records with which to judge Jonathan's  stewardship and thereafter decide whether his performance thus far, is deserving of giving him extension of time to enable him do more. 

But while Jonathan may have some people cheering his performance, there are so many others who think and righty too, that the President Jonathan led Federal government has not lived up to expectation. These are Nigerians who think that Jonathan's government has not delivered on the key benchmarks, usually employed in measuring performance indicia of any government; especially one that is fully primed to winning the hearts and minds of the electorates through verifiable and credible achievements that meets and surpasses expectations. Such vital indicators include energy(power), security and employment, which in turn boasts the general welfare and economic well-being of the citizens. On this three areas, Icheoku rates the Jonathan government rather poorly and Icheoku believes we spoke for majority of Nigerians when we say Jonathan did not accordingly meet many of the peoples' expectations. Even the president himself knows this and is possibly ashamed at his mediocre performance in these areas, especially when weighed against the background of what he said in Addis Ababa in January 31st, 2011. 

Speaking during an interactive session with Nigerians diplomats at an African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa gathering, President Jonathan said "Without security there is no government. So it is not debatable, it is  something we have to address and we are working towards that with vigor. But if I am voted into power, within the next four years, the issue of of power will become a thing of the past. Four years is enough for anyone in power to make to make significant improvement and if I can't improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for another next four years after." Icheoku says it is therefore self evident, according to Jonathan's own measuring yardstick, that "there is no government" in Nigeria because Nigerians are still "without security" and this "is not debatable?" It is also a fact that four years following Jonathan's said statement that "within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past" and that "if he cannot solve the power problem in four years, he cannot solve it in eight," that Nigeria's power problem has still not been solved and four more years won't make any difference with him? 

So Icheoku queries, having failed to meet his own set benchmark in four years and believing too that he can neither accomplish it within additional four either, would twelve years therefore become his new timeframe, within which to solve the Nigerian power problem? Yet he is running in 2015 without shame and you wonder if he is running on empty? A self-indictment which ordinarily should have operated to stay him out of contention this 2015, except that the APC has provided Nigerians with no much of a choice in whom they selected as their torch bearer? Then factor in the millions of employable but unemployed youths walking around the country jobless and one begins to go into a tizzy pondering if indeed there is any serious government is place in Nigeria, which is seriously and sincerely trying to help these people find a means of livelihood in order to support themselves and their families through well paying jobs? 

Also Jonathan by his strangely weird manner and style of governance that borders on near incompetence, has nearly alienated all the key players that helped engineer his first presidential election victory of 2011. Olusegun Obasanjo traversed the land holding Jonathan by the hand and introducing him to Nigerians as "his political son in whom he is so pleased" and urging them to vote for him?" Icheoku says that both men have now parted ways, with Obasanjo becoming more virulent with each passing day, against the man he helped make president, does not augur well for Jonathan going into the 2015 election? Then add the four former PDP governors of Kano, Sokoto, Kwara and Rivers States that have since bolted away from the Jonathan's 2011 stable; and possibly with their states electorates? Icheoku says this can only be a minus for Jonathan going into 2015, no matter how anyone wants to reposition their talking point. 

The former PDP Speaker Tambuwal is also gone and with him, possibly his own electorates from the Jonathan's camp? Then add the many former Jonathan's ministers, who felt they lost their states governorship bids simply because Jonathan did not care enough to throw Aso Rock's weight behind them and would as a pay back, most probably be rather lukewarm with Jonathan's 2015 reelection bid? There are also some PDP sitting governors whose aspiration to go to the Senate was thwarted by powers at Abuja and who may not forcefully marshal the troops out for Jonathan's 2015 battle? Added to all this PDP internal militating factors, are also so many other external factors that seriously work against Jonathan's second term bid or which would seriously challenge it at best. The likely outcome would be some PDP governors winning their states but Jonathan losing the presidential election in these states; except that the presidential election takes place first and may whirl-wind subsequent election alongside? 

Further, there is presently no fervent excitement at Camp-Jonathan. Party faithfuls are despondent and not as enthused and fired up nor ready to go as should be expected of people eagerly rearing to see their candidate win a second term? Presently the momentum is unequivocally with the APC, which is more impassioned about their great expectation that is winning the 2015 presidential election? As a result, their operatives are on the proverbial steroids and fervently working on turbo props to "mission accomplish" the task at hand. Team Jonathan on the other hand, is principally relying on their incumbency factor and the fact that Buhari is so old school and not much liked by some cross-section of Nigerians? 

Icheoku warns however that this may be the greatest undoing of the Jonathan camp and urge them to wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late. It is about time they started telling Nigerians why their guy deserves to be reelected rather than saturating the hearing and listening space on why the other guy should is not electable and should not be elected? It is about time their narrative ceased from being that the other guy is not good for you but ours is? Rather, they should start to distinctively redirect Nigerians to the performance index or achievement chart of their Jonathan in the past four or six years of his stewardship, which warrants or earns him a return to office. Icheoku emphasizes that momentum is always the tail-wind which usually carries winners over the finish line before their opponents; and this time, APC seems to have it. However, in politics, February 14, 2015 is still a very long way out for purposes of the ever shifting quick-sand that is election  politics, whose fortunes can change in seconds. 

