DORA AKUNYILI POSTING, EXHIBIT 1A OF THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA!

Holly molly, this is a classical text-book example of putting a square peg in a round hole, Nigeria style! Nigeria can never seem to get its act right? Imagine the indefatigable NAFDAC chairwoman, Iron Lady Professor (Dr) Dora Akunyili being deployed to a mere glorified back-room ministry of Information and Communication? For what purpose, Icheoku may ask?

Of all the vital ministries in Nigeria, some of them in epileptic dyspnea, needing very urgent and intrusive emergency attention; and the re-invigoration of new blood, it was only the Information and Communications ministry that the Northern Oligarchs deemed a fit and proper cage to confine Dora Akunyili? Why did she even accept the position or will she die of starvation if she had said to President Umaru Yar'Adua, "thanks, but no, thanks?

The problem militating against Nigeria's rise to greatness is that mediocrities are always bestowed with the responsibility of running vital organs of the government which they are very much ill-equipped and ill-prepared to manage; while proven go-getters are usually relegated to inconsequential ministries because they came from the wrong geographical real-estate in Nigeria? Is anyone out there still wondering why the Nigeria-project has stalled all these years since her independence from Britain in 1960? Just take a cursory look at the ministerial assignments handed down today by President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria and now tell Icheoku, which one of these mallams has any proven record of achievement to head their assigned ministry and a heavy-weight performer like Dora Akunyili is given an ordinary Information Ministry? Tomorrow, it is going to be the same result - a failed, comatose ministry on life-support and a Nigeria which still crawls since her birth. Icheoku concludes that Northern Nigeria is the bane of Nigeria!

With the successful antecedent of Professor Dora Akuniyili at NAFDAC, many a Nigerian thought that she will be deployed to the proven ground-zero of Nigeria, the POWER ministry; to go and wake up the slumbering, comatose never-expect-power-always ministry. President Umaru Yar'Adua is a talker but not a doer as he always disappoints Nigerians whenever it is time for him to walk his talk or show Nigerians, his seriousness with all his postulations. Umaru Yar'Adua promised to fight corruption in Nigeria and the first thing he did was to fire the corruption czar, Nuhu Ribadu! Umaru Yar'Adua promised Nigerians the return of the rule of law and the shutting down of ChannelsTV, arresting of e-media bloggers and harassing Independent Newspaper shows his own jaundiced-definition of Umaru Yar'Adua's rule of law? If Umaru Yar'Adau was serious about power emergency, why did he not assign an Amazon-warrior like Professor Dora Akunyili the task of giving Nigerians the ever-elusive power-supply? But no, Umaru Yar'Adua under pressure from fake drugs and goods dealers, simply removed their nemesis from NAFDAC and instead demoted her to a mere back-yard ministry of Information and Communication. May be Umaru Yar'Adua was planning the same Nuhu Ribadu-treatment for Dora, but decided to be more diplomatic about it? What position in the hierarchy of importance, amidst the very urgent needs of Nigerians, does the Information and Communication ministry occupy, that such a talented go-getter as Dora Akunyili, with her much vaunted abilities and capabilities should be muzzled up in such a fill-the-gap ministry? This is a big waste of an invaluable human resource! It is a complete misplacement of an asset. Talk of a complete disregard for proven performance. Umaru Yar'Adua has once again, failed Nigerians and it is about time that Nigerians realize that this sick man from Katsina is merely taking them for a ride - a really, long roller-coaster ride!

Icheoku says that Northern Nigeria is continually and with impunity, acting as the lord of the manor in Nigeria. Once again they have added impetus to this assertion by usurping all the key-ministries in the President Umaru Yar'Adua newly re-constituted administration. It is also pertinent to note that the same Northern Nigeria holds the presidency (Umaru Yar'Adua), secretary of government (Mahmud Yayale Ahmed), national security adviser (Aliyu Mohammed), Chief Justice of Nigeria (Idris Legbo Kutigi), president Court of Appeal (Umaru Abdullahi), as well as the senate presidency (David Mark); and one wonders where the very essence of Nigeria's federal character has suddenly disappeared to? And for a complete routing of Nigeria by the North, the North has, in addition, appropriated these very important ministries - defence ministry (Shettima Mustapha); finance ministry (Muhktar Mansur); agriculture and water resources ministry (Abba Ruma); national planning commission (Shamsudeen Usman); transportation (Ibrahim Bio); science and technology (A.B. Zaku); works and housing (Hassan Lawal); Federal Capital Territory: FCT (Adamu Aliero); petroleum ministry (Rilwanu Lukman) and Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (Mike Aondoakaa).

Icheoku now asks, what is then left but the crumbles, when all these vital federal government ministries, both in responsibilities and size of budget with attendant employment opportunities and contracts, are aggrandized by just one section out of the three main sections or tripod of Nigeria? This is one case where the silence should no longer be golden and the Oha-na-eze, Afenifere, Niger Delta groups should denounce this fascist north for their wanton disregard for the continued unity of Nigeria. The North is perpetually undermining the unity-fabric of Nigeria by their crass, abashed domination of Nigeria. They do not have even an oil well, yet one of their own has to keep a watchful-eye over the oil-revenue? Where are the people of the Niger Delta, who own the oil lands and appurtenant waters? No, they are damn too "inferior" to oversee the revenue coming from the bowels of their land? This time, the other component parts of Nigeria should speak up and demand for fairness, their continued silence will be interpreted as cowardice of a slave, fearful of his slave-masters! Enough of this bullshit going on in Nigeria! At least they (North) should have waited until their complete mummification and islamization of Nigeria into an Arewa Islamic Republic, before becoming so brazen! If the table were to turn, would they, the North, accept such tacit exclusion? It is simply speaking, an abominable greed of the North, by the North and for the North!

GANI FAWEHINMI, A CONSCIENTIOUS NIGERIAN!

Icheoku says that he needs no further introduction to the world but will add, were there to be about ten of this man in Nigeria, Nigeria will not be in the sorry state, it is in today. His name, Chief Ganiyu Fawehinmni, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (British equivalent of a QC) and a human rights lawyer extra-ordinaire in Nigeria. Once again, this torn in the flesh of the ever-corrupt Nigerian governments, has asked the apostate President Umaru Yar'Adua's Nigerian government, to stuff their "national honour" to their, you know where? His reasons for rejecting this window-dressing of an "honour" makes great sense in every decent soul; but in a country like Nigeria where everyone sheepishly prostrates before the government like a house fly before palm-wine, it is surprise, surprise! Icheoku says, Gani Fawehinmni is an exceptional Nigerian of great conscience, of whose mould there is no other living Nigerian!

