THE INAUGURATION, ICHEOKU REVIEWS!

The inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama has come and gone; all that is now left is but the shouting! Icheoku is particularly happy that the event went smoothly without any major incident whatsoever; such that not even a single arrest was made by the security agencies for any disorderly behavior. Congratulations to all the people that successfully put together such a party of over one million people. Icheoku's gratitude goes to the Senator Diane Feinstein led Inauguration planning committee; the various security agencies, especially the Secret Service; the American people and mother-nature for holding the sky while it lasted. Mr. President, the party is now over and let the work begin! Icheoku wishes you all the best as you try to place a handle on our numerous problems, both foreign and domestic.

The only thing Icheoku is not satisfied with were the outfits of our First Lady, Michelle Obama - both of them. The olive-green/golden day-outfit is too conservative, old-fashioned and very granny-looking and our First Lady is not a grandmother? We elected youthful President Barack H. Obama because we are tired of the old white-haired dudes and their ladies who hitherto occupied our White House. Now we expect some modernity around the White House and this includes the clothes our first couple wears. President Barack Hussein Obama looked very dandy and every bit presidential that he nearly outshone our First Lady. Our First lady is well endowed, figure-wise, and should continue to flaunt this her priceless gift by fittingly dressing up as she used to. Our First lady should not listen to some adviser/s who now preach "lady-like" outfits as it was not such constituency that put her and President Barack Obama in the White House. So, strictly speaking, no pandering!

Clothes highlighting her shapely figure should be her choice-outfits and not those drab-looking gowns that mask her God given gift. A beautiful and elegant lady as our First Lady should radiate in her outfits freely and not appear bogged down in them. Icheoku does not like her day outfit - the color, the fabric, the cut, the design as well as the neck chain holding the jacket. The argument that the fabric was chosen because of the cold weather is a 'bs' as thermal wears together with a woollen overcoat would have solved the problem. Everything about our First Lady's day outfit calls for a Fashion Police intervention, period! Icheoku is particularly peeved because we do not believe earnestly that Michelle chose this outfit, for her prime-time, herself, as she has come to be known as a lady with a good sense of fashion! It looked so ancient and archaic!

On her evening outfit, Icheoku finds the draping overflowing gown too "wedding`ish" looking; the reason why Mr. President stepped on it accidentally. Such a gown requires a bridesmaid to gather the train hence its inappropriateness for an evening ball. Also the white or cream color is too "uncolorful" (bland) for such an important evening of elaborateness. It also hid the shoes Michelle was wearing and appeared too weighty that the effervescent-Michelle was missing that evening. We want our Michelle back and this connotes letting Michelle be Michelle!

We shall forgive this lapse of judgment and pray that it does not happen again. Our First Lady should be mindful of the youths who made her husband's White House possible and should not turn us off by dressing so very yesterday. This is 2009 and we deserve our First Lady dressing hype.

However all sins of bad fashion are forgiven, we love the Obamas! But please help us to help you, fire the fashion manager who put you in those inauguration "drags"! When in doubt, think Sarkozy's wife before stepping into any outfit in the future as France cannot be seen to trump America. Once again, Congratulations Mr President and the First Lady! May God protect your presidency; God bless America!

PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, IT IS NOW OFFICIAL!

Today January 20th, 2009 is the inauguration day of the 44th

President of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama! Icheoku says, thank you America for being very reasonable with your votes last November 4th, 2008; as you voted with your head and not the other end. We believe that all our valued votes will be justified in the sacred trust mandate which we overwhelmingly gave to President Barack Obama.

To our 44th President, Icheoku says, Congratulation on your historic date with destiny, which catapulted you into the White House as the first ever minority to occupy the America seat of power. It was historic as it was miraculous. Your performance during the electioneering campaign was spectacular and you were handsomely rewarded; now is time for you to prove the nay-sayers wrong and show to the enthusiastic voters that they voted right. Also the whole world is waiting for America' rebirth and with your soon to be confirmed Secretary of State Senator Hillary Clinton, you must make haste to tell the world that we are back!

