T. BOONE PICKENS, A BIG THINKER?

Who is T-Boone Pickens? What is T-Boone Pickens about? T-Boone Pickens is an 80 year old Texas oil billionaire who is championing the cause of redirecting United States of America's dangerous dependence on foreign oil to other alternatives particularly wind energy. His mantra is that with wind energy, America will save several billions of dollars now sent overseas to sometimes unfriendly nations in exchange for their oil. T. Boone Pickens wants to replace Middle Eastern oil with Midwestern wind. T. Boone Pickens wants to exploit the country's "wind corridor" from the Canadian border to West Texas to produce 20 percent of the country's electricity.
If wind farms are built to generate power, at least the oil need for such generation will be curtailed hence saving money which would otherwise have been spent in that direction. To some people T-Boone Pickens is "crazy" while to some others he is a trailblazer who is pioneering an industrial revolution of energy generation with wind turbines. Icheoku says such a move is worthy move in the right direction which should be encouraged by every American as well as their government in Washington DC. Icheoku says that T-Boone Pickens, a billionaire with an energy plan, is a visionary!

CHINA HOSTS THE WORLD!

After seven (7) years of preparation and Forty (40) billion dollars USD in expenses, China is finally ready for the world! The XXIX Olympiad starts on August 8th, 2008 in Beijing China; with opening ceremony scheduled to hold in their newly completed construction-marvel, the $400million dollars USD National Stadium aka Peoples' Bird Nest. China has pulled it off again and the National Stadium speaks volume that this country of about 1.5 billion people has finally come to stay as a major world player indeed. Despite her shortfalls with human rights violations, China has been able to maintain her 1.5 billion people; feeding and clothing them. With what they have put together within a period of 7 years preparatory for the Olympics, historians and writers alike will judge the administration in Beijing fairly. According to one analyst, it is supposed to be just games but in reality, the modern Olympics is both symbolically and materially a political event; simply stated, it is a competition among nations. Icheoku therefore congratulates the Chinese people for their wonderful effort at putting Beijing in an Olympic state - magnificent edifices put in place for this great Olympics are marvelous wonders to behold! Icheoku heretofore wish them a hitch-free successful hosting of the world. Once again, Congratulations, Chinese people!

WHAT A NIGERIAN DILEMMA? - an article by Vicky Awuzie!

Back in the 1990’s when most of Nigerian “so called” non profit organizations emerged, the three most pronounced objectives were: (1) To Foster & Promote Unity amongst our people by respecting, supporting and living in harmony. (2) The other popular one was to teach our children and generations to come our culture. (3) And the most popular of all was to build a Community Center which we can call our own.

Regrettably, to date all these objectives has eluded us. None has been achieved by Nigerians especially those that reside in the Bay area in California, they are still searching and in need of those intentions to fructify. Interesting, instead of supporting and living in harmony we are in disarray. Fighting and throwing jabs at one another at any cost. We have lost focus on why we started the various organizations in the first place and the objectives have become unattainable. One of the shameful reasons we can’t reach any of these goals is for the simple reason that we can’t seem to agree or disagree in a civil manner when someone else’s opinion did not jive with ours all hell will break loose. We risk losing friend’s just for the simple reason that our thoughts were not in line with theirs. This is the state of our Nigerian community and it is pitiful.

We were (and still should) supposed to support one another – that goal has become a far fetched idea. Rather, what we have successfully achieved is have cliques or as we would normally say “fractions.” It is disgraceful; we’re like bunch of high school scholars. The only way we would patronize a Nigerian business is when that business is a monopolized business. For instance those businesses that sells our Nigerian food stuff. We cannot get it at Lucky’s so we faithfully march to those few Nigerian stores to buy our craw/clay-fish and pounded yam. The other few times we would think of patronizing a Nigerian business is when we are in dire need of some inside information. At that junction we would seek out our people for they can speak our tongue. Everyone has their opinion as to why we’re in this state since I’m the one writing, I’m stating mine, we can state yours later. As Nigerians, we do not trust one another. Rightfully so, unfortunately, a lot of us have been burned in one way or the other, the fear of ones private information being given to the other in the name of business is mind wrenching since, some of the business people have loose lips. Imagine giving papa Ebere the business owner your confidential information and before you know it you and your family becomes the HOT topic in town? No one in their right mind wants to deal with that unless your name is Britney and you are in dire need of some attention. In that case, I’d suggest you dance at the Golden Gate Bridge for all to see. That would sure get you some desired attention.

In retrospect, a lot us have benefited by patronizing a Nigerian based business. My personal experience has been rewarding. And I encourage those that fear to pull themselves together and do so. My account is when the fear of patronizing a Nigerian business is ignored – we benefit. We just have to find the tight lipped ones and trust our information with them. Alternatively, you can bring glue with you when giving your confidential information. Living in harmony is probably a thing for the next generation. How can we achieve living in harmony when there’s an unexplained jubilation in our people to antagonize one another? The present generation (my generation) those of us between the ages of 35 to 50 years are in a state of pandemonium that achieving harmony will be like chasing rainbows. I have dissected this with some of my friends and we each come up with plenty of reasons. Interestingly, one of the reasons we all echoed is that we scream discrimination when the white people do something to us, but the internal discrimination and hatred we contain for one another is unsurpassed. We are a society stultified by class. Those that make more dollars than the rest want to be bowed to. I can tell you now that you will be waiting for a long time for that to happen for I will only bow to God.