For rejecting this Nigerian government bribe of a national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, (OFR), Gani Fawehinmni has once again vindicated his character as according to Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the only man in Nigeria who does not have a price-tag! No one can compromise Gani as he is as solid as the rock of Gibraltar; no amount of intimidation, threat or bribery can make Gani sell his conscience. President Umaru Yar'Adua has now tried like his predecessors of yore and the result is the same - absolutely, no deal! Gani's demand is that Nigerian governments level with Nigerians and do right by and for the people of Nigeria. This time, it was the government‘s insincerity in its war against corruption and the treatment meted out to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, that ticked him off. According to Gani, it will be insidious for him to be receiving such an honour under a government that is a “total failure” and unserious about eradicating corruption in the country. Whether now or in the life beyond, how can I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honour bestowed on me under a government that persecutes anti-corruption efforts, particularly its arrowhead, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu?

Chief Gani Fawehinmni in rejecting the award said, the Federal Government of Nigeria has been characterised by a collapsed infrastructure, total paralysis of the health sector at all levels, constant nationwide power failure and attendant negative effects on all sectors of the economy, pervasive unemployment, thereby generating increased armed robbery cutting across all ages of our people, debilitating homelessness, retrogressive educational programmes and policies, which have made no Nigeria university to be ranked within the first 500 universities in the world and no effort is being made by the regime to improve on the humiliating situation.“Put simply, the Federal Government is a total failure, worsened by lack of direction and leadership. Is this the atmosphere for the award of national honour? Certainly not. This is an indictment against all governments in Nigeria, including the present government that awarded the OFR to me.“The present government that awarded me the OFR has been guilty of abuses of human rights. For example, the closure of Channels Television station in Lagos and Abuja on September 16, 2008. The man who helped to catapult this regime into office, Olusegun Obasanjo committed some of the worst abuses of human rights as civilian leader between 1999 and 2007, namely: he sent troops to murder 2,999 innocent Nigerians in Odi, Bayelsa State in November 1999. He also shut African Independent Television (AIT) on November 30, 2005.“Without doubt, all our infrastructure are decadent and no effort has been made by this regime to improve on the infrastructure. Under this regime, power generation is next to zero and everyday the country is thrown into darkness. The manufacturers and domestic users of power are at the mercy of generating sets.”

For standing firm all these years (about 43years) with his firm convictions, irrespective of the government in power and what they throw at him, Icheoku hereby declares Chief Gani Fawehinmni, the one Saint in the hell called Nigeria and pray that the good Lord will preserve him, keep him alive and hearty to continue his onerous fight against all that is evil and militating against Nigeria. Long live Gani Fawehinmni!

WELL DUCKED, MR. PRESIDENT!

Icheoku asks, did the secret service detail protecting President George Walker Bush fail in their assignment by allowing the crazy Iraqi shoe-thrower a second attempt at his target, our President? The first could be interpreted as an unexpected surprise, but the second time is unacceptable considering it could have been any other more harmful weapon. Icheoku hopes that the secret service will review what happened in Iraq with a view to avoiding such embarrassment to Americans by proxy of our President in the future.

Hate him or love him, President George Walker Bush is still our president and this fact should be made known to the whole world including this Iraqi mad-man; and Americans protect their own. In the composite picture right, President Bush looked slightly bemused after ducking the shoe hurled at him by this Iraqi fanatic while Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki tried like any gracious host to reach out and parry off the thrown-shoe before it hits his American guest, President George Bush.

Icheoku says congratulations, Mr. President, for twice successfully ducking those filthy Iraqi shoes hurled at you by that fanatic masquerading as a journalist. Mr. President, Icheoku wants you to know that you did America proud by not allowing that Iraqi dog hit a home-run with those dirty dusty shoes of his. Mr President, you denied him his possibly greatest joy at humiliating an American President by striking a target with those his smelly shoes. Imagine an Iraqi pig's shoes landing on the head or body of an American President? Bravo, Mr. President for those quick reflexes which you displayed at that Baghdad press conference, it pays to be alert and nimble!

Icheoku sometimes wonders aloud if the Iraqis would rather they had remained under the dictatorship of "Sad-man Insane" as opposed to the relative freedom they appear to now enjoy? Even their Prime Minister Al Maliki would not have had the privilege of hosting an American President were it not for the fall of Sadam Hussein, courtesy of the Americans and President George W. Bush. For this pig to now throw his dusty shoes at George Bush is the greatest case of ingratitude for all the blood and treasury expended in liberating the Iraqis. Under the deposed Saddam Hussein, this shoe-thrower's head would have been cut off for bringing shame and ridicule to the brave Iraqi people. His daring to put a guest of the Iraqi government under fear of bodily harm, would have been treated by Saddam Hussein as a treasonable high crime felony warranting the guillotine; possibly his family, clan and community would have equally been wiped out under the deposed regime for producing such a disgrace.

This shoe-throwing is inexplicable under any circumstance; and for showing such disrespect and contempt to a visiting foreign dignitary, this Iraqi shoe-thrower deserves some years in the slammer for his uncivilized behaviour. His conduct is abhorable and should be condemned by all right-thinking people, world over, irrespective of the popularity or lack thereof of President George Walker Bush. However, President Bush had the last laugh by artfully dodging the raving mad-man of Iraq's shoe-missiles, thereby denying that loser, his intended target.

Icheoku says that this despicable shoe-thrower, Muntather Zaidi, a correspondent for Baghdadiya, a satellite TV channel that broadcasts from Cairo should not walk, as he assaulted an American President and a visiting guest of the Iraqi government!

NIGERIA, THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IS VERY BLEAK!

The Nigeria newspaper, Leadership, on December 15th, 2008, wrote a comment on the state of affairs in Nigeria titled "FRONT PAGE COMMENT: State Of The Nation". Icheoku finds the commentary very interesting hence our editorial decision to republish same here for you, our world-wide audience; it pointedly, zeroed down on what ground-zero really looks like in present day Nigeria. Happy reading!