The other factor militating against Jonathan 2015 reelection chances is the conspiracy question, wherein some PDP states governors, especially in the North, might intentionally design a presidential election result that would favor their Northern Buhari, while winning the rest of their states offices for the PDP?  Just like what happened in the Southwest with ACN during the last 2011 election where the ACN candidate could not even win one state from a Southwest that was swept by the ACN. So Icheoku fears that Buhari might secure a block vote in the North, forcing Jonathan to fall back on only South-South and South-east votes, which might not be enough to push him through the finish line before his opponent berths. 

This scenario is projected in that Rivers States might probably go with their three million votes to APC; ditto Ebonyi whose Governor Elechi is not happy with the just concluded primaries; Enugu State, whose Governor Chime was denied his senatorship bid; Peter Obi is no longer in charge in Anambra State to muscle votes for Jonathan; Imo State is not in a PDP governor's hand; likewise is Delta State, whose Governor Udugban was similarly denied a senate ticket and hence this governor might not be full throttle to deliver for Jonathan in 2015? Buhari's added joker would be the Southwest, which together with the North as well as these splinter Southern States, might be what doctor change 2015 has prescribed to swing it in favor of APC and their Buhari. 

Also the APC has concluded that Jonathan is a pushover personality, having gotten away with so much already, and might seriously push the envelope further as February 14, 2015 draws nearer? The APC might cause so much tension in the land that a weak, knee-jerk Jonathan might be forced to just resign to avoid the continuation of the mayhem? Nigerians have observed as Obasanjo have had his way with Jonathan severally without any consequence? Nigerians have also observed how the seven recalcitrant PDP governors held Jonathan's government hostage without consequence? Then came the Amaechi non-stop attacks' on the president as well as Speaker Tambuwal walking away from the party with their speakership intact with no consequence? Then factor in Dame Patience, who is seen as being totally in charge and in control and directing affairs in the Jonathan's government and you have a castrated weak president starring vacantly at what the pregnant 2015 might deliver? 

Then there is the Boko Haram factor, whose Islamic terrorists'  primary objective is to have Jonathan voted out in 2015, if not sacked before then?  As a result, Boko Haram would increase their campaign of terror triple-fold between now and February 14, 2015 to make Nigerians yearn and clamor for a Savior Buhari to come to their aid and save them from the continuing menace that is the scorching heat Boko Haram. It is a time-tested campaign tool to make the people so afraid for their lives that they will seek succor even from the devil, if that would do it. So it is increasingly becoming a mantra that any president that could stop the Boko Haram madness will be good enough for Nigerians? Icheoku says this becomes even a more  palatable proposition and a probable outcome especially when such a presidential candidate created Boko Haram in the first place as a tactical component of his effort to get into Aso Rock and would readily call his foot soldiers off the street following his victory? Icheoku recalls that US President Reagan created somewhat similar scenario when he tacitly made the Iran-Contra deal to stall the release of United States hostages held in Iran until after his election to use the situation as a campaign tool against President Jimmy Carter? Therefore, it would not surprise Icheoku if Buhari is now being 'Reaganistic' in the matter of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, hoping to use it as one of his first 'mission-accomplished' things soon following his election? 

But are the shortcomings of President Jonathan enough to totally rock his boat or smash it in 2015 election short of Team Buhari making convincing inroads to offer Nigerians a better alternative? Icheoku says the clamor for Buhari is without sufficiency of merit as there is no guarantee that he can replicate his past performance of 1983-1985 in this 2015 plus. Those rooting for Buhari forgot that during his first coming, a cohesive fiat of maximum ruler was used to enforce a willy-nilly obedience to his orders. But unlike in a democracy, where consensus building rules and is required in order to get majority of key things done, Buhari will no readily longer have his way as he had during his military days. Icheoku wonders, can a Buhari, who is used to having his way in a command-structure environment, successfully have his way through two chambers of Congress, in order to instill his proverbial military-discipline in Nigerians post 2015? Icheoku does not think so and states that he will find it very difficult navigating the process of legislation which will be a very strange new phenomenal for him. However Icheoku laments that  the current crave for Buhari by some Nigerians is trying to technically codify that it is only brute force that Nigerians can be governed; otherwise why the clamor for a dictator to help  Africa's clay-foot giant or hompty dumpty rise again? 

Anyway, Icheoku and others can pontificate until the cows come home, but the decider in chief who will decide who occupies Aso Rock in 2015 is the Nigerian people, the true landlords of Aso Rock who rents the place to whoever they prefer. Only them will decide who moves in or moves out or remains in Aso Rock and to whom they shall hand the keys of Aso Rock in 2015. But until the battle is fought and won or lost, Icheoku will remain an interested observer, prayerfully hoping that good judgment will guide the choice of who eventually becomes the occupant of Aso Rock in 2015. As it stands now, the wind can blow in either direction as there are too many uncertainties and permutations that can swing the tide in favor or either candidates. Icheoku says it would also help if Team Jonathan started telling Nigerians, with a clear road map in support, the trajectory they plan to take the country. Nigerians want to vote for something instead of perpetually voting against someone with the other person being the eventual beneficiary of their votes without any convincing reason to earned it. Icheoku says Jonathan and Buhari, should show Nigerians the money - their superiority, that makes either a better and more preferred option for Nigerians in 2015. Icheoku prays that their campaigns meet and surpass our expectations both in substance and fireworks; and may the election of Valentine's day 2015 be truly meritorious and blood-free. God/Allah's speed to both candidates.