Until we recognize and deal with our internal tribulations living in harmony will be for Hitler. Whatever the reason may be there’s absolutely no reason bunch of adults who left their motherland several years ago should come to a foreign land and have this amount of chaos that we have. Now, talk about confusion, it is unfathomable to begin to comprehend why we are willing to spend thousands of dollars to rent a space for our various events, but we are not willing to collectively put that money together to buy our own community center when we can afford to do so. In the year 2005, I kept record of some of the events that I was aware of that commenced in our community. By the end of October of that year I had calculated that we spent $43,000. Remember, these were events that I was aware of. If you take into account the ones I was not aware of your lovely head should start spinning. When you total this amount year after year it is VERY clear to the blind person that we can erect a place of our own. Our people just don’t know how to collectively do anything as a nation. We believe in one man standing theory. As one man standing we can beat Mike Tyson, but as two or more people we won’t even agree on who should throw the first punch. By the time we had finished arguing as to who is entitled to throw the first punch Mike Tyson would have bitten off our ear and ran. Some people have come up with ideas and ideas and ideas pertaining to how we can go about acquiring a community center, but all has failed. We are stubborn and will not accept an idea that is not consistent with ours. Without having the community center we have disagreed on who should be the manager, how it should be run, who we should rent or not rent to.

As I ponder this madness, I can’t help but wonder if this is a curse? Does it mean that we cannot figure things out in a civilized manner? Does it mean that we are not sophisticated enough to deal with our differences? My people, have I just hit the nail in the head or what? I wonder about all the charlatans’ that call themselves our leaders and I scratch my head. I haven’t claimed to have answers to our massive problems, but I hope that one day Nigerians will come together and do things as one people, one nation. There’s a lot of power and strength in a union. I haven’t completely lost hope, I think this is attainable. My ultimate joy will be the day I see a Nigerian Community Center.

What are your thoughts? Please leave me your comments!

AS CLINTON WENT, SO WILL McCAIN!

This is our "Dear John" letter to Senator John McCain!

Icheoku has been watching the political sparing from the Republican Party's camp of Senator John McCain for sometime now and has come to the conclusion that as Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton lost the Democratic Party's primaries, so will Senator John McCain lose the presidential election to Senator Barack Obama in November. Like the old saying, as Hilary Clinton goes, so goes John McCain! Icheoku came to this conclusion having observed the same trend and pattern employed by both Hilary and McCain's campaigns - instead of telling Americans what they will each do to help alleviate their suffering, Senator John McCain is currently towing the ill-fated path of Hilary Clinton which led her to no where. Senator John McCain is spending his "precious" campaign time attacking Barack Obama and majority of the times controverting his own very earlier held positions. Humanity usually do not learn much from history and Senator John McCain will fall victim to his feigned ignorance of historical facts, should he persist on his present course. Icheoku hopes that it is not just a bunker mentality approach which is propelling Senator John McCain to continue on this path of old politics-themed "attack your opponent" tactics. This is now obsolete and does no longer work, as America is now listening more than before; - the primaries and recent elections should have convinced you that old things have passed away in American politics. Please Senator John McCain, you have been around the block for so long to know that things are no longer what they use to be; that we are in a different time in our politics now. That whatever that was left of the old politics went away with the defeat of the Clintons in the last Democratic Party's primaries; so change your old ways or be penalized with a trouncing defeat at the polls in November. Admitted it is very hard to teach an old dog new tricks and your over twenty-six years in Washington eminently qualifies you as one; but at least you have to try, Grandpa!

Ordinarily, Icheoku would have let this phase of the campaign play itself out until both candidates select their vice presidential candidates; but Senator John McCain's constant bashing of Barack Obama against all he, McCain swore to uphold - that their campaigns will be solely based on issues important to the American people. What do we have now? What are we saddle now with? A page from Karl Rove's take no prisoner politics! Advertisements comparing Barack Obama to Paris Hilton and Brittney Spear? John McCain should know better! John McCain got it all wrong and Icheoku says that such a campaign ad is too puerile to be taken seriously by any discerning reasonable person. How dare John McCain's campaign equate our dear Senator Barack Obama with Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears - two bimbos who have nothing to their name except for their famed "notoriety"? Barack Obama is a lawyer for crying out loud! Barack Obama went to Harvard Law school too - one of the best there is in the world and came up tops, making the editorship of the reputable Harvard Law Journal! Barack Obama was a State of Illinois Senator! Barack Obama is a family man proudly raising his two daughters with dear wife Michelle Obama and very well, Icheoku must add! Barack Obama is now a United States of America Senator representing the State of Illinois in Washington DC! Barack Obama has authored two best sellers! Barack Obama is now the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, having defeated a retinue of other egg-heads contestants during their primaries, including former first lady now Senator Hilary Clinton; and you are comparing him with Paris and Brittney? Barack Obama is an inspirational speaker whose oratory skills is yet to be matched and definitely not by your stammering! Barack Obama embodies all that is good about America! Barack Obama represents the future of America and you are so ancient! Barack Obama is an object of true admiration and adoration by so many peoples of this world! Barack Obama was not a child of privilege unlike Paris Hilton who still did not even complete her High School and yet you are comparing her with our dear Barack Obama, who in spite of many odds is a Harvard Law School trained Lawyer? Barack Obama is not a paparazzi made personality like Brittney Spear but someone whom America discovered after he gave that powerful, standing-ovation speech in Boston 2004 Democratic Party's convention. So it is an arrant nonsense for you, Senator John McCain camp to try to compare two polar opposites as there is no basis both in fact and politics to make such perfidious comparisons. Why dear John did your campaign descend so low after-all your initial promises to keep it real and straight with the American people? How would you feel if by the same token, you are compared with the late Estelle Getty, the diminutive octogenarian Sofia of the "Golden Girls" TV show? The difference between your two presidential candidacies is that whereas the crowd follows Barack Obama, Grandpa John McCain struts after any seeming crowd. The crowd be it at Oregon or Berlin goes to hear Barack Obama deliver his message of hope and change while John McCain inserts himself wherever he anticipates any crowd and force them to hear his boring message of same old same old political gibberish. Enough of this diversionary antics! Stop baiting American electorates - it is so cheap and so yesterday. Let your campaign look America in the eye and tell America what they will do to fix what is broken!