"The state of the Nigerian nation is not good. Not even Thomas Hobbes' state of nature – "laborious, nasty, brutish and short" – is enough to describe life in Nigeria these days. The cause is known but the solution, though appearing simple, has surprisingly become far-fetched, thanks to the conspiracy of a small elite class. It has been said that no one has the right to govern a people without their consent. But in Nigeria, even that has been upturned. All the institutions of government appear to have failed and the generality of Nigerians no longer have confidence in the ability of the Nigerian state to protect them anymore. The steady bloodletting of innocent people in the Niger Delta, the recent avoidable mayhem that claimed hundreds of lives in Jos a fortnight ago, and the devastation of families by armed robbers every minute of the day are only a few examples of the inchoate failure of the Nigerian state.

The state of the nation today confirms that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is not the leader to lead us out of the doldrums. Across the nation, there are crises of frightening proportions. There is no electric power anymore: mosquitoes, heat and armed robbers have made nights dreadful for most of the urban poor. Small businesses are dying because there is no power supply. Despite the enormous funds called "security votes", which are regularly shared by local, state and federal governments, there is no security of life and property. The education system has collapsed. Federal budgets are not being implemented and jobs are almost nonexistent, even as schools continue to churn out millions of uneducated school leavers and graduates each year. Cities, including the Federal Capital Territory, lack clean water. The health of many a Nigerian is constantly imperilled by lack of potable water and fake drugs. Health institutions have moved from being "mere consulting clinics" to glorified mortuaries. Bad roads are causing accidents and killing travelers on a daily basis. And while every country in the world is fashioning out a bail-out plan for their individual economies, our president does not seem to be aware of what is happening around the world. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has collapsed and it has stayed collapsed because of a non-challant leadership.

The man who promised, more than 18 months ago, to be a "servant-leader" is neither serving nor leading. It is taking him and the nation so long to appoint ministers. Few persons understand the current administration's "seven-point agenda", the policy thrust that has consumed billions of naira in media advertisements but little in actual implementation. Yar'Adua's campaign promise to declare an emergency in the power sector is yet to be fulfilled. At present, the entire nation of about 150 million people consumes less than 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Yet, to get out of the power mess and get businesses moving, Nigeria requires upwards of 100,000 megawatts. Because the refineries are not working, 100% of the country's fuel needs is imported. Any wonder that Nigeria is rich while Nigerians are poor? Oil has served no useful purpose, except that it has fed the few who are benefiting from corruption. For too long, corruption in high places has been allowed to ruin the nation. Democracy has finally been buried by the collective conspiracy of a number of crooked persons in the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government. See how certain judgements emanating from the courts have foreclosed any hope that elections held on the Nigerian soil will ever be free, fair or credible again. To defeat election riggers in court, a petitioner would need to assemble all the voters in his constituency and name them one by one in order to prove his case beyond reasonable doubts. The alternative is to assemble a private army intimidating enough to force INEC and the government not to tamper with actual election results.

To become prosperous here, one no longer has to work hard even if he has a job. It's either he knows someone who can help him "win" an election or belongs to a criminal gang. Like everyone else, therefore, the generation born during and after Nigeria's independence in 1960, whose future is being ruined by entrenched political corruption, are no longer at ease. Pushed to the wall on all fronts, they seek survival by taking to crime. Where are Nigeria's leaders? Where are the guardian angels of the nation? Have they given up? All we need to do to know how severe the nation's situation has become is compare Nigeria with countries like Ghana. Yes, we need to be scared for the future of our nation and all those we are going to leave behind. Little wonder that several Nigerians who can afford it are already thinking of alternative countries.

As 2008 comes to a close, there is no better time to soberly reflect on the state of our nation. Nigeria is not working. The world has already left us behind. Opportunities have been lost and the price of crude, the nation's mainstay is likely to further plummet. We cannot afford to continue in this mess, living like a nation without leaders. People of character and goodwill must congregate and regroup to beat a new path for the only country we have. 2009 must be different".

CHINA, COMPLAIN AND BE DECLARED MENTAL!

If you open your mouth to complain, you are declared mad as one who have over-stepped his/her trained stoic acceptance of what is, as is! . In the Chinese city of Xintai, Shandong province, one automatically become a certified lunatic fit for housing in a state's mental institution if one opens his/her mouth to complain about how things are going wrong in the society. At such institutions, the so-declared loony is debriefed, re-programmed and forcibly medicated until such a time as the state determines that such a person is no longer a threat to the way things has always been! What a life for the citizens of Xintai?

Authorities in Xintai, a municipal region in eastern Shandong province China, had so far forced at least 18 people with grievances, ranging from police brutality to property disputes, into a local mental hospital according to reports. Sun Fawu, a 57-year-old retired miner from Dagouqiao village in Xintai, was force-fed drugs and injections during a more than 20-day stay at the Xintai Mental Health Hospital in October. He had campaigned for years to get compensation for spoiled farm land and housing stemming from coal mining near his village. Sun was released only after he signed a document saying he was mentally ill and "would not petition again". Lao Shi, an 84-year-old retiree from Tianbao township, was sent directly to hospital in 2006 after travelling to Beijing to complain about a local property dispute. The former public servant counted 18 petitioners in over two years there, a list corroborated by Wu Yuzhu, the hospital's director. The hospital also has its misgivings," Wu told the paper, saying that it was under pressure to take petitioners, some of whom would arrive escorted by police.

Checking petitioners into the hospital was in part a matter of hard-boiled economics, a local official said, given that cash-strapped local governments could ill-afford to chase petitioners to Beijing and other places. According to Chen Jianfa, assistant to the head of Quangou township in Xintai, "every time we have to send three or five people to Beijing, and pay their food and accommodation, it's not a matter of pennies; hence it is better to prevent their Beijing trip by confining them in a mental institution. If a petitioner slips through to Beijing, the head of both the local branch of the Communist Party and government get punished for the lapse.

Icheoku says, thanks to freedom of speech as guaranteed in the constitution otherwise so many of us would have been institutionalized by now. But to the Chinese authorities, how long are you going to keep the emotions of your 1.6billion citizens bottled up? Every human emotion need some venting of steam otherwise one day it will result to a forceful explosion leading to revolution. You cannot beat someone and at the same time demand that, that person do not cry. It amounts to approbating and re-probating and it brings out the worst vermin in any mankind. So Chinese authorities, allow your citizens to breathe some air of freedom to avoid the inevitable clash of citizens with their government in the near future; baring an immediate change of attitude. How can a rational citizen be declared a lunatic just because of a demand for some rights? Only in China is the answer found in Xintai, province of Shandong!

