UMARU YAR'ADUA, JUST GO AWAY!

Before further damage could be caused the Nigerian people! Enough of this bullshit! That is the only feasible solution to the intractable problems currently bedevilling Nigeria and now is the time for him to just disappear from Aso Rock, so that Nigeria may be whole again. Icheokudotcom calls on the National Assembly to instigate articles of impeachment immediately to remove Umaru Yar'Adua from office on the grounds of impairment - his inability to perform the duties/functions of his office due to incapacity of the body and mind. Better still, let the Supreme Court of Nigeria quietly easy him out of office by annulling the charade of an "election" that imposed him on the Nigerian people in the first place. Regrettably it will be tragic to let the khaki boys effect this desirable change for Nigerians as it may not be all that peaceful. However should this last option be exercised, may all the past "leaders" be rounded up and while tied up at the stake, be forced to regurgitate all the money they stole from Nigeria, totalling an excess of three (3) trillion dollars USD since 1970.

Since Umaru Yar'Adua was imposed on Nigeria in May 2007, nothing has moved an inch in Nigeria - everything has crawled to a complete full-stop. It has been all motion and no movement. Now to add insult to the injury, oil price has crashed and very soon Nigeria may not be able to pay her tabs or meet her international payment obligations requiring bankruptcy protection. Why Nigerians have tolerated this man all these while of his sleeping on duty defies every logic or is it the usual stupendous and ignominious awe-struck of Nigerians to what is unusual and strange, and Umaru Yar'Adua is both.

The present ordeal of Nuhu Ribadu should be the final straw to break this Umaru Yar'Adua boneless back - he is so iffy and shifty that he does not stand by his orders once they turn out not to be popular or widely acceptable. Twice has he tried to increase the cost of gasoline and other petroleum products and twice has he rescinded himself. Once did he try to launch a full scale military invasion of the Niger Delta but chickened out under pressure; he once wanted to stand up to Olusegun Obasanjo's excesses beginning with his removal as board of trustee chairman of the PDP but equally grew cold-feet. The latest incident is Nuhu Ribadu whom he ordered humiliated but sensing the outrage of the Nigerian people is now saying that his government was not aware of it, calling for a useless investigation.

Which investigation, Icheokudotcom, asks? If Nigeria wants, let them continue to sell themselves short by their continuous tolerance of this little man from Katsina State who was deliberately imposed on Nigeria by a cabal headed by Olusegun Obasanjo. Not only is he, Umaru Yar'Adua, clueless, as admitted by his secretary of government Saleh, on how to tackle Nigeria's problems but he is also not courageous enough to make some tough decisions necessary to move the country forward. Simply speaking, Umaru Yar'Adua does not have what it takes to do the hard-work required. As for Icheokudotcom, Umaru Yar'Adua is not a legitimate president, he does not have balls to be president of Nigeria and should therefore resign his office immediately to make way for a better reconstituted Nigeria. Fresh election is what is needed to uplift the present low morals in Nigeria - this will confer legitimacy and real mandate on whomsoever is elected by the majority of Nigerians to be their president. Anything short of Umaru Yar'Adua's immediate resignation or removal from office, will only continue to fester the murky political malaise in Nigeria; where nothing presently works but are in near complete paralysis. This is not the way a country with a future runs - on a gridlock with too many uncertainties; hence the course must be pivoted as a matter of utmost urgency in order to avert further devolution. Icheokudotcom therefore calls on Umaru Yar'Adua to resign his office immediately to save Nigeria from its present cliff-bound tumble. ENOUGH!

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, WHAT IS GOING ON?

Icheokudotcom is a fan and an avid supporter of Obama 08. We are continually following your leadership with the same fired-up enthusiasm as were mobilized to catapult you to the presidency of America; and we are not backing down, at least not yet. However, Icheokudotcom is not very comfortable at your attempted wholesale resurrection of the Bill Clinton's presidency through the appointments you have so far made. The 2008 mandate was given to the then Senator Barack Obama and not to the Clintons, after-all a Clinton ran in that primaries but was rejected in preference to your candidacy. You must therefore own up and manage your presidency fully and totally.

What we are saying is that the incoming administration should be a President Barack Obama's administration both in form and substance. It should not in anyway be suggestive of a co-presidency with the Clintons or lean towards that necessary implication. Admitted that you are deferring to them for their effort at securing your victory at the polls but deference must not be so emphasized to become a caving-in. Enough of the Clinton's staff or does it mean that when you stepped out into the arena, you did not have your own people marshaled out and ready to go? The trajectory of your current transition should not be seen or interpreted as a deal with the devil which you now found yourself obliged to perform like by technically sub-contracting your presidency to the Clintons. Your primary obligor is the American people who overwhelmingly rallied you to victory; and to them and them alone should you absolutely defer to. Icheokudotcom asks, is the present direction of your government, as could be garnered from your so-far made appointments, the change we can believe in? We just hope that you have not settled for the change that is available or possible; or are you that trusting to believe that these particular Clintonian clique have a special magic wand they can easily wave, to bring about the change we can believe in? What about their loyalty to you juxtaposed with the Clintons? We hope you are still in charge of what is transpiring before our eyes.

Furthermore, Icheokudotcom asks, are you getting the wise counselling of Uncle Senator Ted Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey, Senator John Kerry, Collin Powel as well as Governor Bill Richardson with this your transition? Vice Presidential-elect, Senator Joe Biden, the first American to publicly attest to your stellar qualities has been compensated with the vice presidential slot, we love Joe and hope he participates in your transitional decisions so far. These people were the real warriors of your campaign as they threw their hats into the ring when it was not politically savvy to do so with Bill and Hillary Clinton still so much covetous of the presidency. Senator John Kerry introduced you to America at Boston 2004 and supported your campaign throughout. Senator Edward Kennedy's endorsement and support was humongous and Bill Richardson even went up against his former mentor the Clintons to support you. Our own lady Oprah's weighty support of your candidacy was spectacular. BO, please be mindful of these priceless supporters as they love you more than you can imagine! As for the Clinton's switch-overs, always remember that you were not their first choice and hence courtesy is all that you owe them.