Icheoku therefore says that for bringing his campaign to such a low ebb, Senator John McCain has joined issues with so many Americans who hold Barack Obama so dear to their hearts and for genuine reason. If Senator John McCain is envious and jealous of the following Barack Obama is getting both home and abroad, Icheoku say to him, Grandpa John McCain, how much life do you still have left on this earth, in view of your very advanced age, to spend it envying the success of a grandson of yours in politics? The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there is a time for everything under the sun and the time for a possible John McCain presidency may have come and gone in 2000. Please Grandpa do not make us more mad than your double speaking so far has made us; the presidency is not the end of the world as we know it and there is nothing suggestive that you were destined to be a president! Our piece of advise is for you to retract from your present approach of attacking your opponent and instead tell the American people how your program is better than Barack Obama's; after-all it is supposed to be a dialogue you guys are having with the American people. You are supposed to be auditioning for the top job at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and not for a job as a political-jabber for who will out-punch the other, so let the American people know why you think you are more qualified to be elected and stop belabouring your imaginary and phantom missteps and lack of experience of your opponent. Always remember that the Clintons towed that path but met their political waterloo! It is a path to nowhere and doing something the same old fashioned way again and again, expecting different result is the easiest definition of lunacy. Grandpa Senator John Mccain, please put your brakes, take a deep breath and retool your campaign message BUT YOU MUST LEAVE OUR BARACK OBAMA ALONE!

FYI: Just in case you must know and for purposes of disclosure, Icheoku supported Senator Barack Obama during the primaries but presently is waiting on the sidelines until the vice presidential candidates are chosen by both parties; as already indicated from day one, a Senator Hilary Clinton's vice presidency is a no-go for Icheoku and our position remains unchanged! Majority of our blogging team are centrist democrats who vote not necessarily along party lines! Icheoku's bloggers are by both conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans.

OBAMA, AMERICA PERSONIFIED!

If America is the melting pot of humanity, where you can find various shades of humanity all being American, doesn't it therefore necessarily behove upon such a country to be presided over by someone who reflects America fully, truly, totally and completely? Such a president of America ought to reflect America in the eyes of all the various peoples, including the multi-colored and multi-cultured peoples that inhabit the United States of America and call it home. Icheoku says we have such all peoples' representative of America in Senator Barack Obama!

To this effect therefore, no one is more appositely situated to adorn the toga of such broad representation than the current Democratic Party's Presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama. He is as American as any one can be - half African, half European and quasi Asian. With an African father from Kenya and an Anglo-Saxon mother from Kansas and a step-father from Indonsesia, Senator Barack Obama is as mixed as America can get! He was once poor and now rich so he has been on both sides of American economic divide. He was once street-smart and now an elite so he understands what both world's view-points are. So America, Icheoku says that this particular American, Senator Barack Obama is the answer to the question, how does America fully recover and move forward from the eight years of GW's less to be desired presidency. America, if you want a complete make-over of America's image, the only way and true way is through our HYBRID-AMERICAN, SENATOR BARACK OBAMA! He is all American to so many Americans who can see themselves in him. Moreso the whole world is waiting and praying that America gets it right this time; so America give the world what they deserve by electing Senator Barack Obama president in November 2008. Be wise, do not repeat the mistake of another GW. Elect Barack Obama President!

Visit http://www.barackobama.com/ to see how you can help make this dream come through!

ANOTHER NIGERIAN MAN WIFE-KILLER!

It has happened again, another Nigerian woman "Registered Nurse" bites the dust - killed by a frustrated Nigerian man, her husband.

On Thursday, July 24, 2008, 50-year old Mr. Michael Collins Iheme pictured here right, shot and killed his 28-year old estranged wife, Mrs Anthonia Eberechi Iheme, in the parking lot of her work place at the Sholom Home West, Hennepin Minnesota. According to reports, Antonia had just got into her car enroute home at about 2.35 p.m. on July 24, when a lurking Michael Iheme fired at her causing her to loose control of the vehicle which then lurched forward, clipped a van, jumped a kerb and rolled down a hill before crashing into a fence. Michael Iheme then followed the car down the hill and fired more shots at the victim, ensuring that she died before calling 911 to report the incident. According to the 911 transcript and in his own very words, Michael said "Yes I have killed the woman that messed my life up! A woman that had destroyed me. I am at Shalom West, my name is Michael and am all yours". The police arrested him where he said he was - just a few meters from the shooting and he reaffirmed that, “I called the police….I shot her…I shot her.” When Iheme was arrested, a semi-automatic handgun was found upon him and so was a gun permit. Mr Michael Iheme was charged with first-degree, premeditated murder of his 28-year-old wife, Anthonia Eberechi and is being held on a $1 million bail in the Hennepin County jail, in the State of Minnesota. To buttress the premeditation, Police confirmed that an hour and a half before the shooting, Michael Iheme went to the day-care centre for their children and left a new emergency contact information, in case something happened today.

Officers later found Anthonia Eberechi Iheme's bullet riddled body in the crashed vehicle within the vicinity of the parking lot. According to filed criminal complaint, found in this link “Yes, I have killed the woman that messed my life up. A woman that had destroyed me. I am at Shalom West, …my name is Michael;” Anthonia Iheme had a current restraining order against her husband. The supporting affidavit suggests a long history of domestic abuse including threats to kill the victim. The Brooklyn Park Police also reported a number of police calls to the victim’s address over domestic assaults by Michael Iheme against the victim. According to reports, the suspect, Mr. Michael Iheme had brought the deceased from Nigeria some years ago before sending her through a nursing program. However the marriage later went south resulting in incessant verbal abuses, harassment and sometimes physical fighting. Additional information confirmed that Michael Iheme was diapers-changing stay at home dad for their two children, a boy age 4 and 3 year old girl while the wife worked at a health care facility as the bread winner of the family of four.