Being the first minority president of America, many people are expecting you to fail just to say "I told you so!" Will you let them beat their chests in triumph? Icheoku says "we don't think so"! We have keenly followed you since your introduction to America by Senator John Kerry in Boston 2004; throughout the Democratic party's primaries and the presidential campaign proper, our eyes were fixated on you. We were encouraged by the way you frontally shot down Reverend Jeremiah Wright's and such other controversies and with dignified grace. We were encouraged also by the way you carried yourself throughout the period under reference, even when you were down and when you were up. Also we are satisfied with the cabinet you have so far put together, admitted we would have preferred a less of the Clintons in it, but we are trusting that your judgment once again, is a right one. So if you preside with the same dexterity you have so far displayed, Icheoku says, your presidency will be one heck of a presidency! Govern, you must, from day one as anything short of it, will be unacceptable to us, the American people! As you already know, there is no second chance for minorities in America, so be our trail-brazing accomplisher!

You must also know that temptations will be abundant, some of them simply to discredit you. They will come in all sizes, all manners, all shapes and all forms, from every direction and subtleties; BUT we shall not accept any excuses from you for succumbing, because you have been warned! Women, drugs, money, favors, bribe, blackmail, etc will all be used to bait you. If in doubt, ask Marion Barry the former Washington DC mayor who was nabbed in a drug-sting operation. If in doubt, ask Governor Blagojevich of your home State of Illinois of his trying to sell your former senate seat! If in doubt, ask Bill Clinton about Monica's blue dress! If in doubt, by clairvoyance ask Richard Nixon about Watergate! If in doubt, by the same means, ask Ronald Reagan about Iran-Contra gate scandal! And the list goes on and on, ad infinitum!

Our consolation is that you have in Michelle a very strong wife and a friend and we pray you keep her closer during your presidency. You cannot afford to fail us as failure is not an option in your presidency. It is totally unimaginable and will not be acceptable to the millions of us, fans and supporters of Barack Obama! Now that we have come out at your urging, our greatest fear is to be forced to recoil back in our shells due to disappointment, so you must provide us with an enduring leadership we can all be proud of. Lead, you must. Your contract with America is fully bonded with an implied undertaking by you to perform, period!

What today means, as well as Americans' and the world's expectation of you cannot be over-emphasised. But at this juncture, Icheoku must pause to thank the following people for their effort at helping you make this day, possible. First is Senator John Kerry for introducing you to America at Boston 2004; your now Vice President Joe Biden for giving that singular testimonial about your character and candor; our Lady Queen of Talk-show Oprah Winfrey for mentioning you on Larry King Live as her preferred candidate of choice to run for the office coupled with her unbridled support throughout your campaign; your lovely wife our First Lady Michelle Obama for her unquenchable support; your campaign’s chief strategist David Axelrod and campaign manager David Plough for the yeo-man's job they did, sailing you through the shark-infested waters of American politics into the White House - both of them were superlative; your soon to be confirmed Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for ironically toughing you up for the success which you achieved. She was your crucible and out of it, you came out the stronger, more solid, battle-tested Barack Obama; and lastly the American people whose audacity to look through the veil of your color to see that you are what the doctor prescribed for America at this time, brought about the reason d'etre of today's celebration! Icheoku says thank you! thank you! thank you! to all of you and adds that B.O.was also a good saleable product!

However, like many people around the world, Icheoku is particularly concerned about your safety, but we take solace in the word of the Lord as ensconced in the book of Psalm 127:1 - that he watches over you! It is the Lord's to protect his loved ones! Icheoku firmly believes that there is a divine hand in what you have accomplished today, all things considered! We pray that HE, the good Lord, will envelope your presidency with his armoured protection. Also we have confidence in our Secret Service who have been protecting our presidents as well as visiting foreign dignitaries all these years and we expect the same for you. Icheoku prays that you will successfully complete your term/s in office to enable you deliver on your campaign promises. You are here to take us to the next level, President Barack Hussein Obama and we cannot wait much longer for your deliverance!

To a leader-president of America, Icheoku says, God's speed! President Barack Hussein Obama, the work ahead is laden but succeed, you shall! Every man and woman of goodwill should please, attend a party today to mark a very important milestone in American history - a black-man is the PRESIDENT! Hail to the chief! Long live the Obamas and may the Almighty God protect your presidency in Jesus name, Amen! God bless America!

JANUARY 20TH, 2009!

ALL HAIL THE 44TH!

BALTAZAR CASTRO, PASSES ON!