Also, remember the change you promised America should reflect in your cabinet - we need to see more Blacks, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans in important places, too. Like your chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel's father said, his son is not going to the White-house to clean floors and we hope that will not be the case with minorities in your White-house? The change cannot be restricted to the top of the cabinet, just you; no, we need to see America in the broader spectrum truly reflected in your cabinet and not just more of the same faces. If we wanted the Clintons we would have nominated/elected Hillary Clinton instead. If you are not comfortable with or fear that minorities are not "qualified enough" for these positions, then make them the deputy/under-study of the helmsman/woman for their eventual elevation to the top post someday down the road of your administration.

In conclusion therefore, Icheokudotcom says that you should make this administration, an Obama administration and then reflect minorities in top positions in your cabinet to really manifest the change we all fought tirelessly to bring about. Good-luck, Mr. President-elect.

NIGERIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A BAND OF THIEVES?

Anyone following the current brewing 2.4 billion Naira cars-purchase scandal in the Nigerian House of Representatives, will automatically be taken aback to the forced resignation of a one time Madam-speaker of the same house, Ms. Patricia Etteh. However why Oladimeji Sabur Bankole, the current speaker has not followed suit and resigned his office as speaker, baffles ever right thinking man and woman all over the world particularly Nigeria. Why should the treatment for a woman speaker be different from that of a man speaker? Icheokudotcom therefore call on Oladimeji Bankole to resign his office as speaker, forthwith to enable full investigation into this alleged fraud.

One thing that stands out of this controversy is that retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Senator Nuhu Aliyu may after-all be right when he accused the Nigerian House of Representatives of accommodating some members who are known criminal 419 perpetrators. He was cowed down, cajoled and threatened with both bodily harm and harm to his family for daring to speak out the truth. The powers that be forced Nuhu Aliyu to retract his accusation and subsequently made to apologise for his observation.

What Nigeria is witnessing today is a House of Representatives operating in a very fishy-like manner, comparable to the stealthy ways of atypical 419 criminal operators. How can a multi billion Naira contract be awarded without necessary transparency and due process? The former speaker Patricia Ette got mired in a six (600) hundred million Naira house-furnishing contract scandal and was forced out of office; now Oladimeji Bankole should not be an exception. If Ette went so should Bankole, except if it was male chauvinism that forced out the woman former speaker and not necessarily for her alleged corrupt practices.

Icheokudotcom says that the problem with Nigeria is not her leadership but Nigerians themselves who provide that type of leadership that are largely thieves, only waiting for the right opportunity and time to strike. Why trade a female-thief for another male-thief? Look at the people representing Nigerians, band of bandits whose only relevance is that they loot and steal from the masses without let or hindrance. Enough of this bawdy thievery. The car scandal must and should be investigated to its logical conclusion, in order to manifest a willingness to fight corruption in the Nigerian House of Representatives. If the House of Representatives truly represent the Nigerian people and they are patently that corrupt, it is a reflective of a society that made them their representatives. It is maddening, the crass disposition to corruptly enrich themselves, of these men and women whose actions and unconstitutional behaviour does not augur well for a seemly elected representatives of the people of Nigeria. The only way to make this right or right the wrong of this 2.4 billion Naira car scandal is to get to its bottom in an open investigation devoid of the usual hush-hush, mush-mush attitude of governments in Nigeria. It should be a no-holds bare investigation. Only in this way, will the confidence of the Nigerian people be restored once again in her House of Representatives; otherwise they will be seen and perceived as a band of thieves!.

NUHU RIBADU, VICTIM OF A VERY CORRUPT NIGERIAN SOCIETY!

Ordinarily, Icheokudotcom would not care a hoot to spend a minute on this Olusegun Obasanjo's hatchet-man. Some school of thought are even saying that Mallam Nuhu Ribadau deserves all that is being thrown at him as he is being made to taste his own brew. Payment in kind that is? Remember the EFCC under Ribadu and how everyone that disagreed with Olusegun Obasanjo were hounded down with one charge of corrupt practice after another; while at the same time he, Ribadu was proclaiming Olusegun Obasanjo and all that were loyal to him innocent of all allegations. In some cases he even went out of his way to declare them innocent of all allegations without investigating them. Sometimes he made concerted effort to shut down substantive allegations of apparent corruption against members of Olusegun Obasanjo's inner circle. Today, there has been an about turn and the yesterday's hit-man is today's hounded racoon. Turning of tide, may be, but which Nigerian understands the fleeting nature of power? None!