China: Complain About the Government; Get Institutionalized

MUGABE, PLEASE YOUR TIME IS UP!

President Robert Mugabe, Icheoku calls on you to please go to your well deserved and earned retirement in order to live out your golden years in peace. You worked very hard for the independence of Zimbabwe and tried your best as their seat-tight president since 1980, but now is the time to pass on the baton. Icheoku says please do not let the Americans, the British and the French use you as a sacrificial offal for their gods, by giving them the reason to invade Zimbabwe. Do not give them a reason to parachute their marines into Zimbabwe in the middle of the night while you are fast asleep and as you know, the petty military force of Zimbabwe will not stand in the way of the corrosive military machine of the west. It will not be worth the cost to you and your rag-tag military. As you also very well know, they will always eventually win regardless of the toll on their men and treasury. Look at Iraq and advise yourself accordingly or how else do you want to be remembered?

Cholera or no cholera, Robert Mugabe, you should just leave, having outlived your usefulness as president of the Zimbabwe people. Robert Mugabe, you should now make that difficult for African-leaders' transition from a head of state to an elder statesman and father of Zimbabwe with good pension; and advise the new generation-leaders from outside the government. If you want, some security guarantees could be hatched to avoid your being sent to the Hague on war crimes charges against the Zimbabwe people upon your exit from power. This is a natural cause of action should the west risk their men and treasury to invade Zimbabwe and Icheoku does not think that you, Robert Mugabe would wish that fate on your worst enemy, talk-less of yourself. Charles Taylor of Liberia is today being processed through the court in the Hague because he failed to yield at the first demand his office in Monrovia; eventually he was removed and is now being tried for war crimes. On a final note, Icheoku calls on Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to yield power today and save Zimbabwe the thunder from the skies which is very imminent, judging from the increased octave of rhetoric from Washington, London and Paris! Why engage in a battle you cannot win, Robert Mugabe, more-so at such your very old Methuselah-like age of eighty plus?

What is still the allure of power for a man of such very advanced old age if not the African power-curse? A man who achieved independence for his country Zimbabwe should now be celebrated like Nelson Mandela of South Africa and not still be active in world politics which now favors strongly, the invasion of Zimbabwe. Very arrogantly, Robert Mugabe the other day, said that there is no more cholera in Zimbabwe necessitating an invasion; but unbeknownst to him, that is only one of the many reasons requiring his removal from office. Robert Mugabe is a hold-over president who refused to respect the result of an election in Zimbabwe which elected the opposition and yield power. Also Robert Mugabe has trampled on the human rights of Zimbabwe people and such injustice calls for intervention. Robert Mugabe pissed off some western countries by revoking some land ownerships in Zimbabwe to their chagrin, so you see that it is just not cholera but a myriad of issues that only your exit from power will assuage the impending intervention. So today, Icheoku calls on you, Robert Mugabe to choose wisely and yield the office as only that will save your sorry ass!

OPTION A 4, IBB'S GIFT TO NIGERIA!

Hurray! some men of wisdom have finally acknowledged, that Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida's wondrous gift to the Nigerian electoral process Option A4, was the panacea for the ever crowded Nigeria political arena problems. The former Chief Justice Mohammed Uwais pictured here right, chaired Electoral Reform Committee just recommended exactly what the evil-genius doctor IBB ordered! Option A4, the modified open ballot system which involves a series of party caucuses and voting, progressing from council to state and national levels was accredited with producing Nigeria's first freest and fairest election in 1993. It is now being touted as the best guarantee for future polls that would, once and for all, stop embedded rigging of elections in Nigeria. Icheoku says that the committee would have taken a step further to acknowledge the author of Option A4, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, smiling here left in the picture!

The committee also advocated for taking away of the appointment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman from Aso Rock and handing it over to the National Judicial Council (NJC) which is presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Such appointment of the INEC Chairman should be confirmed by the Senate and that he/she should not be removed from office except by a two-thirds majority of the Senate. The committee wants funding for the INEC to be by first line charge not subject to the whims and caprices of Aso Rock. This would remove the control of the INEC from the President who could use his powers to fund it to serve his personal political motive. Another recommendation is the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission (EOC), headed by a retired Judge, which will prosecute electoral offenders in the manner financial crime is prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Also recommended is that results of elections be immediately announced at the polling booths soon after casting and counting of ballots.

Nigerians were unanimous in expressing their concern on the deficiencies and lack of independence of the electoral commissions at both the federal and state levels," Uwais had told him. "Accordingly, we are drawing detailed recommendations to address the focal issues of the composition, the administrative autonomy and funding of the electoral commissions." With the conclusion of the work of the ERC the hope looks bright for free and fair elections, and a transparent Electoral Commission.

Icheoku says that these recommendations were well thought-through and is in tandem with majority of opinions in Nigeria which Icheoku correctly articulated in some of our previous commentaries herein. All that is needed now is the strength of character to issue a white paper on the recommendations; but regrettably, if the recommendations follows a known trend in Nigeria, it might never see the daylight again. Peradventure, Umaru Yar'Adua may want to prove his mettle and Icheoku challenges him to accept and implement the Justice Uwais recommendations as they will truly bring to an end, the trauma which elections has since become in Nigeria.

See also an article/comment titled: the evil genius has spoken !

DALAI LAMA'S AIRCONDITIONER BREAKS DOWN IN NIGERIA!

The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, Tenzi Gyatso 73, was in Nigeria recently for the very first time. He went to Nigeria on a private visit to deliver the keynote address on the 10th Anyiam Osigwe Foundation celebration at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Dalai Lama, the 14th in the Tibetan dynasty, a 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner while answering questions said among other things, that he was very skeptical about claims of spiritual healing powers. The Dalai Lama also condemned human attachment to anything whether family, spouse, children, friend, person, wealth, money, or substances as an obstacle to peace of mind. According to the spiritual leader, attachment is a trap and human beings are advised to imitate the monks and be detached. It is the Dalai Lama's viewpoint that once we do not have too much attachment in life, we will be contented and contentment is the key to peace of mind. Contentment for him is some kind of personal check, but it doesn’t mean we should no longer have desire. Without desire, life is meaningless as desire for good, desire for more service to others, desire for more benefit to others is very healthy. Such makes life more meaningful as without desire, one becomes a robot with no further progress in life. A genuine desire, with reasons, with logic is a proper desire to have.