Late Baltazar Castro

(1939 - 2009)

The Castro family of Oakland California, from Pasig-Rizal, Philippines announces with sad heart the passing away of their beloved patriarch, Late Mr. Baltazar Castro. Baltazar was just 70 years old and was a husband, father, brother and uncle.

Born on January 6th, 1939 in the Philippines, Mr. Castro migrated to the United States with his family several years ago. Until his death, Baltazar was the owner/operator of Oriental Lucky Mart Groceries, Clay Street Oakland California. Baltazar died on January 9th, 2009 following complications from a brain aneurysm at Alta Bates hospital, Berkeley, California. His funeral service was conducted at Chapel of Chimes, Piedmont California after a funeral mass at St Elizabeth's Parish Church, Fruitvale-Oakland, California.

Baltazar Castro was survived by his wife of many years Adelaida Dimanlig Castro, and children Evangeline, Marie, Leilani and Nina. Icheoku says, Baltazar will be fondly missed by all that knew him.

Signed:

Nigerian Community of Bay Area, California

24 HOURS MORE!

JUST ONE MORE DAY TO HISTORY!

MARTIN LUTHER KING, HIS BIRTHDAY!

He foretold what we are celebrating tomorrow in 1963. Today, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King is alive and fulfilled, as his birthday this year 2009 coincides with the inauguration of an American President who is black!

This is what he foresaw about four decades ago in his "I have a dream" speech. Now, travel down memory-lane and refresh yourself of that his memorable 1963 self-fulfilling "prophesy", click the link Remember the 'Dream'.

Martin Luther King birthday was born on January 15th, 1929 but his birthday is always observed on the third Monday in January. It was first observed in 1986 following its 1983 signing into law by President Ronald Reagan. The holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America; a man who braved threats, jails and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans. In short, it celebrates the prophet who foretold the inaugurations tomorrow of President-elect Barack Obama. Icheoku says, happy birthday, King!

Watch the Full 16-min video of Martin Luther King's famous I Have a Dream Speach

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, SOON TO BE NEW DIGS!

His new home is a 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 6 levels, 18 acre property known as the White House - the official residence of the President of the United States of America. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Formerly known as the "President's House", and first occupied by President and Mrs. John Adams, President Theodore Roosevelt changed its name to "The White House." The White House has many important rooms including the Blue Room, the Red Room, the the Oval Office and the East Room.

His new ride, a custom made Cadillac bullet-proof and air-tight seal-able limousine, for number 44!

The General Motors custom armored Cadillac limousine doors are about 8 inches thick. The vehicle’s armor is reportedly 5 inches thick and it has tall run flat tires, thick bulletproof glass, and an entirely sealed-off interior to prevent a chemical attack from permeating the cabin. The limousine weighs about 10,000 pounds. Inside the limousine is a hand-stitched leather encasing the armed passenger vehicle on the planet.

His chopper, a Marine One!
Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States; usually operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron. The first use of helicopters for presidential transport was in 1957 by Dwight D. Eisenhower. Marine One is sometimes the preferred alternative to motorcades, due to expenses and logistics; and the controlled environment of a helicopter transport adds greatly to the safety of the president.

More than 800 Marines supervise the operation of the Marine One fleet, which is based in Quantico, Virginia, but is more often seen in action on the South Lawn of the White House or at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Wherever Marine One flies, it is met on the ground by at least one Marine in full dress uniform (most often two with one acting as an armed guard). For security purposes, Marine One always flies in groups of identical helicopters, sometimes as many as five. One helicopter carries the president, while the others serve as decoys for would-be assassins on the ground. Upon take-off these helicopters begin to shift in formation (sometimes referred to as a presidential shell game) regularly to keep the location of the president secure. Television broadcasters are prohibited from airing live footage of Marine One while it is in the air over the White House. Also, Marine One reportedly is equipped with standard military anti-missile countermeasures such as flares to counter heat-seeking missiles and chaff to counter radar-guided missiles. For added security of Marine One, every member of HMX-1 is required to pass a Yankee White background check before touching any of the helicopters used for presidential travel. Marine One is always transported (as is the president's limousine) wherever the president travels, both within the United States as well as overseas. The helicopters in the fleet will soon be replaced at an average of $400 million per helicopter.