Anyway, Icheokudotcom is not here to act as defense attorney for Nuhu Ribadu as we could care-less if he jumps off the bridge or puts a bullet through his own brain. Yes, we are here only to comment on the difficulty of fighting corruption in Nigeria and using Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as a test-case. Nigeria is a land where virtually everyone is corrupt, criminals waiting for opportunity and time to strike, land of election riggers, 419 practitioners and everything despicable. Yes, we say this emphantically and with factual empirical bases to back our assertion. For a little illustration, a former head of the Nigerian Police Force, Inspector General Tarfa Balogun (right) was lead away in handcuffs for corruption. Every past heads of state and government in Nigeria stole so much money from the coffers of Nigeria, that today's dilpadidated condition of all the infrastructures in Nigeria attests to this brigandage, otherwise the over three (3) trillion dollars that accrued to Nigeria since 1970 would have been evident on the ground in Nigeria. (Check out United Arab Emirates and see a government that is truly patriotic and loves her citizens and country). No, there is nothing much to show for it while their overseas bank accounts are bursting and some even own private jets and homes all over the world. Corruption is pandemic and has eaten so deep intoo the body-fabric of the Nigerian society that it has become hopeless, fighting it. Nuhu Ribadu tried to fight corruption in Nigeria but was stopped cold in his tracks by a very corrupt government of Umaru Yar'Adua, whose legitimacy is still subject to litigation in the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Now he is being punished for trying by the Umaru Yar'Adua government which is very corrupt. Umaru Yar'Adua collluded with Olusegun Obasanjo to covet the Nigerian presidency and ever since he got to Aso Rock, has been sleeping on his sick bed while he is suppposed to be on duty. Also his promise of the return to rule of law in Nigeria has since been compromised and it has been the arrest and detention of one journalist after another, one blogger after another, one television house being shut down after another and now an attempt to kill-off Mallam Nuhu Ribadau for daring to fight corruption in Nigeria.

His vice president Goodluck Jonathan is equally corrupt as no decent man ever makes it to the top through the highly corrupt, shark-infested waters of Nigerian politics. The Senate President David Mark is corrupt and as the then Minister of Communications under Ibrahim Babangida, stole to his greedy heart's delight acquiring a $33 million dollars golf course in Ireland. Mention the speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole and the ongoing 2.3 billion naira cars scandal readily comes to mind; and he is still presiding over a house which has been alleged to be populated by criminal 419 practitioners. The current head of the police, Inspector General Mike Okilo has yet to prosecute his former boss, the former IG Ehindero who stole over 23 million naira police fund. When you factor in the spiralling out of control armed robbery and other related crimes/vices in Nigeria, without any sign of abatement, then one is forced to concluded that the Nigerian police force is in bed with Nigerian criminal master-minds. The Attorney General, Aandooka's very close relationship with former governor Ibori of Delta State as well as other plainly corrupt former governors is highly instructive as to the lack of appertite to fight corruption in Nigeria. Now the only serious person ever to look directly in the eye of corruption and call it by its name, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is being haunted out of this life. Nigeria it shall not be well with you as no person in the future, knowing the travails currently being underwent by Nuhu Ribadu, will agree to do any serious job, fighting the monster of corruption in Nigeria. Nuhu Ribadu is being made a mockery of just for being brave enough to dare to step unto the toes of some very highly placed and grossly corrupt "sacred-cows" of Nigeria.

The latest incident of humilating Nuhu Ribadu by dragging him out of his commencement venue, says so much about a cabal desperate to take their pound of flesh. This former anti-corruption chief was physically stopped from participating in his graduating ceremony by Umaru YarAdua' thugs, who dragged him out of the hall of his graduation ceremonies. Nuhu Ribadu was dragged out from the Unity Hall of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he was seated with his other collegues, waiting to be conferred with the Member of the National Institute (mni). The institute unashamedly, explained that Nuhu Ribadu was too sick to attend the commencement ceremony which Icheokudotcom rebuts and asks, why drag a sickman, who has "recovered" enough to attend his own commencement ceremony, out of the hall? Reacting to this Nuhu Ribadu's latest ordeal in the hands of Umaru Yar'Adua's jackboots, Gani Fawehinmi said that Nuhu Ribadu's travails under the Yar'Adua administration shows that Umaru Yaradua's government has the tendencies of fascism and its profession for the rule of law is a smokescreen and hypocrisy of the worst order.

One other member of Nuhu Ribadu's graduating class who was not allowed to graduate is Mr. Allen Deinbo Briggs. He was accused of stealing a digital camera belonging to one of the course participants while on study-tour in China. Icheokudotcom says, what a country, where a high-up, selected for such a state's policy course, is stealing an ordinary digital camera in far away China? What will happen tomorrow when such a deviant is appointed into an office of trust? Looting unlimited and you ask yourself why Nigeria is still crawling at a perpetual snail speed? It is because the caliber of men and women as this Mr. Allen Briggs are appointed and put in charge of key fiduciary institutions in Nigeria. Instead of making an effort to effect the fortunes of Nigerians, they are busy crafting plans to loot the country's resources and the treasury dry. According to the story, this Mr. Allen Briggs has a very poor mediocre record akin to a rap sheet that was bursting at the seams, at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies where he was working as a Senior Fellow; which led to vociferous protest when he was nominated for the institute's course 30. However being from the same Niger Delta area as the vice president, Jonathan Goodluck, whose office is in charge of the institute, Mr Allen Briggs' way was forcibly cleared for participation in the course 30. The feud generated so much heat that a former acting director general of the Insitute, Yakubu Sankey, lost his job for protesting vehemently against Mr. Allen Briggs unmerited inclusion im the course 30. However, Mr. Allen Briggs went on a course organized tour to China and stole a mere $45 dollar digital camera, culminating to his final denial of graduation.

Icheokudotcom says such sordid story is only possible in a country like Nigeria where a sitting vice president meddles in departmental decisions, twisting and breaking arms as to who goes or participates in a course at an institute. It is only in Nigeria, the land of anything goes where it is ok for dog to eat dog! Even you Vice President Jonathan Goodluck could insert yourself into the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies internal decisions to influence a decision and effect an outcome based on your primodal, parochial ethnic concerns? Little wonder your meteroric rise in Nigerian politics - you play it real down and dirty and if it means ganging up with Olusegun Obasanjo to frame your former boss, DSP Alamieyeseigha, so be it provided you get what you want! Icheokudotcom has always read your unusually quiet demeanour as a cold-calculating, take no prisoner demeanour of ruthless hit-man. Who is now disgraced by your candidate's petty theft? Until you vagabonds in power in Nigeria learn how not to micro-manage every aspect of life in Nigeria, that country can never truly articulate a way forward out of its stagnation.