Icheoku.com had previously published an article titled "Nigeria Men wife-killers on this mushrooming epidemic of uxoricide by Nigeria men. It appears that instead of abating, it is growing like California's wild fire as confirmed by this latest incident. Nigeria women in America, especially the nurses among them, should please have a serious rethink on how they "humiliate" their husbands just because they are making "more money" than them. It is not many a man who would readily suck it up or take it all through the rear just to remain a loyal but angry and humbled husband. Some men have a short fuse and will sometimes do the strange thing than continue to remain a "castrated he-goat" in the house. To Nigeria men, please nothing is worth the killing of a person, more-so the woman who shared your matrimonial bed and possibly the mother of your kids. Please think twice before you embark on that journey to nowhere. It is very lonely out there! Better still, speak to Icheoku vide Facilitator@Icheoku.com as we may have a sympathizing ear for your grievances. Once you indicate your interest to speak with us, we shall provide you with a hot line immediately. Really it is not worth it! Icheoku hereby condemn this wantonness and heretofore declare Mr. Michael Collins Iheme, another ignoble, despicable and callous son of Africa aka a very bad Nigerian ambassador in America!

THE HIT LIST - our incredible but true story series: Serie 3!

1. The head of Sadam Hussein!
Take a good look at the head of the enfant terrible, "Sad Man Insane!" Icheoku found it while cruising the web portal highway! It shows what happens to sadistic men of power and Icheoku will like to use this opportunity to call on the blood-hound in Khartoum, Sudan to take note as he continues to annihilate the people of Darfur in what the world has rightfully called a genocide. Same call goes off to the other mullah in Teheran who cannot feed his population but could find money to spend on nuclear activities. Their judgment day is fast approaching. Watch out all you evil men of this world, Icheoku has put you on notice in addition to all other such notifications out there.

2. New York nude eateries
We all may have been to a nude beach, sex-club, strip-club, nude yoga, nude colonies and nude street parties or at least heard about it. But who has heard about a dinning experience in the nude? In New York City, the rave in town is dinning out nude. One Mr. John Ordover rents city eateries for nude dinner parties of about fifty butt-naked regular dinners and restaurants gladly throw their doors open for this opportunity to see so many naked bodies dinning out in a group. The essence of the organisers is to reclaim and celebrate their bodies. Icheoku says what kind of bodies do these nut-cases have? Are they wrinkly stinky bodies or fresh supple bodies like the morning daisy? Seeing naked bodies could be a nightmare or a happy experience depending on the condition of such bodies. This is depravity and a forcible attempt by some few crazed individuals to make the society partake in their psychiatric self-effaced problem. Not in my restaurant, but I do not have one anyway!

3. What a human-rabbit?
A Canadian woman gave birth to her 18th child! A Romanian immigrant has given birth to her 18th child in British Columbia, Canada making her the province's most prolific mother in 20 years. Livia Ionce, 44, second left, holds her newborn daughter, Abigail Ionce, who was born Tuesday, as she and her husband, Alexandru, 51, pose for a photograph with 13 of their 18 children at their home in Abbotsford, Canada on Saturday July 26, 2008 and weighed in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces (3.5 kilograms). . Their oldest child is 23-years-old. The couple immigrated to Canada from Romania in 1990. Now listen to the human he-goat of a husband, Alexandru Ionce explain why he got his very "obedient" wife pregnant for eighteen times:- "We never planned how many children to have. We just let God guide our lives, you know, because we strongly believe life comes from God and that's the reason we did not stop the life." Continuing, he said he did not know if the couple would have more children. The family now has 10 girls and eight boys. "We would have liked a boy to be even," he said. "We thank God all of them are healthy and happy." Icheoku strongly recommends that this fertility-hog be castrated or at least be put on some form of birth control or be made to undergo a complete vasectomy. Mr. Alexandru Ionce should know that he is no longer in Romania but in the western world; and also to please explain how he plans to take care of these swarm of humanity. Icheoku will also ask, where are all the battered women and prevention of abuse NGOs or what else is more qualified as a flagrant abuse of a totally and completely domesticated house-wife?

4. Beheading in Canada!
A 40 year old man Mr. Vince Weiguang Li (pictured here below left as sheriff prisoner) on a Greyhound bus with 37 passengers travelling across the Canadian Prairies from Edmonton, Alberta, to Winnipeg, Manitoba has killed and decapitated a fellow passenger, 22 year old man from Winnipeg, Mr Tim McLean, pictured here below right in a baseball cap.
An eyewitness said the victim was stabbed 50 or 60 times by the man sitting next to him, who then severed his head with a large knife. The driver pulled over and passengers fled from the bus, bracing the door to keep the attacker inside, awaiting police arrival. According to eye witness account, the suspect calmly walked up to the front of the bus dangling the victim's head in one hand and holding the knife drooping in blood in the other hand; stared at us and suddenly dropped the head right in front of us. Continuing the suspect's action was described as robotic or somewhat mechanical. According to witnesses, the suspect stabbed Mr. McLean several times in the throat and torso, then severed the victim's head, hacked at his body with a large knife and a pair of scissors, and, according to reports from the scene, ate some of the body parts. The suspect has been charged of second-degree murder in a Manitoba courtroom. Icheoku extends our heartfelt sympathy to the victim's family and pray that his agony was quick. What a despicable way to die more-so through gruesome beheading which Icheoku thought, prior to this incident was the exclusive preserve of the Middle East? Was it a copycat crime or cannibalism that induced the depraved Vince Li to take the life of Mr. Tim McLean - that is what the Manitoba court will try to figure out.