However it was not all honky dory while in Nigeria as the air-conditioner in his hotel room failed in a baking summer-like Nigerian heat with very high humidity. Whether it was as a result of power failure or mechanical fault, Icheoku is yet to conclusively determine that; but it sure does not look good for the image of Nigeria. It mattered most because it left the spiritual temporal of Tibet "roasting" in Africa's intense summer heat. In his own very words, "the hotel is very good, but the first night, the air conditioning in the bedroom failed, and it was very very hot".

Icheoku asks how dare the air-conditioner fail on such a world citizen as the Dalai Lama, leaving such a lasting negative impression about Nigeria in his head. Admitted he will not voice it out, being the astute "politician" he is, but the indelible mark that it was "very very hot" will forever remain with him as well as his other accompanying aides. Probably the hotel which hosted the Dalai Lama did not have a hotel engineer on site to fix whatever was wrong with the air-conditioner or better still replace it with a new one? Or if it was power failure, what happened to their stand-by generator otherwise the power would have come back-on so soon after the failure that the Dalai lama would not have noticed the heat!

Marketing is everything and first impression really do matter, please do not tell me otherwise! The problem with Nigerians is that they really do not care a hoot about people's impression of them, otherwise, the gear would have since been engaged in an over-drive to fix a lot that is wrong with both the country and her citizens. Imagine the PR disaster that air-conditioner failed in a hotel room hosting the spiritual leader of Tibet, a world citizen? Take or leave it, Icheoku says this is a major black-eye on Nigeria and if it was a result of power failure, it sure brings back to the front banner, the intractable power problem in Nigeria. Can Umaru Yar'Adua, now that the Supreme court has finally legitimized his presidency, declare immediately his long awaited and anticipated power-emergency in Nigeria so that such shameful disaster as power failure on a world-citizen does not happen again, ever in Nigeria. It is the right thing to do and if that is the only thing attributable to his term in office, so be it as he would have left a lasting legacy indeed. If it is the hotel's fault that they cannot quickly rectify a broken air-condtioner in a little turn-around operation, then they do not deserve to play host to anybody talk-less of a world-class citizen, like the Dalai Lama. What does it take to take out a broke unit and put another working one therein? If it is central, then his room would not have specifically broken down. Better still why did the hotel not relocate the Dalai Lama to another room with a working air-conditioner so soon after to avoid this "very very hot public relation disaster? To the Dalai Lama and crew, Icheoku deeply apologise, on behalf of the Anyiam Osigwe Foundation, the hotel management and Nigeria for this "very very hot" environment you found yourself in a Nigerian hotel room. It is regrettable as it is unfortunate indeed!

Just an addendum for your upkeep titled Dalai Lama’s 18 rules for living

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self; Respect for others ; Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules very well so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
7. When you realize you have made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you have never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

NIGERIA SUPREME COURT SAYS, YAR'ADUA IS LEGITIMATE?

It was a lost chance to save democracy, so said Abubakar Atiku. Renowned human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi assessed it that Yar’Adua has lost moral right to govern Nigeria. Muhmmadu Buhari summarized it as a great disappointment and a miscarriage of justice. Stating that "by this judgment, the Nigeria Supreme court have forced a giant camel to pass through the eye of a needle. That the international community will be shocked and scandalised that an election, which they themselves held as deeply flawed, a fact conceded on several occasions by the President himself, had been upheld by the Nigerian judiciary. Continuing, Buhari said that this judgment is overtly perverse because it was agreed by all parties in chambers in the lower court that depositions would be accepted without oral testimony and now that the Supreme court turning around to conclude that there was no evidence is squalid in the extreme." Tam David-West apprised it that Nigeria now has a bifurcated presidency with the legal part of the presidency resting in Yar'Adua while the moral component lies with Buhari. Icheoku says that the Supreme court of Nigeria led by Justice Idri Legbo Kutigi, pictured here above, lacked the courage to right an apparent wrong.

A wrong which the entire world observed was perpetrated upon Nigerians in the 2007 election by Olusegun Obasanjo and Maurice Iwu led INEC. Believing that the Thailand Constitutional court would have provided these men at Nigeria's Supreme court with the moral compass and impetus needed to give the much anticipated and awaited befitting verdict, Icheoku has waited excitedly for today's verdict, annulling the 2007 charade of Olusegun Obasanjo, but surprise, surprise our weekend is now doused! The underlying muted reasoning of the Supreme court to keep the peace of the graveyard in Nigeria is not sufficient to assuage the disappointment felt by the whole world; a world which has been waiting in heightened anticipation for this verdict to right all the wrongs of the 2007 selections called "elections". Further the argument that the PDP would have won anyway, despite the wrongful conduct of the election, because the opposition is not well organised is not a tenable argument either; and assuming it is probable, Icheoku has a beef with their margin of winning and the spread in states. Olusegun Obasanjo ran a failed government and for his party to have returned to power with such a very high percentage of votes and states-spread, is an aberration; and this the Supreme court failed to address with their decision today. How could the PDP win in Adamamawa, home state of Atiku? It is a complete balderdash, a bull-crap!

As was wisely articulated by Atiku, the Supreme court's verdict was not a personal loss to him but a collective loss to all Nigerians who were prevented from freely choosing their leaders in that 2007 election. Wondering aloud, Atiku queried how the Supreme Court could uphold the election even when the beneficiary, Yar'Adua, himself, had admitted that the exercise was characterized by "irregularities and flaws." Yaradua immediately after his election, while attending the G-8 meeting in Germany, had told the entire world that his election was'nt free and fair; but now the Supreme Court says otherwise. Icheoku asks, can the Nigerian Supreme court be more catholic than the pope? In other words, why did the Supreme court of Nigeria decide to cry more than the bereaved? The disappointed were the millions of Nigerians who had looked forward to the Supreme Court as the final arbiter to salvage Nigeria's faltering democracy, which was shamelessly mutilated through the scandalous conduct of the 2007 elections by Maurice Iwu's INEC under the supervision of Olusegun Obasanjo. Nigeria's democracy is the real loser because of increased apprehension that desperate politicians would become more brazen, emboldened by the verdict to continue rigging future elections with increasing audacity.