Icheokudotcom says, Enough of this stupidity! The whole world is watching the macabre dance of corruption and ongoing vindictiveness against Nuhu Ribadu because he dared to fight corruption in Nigeria; as there is no other acceptable reason for his present ordeals. Even the snake Olusegun Obasanjo, whom Nuhu Ribadu dutifully served, has scurried away in hiding and will not come to the defense and/or protection of his former enforcer Nuhu Ribadu, at this his hour of great travails. Finally, irrespective of the subterfuge used by the Umaru Yar'Adua's government for Nuhu Ribadu's current pains, Icheokudotcom says it does not augur well for the image of Nigeria - a country so enmeshed in courruption they will rather hang out to dry anyone who attempts to clean the augean stable of corruption in Nigeria.

Nigerian authorities, please leave Nuhu Ribadu alone, as your continuous persecution of this former anti-corruption czar only attests to your unwillingness to eradicate corruption in Nigeria. The entire world is watching you as you dance naked in the world village-square thinking that you are getting at Nuhu Ribadu by humilitaing him. Two wrongs does not make a right and tomorrow, it might be your own turn to be so humiliated. Remember it was not too long ago that the name Nuhu Ribadu spelt terror in Nigeria especially to those considered anti-Olusegun Obasanjo, so why do you think you will last forever in power? Umaru Yar'Adua, please apply whatever retribution you may have on Nuhu Ribadu with caution - it does not bode well for the image of Nigeria or what do you care; afterall you are sitting very tight in the presidency knowing fully well that you did not earn or win it! Shameless mallam from goddam Katsina State!

AKWA IBOM STATE OF NIGERIA, CHILD WITCHES!

Child witches of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria is the latest episode in the unending saga of tragedies pervading Nigeria. Imagine innocent children, some as young as two months old, being branded witches and wizards and tortured for allegedly being "responsible" for the misfortunes of their parents. They are tortured to confess their culpability in witchcraft and wizardry, abandoned, maimed and sometimes even killed for this superstition. It is unbelievable but true of this primitive Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria and pictures do not lie that in this 21st century, people of Akwa Ibom State are still so primitive it hurts. What will the real cave-man do?

Please do yourself a service, click the links below, to see how uncivilized and primitive some parts of Nigeria still is. Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria is the culprit today and it is in a part of the geographical area of Nigeria that used to kill twins, believing they portend bad omen, until the arrival of Mary Slessior who stopped the practice. It is also highly rumoured that some people in Akwa Ibom state from Ugep area, still practises cannibalism.

One wonders what manner of men live in this God-forsaken part of Africa that ostracise her innocent and beautiful children on the unfounded illiterate superstition that they are witches and wizards? In this 21st century world where the rest of the world are going to space, building space stations and mapping the lunar surface, a state in Nigeria called Akwa Ibom State is busy rounding up her future generation, branding them witches and sometimes dismembering them to get rid of a supposed curse. It shall not be well with these cave-dwellers of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

To their Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, Icheokudotcom says, you and your people are shameless! This documentary has exposed the devilish practices in your state and for you to pretend ignorance thereto, is comparable to Alaska's Sarah Palin faking that she did not know that some turkeys were being massacred right behind her. Just wearing a good tie does not make you a civilized genteel when you left this despicable and abominable inhuman practices of your people to go on, unchallenged. But now that the veil has been lifted off this your evil, the whole world is now focused to see what your actions will be to eradicate or at least abate it.

Until then, let every decent man and woman send some assistance to the God-sent British humanitarian grappling with the so many traumatised children of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria! What a bloody black eye to Nigeria, this is! This British charity worker, Gary Foxcroft, 29, fighting to help the children stigmatised as witches is the programme director for the UK charity Stepping Stones, Nigeria. Mr Foxcroft first came to Nigeria in 2003 to research the oil industry for his masters degree; but he was so shocked with these children's plight that he decided to help raise money for a refuge for them. He established a Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) to cater for these abandoned "witch" children and equally try to persuade their parents to take them back. He has also helped to build a school for the children who are refused places at local schools.

If this link below does not move you, nothing else will and Icheokudotcom salutes the courage of the young British humanitarian who is providing succour to these branded and abandoned so called little "witches" of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Now click:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUJSME0TORw and also

Watch the video: Child 'witches' in Africa,

ROTIMI AMAECHI, OVER-EXPOSED RISK?

His name is Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. He is a lawyer and a politician. He is the Supreme Court of Nigeria-made governor of Rivers State of Nigeria. He was a parliamentarian and speaker of the State House of Assembly during the former governor Peter Odili's administration; but later fell out of favor with the governor who then conspired with Olusegun Obasanjo to sabotage his candidacy for governor of Rivers State. However, he went to court for redress, and although he did not contest any election as governor, he was however installed as one by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. That is by way of little bio-politics of Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State, Nigeria.

However the gist of this treatise is not the governor but what the governor did. He exposed himself to unfathomable risk by going on an open sea in a tiny boat, undeserving of a chief executive of an oil producing Rivers State, Nigeria.

Why the dingy Mr Governor Rotimi Amaechi? A governor of an oil producing Niger Delta State of Nigeria, Rivers State deserves a lot better. It is unimaginable that the security apparatus of the governor would even allow the governor to expose himself to such an outrageous risk to bodily harm, by allowing him to take such a canoe-ride to whatever Bolo Community in Rivers State for a purported "Meet the People Tour".