5. Men with money!

We thought we have heard the last of the prodigious ways well healed individuals indulge themselves; but Icheoku says flying a car over 6,500miles just for an oil change is ridiculous!
An super rich Arab Sheikh from Qatar flew his $380,000 dollar Lamborghini pictured here below to and back from Heathrow London just for that purpose. His tab, a paltry $50,000 dollars to cover flight, insurance and the $7000 oil change. The black-and-gold Murciélago LP640 Lamborghini supercar is here boarding the cargo hold of Qatar air for its journey back to the Middle East after its oil change in London. But David Price, of Lamborghini Club UK, said: “If an owner wants to service his car in that way, it is his choice.“I’m not surprised. Thankfully the age of excess in some areas continues.”Lamborghini UK spokeswoman Juliet Jarvis said there could be “kudos” for a Middle Eastern owner in servicing a car in London.She said the exclusive Italian brand had a network of authorised dealers around the world – and most cars were looked after in the country where they were bought.But she added: “This sort of thing is not unheard of.”Qatar Airways confirmed it carried the Lamborghini.The cars are popular with celebs including Rod Stewart and David Beckham. Icheoku says that the rich can do whatever they please with their money but at the same time could spend such excesses for a charitable purpose; does the name, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet ring any bell in this Sheik's ear or what?

Until next Sunday when "The Hit List" comes your way again, stay tuned to www.Icheoku.com as we bring you our incisive perspective on politcial and social happen-stances as they become available. We appreciate your visit, please call again!

LAZY NORTHERNERS, AREWA ADMITS !

Almajiris? Loafers! Leeches! Parasites! Panhandlers! Beggarly people! What nomenclature has not been used to describe the unbridled lazy aversion to hard-work of the people of northern Nigeria. Now, finally there is an admission by the one voice which speaks for northern Nigeria - AREWA, that the people of northern Nigeria are lazy and parasitic on the rest of the country. This is a truism of what everyone already knows but which nobody will admit publicly because of political correctness. Now that AREWA has publicly admitted to this fact, it is now fair game to discuss it openly. It is the culture of perfidy of institutionalized laziness (almajiris) which is the bane of Northern Nigeria. How can a culture inculcate in its people that a person's status is ordained by Allah and nothing should be done to change it. This makes it possible for the beehive of teenagers who loiter from one street corner to another in the north asking for handouts while their mates from the south are busy studying in school or pursuing various other vocations including trading. Why would the north not be poor and dependent on the rest of Nigerians when there is no viable feeder from within its populace to oil their economy? Let the truth be told that Nigeria might finally be rid of this clog in its wheel of progress. Now that AREWA has spoken the truth at last; let the freedom bell ring - free at last! free at last! If only this will jolt northern Nigeria out of their lazy stupor, then the job of Soludo, AREWA and Icheoku as well as other brave talkers is done. Finally Nigeria may have turned the corner by this clear admission of AREWA that people of northern Nigeria are lazy and parasitic. Icheoku re-echoes this sentiment of AREWA and affirms that AREWA is right on the mark with this admission. So lazy people of the north, wake up, roll up your sleeves and off to work you must now go to alleviate your poverty status! Asalam alekum!

Now read the said admission of AREWA that the northerners are lazy and parastic!

By Segun Olatunji, Kaduna
Published: Thursday, 31 Jul 2008
The Arewa Consultative Forum on Wednesday disagreed with the 19 northern state governors that northerners were not parasites on other regions of the country. ACF said that indeed, “northerners are lazy and parasites” on other regions, pointing out that there was no reason to run away from the truth.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani. It, however, said that the people of the Niger Delta were responsible for the economic woes of the North, having raided the people of the Middle Belt who were part of the North as slaves for the whites during the colonial days. The forum also flayed the Senate President, David Mark, over his comment that the organisation consisted of failed politicians who were in the habit of imposing their views on northerners. Apparently referring to the controversy surrounding the victory of the Senate President at the election petitions tribunal, ACF said, “Winning election is one thing and earning the honour is another.” The ACF further welcomed the assertion by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on the pervasive poverty and illiteracy in the North, urging him to match his expression of concern with positive actions in the area of employment according to Federal Character, as a way of reducing the problems. Meanwhile, the Northern Democratic Coalition on Wednesday condemned the First Northern Agricultural Summit that just ended in Kaduna, describing it as‘fraud.’ In a statement entitled, “Fraudulent Northern Agricultural Summit,” and jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Al-Basir, and Secretary, Elisha Kura, the group condemned the 19 northern governors over what it described as ”another jamboree” aimed at fleecing the people of their money. The group said, “This is another fraud of the century because it has been confirmed that the governors of the 19 northern states, banks and individuals contributed N3.6bn to organise the summit. “This is an amount large enough to take care of a large number of the poverty-stricken people of the North. Clearly, this is an agenda of some self-styled leaders of the North to further enrich themselves to the detriment of the less privileged.”

FIGHT FOR BAKASSI, NOW!

The fight to save Bakassi from the clutches of Southern Nigeria enemies is a fight which all patriotic southerners must as of necessity, fight now and collectively too! But the festering animosities and divisions foist on the people of southern Nigeria by the northerners appear to be inhibiting this effort. The irony of Bakassi is that the rest of Southern Nigeria is treating it as a no brainier, as if it is a public-charge, a res nulus, as non of their business, as if it is Bakassi problem alone or that of Cross River State as opposed to something big that collectively belongs to the entire south. The more political astute and savvy Northern Nigeria has succeeded in isolating and balkanizing the south into various powerless ethnic minorities and communities which itinerant(ly) fight themselves instead of collectively facing off their common foe - the North! Why does Icheoku say so? Because it was in Rivers State that the first abandoned property under the current Senate President, David Mark's commission was enforced against the returning Igbos of Nigeria shortly after the civil war; thereby driving a big wedge between the Igbos of core Igboland and the Igbos of Rivers State. The same goes with old Calabar province, inclusive Bakassi, which hitherto was part of Eastern Nigeria and by extension nearly Igbo-like; with closer affinities to Igbo people.