In a split decision of four to three Justices of the Supreme Court, decided not to upset the apple-cart but choose to leave Umaru Yar'Adua as the "president" of Nigeria. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Idris Legbo Kutigi, Justices Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu, Niki Tobi and Dahiru Musdapher gave Yar'adua a lifeline while Justices George Adeshola Oguntade, Aloma Mariam Mukthar and Walter Samuel Onnoghen followed their conscience that there was admission even by Umaru Yar'Adua that there was substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2007. To Justice Tobi's argument that because Nigeria is a vast country made up of so many diversities in terms of tribes, cultures, sociology, anthropology and many political parties there must always be irregularities, Icheoku says that Nigeria cannot be more diverse than India, yet India does not experience as much irregularities as was witnessed in Nigeria 2007 elections. The argument that sensitized Icheoku so much was Oguntade's "an invalid ballot paper cannot yield a valid vote", strict interpretation of Section 45(1) of the elections Act, 2007 which substantially affected the result of the election. The implication of such purposeful oversight was that each of the candidates at the election scored zero as no valid votes were recorded for any of them.

In conclusion therefore, Icheoku affirms that the Nigeria Supreme court cannot be the only sighted entity in a blind world. They cannot be the only one in Jerusalem who has not heard that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead? The whole world cannot be wrong and the Nigerian Supreme court is the only one right! Something does not definitely smell right with the conclusion reached by this apex court, judging from what transpired under Olusegun Obasanjo and team Maurice Iwu in 2007 as witnessed by the whole world including the Honorable Justices. To conclusively adjudicate this matter, the Supreme court would have ordered a fresh election knowing fully well that Yaradua will still win it, because the opposition is weak and not well organized; and also judging from the outcome of such other ordered fresh elections in Cross River, Adamawa etc. Icheoku laments this missed opportunity to crown the Nigerian judiciary with the honored word COURAGEOUS! Icheoku notes that whereas Umaru Yar'Adua is saying that their doors are wide open to listen to any criticisms from any quarters yet he is arresting on-line bloggers, closing Channel Television and has also dragged Independent Newspapers to court? What a way to encourage dissenting voices, Umaru Yar'Adua's style? One only hopes and prays that this now Supreme court conferred-legitimacy will jolt the sleeping on duty, Mr. Slowman, the sloth back to life. Or hasn't he slept enough this past eighteen months in Aso Rock? Like Atiku, Icheoku accepts the verdict but like Buhari, the verdict is not agreeable to our common sense; hence we hereby formally declare our stand as the opposition e-media to Umaru Yar'Adua's presidency. From this date, December 12, 2008, in deference to the ruling of Supreme court, the Umaru Yar'Adua's presidency now becomes acceptable but not agreeable to Icheokudotcom!

GREECE, BURNING!

As Greece burns, the Greeks say in one loud thundering voice, "we cannot have this anymore"! It took just a single bullet bought by the Greek, fired through a gun bought with Greek tax-payers money, by a Greek policeman paid by the Greek to protect the Greek, that rather killed a Greek! The Greek rose in unison to denounce this atrocity and rightly so, telling their police, their government and the whole listening world that the Greek bullet, the Greek gun and the Greek police is to be used in defense of the Greek and not to mow them down! The result, the cradle of civilization is burning! But what would Socrates, Aristotle, Pluto etc have said or done? Would they have said to the Greeks, this is not the way to react or send across your displeasure or that this is not the civilized way to do such things? Most likely, they would have found the so far four-day national siege unacceptable and would rather, a more communicative way is deployed to send the message across to the powers that is.

Icheoku says, hell knows no fury like the Greeks, enraged at the fatal police-shooting of a Greek schoolboy, 15 year old named Alexis Grigoropoulos; (pictured left) who was shot on Saturday, December 6th, 2008. The late Grigoropoulos was among some youths who allegedly threw stones at a passing police car, following which one of the two officers alighted from the now stopped police vehicle to fire three times at the teenager, hitting him on the chest. Grigoropoulos was later confirmed dead in a nearby hospital. The officer accused of the shooting tried to lie his way out of the mayhem by claiming that he fired warning shots to scare off a gang of youths and that the bullet ricocheted off the pavement, but witnesses disavowed his tale as baloney, stating that the officer, deliberately took aim at the boy. The shooting of Alexandros Grigoropoulos was the much needed tinder which ignited the ever smouldering inferno caused by years of frustration over high youth unemployment, the rising cost of living, stalled pension reform and a widening gap between rich and poor.

The Greek police have since the arrested two officers involved in the fatal shooting of the teenager, who was shot and killed in the Athens district of Exarchia on Saturday. Officer Epaminondas Korkoneas, 37, who allegedly fired the shots, was detained on suspicion of homicide while his partner Officer Vassilis Saraliotis, 31, was arrested as an accessory to homicide. Exarchia is a bohemian neighbourhood near central Athens that is considered an anarchist stronghold and as such is rarely patrolled by uniformed police. In 1985 another 15-year-old pupil, Michalis Kaltezas, was shot by a police officer, triggering violent clashes with the police in Exarchia. Exarchia was also the scene of major student protests in 1973, which led to the fall of the country's military dictatorship in 1974.

Today they entered into the fourth day of rioting across Greece to protest this murder. Although the Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has vowed to bring the unrest under control, but he seems not to be succeeding do far. His threatening words that all the dangerous and unacceptable events that occurred because of the emotions that followed the tragic incident cannot and will not be tolerated any longer appear to have fallen on deaf Greek ears. From Athens to Salonika, Greece's second largest city, to Rhodes, to Patras, to Chania, to Crete, to Trikala and the Aristotelio University in northern Thessaloniki, Greek youths took over the streets to protest what they see as police high-handed and reckless killing of an unarmed 15 year old Greek. In Athens alone, firefighters were called to 24 banks, 35 stores, 24 cars, 12 homes and a district office of the ruling New Democracy party hit by a small bomb. Athens Polytechnic university was not spared either! Greek youths were yelling "Cops! Pigs! Murderers!" at the police.

Icheoku commends the Greek authorities for deploying minimal force in fighting this Greek riots, mainly using tear-gas and batons. Unlike in some other countries where the weapon of choice to quell mere citizen protest is usually AK47 firing live-ammunition to kill her citizens. Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria once, almost killed off entire communities of Odi and Zaki Ibiam for daring to protest? Icheoku calls on the protesting Greek youth to now, down their tools as their message, that the police paid to protect should not be the agent of killing, has been heard by the world and possibly their government in Athens. Protests of this nature is an acceptable manner of getting a message across, although Icheoku would have preferred they were less destructive, just like the most recent Thailand example. Non-violent protest is the more civilized, modern way of sending messages of discontent out and Icheoku believes that this would have been the preferred choice of those Greek's great minds of yore!