That the governor, pictured here below sitting fourth from left in a bowler-hat, in this cramped, over-loaded canoe (boat) should venture into an open sea in such a contraption defies every sensible logic. There is a risk of boat capsizing as a result of possible turbulence with the governor drowning? There is a risk of the boat taking in water and sinking in the process? A better, more sea-worthy boat could have been more befitting of a governor of Rivers State! Better still and admitted that Rivers State is a riverine area, a helicopter would have been deployed to fly the governor across to his destination? Did his security outfit not think of the possibility of a turbulence or the intractable Niger Delta militants pervading the area? What if they had struck and the governor was abducted and taken hostage or forced to leap off the boat into the treacherous sea or even killed in a shoot-out, since Icheokudotcom could sight some uniformed security details also aboard the boat. The security concerns were just too much to have allowed this aberration of a governor of a state in this unprotected canoe!

Does it mean that Rivers state, awash with petrol-dollars, cannot afford to buy a modern boat (see pictures), be it speed-boat, tour-boat, racing-boat, house-boat, patrol-boat etc for the use of the state's chief executive? This is a state where its past governor Peter Odili allegedly stole over two hundred (200) million dollars USD from the state's coffers. This becomes imperative since Rivers State, as the name connotes, has a lot of water areas that the governor has to visit from time to time. Assuming Rivers State cannot afford an outright ownership purchase of a befitting boat, does it also mean that Rivers State cannot afford to rent or lease a comfortable boat, with some added luxury, befitting of a state's chief executive? Also his protocol could have asked any of the oil-companies operating in the state to loan one of their numerous boats for this governor's visit.

Icheokudotcom is taking up this matter not because we particularly give a damn about these election-riggers in Nigeria, no, we do this because of the embarrassment the governor's canoe-ride caused Nigerians in the eye of the world. How can a state governor be found in such a risky pedestrian contraption, knowing fully that he carries on his shoulder the responsibility of an entire state? What if? and so many other what ifs? Can you imagine what an incident, a possible accident, could have caused both Rivers State and Nigeria? Look at the number of people, possibly government officials, cramped into the tiny rickety dinghy and yet this is a state that gets a lion share of the oil-derived revenue as allocated in Nigeria? We hear of boats capsizing all over the world and this particular contraption carrying the governor of Rivers State of Nigeria, does not necessarily appear to be very sea-worthy indeed! Look at the little clearance of the top of the canoe from the water - a height of less than two feet between the stern and the sea! Look at the sardine-like manner in which the people were stacked on that boat! What if an emergency developed, where would the rescue team have started from? It would have been very difficult to even save the governor, who was not particularly identifiable with any special color-coded outfit or sequestered enough for immediate rescue. Admitted that most people from Rivers State of Nigeria are good swimmers, but why use this canoe-ride as a trial-run for Nigeria's Olympian Micheal Phelps?

Whatever be the matter, Icheokudotcom discourages this type of over-exposure to unnecessary and avoidable risk to a state's chief executive's life. More-so when it could have been entirely avoided at little or less cost to Rivers State or any other state for that matter. Rivers State, please buy a "comfortable near-luxury" boat for your state or rent one or lease one for the use of your officials including the governor. A boat that would enable the governor to attend to your state's riverine matters without undue risk to any water-related accident including drowning. Since the terrain of your state is water-logged and while touring some parts of your state will require the governor to ferry across bodies of water, you need an official state boat as a matter of immediacy . A boat with cabin that could protect the governor from the elements should mother-nature call - torrential rainfall, wind, heat-wave, tidal wave etc? The match-box in the offending picture has nothing sheltering the governor from the sky hence he was a sitting duck for whatever the heavens may have decided to throw at him.

A mid-sized "comfortable near-luxury" boat, not necessarily a yacht, is what the doctor ordered - just a speed boat with some cabin which could be sourced for about one hundred (100) thousand dollars or slightly more. It will be a wise investment for the state and it automatically qualifies as a state asset. A state like Rivers State can easily afford this 'toy' instead of having her highest ranking official as well as some of her other state officials exposed to several maritime risks as the above picture portrayed. What Peter Odili alone, allegedly looted from your state would buy such a boat several times over, so do it because you can and also because it is the right thing to do. Rotimi Amechi, are you listening? Rivers House of Assembly are you listening? Rivers State people are you listening? Just do it for the image of Rivers State! Do it for the image of Nigeria! DO IT NOW, buy a befitting boat for your governor's use!

AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI, A RACIST SCUM-BAG!

The face of terror Ayman Al Zawahiri; the douche-bag second in command to Osama Bin Laden has opened his rotten mouth again. This time around, Ayman Al Zawahiri opened his mouth, once too loud and it must be silenced forever!

This rabid-dog Ayman Al Zawahiri had the guts to call our beloved America President-elect Barack Obama a "house-negro"! And unbeknownst to this beast Ayman Al Zawahiri, President-elect Barack Obama does not have any slave blood in him -having been sired by a Kenyan father and a white Kansas woman.

This particular cave-rat Ayman Al Zawahiri needs to be trapped and trapped he shall and pretty soon. A bastard son of a whore Ayman Al Zawahiri deserves nothing but hell-fire and should consider his asinine vituperation on an innocent America President-elect Barack Obama an over-reach. Such a cave-dwelling spineless pig Ayman Al Zawahiri deserves no place in this world and Icheokudotcom calls for all hands and resources to be doubled to take him out and now! Even if catching him is possible, when cornered, please do not accord him the dignity of being seen alive where he might have another opportunity to make some gibberish noise, protesting or condemning anything or body or state. This lunatic sadist Ayman Al Zawahiri should be quickly dispatched upon sighting for a quick rendezvous with his fabled forty-virgins.

Icheokudotcom has always known that some Arabs are racist curs and that this is fuelling the genocide in Darfur, wherein the pale-skinned Arabs are trying assiduously to decimate the black-skinned Sudanese of Darfur origin from their land. The insane comment of Ayman Al Zawahiri has added credence to this known racism that exists among some Arabs. Remember that the late Saddam Hussein tried exterminating non Arabs in the Kurdish territory of Kirkuk.