But like the world re-known poet and author, Professor Chinua Achebe rightly stated in "Things Fall Apart", things have dramatically fallen asunder and the falcons can no longer hear the falconers in Southern Nigeria. What could bring back the southerners of Nigeria into one powerful bloc? Where is the southern version of the northern governors' association? Can the joint defense of Bakassi provide the needed glue which will once again galvanize southern Nigeria? The southern disunity has made it possible for the vampires from the North to be sucking the blood of southerners dry and doing so as it pleases them without any let or hindrance whatsoever. It is about time, the South unites and together fight their common enemy for their total emancipation; instead of the current pettiness of imaginary enemies amongst themselves; which "enmity" was a product of the master-craftiness of the Hausa/Fulani Oligarchs from the Sahara desert designed to keep the south bogged down.

Col Gideon Orkar, may God bless his soul, excised some states from Nigeria and gave them away to where they rightfully and historically belong - to Chad and Niger Republics. But the North would not take it and instead, mobilized as one bloc and fought their way collectively back into Nigeria again. They did not just say no, it was just Sokoto, Kano, Maiduguri, Katsina and Kebbi States that were removed from Nigeria by Orkar. No, they saw it as an affront to the north; seeing themselves as one north, the same northerners and rallied to fight. They succeeded and today the same otherwise excised part of Nigeria of Katsina State has produced the incumbent "president", Umaru Yar'Adua of Northern Nigeria. So why can't the South fight as one to secure a territory which rightfully and historically belong to them until 1967 when the North made a pact with the devious Cameroon to trade Bakassi in exchange for their blockading Biafra? The crushing effect of the blockade sped the final suspension of hostilities by Biafra against the inept Nigerian government of Yakubu Gowon.

In 1967 through 1970, the collective North fought Biafra using their minions in present Benue State, as canon fodders, arrow heads and foot soldiers to wage their unholy war against Biafra. These disposables were immediately relegated to the kitchens as servants once their services at the war fronts to secure the southeastern oil were no longer needed, Biafra having ceased fire. What is Icheoku saying? - that southern Nigeria should grow street-smart and read the handwriting on the world; they should see the bigger picture that a territory belonging to their geographical location is at a peril in the hands of the North and rally round as one to secure it or fight to get it back. These northerners have nothing to lose by the ceding Bakassi to Cameroon; after-all it is not in their geographical belt and it is several hundreds of miles away in some "god-forsaken" territory. AREWA does not have any interest in protecting what rightfully belongs to the south so it behoves on the South to protect what is theirs. The seventeen states of the south should fully mobilize for a showdown over Bakassi with these feudalistic north. Now is the time to fight for your rights or forever retreat into your cocoons as the cowards of the country and remain in perpetual servitude of the Northerners. The southern mantra should at the present time be "give us liberty or give us death". The age long abuses in Nigeria and the present face-off or stare-down in the Niger Delta should be the perfect storm needed to forever right all the wrongs in Nigeria, especially the dominance of power and institutions in Nigeria by just one very lazy group of people (AREWA admitted as much).

Enough of these gworro-chewing SOBs dictating to a much more civilized and hardworking Nigerians of Southern Nigeria what to do. How long shall the south continue to just take it through the rear? The time is now for the south to prove that they are not as inconsequential as the north perceives them and try to depict them, whenever any such opportunity calls. The south should unite and make Bakassi a test case of all that is wrong with Nigeria; that some human beings should just sell off fellow Nigerians into slavery in Cameroons just lwith a stroke of pen aka "Green Tea Agreement" without the consent of the party-victim is unfathomable? Are these Nigerians of Bakassi origin mere chattels that can be pawned or auctioned off at the whim of an imperial president as Olusegun Obasanjo grew into, in corroboration with his other conspirators? Call the Northern bluff now, Southern Nigeria and let Nigerians resolve this northern albatross once and for all. The time for action is now! Stand up for Bakassi as one united south and let the tree fall wherever and however it sees fit; after-all the north said they can survive as an independent nation and this might as well be their farewell ode!

ACID BATH FOR A LAWYER, AN UPDATE!

Courtesy of our friends at Klinreports, Icheoku brings you an update on the lawyer acid-attack victim's path to recovery including his most recent photos as well as his photo before the attack . Please as you read this interview, let your conscience speak to you; see the need of this "unfortunate" lawyer and do something to help him. Look beyond yourself to fill the need of the victim herein. The "me" attitude of this world should be put aside for a moment and think deeply what the family of this man is going through at the present time. It could be anybody, you, myself, a relative, a friend or an acquaintance. Do something today for mankind as personified in these photographs. Go to sleep tonight knowing that you have made a difference in a life. God blesses a cheerful giver!

"Help! I need N6 million for re-constructive surgery" cries out Barrister Francis Okafor - lawyer acid-attack victim.

Now the interview conducted by our friend, Ahams of Klinreports:

Q. What has your life been like since the acid attack on you September last year?
A. Since I was discharged from the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu on January 1 this year, I have been frequenting the hospital for follow up action even though the on-going treatment has nothing to do with my eye. I made a first attempt at the British Embassy to obtain visa in April this year, but that visa was rejected. The embassy officials sympathized with my plight but said I did not have credible sponsor. As a result of this, they could not give me visa. Later, we made efforts with Morphid Hospital, London to get an appointment letter and eventually in June this year, the hospital management graciously granted us appointment which is scheduled to be on August 7 this year-just a couple of days from now for me to see my doctors. I went back to the British Embassy and I am happy to announce that they granted entry visa for me to travel around August 4th so that I would meet up with my August 7th appointment.