His aircraft, a Boeing 747 called Air-Force One - a Boeing 747-200B that has been modified to meet presidential requirements. The aircraft is known by the radio call sign Air Force One, when the president is aboard.
In 1962, Boeing introduced U.S. presidents to modern jet transportation with the introduction of the Boeing model 707-320B. In all, seven presidents were served by the 707-320B.
Today, the chief executive flies aboard a specially configured 747-200B, the newest and largest presidential airplane. Its capabilities include longer range for presidential travel, aerial refueling, self-sufficiency at airports around the world. Air-Force One also known as the "Flying Oval Office" has 4,000 square feet of interior floor space; which provides accommodations for a conference/dining room, living quarters for the president and the first lady, an office area for senior staff members, another office that converts into a medical facility when necessary, work and rest areas for the presidential staff, media representatives and Air Force crews, two galleys that can provide 100 meals at one sitting, multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground and satellite communications. Today's Air Force One is equipped with both secure and unsecured phone and computer communications systems, enabling the president to perform duties while in the air in the event of an attack on the United States as shown on September 11, 2001.

His personal staff, number in the thousands with Rahm Emanuel as the Chief of Staff!

And we are talking about the American soon to be inaugurated President, 44th, Barack Obama. As for the costs of providing and maintaining these state of the art comforts, please do not ask Icheoku! An American President deserves all that he can get to enable him carry out his onerous task, presiding over America and by extension, the entire world. Welcome to the new life that awaits, President-elect Barack Obama starting on Tuesday, January 20, 2009!

TODAY IS THE D-DAY; ALL HAIL THE 44TH PRESIDENT!

Icheoku has begun our "President" Barack Obama watch and for the next one day, we shall keep this page on the front burner. Inauguration day is January 20th, 2009 when President-elect Barack Obama will make his full transition to President Barack Obama, the 44th.

Icheoku is doing a commentary which will come on-line at 00hours, January 20th, 2009 in commemoration of the historic event. Until then, please keep us company as co-reveler in anticipation of this life-changing event in America political history.

PRESIDENT GEORGE WALKER BUSH, BOWS OUT!

Whatever has a beginning will always have an end and so is the eight years of the Bush presidency! However it will officially come to an end on January 20th, 2009 when he formally hands over to his successor! Love him or hate him, one thing is sure, President George Walker Bush is a man of strong character and conviction. Icheoku says, Good-luck Mr. President and let historians write whatever they please.

President George Walker Bush was so many things to different persons but most agree he is stubborn and very unyielding. Icheoku says, he is a president who had too much thrown on his plate, all at the same time in a seeming conspiratorial fashion, that most men would have come out as scathed as he did. From 9/11 to Katrina to Iraq to the eventual collapse of the economy - all were major life changing events that afflicted his presidency; and so to expect him to come out of all these, unruffled, will be expecting the impossibility. Whether he never tired, never faltered and never failed in his presidency will require some forensic examination to conclusively determine that.

In the words of President George Walker Bush, "Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced set-backs, and there are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right." Icheoku says, Mr. President was on point here in his assessment of his administration but that there was no need for the Monday night quarter-backing here, as what is done is done. Mr. President was a victim of his first term "election" to the White House when he inherited a deeply divided nation on January 20, 2001, following a cloud of illegitimacy over his election. His presidency never recovered from it and the fact that he overwhelmingly won a re-election in 2004 did not help matters either.

In his farewell address to Americans, today, January 15, 2009, President George Walker Bush, disclosed that since 9/11 many Americans has moved on with their lives except him, as he has to remain in war-mode, battle-ready, dealing with the aftermath of the attack as well as protecting against another of such occurrence. Concluding Mr. President said, "We have faced danger and trial, and there is more ahead. But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great nation will never tire, never falter and never fail." To this, Icheoku says, we concur as we wish the soon to be former President George Walker Bush, a happy post-presidency life! God bless!

Bush tells cheering crowd in Texas 'it is good to be home'

US AIRWAYS, A WATERY LANDING!

Its' tarmac, a flowing river called Hudson River in the city of New York, New York! A US Airways Airbus 320 US airplane declared emergency and landed safely the into the icy waters of the Hudson River with 155 people on board comprising of 150 passengers, 3 crew members and 2 pilots. US airways Flight 1549 was a domestic flight from LaGuardia airport in New York to Charlotte, North Carolina.