Lastly, the assurance given to Americans and the world by President-elect Barack Obama that the hunt for this criminal terrorist mass-murderer and his despicable fellow travellers in their infamous journey to no where, will be conclusive during his presidency, is a welcome relief. To this Icheokudotcom adds, please President-elect Obama implore every known possible country on earth to help catch or dispatch this mongrel and let the dogs of war know that we only want his life-less body as evidence of his final breath. On the issue of Ayman Al Zawahiri, remember No Drama Obama!

NigComSat-1 NIGERIA SATELLITE PROGRAM, WHAT A SCAM!

There is a breaking news out of Africa, in a country called Nigeria, a Satellite worth several millions of dollars has just failed less than 18months after it launched into orbit? Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited in conjunction with a Chinese company embarked on this white-elephant project, fully seized of the fact that it was ill-timed, ill-conceived, ill-equipped, ill-constructed by unskilled artisans, manufactured of sub-standard materials, ill-managed, not space-worthy, defective and not what the Nigerian populace needs at this time of abject hunger, joblessness, insecurity, election-rigging and general malaise pervading the country.

Icheokudotcom asks, what were the master-minds of this venture trying to prove when ordinary electricity is utopia, fantasy and a pure luxury in a country dreaming to be 'so great' by 2020? Icheokudotcom says that the reason why so many countries in Africa like Nigeria is stunted in their growth is that their supposed "leaders" are vision-less and lack a clear set objective or destination about where they want to lead their country to? This purposeless leadership culminates in the all over the map nature of governance in Africa and in Nigeria in particular. Their governments are always without a clearly defined mission statement. This is the reason they are perpetually in the dark, groping, fidgeting and fiddling as to what their priorities should be. They gamble with the destiny of a nation of over 120 million people. It is akin to a blind man leading a nation, resulting in their constant stumbles, falls, via off courses sometimes into the bushes or ditches and their failure to change the trajectory until their cliff-bound, death-journey becomes irretrievably doomed like the satellite under advisement, resulting to the so many failed states throughout the continent of Africa. Peradventure Nigeria may soon make the list of such failed states in Africa, baring a miraculous sense of purpose by her usurping "leaders".

NIGCOMSAT is a public private partnership company under the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Science Technology whose dream mission is to be the leading communication satellite operator and service provider in Africa. It is envisioned to manage and operate the first geostationary communication satellite in Sub-Saharan African under the technical name of NigComSat-1, which has C, Ku, Ka and L bands. NIGCOMSAT is expected to effectively delivery secure, qualitative and value-added satellite services to Africans. NIGCOMSAT is expected to provide comprehensive transmission and application services through digital and/or analog system, operating same by either fixed or mobile satellite, direct broadcast satellite services, end-to-end solution and also to engage in transponder leasing services. However, the multi-million dollar Nigerian satellite NigComSat 1 meant to be the mother-ship of this "dream" project, has just failed. It was shut down due to power trouble leading to fear that it may fall out of space, spin out of control and possibly damage other equipments in orbit. This crippled Chinese-built NigComSat-1 cost Nigeria a whopping sum of thirty-four (34) billion Naira; about $340million dollars USD or £228million British Pounds Sterling. What a misapplied fortune, yet this nation, Nigeria cannot supply power to her people and industries!

The Nigerian government under the headship of this conman here left in the picture, the illegitimate president of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua holding a cell-phone, in a face-saving bare-faced lie, claimed that insurance would cover the loss. But they failed to tell Nigerians which insurance company is carrying the loss and under what terms? Icheokudotcom used 'con-man' because Umaru Yar'Adua stabilized his hijacked presidency by floating the idea of return to rule of law in Nigeria; but has recently metamorphosed into a 'press and media' witch-hunter. Umaru Yar'Adua has put on the jack-boots and today, the fifth-estate is his marked enemy for extinction, just for reporting what is happening in Nigeria under his very inept government. Nigerians heaved a sigh of relieve after the Olusegun Obasanjo eight years of gestapo-like vice-hold on Nigerians, with the new mantra of law and order; but recent events shows that this Umaru is transforming into a cheat, a conniving and contriving little despot.

The alleged insurance coverage for this failed satellite may simply be a ruse just to distract Nigerians from asking the hard questions about this satellite mega-drama. Icheokudotcom says it smacks of a cover-up and like the Sani Abacha "recovered" loot, nobody in Nigeria may eventually know the real deal about this satellite. It may likely be swept under the carpet just like many other non-concluded matters in Nigeria.? Where is the warranty for this satellite and what is the track, proven record of the Chinese company in satellite expertise; except for the known fact that the Chinese tries to steal infantile piece-meal technology from the Americans through espionage and moles? It is on record that this NigComSat1 was the first time for China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) to deliver a satellite, launch the service as well as provide ground operating system in one package to any international customer. Nigeria was a gamed-sucker for this Chinese mumbo-jumbo junk. According to some telecommunications experts, the Nigerian government pulled a fast one on her citizens with the morbid satellite project that was dead upon launch. In their own very words, the NigComSat1 was a "white elephant in space" stating further that the whole operation was just a sham or debacle".

The NigComSat 1 satellite which was meant to provide communications for government agencies and broadband Internet services was however limited in capabilities because of the type of frequency it used and was configured with. The satellite was amenable to atmospheric weather fluctuations including being disturbed by clouds, air-pressure and wind. It also did not work properly in Nigeria's rainy season and during the Harmattan season when clouds of dust blow down from the Sahara desert. The satellite also operated on frequencies already allocated to other companies and interfered with other providers' equipment. Icheokudotcom says, with all these available known facts and data to negate the viability of the satellite project, yet the Nigerian authorities went ahead with it full stream, anyways? We unequivocally say that if this is not a scam on a grand scale, nothing else so qualified the definition of a scam. Where is the EFCC on this criminal defraud of the Nigerian people by her government and the Chinese collaborators?