Q. What was the extent of your treatment at the Orthopedic Hospital?
A. You know, I had multiple injuries all over my body including my head, my two eyes, my left hand and my legs. It was the burns that the Orthopedic Hospital surgeons have been treating. They brought in two doctors- Professors Nwasigwe and Onwuagwuluike, the first ophthalmologists in eastern region. The medical experts confirmed, in the course of my treatment, that my left eye is completely dead, but that the right one could be salvaged if I am urgently sent abroad for medical treatment. They said the equipment required for that treatment is not in Nigeria, that it could only be found overseas. They, therefore, advised me to make arrangements to travel overseas for that treatment. So, all this while I have been going to Orthopedic Hospital, it has just been for follow up check-ups on the injuries I sustained all over my body during the acid attack.

Q. Is it possible to quantify your expenses so far?
A. Initially, we spent N360, 000.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) at the Orthopedic Hospital. And we have been paying little amount of money for routine check-ups. However, the overseas treatment is the one that is trying to consume a lot of money because my treatment has been estimated to cause N5 million, except other travel expenses such as incidentals, feeding and accommodation.

Q. Only your treatment will cost a whopping N5 million?
A. Only treatment, but if you add these other expenses, it can go up to N7 million (about $68,000dollars USD). You see, we are talking about only my eye, not my other parts of body that are burnt. This left eye is totally burnt, and it requires plastic surgery to really reconstruct it. So, that one is not part of the estimation.

Q. So, how do you raise the money for the medical trip?
A. I have been having problems trying to raise the fund. What I have on hand now is not enough to undertake the trip. People really responded but it is not enough. The response is nothing to write home about. I cannot boast of up to N1.2 million yet the treatment requires above N5 million.

Q.What of your colleagues in the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)?
A. In fact, the NBA has given me N1 million so far, and they said there is another small amount of money for me to collect before the trip.

Q. How do you intend to raise the remaining amount for the medical trip?
A. That is the problem. I intend to meet some international organizations while in London to see if they can give me some assistance.

Q. Apart from lawyers and concerned members of the public, has your plight been brought to the attention of government, especially, governments of the southeast geo-political zone?
A. Yes, the leadership of the bar had written to the governors of Enugu and Anambra, my home state, for financial assistance for my oversea medical treatment. But the association will still brief us on the outcome of the letters.

Q. Will the plastic surgery be carried out after this initial London treatment?
A. Yes, what they will do first of all is to treat my right eye that is, at the moment, receiving light so that thereafter, they would refer me to the plastic surgeon to now reconstruct my left eye before they can know whether it is still alive or not.

Q. What is the level of treatment of the burns?
A. I think on the face of it, the burns are gone, but I am still having some sensations. I have been receiving treatment in respect of that. You can see my head. There is plaster all over it. We thought the wound had healed, but it came back all over.

Q. There were suspects in this attack on you. What has become of the matter?
A. There is one person I did suspect and police arrested him, but eventually, while I was in the hospital he went to an Enugu High Court and, under fundamental human rights, he was granted bail. Meanwhile, I have not gathered strength enough to prosecute that matter because I have to be in court to prosecute the suspect. So, we have not done anything in respect of prosecution of that matter. It is just pending while the suspect is on bail. For now, the matter is adjourned sine die until I recover. Then if I want to prosecute him, I would reactivate the matter.

Q. Once more, could you recapture the deadly attack on you?
A. On September 26, 2007 (last year), I finished my chambers work by 8 pm and came out of my office to enter my car. As I was about to board my car, I had a call on my mobile telephone handset. So, I stood by the car door to answer the call. While I was still standing, saying ‘Hello, Hello’ on the phone, I heard a bang on my head, ‘Gboooh!’ I thought it was a bottle that was broken on my head, but substance was pouring all over my body. I subsequently received very serious burning sensation, and I started shouting. At this juncture, people rushed to my rescue and I was taken to the National Orthopedic Hospital.

Q. When will you return back to Nigeria?
A. I was granted six months visa. So, I will be back to Nigeria by January 17, 2009

Recovering Barrister Francis Okafor with his ever loving wife.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY TO HIS APPEAL FUND:

ACCOUNT NUMBER 0191201008081, OCEANIC BANK PLC

& ACCOUNT NUMBER 9562000013956, UNION BANK PLC,

ENUGU-NIGERIA

Also, you can send your donation/gift vide Western Union or Money Gram and alert him on his telephone numbers 0112348038726495 & 011248037741703

(please be mindful of his trip to London for treatment at Morphid Hospital beginning from August 4th, 2008)

ONE NIGERIA, REALLY?

Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe while receiving his Cameroonian counterpart Henri Ayissi, recently said that the two common enemies facing Nigeria are those who want to see Nigeria disintegrate and the militants who daily attack Nigerian soldiers and civilians. Ojo Maduekwe was right to the extent that those who are tired of the stunted Nigeria-experiment are legion and enough reason to give those lords of manor in Nigeria, lots of sleepless nights! Icheoku says but for the parasitic north, who depends heavily on the southern oil to survive their arid desert condition, Nigeria disintegration would have since been a fait accompli - would have since been a dream come through.

Who in Nigeria really does not wish that they go their separate ways? Who in Nigeria is happy to be sharing space with some other detestable human beings whose stock in trade is either bureau de` change or simply loitering; yet they are in charge of Nigeria to the chagrin of the workhorse of the Nigerian economy and commerce? Who will like to continue to adorn the toga of being the baboon who does all the works while the monkeys from the north are just eating? Not this blogger! Not any known membership of Icheoku and by extension, not many Nigerians; many of whom are just bidding their time for the true emancipation from the yokes of the Northerners.