The successful emergency landing was attributed to the heroic effort and dexterity of the pilot, a former airforce fighter-pilot, Captain Sullenberger, who meticulously maneuvered the out-of-power airplane safely to land on a body of flowing water.

According to the air controller, the US Airways pilot had reported a "double bird strike" less than a minute after take-off and asked to return to the tarmac. However he could not make it back to the tarmac but was forced to ditch the aircraft in the Hudson River for lack of engine power; the two engines were knocked out following collision with Canadian migratory flock of geese, like these ones, pictured here left in flight. According to a survivor, the pilot had alerted the passengers to be brace up for a hard impact. And except for minor, non life-threatening injuries, and some who are being treated for hypothermia, most of the passengers later returned home to their families to tell their tale of near escape.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are already at work trying to unravel the mystery behind the crash; they are inspecting the 9-year-old Airbus A320, which was towed to Battery Park City and moored to a bulkhead just north of the World Financial Center. Their term of reference will be to determine whether the plane hit a flock of geese as reported, which disabled the engines, forcing it into a controlled crash-landing. The New York State governor David T. Paterson left and the New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg right, are seen above addressing a news conference, following the plane-crash.

The "miracle-wrought`ing" pilot, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, 57 is from California's Bay Area (Danville, San Francisco area). Sullenberger, a former fighter pilot and captain with the United States Air Force, has more than 40 years of flying experience, the last 29 of which, as a captain with US Airways. He also served as a local safety chairman and accident investigator for the Air Line Pilots Association.

The winter temperature in New York City was about 20 degrees when the plane touched water, shortly after which, some commuter ferries crossing the Hudson rushed to the scene and began plucking shivering passengers from the wings of the "swimming" airplane. They were later relieved by the fast arriving New York City's emergency response team which immediately went into overdrive, successfully rescuing all the passengers and crew of the ill-fated airplane.

From available data it would seem that birds' collision with jet-engines is a regular occurrence with about 486 planes so far damaged as a result. Icheoku says, why wouldn't airplane designers and manufacturers come up with a mechanism to keep off the birds from being sucked into the engines? A device like a titanium wire mesh/gauze, laid over the engine casing will work this miracle of keeping off the birds from the engine blades. Icheoku says, bravo to the pilot and gratitude to the Almighty for making it possible - the safe crash landing; at least those aboard has been given another chance at life.

MAURICE IWU, WRIGGLING OUT OF HIS GROSS DEFICIENCY?

Icheoku says, so what if the former senate president "lobbied" you to, in your own words, "annul the election so that a fellow Igbo man can become the interim president"? What is wrong, if his "being president of an interim government of Nigeria will benefit “our people”? Icheoku is merely quoting you! What happened to your candor, revealing a supposedly confided statement from one Igbo man to another? Are you guys no longer two Igbo brothers or are you smarter than the Yoruba or Hausa fraternal brothers who facilitate their own in Nigeria? Whatever happened to the famed "Igbo-kwenu" refrain or do the Igbos no longer "kwenu?" This your present dog eat dog attitude will not take the Igbos anywhere in Nigeria; because there are so many of your kind, the Maurice Iwus of Igboland, who are sabotaging the Igbo agenda and interest in exchange for the mere crumbles from their Hausa/Yoruba masters' table.

However, Icheoku like many other Nigerians do not believe your folk-lore as you are a proven carpet-beggar, who the entire mankind will never forgive for the charade you supervised in Nigeria 2007. Since Ghana electoral commission chairman exposed your under-belly, through the laudable election he recently conducted, you have been trying every manner of trickery to shirk responsibility for the nightmare which imposed Umaru Yar'Adua on Nigerians. Try as you may, the wool you are trying desperately to pull over the eyes of Nigerians will be in vain. Seriously speaking, Maurice Iwu, are you at peace with yourself at the election nay selection which you organised in Nigeria? Can you freely walk straight-faced, on the streets of any Nigerian city without fear of being lynched for what you visited on Nigerians in 2007? Sincerely speaking, Maurice Iwu, you are a disgrace to Nigeria, the Igbo race that produced you and to the academic world where you supposedly belong?