Now take a serious look at the picture here left. You are seeing one of the masterminds of this grandiose scam. Wearing eye-glasses is Ms. Grace Ekpiwhri, the Nigerian Minister for Science & Technology; whose ministry supervises the NIGCOMSAT!

Padding this conspiracy theory, is the Nigerian Minister of ''Mis-Information'' John Odey who, while carrying water for his masters in Abuja, insisted that the satellite was a worthwhile investment and that "No technology can be a waste of money". To which Icheokudotcom says that 'a white-elephant technology is a waste of money' and that there are other more credible projects this amount of money could have been more prudently invested in for maximum beneficial result to impact on the fortunes of Nigerians. This fella, John Odey, has lied through his teeth to the Nigerian public and ought to resign his office immediately. Continuing his rantings, John Odey asserted that "Nigerians should see the satellite as desirable and that it has served a purpose." Icheokudotcom rejects this claim as baloney and states that desirability is not synonymous with a need; and that a whopping $340 million dollars investment should not be stupidly and thoughtlessly wasted by a government, simply to serve a purpose!

To see the depth of misinformation in Nigeria, a junior minister in the Science & Technology ministry Alhassan Zaku told Nigerians that their satellite had lost power and had to be "parked, like you would park a car". To which Icheokudotcom asks, what planet are these Nigerian "leaders" from, to bold-facedly lie to Nigerians that you can park a satellite in space, motionless, like you would a car? Don't this dido-head know that space is a void and things therein including other celestial-debris are in perpetual motion. Shameless government officials? Another mallam from a sharia school, maybe?

Do not let his boyish, clean-shaven face disarm you as you are staring into the eye of another co-conspirator to this satellite scam. His name is T. Ahmed Rufai - the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIGCOMSAT. His resume and space-technology working experience is known only to his fellow mallams who put him in charge of such a highly, technical, rocket-science based enterprise like a space program

Icheokudotcom while adopting some analysts' conclusion that despite that Nigeria has made nearly $2 trillion in oil revenues over the last 30 years, her population are mostly poor; wonders aloud, how a nation that lacks basic infrastructure that make life livable like power and water, would embark on a satellite ego-trip? This smacks of a government which did not set its priorities right.

The most laughable of this shameful escapade in space is that the Chinese contractor, China Great Wall Industry Corporation, was yet to handover the management of the doomed NigComSat1 to the Nigerian owners/operators; which proper handover was officially scheduled for a yet to come date, May 13, 2009, before the satellite died. Maybe a still-birth satellite? The Chinese in addition to building the satellite, entered into a technical management agreement with the Nigerian owners/operators for a period of 15 years, effective May 14 2007 when the satellite was launched.

The NigcomSat-1 Satellite In-orbit Delivery Contract between Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) was signed on December 15, 2004, in Abuja, Nigeria. According to the terms of the contract, CGWIC shall deliver the NigcomSat-1 satellite based on the DFH-4 platform with multiple bands transponders on-board. The satellite will serve Nigeria in the fields of telecommunications, broadcast and broadband services. The LM-3B launch vehicle is going to launch NigcomSat-1. In addition, two ground stations in Abujia, Nigeria and Kashi, China will provide satellite operations support service and China will train Nigerian technical personnel. Icheokudotcom now asks, who in Nigeria ensured compliance on the part of the Chinese company to this contract regarding specification, configuration and training?

It is highly significant that a 15 years life-span satellite barely made it through 18 months! NigComSat-1 was launched on May 14, 2007 and died on November 10, 2008! What a feat by the Nigerian Authorities and their Chinese counterparts? Bravo!
The composite picture shows the Chinese made CZ-3B Launch vehicle blasting off into space, laden with the NigComSat1 on May 14th, 2007, at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province China. About 26 minutes after launch, the NigcomSat-1 satellite entered into the pre-determined Geostationary Transfer Orbit with an apogee of 41,951 km, a perigee of 209 km and an inclination of 25°. NigComSat1 was developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC); the three-axis stabilized NigcomSat-1 satellite is based on the DFH-4 satellite bus and has a launch mass of 5,150 kg and a service life of 15 years. It is equipped with four (4) C-band , 14 Ku-band transponders, eight (8) Ka-band and Two (2) L-band transponders. The CZ-3B launch vehicle was developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of CASC. However the contraption failed just after 18 months.

As a stop-gap measure to cushion the hardship of the failed satellite, T. Ahmed Rufai said NigComSat will migrate its customers to other leased satellite pending a new satellite. According to him, his company was ready to lease four or five transponders (satellite circuits) to enable its customers return to business. Icheokudotcom says, satellite technology is for most part, a private company venture and that the patently incompetent Nigeria government has no business dabbling or meddling therein and better still should have only leased circuits and pay as per use. For a competent government, it is laudable but not Nigeria as it today stands where nothing has been beneficiary and profitably managed successfully.

However the spokesperson for Chinese Great Wall Industry Corporation, Ku Geng, explaining what happened to the NigComSat 1 said that "the solar wing malfunctioned, which led to exhaustion of electric power and then the satellite failed."

The DFH-4 bus platform can be used in high capacity broadcast communication satellite, new generation direct broadcasting satellite, new generation tracking and data relay satellite, regional mobile communication satellite, etc. The platform comprises propulsion module, service module and solar array. It has a payload capacity of 588 kg and an output power of 10.5 kW by the end of its lifetime. Its design lifetime is 15 years and its reliability by the end of lifetime is more than 0.78. Based on versatility, inheritance, expandability and promptness principles and mature technology, the platform will reach world advanced level to meet the needs of international and domestic large communication satellite markets.