British colonial powers murdered peace in Nigeria when it forcibly yoked strange bed-fellows together and christened it Nigeria. To make matters worst they ensured through clever manipulations that the lazy north remain in charge of many levers of power including the armed forces. What is Nigeria strictly speaking and who is a real Nigerian? Who is actually proud to be identified as a Nigerian when Nigeria's leadership including her national houses are populated by known 419ners and con-men? Which country are we talking about but a country already on a precipice waiting to be pushed over the cliff to smithereens. The necessary indices are available and only a trigger or tinder is missing and in any event this is supplied, Nigeria as an entity may become a tragic historical fact. The only panacea is a change of attitude and the arrogant exclusion of many other Nigerians from the scheme of things. The fabric of Nigeria is always threatened by injustice and partial administration of both justice and resources. The Ojo Maduekwes of Nigeria should instead of worrying about factors of possible disintegration, concern themselves with how to make amends for the past wrongs in order to avoid future wrongs. This will lower down the temperature-gauge and prevent the situation from boiling over leading to more cohesive society where every Nigerian will be treated fairly and justly.

THE HIT LIST - our incredible but true story series: - SERIE 2

1. Very expensive high-end Hamburgers!

Are you rich enough? Can you afford America's Most Expensive Hamburgers? How much could you spend for a hamburger? Do you know that dozens of restaurants across the United States of America serves Kobe-beef burgers topped with truffles and foie gras. The price tags on these wallet-busting burgers can reach $175. It's a chance to try the ‘ultimate’ example of something edible, and because it's a burger — well, who doesn't want to eat the ultimate burger?” In Pictures: America's Most Expensive Hamburgers

Another burger gimmick comes courtesy of the kitchen at the Palms. They'll pair a $6 Carl Jr.’s hamburger with a 24-year-old bottle of French Bordeaux. This ultimate combo meals costs $6,000. Not content to let the West Coast take the lead, New York City-based steakhouse chain Olde Homestead got in the race. They recently decided that their original $41 20-ounce Kobe beef hamburger wasn’t enough, and introduced an $81 burger. It's made with 14 ounces of 100 percent “Grade Five” Kobe Wagyu beef — with a four-ounce medallion of Kobe sirloin tucked inside. That still doesn't compare to DB's Double Truffle burger, served with 20 grams of shaved black truffles—and a $150 price tag. Believe it or not, there's an even more expensive burger — dusted with gold — also served in New York. Icheoku says, what a price to pay for a piece of bread and beef patties? Anyway, you only live once, so why not if you can! Incredible? You bet!

2. His body will not decay!

The body of the bearded Capuchin monk, Padre Pio was exhumed from a crypt on March 3 and found to be in good condition after 40 years of his death. A poll in 2006 by Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana found that more Italian Catholics prayed to Padre Pio than to any other figure, including the Virgin Mary or Jesus. His picture is stuck to the dashboards of many taxis and cars throughout Italy. In the sepulcher, he was dressed in a brown Capuchin habit and wore fingerless gloves he used to absorb blood from wounds on his hands. Among the stories that surround the monk, who died at the age of 81, is one that he wrestled with the devil one night in his monastery cell and emerged bloodied and bruised." Icheoku says a saint of our time? Really! Is it not incredible that Italians, the custodians of the Roman Catholic Church are praying to an ordinary mortal more than to blessed Virgin Mary or even the Lord Jesus Christ? Is this heresy or what?

3. The rocking Monk!

Dressed in his traditional brown robe, sandals and twirling the rope around his waist, this 62-year old Friar Cesare Bonizzi is no ordinary heavy metal rocker. But as guitarists around him grind out heavy notes, the long-white-bearded Capuchin, a former missionary in Ivory Coast, has no qualms bobbing his head and shouting lyrics about alcohol, sex, tobacco and life in general into his microphone.Describing himself as a "preacher-singer," Bonizzi has been singing for over a decade, and last month wowed heavy metal fans at Italy's "Gods of Metal" festival, where he performed with his band Fratello Metallo (Metal Brother) alongside groups such as Iron Maiden. A member of the Catholic Capuchin order in Milan, Bonizzi began singing heavy metal after having first started with what he calls "light music with slight rock influence."You can see Friar Bonizzi in action here. Icheoku says, rock on reverend! Who says you have to become a destitute and self-deprived absolutionist in order to serve your God! God loves the cheerful one so why not indulge yourself in whatever puts a smile on your face and maybe on another's; that way you may live long! Truth!

4. Obasanjo abandons electricity problem to God

The medicine man of Otta, Babalawo Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo is a despicable person. He said Nigerians should take their electricity problem to God, adding that they should take to God anything they do not have which they wished to have or cannot get. Icheoku says that this deranged incestuous monster of Otta Olusegun Obasanjo was rescued from the gallows and sent to Aso Rock by God to give Nigerians electricity among other things. He disobeyed God and eight years after his ignoble reign over Nigeria, he is today opening his wide dirty mouth to insult Nigerians. What a country? Icheoku says this monster should be arrested and put away for all his crimes against humanity and also since he is unable to explain to Nigerians why the $16billion dollars USD he misappropriated for electricity did not add even a single mega watt of electricity to the national grid! Isn't that incredulous? At best let Aremu Obasanjo spare Nigerians further pains from the memories of his atrocious regime and please SHUT THE F**K UP!

5. From Grace to Grass - disguised ex-president of Serbia!

When Saddam Hussein was fished out of a spider hole in a farm in Baghdad by the brave United States of America military, Icheoku thought we have had the last of such desperate act by former men of authority to evade justice by eluding capture from a manhunt. But we were proved wrong. The fugitive ex-president of Serbia, Bosnian-Serb President Radovan Karadzic proved that he was a good student of Saddam Hussein and while the whole world was busy traversing the rugged Serbia country-side looking for him, he took a page from Saddam Hussein and grew beards with an alias; living in the city suburb of Belgrade as a commoner - a traditional homeopathic doctor! What an irony of fate that a once demi-god president of Serbia stole an identity of a rural gardener and hid behind face-covering beards and for about thirteen years!

Until next week Sunday when we come your way again with our incredible but true stories; remain blessed and please continue to visit www.Icheoku.com! Our team of bloggers shall continue to strive to bring to you our best-effort editorials of social and political happenings around our world. So long!