DAVID MARK, A THIEF?

What a Robin Hood! He stole with one hand and now, with the other is giving back, part of what used to belong to Nigeria, to his community of Oturkpo, Benue State, Nigeria. He just handed over a multimillion Naira complex to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to serve as a study centre in Otukpo, Benue State. The Complex include an information and computer technology center, a laboratory centre, lecture theatres, an auditorium, staff rooms and some recreational facilities. The Project manager of the center Ojay Iyanya, stated that to date, Sixty(60) million Naira has been spent on the center which was solely financed by the President of the Senate, David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark!

Icheoku says, this makes the Nigerian Senate President, David Mark, a criminal, a fraudster, a looter and a thief? Where did he get the money from? Were Nigeria to be a corruption-free, civilized society, this midget of Oturkpo would be in prison for the massive fraud he perpetrated as a Minister of Communication in Nigeria, during the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida reign of terror. He made stupendous wealth then, which he spread around in several banks and investments overseas, with three of the accounts allegedly at the Northern Bank, Isle of Man and another one at the Allied Irish Bank, Jersey with several others yet to be tracked down. These four named accounts at one time were joint repository of six (6) million British Pounds Sterling belonging to David Mark!

It was during his time as Communications Minister that this criminal, who now heads the Nigerian Senate, brazenly dipped his itchy fingers and hands into the Nigeria pie, big time. David Mark brokered a non-executed seventy-seven ($77) million dollar “telecommunications" contract on behalf of Nigeria Telecommunication company (NITEL) and also procured a refurbished aircraft for NITEL at an outlandishly over-inflated price. It was with part of "profits" he made from these deals, that David Mark bought the £5.9 pounds 18-hole St. Margaret’s Golf Course & Club in Dublin Ireland, just a five- minute away drive from the Dublin International Airport. Several other pay to play deals in NITEL flourished very well under David Mark leadership; and the last twelve ($12) million dollars SIEMENS bribery scandal involving yet another senator, Jubril Aminu, gives an insight into the type of cash-cow NITEL was, which David Mark milked dry but is now dead! David Mark also bought a private house worth £2.5 million pounds Sterling on Kingston upon the Thames River in London. Virtually all of David Mark's children of very polygamous marriage life-style attend schools in Europe; yet he is a Christan judging by his name, for whom the one man one wife injunction does not make sense, just like Olusegun Obasanjo? David Mark met and married one of his wives in Ghana while on the run from Sani Abacha's henchmen for the massive looting he committed at NITEL. It is on record that David Mark remained on his self-imposed, massive theft-induced exile from 1993 until 1998 when Sani Abacha died. Till date, David Mark still maintains massive investments in Ghana, the Caribbean, USA, Europe as well as additional hefty bank accounts in Switzerland, Cayman Islands and Jersey. And this is the caliber of man shamelessly leading the Nigerian Senate?

David Mark is now playing Father Christmas by donating a learning center at Oturkpo, Benue State, Nigeria! From where did he get the money, since it is on record that while growing up that his family was dirt-poor? Icheoku remembers vividly according to the accounts, that at one time before being cajoled into joining the military, his father could hardly afford to pay for his regular school fees, which automatically removes him from the genre of a trust-fund kid? As a military officer, how much was his emolument? And today, as a "Senator" and a "Senate President", how much is his take-home pay? Only one thing explains the unexplainable, David Mark is very corrupt!

Icheoku says, Nigeria's problem is intractable and will remain so until Nigerians, as a people, stop celebrating criminality. David Mark is one such criminal who ordinarily should be cooling off in a prison somewhere, far removed from decent society; but being a Nigerian, he is not only a senator and a senate president but is openly laundering Nigerian looted money back to the country in the form of a sixty (60) million Naira learning center in Oturkpo, Benue State Nigeria! What a morbid philanthropist, David Mark is? Icheoku is not impressed with this assumed generosity and says, this will only encourage more looting by officials of state in Nigeria. These official-thieves will just have to wait it out, knowing that some day not too far in the future, they will be celebrated by a people who have no scruples for criminality in a land of anything goes! Icheoku says, shame on you David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, for your theft at NITEL cannot be washed away by your bloody donation of a leaning center! Instead you should stuff it in your, you know where?

mark donates N60m Complex To NOUN

MAURICE IWU AND A NATION OF PRAISE-SINGERS, SHORT ON MEMORY!

It is incredible as it is nauseating that the man who truncated democracy in Nigeria is being feted and celebrated as if the proper thing to do in Nigeria is to honor criminality. Maurice Iwu that is, the Chairman of Nigeria's "Independent" National Electoral Commission(INEC) who Olusegun Obasanjo used to rubbish democracy in Nigeria was hosted by his electoral-beneficiaries in Imo State, Nigeria recently. The question really should be, why was this man celebrated when the whole world wrote the election he conducted in Nigeria off as the worst charade in any democracy anywhere in the world. Maurice Iwu was scored "F" across the board by election observers who witnessed his idea of an election which took place in 2007 Nigeria. Virtually all the elections he conducted were subject to court challenges with many of them being over-turned and even the presidential one is still before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. A nation of town-criers, Nigeria is and today they are singing the praises of this despicable son of a bitch, Maurice Iwu!

According to the Tunde Ogbeha chaired committee, the reception is in "recognition of the man’s effort in conducting the 2007 general elections. As the nation’s Chief Electoral Officer he faced serious problems, some of which were unprecedented in Nigerian politics. His tenacity ensured that Nigeria for the first time succeeded in transiting from one democratically elected government to another elected government. Prof. Iwu’s tenure as chairman of the electoral commission has also seen the introduction of various reforms in the electoral system, all aimed at jump-starting a troubled political system. For his dedicated service and tenacity and for being a major stabilising factor in Nigeria’s present day politics and government, the Committee invites all Nigerians to give honour to whom honour is due."