The Nigerian authorities failed to study extensively the failure rate of the DFH-4 Bus technology which was used in NIGCOMSAT1. The Nigeria authorities also failed to note that the DFH-4 technology is a work in progress which has recorded many failures including the Chinese Sinosat 2 satellite; which equally failed to deploy its solar arrays in orbit before the catastrophic failure of the same DFH-4 Bus based technology NIGCOMSAT 1 of similar defect in November 2008.

The dead upon lunch NigcomSat-1 was supposed to play an important role in Nigeria telecommunications - providing urban and rural telephony, trunking and relay services, mobile and paging services, corporate and VSAT networks as well as inter-carrier services. It would have also been used for broadcasting high-definition TV and DTH services, multimedia, video streaming, audio and sound services, internet and multimedia services of video conference, solutions for virtual private networks and VoIP protocols, real time monitoring services, navigation and global positioning coverage.

Icheokudotcom says that there are other more pressing matters these Nigerian air-heads in government would have concentrated their effort at and which could have been a better utilization of this wasted money. How can a country which cannot even feed her populace, supply her populace with much needed but never available power and energy, which cannot tar or pave her roads to make them motor-able, which cannot build or rebuild existing but dilapidated bridges, which cannot find jobs for the over 45% unemployed manpower, which cannot equip and competently train her police-force to combat the high insecurity problems militating against everything in NIgeria, which cannot build and/or maintain a functioning medical center of excellence that her president is always in one overseas hospital bed of one country after another, which cannot pay salaries etc, have the guts or misplaced audacity to embark on space satellite technology, if not to create an avenue to loot the treasury?

Nigerians are straving and dying of common colds and malaria yet these buffoons in Abuja have the idiocy and temerity to be wasting very scarce resources, playing in a league far and beyond their capabilities and know-how? It is a shame indeed! Nigeria, a country that was rated among Brazil and India in the 60's as the countries to watch out for. Today Brazil and India has left the snail-speed Nigeria out in the loops where it is still groping for direction since her independence in 1960. Brazil is a nuclear nation, manufactures vehicles, has a viable satellite program, makes aircrafts and is almost self-sufficient in a home-grown bio-fuel. India's Chanai is the Silicon valley of the South East Asia! Their medical and pharmaceutical prowess is world reknowned, have a viable space program that Indian satellite is today mapping out the mo0n surface following a successful launch into orbit of Indian made satelillte and vehicle, India is also a nuclear power. What has Nigeria got to show for its 48 years of "independent" existence but a band of bandits and election-riggers masquerading as "leaders" where a person who did not win an election is imposed on the country as her president. Umaru Yar"Adua, resign your illegitimate presidency today because it is now indelibly tainted by this satellite scandal! That will be a good place to start the Nigeria Rejuvenation! ENOUGH of this brigandry!

Whose Satellite is it anyway? The Chinese undertakers or the Hausa/Fulani oligarchs swindlers of Nigeria PLC? Remember Senator Jubril Aminu and the $12million dollars SIEMENS bribery scandal; yet he is still in the Nigerian Senate as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Adamawa State! Only in a corruption-infested country like Nigeria will a Senator Jubril Aminu remain in the Senate instead of cooling his heels in the big house (prison) for massive corruption. But such an infamy is possible because all of the so-called leaders are tainted in corruption. Which Nigerian leader is not corrupt? None! Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida owns a private jet in addition to inumerable other assets and you wonder how else could he have gotten them if not for corruption? WHo was his daddy and which business did he do as an army officer or did he inherit any trust-fund as the source of his stupendous weath? Remember it was during his Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida's hijack of Nigeria that the $180 million dollars Halliburton bribery scandal involving Nigerian top government officials took place? Is it Sani Abacha? - some of his $500 million dollars loot, recovered under Olusegun Obasanjo, government has since developed wings and flew into yet another corrupt official's bank account. Olusegun Obasanjo is corruption personified. David Mark, the Nigerian Senate President stole to his heart's delight as Nigeria's Minister of Communication under Ibrahim Babangida's interregnum and his $33 million dollars golf course in Ireland speaks volume to that fact. Some members of the House of Representatives are, in addition to being very corrupt, 419 criminal operators as acknowledged by one of them. So corruption is the augean stable wherein many a Nigerian leader instead of fighting finds themselves wallowing in and sometimes enmeshed to the neck themselves. In Nigeria, corruption is such a vicious circle that it is so ingrained in their body-fabric that no Nigerian 'leader' or official has any moral standing to question another's corruption. However, Icheokudotcom does not blame these bandits in power or government for their abysmal perchant for corruption; no, we blame the timidity of the Nigerian people whose cowardice these leaders take full advantage of and cash in to loot Nigerian treasury dry. It is a Total Bullshit!

In conclusion, we posit that this satellite project was a scam and hereby urge you to register your protest accordingly by contacting, calling, emailing, texting or through direct mails or even physical visit to the principal henchmen and a woman mentioned above; whose action/inaction caused Nigerians the loss of so much scarce resources. Please insist that these people stop henceforth any further attempt at supposedly 'launching' another contraption into space with the anything goes, once the price is right, Chinese authorities!

The Nigerian Authorities can be reached via:-

NIGCOMSAT LTD.

20 Justice Mohammed Bello Street, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria

Phone/Fax:-+234.9.314.5759,+234.9.480.5909+234.9.314.5758

Email: info@nigcomsat.org

The Chinese contractor can be reached via:-

China Great Wall Industry Corporation
67 Beisihuan Xilu, Haidian District, Beijing 100080, P. R. China

Tel: 86-10-8810218886-10-88102000 Fax: 86-10-88102107

E-mail： cgwic@cgwic.com Web： www.cgwic.com