To this empty boastful citations, Icheoku says that Maurice Iwu was not the first person to organize a successful election in Nigeria as Humphery Nwosu holds that title. Furthermore, Maurice Iwu did not supervise any transition from one elected government to another but merely rubber-stamped Olusegun Obasanjo's hand-picked stooges, from the presidency to the local governments chairmen. Also no election was conducted in Nigeria under Maurice Iwu, but all the candidates for office were merely selected at the goodwill of Olusegun Obasanjo with those in opposition virtually wiped out of contention. As for the call for all Nigerians to honor whom honor is due, Icheoku says that only those Nigerians, beneficiaries of Olusegun Obasanjo dictatorship should bow before this very Maurice Iwu while the rest of the majority of Nigerians should patiently wait until a day of reckoning when Maurice Iwu will finally be disgraced out of relevance. As for the line-up of attendees, they owe their offices to Maurice Iwu since non of them was ever elected into the office they presently occupy nor could have won a fairly organized election into such an office. They have to go and slavishly genuflect before their master and mentor, Maurice Iwu, just to be in his good book for the next election cycle.

In conclusion, Icheoku says that Nigerians have seen the likes of these town-criers (otinkpus), who raise carnivals for whoever is in power only to walk over them when they are no longer in power. As for Maurice Iwu, he is a disappointment to educated folks, having fallen off the wagon and joined the rat-race that is a Nigerian with a price-tag! How can such a highly educated man be so condescending to Olusegun Obasanjo that he sold his candour with the shameless elections he conducted in Nigeria in 2007. Maurice Iwu should rather throw on some sack-clothes and dusted in ashes, mourn the decrepitude of candidates he imposed on Nigeria, including the very sick Umaru Yar'Adua, Mr. Slow-man, the sloth! What a legacy to leave for Nigeria courtesy of Maurice Iwu, yet he is being celebrated? What a nation of jesters at the king's court?

FRANCIS ARINZE, VICTIM OF A RACIST VATICAN?

Icheoku knows that he was in serious contention for the papacy at the last collegiate of cardinals, but unbeknownst to him and several of his well-wishers, the catholic church cardinals were not yet ready for a black pope? Yes they are not ready for a nigger pope? The catholic church is not just ready for a tar-pope! Icheoku affirms that religion is politics and churches are mere political parties and/or platforms to influence opinions. In the United States of America, the Catholic church openly campaigned against President-elect Barack Obama; and since their thumping at the polls, have had some of their priests demanding that all their parishioners who voted for Barack Obama should atone for their sins of such voting. They asked that they go to confessionals and some of them went to the extent of asking such parishioners to abstain from receiving the "holy" communion until further notice!

Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigerian almost became the first black Pope out of Africa just three years ago, but was probably frustrated by a gang of racist cardinals who could not entertain the idea of a black pope leading the catholic church. Now the 76 year old Cardinal has been "forced" to tender his resignation (retirement) to the Vatican, indicating his preference to leave the Vatican and return to his ancestry home in Nigeria to live out the rest of his life. The Cardinal probably became so disillusioned at the manner in which his candidacy for the papacy was treated, that he now wants to retire at such a young age considering the average age of cardinals and papal insiders.

A Cardinal since 1985, when the former pope died, he was strongly favoured to be the next pope until the current Pope Ratzinger (left) was thrown up as the new pope. A human first, the cardinal naturally may have felt betrayed at the outcome of the last papal selection that he has now decided to return to his people in Nigeria, instead of remaining in Vatican, still a stranger after so many years of service there. For whatever reason/s this relatively "young" cardinal is leaving the Vatican, Icheoku does not know for certain but says it is very unusual for cardinals to retire at such a young age, Vatican standard! We can only wish him the best of luck as he transverses the last rungs of his golden years. Good luck and God bless, Cardinal Francis Arinze!

BLAGOJEVICH PUTS OBAMA'S SENATE SEAT ON eBAY!

President-elect Barack Obama's vacated senate seat is for sale, so says the governor of Illinois! The governor of the state of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich (pictured right) was arrested this morning for trying to sell or trade the Illinois Senate seat vacated by the president-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder - the eBay style! He wanted a pay before he can play and was caught on tape saying just that - his home phone having been bugged as well as wire-tap.

Luckily, federal prosecutors led by America's Nuhu Ribadu, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the investigation into allegations that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vich) tried to sell the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama found no evidence that Obama did anything wrong or inappropriate.

The 76-page FBI affidavit contends that governor was intercepted on wiretaps last month conspiring to shake people down, and it alleges he even considered appointing himself if he wasn't offered anything of value. Blagojevich was arrested on Tuesday December 9th, 2008 early morning, in his pyjamas sleep-wear, on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the Senate seat left vacant by Obama to the highest bidder. An FBI affidavit says the 51-year-old Democrat was intercepted on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife.

Icheoku says whether this is a pattern in Illinois or a function of the reputed Chicago corrupt politics is yet to be determined, but Governor Rod Blagojevich joins the annals, as the fourth governor of Illinois who have fallen short of glory and gone to prison for corrupt practices. Governor Otto Kerner, a Democrat who was governor from 1961 to 1968, served less than a year of a three-year sentence after his 1973 conviction on bribery, tax evasion and other counts. He was convicted of arranging favorable horse racing dates as governor in return for getting horse racing association stock at reduced prices. Kerner died in 1976. Governor Dan Walker, a Democrat who was governor from 1973 to 1977, served 1 1/2 years of a seven-year sentence after pleading guilty in 1987 to bank fraud, misapplication of funds and perjury. The charges were not related to his service as governor. Governor George Ryan, a Republican who was governor from 1999 to 2003, was convicted of corruption in 2006 for steering state contracts and leases to political insiders while he was Illinois secretary of state and then governor. He is serving a 6 1/2-year prison term. Now it is Governor Rod Blagojevich who is on the block for a possible long prison term. It is not party-restricted as both Democrats and Republicans governors have been imprisoned.

Icheoku says the moral lesson of Governor Rod Blagojevich arrest is that corruption in America has consequences - you do the crime, you do the time! Unlike in some countries where criminal state officials hold sway and their anti-corruption czars are made the victims of a state sanctioned official corruption. In Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu is being hounded for daring to confront some highly placed corrupt government officials who are deemed untouchable; but in America, Patrick Fitzgerald is meritoriously putting handcuffs on a sitting governor, immunity or no immunity, for official state corruption. Nigeria's Nuhu Ribadu's problems started after he braved it to put handcuffs on a corrupt former governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori. In a highly corrupt society like Nigeria, such audacity as roping in a corrupt government official is considered sacrilege and today, Nuhu Ribadu is at the receiving end of the Nigerian brand of justice for over-stepping his bounds. America, this is the way to go for a country with a future and we must also mention that a former governor of the state of Louisiana is serving 400 years in prison for corruption. Long live the rule of law, and may God continue to bless America!