Assuming we believe your account of the incident, does your alleged encounter with Senator Ken Nnamani, also explain why the election you conducted was widely denounced by the entire world as a shameless dislocation of democracy? Aristotle and his Greek compatriots will chase you out of heaven, were you to ever make it, for truncating their democracy? You are simply a disgrace. Icheoku says, this will be our last commentary on you and your supposed election 2007 as we have more important things to fix our minds on, than a disgraceful munchkin who has caused Nigerian so much pain with a supposed election. Professor or no professor Maurice Iwu, were Nigeria to be a reasonable country where honor matters to people, you would since have jumped off the bridge for the disgrace which you brought to democracy in Nigeria.

You have now resorted to manufacturing evidence against anybody who criticises you and very soon you will start to accuse Icheoku of being a guerrilla media. You have already thrown your dart on Wole Soyinka and now it is at Ken Nnamani, as according to you, anybody who criticise the madness which you supervised in Nigeria 2007, must have an ulterior motive for doing so. How could any reasonable person expect the PDP to win another election in Nigeria after the nightmare called Olusegun Obasanjo? Ordinarily it is a logical impossibility but for the magical wizardly of Maurice Iwu, who surprised everybody with the outcome of his 2007 madness.

Icheoku says, President Umaru Yar'Adua should save Nigerians the continued nightmare of this epitome of gross incompetence, Maurice Iwu and remove him from INEC forthwith, for a fresh beginning. The longer Maurice Iwu stays at INEC, the more Nigerians will continue to lose hope in ever seeing democracy take strong footing in Nigeria; now the laughing stock of the world, after the class-act which was Ghana's election.

SUSAN WENGER, THE WHITE PRIESTESS OF AN AFRICAN GODDESS, PASSES ON!

The 'Adunni Olorisa' has passed! The white priestess of Osun River Grove deity in Nigeria, is dead. Susan Wenger was 94 years old!

Born during the First World War in 1915 in Graz, Austria, Susan studied art in Graz and Vienna where she was a member of the Vienna Art-Club. After the Second World War, she travelled to Italy and also spent some time in Switzerland where she had some exhibitions at the Des Eaux Vives in Zurich. In 1949, Susanne went to Paris, where she met and married Ulli Beier, a German linguist who subsequently accepted a posting to West Africa. The couple arrived in Ibadan, Nigeria in 1959 and later moved to a small town of Ede near Oshogo, where Susan quickly assimilated the local culture. She later divorced Ulli Beire and married Chief Alarape aka Ayansola Oniru.

It was here at Ede that Susanne met Ajagemo, a powerful Obatala (native) priest and her guru, who initiated her into the world of the Orisha - the traditional Yoruba religion. She got very much involved in Osun River Grove; her passion and devotion saw her grow through the ranks to become the chief custodian and priestess of the shrine. Susan remained in this position till her death; although rigours of old age removed her from active involvement and participation during the last years of her life.

Susan was a great cultural devotee of the sacred deity, which she single-handedly gave a new lease of life and through her best effort, was enlisted into UNESCO as a World Heritage Center in 2005. It was to her credit that the Osun River Grove has been preserved for posterity and has also become world renown. Susan was a strong influence on the cultural rebirth that transformed the Osun River Grove into a forest of exciting artistic enclave. She personified “the spirit of the sacred grove", the river goddess to which she dedicated nearly her entire adult life, worshipping and adoring.

In accordance with her instruction, Susan Wenger was buried immediately following her death, at a private burial in a discreet, unmarked grave inside the Osun River grove; without any fanfare or ceremony.

Icheoku says, this informal internment completes Susan Wenger's transformation into a spirit as devotees will henceforth make supplications to her, too. Susan Wenger by the life she lived and the realms transcended coupled to her discreet burial has become a full legend. Historians will discuss this very unique human being, who was born in Austria to a christian family, lived in Nigeria as a traditional goddess priestess, where she died and was buried in an unmarked grave. What a circle of very meaningful life, Susan Wenger had! Icheoku says, sleep on Susan Wenger as you now join the spirits of the Osun River Grove! ADIEU, Adunni Olorisa!

IGBOS OF NIGERIA, A ROYAL ADVISE FOR YOU!

The Obi of Onitsha-Nigeria, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Agbogidi of Onitsha-Ado, has advised Ndigbo of Nigeria, to reflect deeply and honestly on their direction as a people as it appears that the Igbo nation is steadily fragmenting and disintegrating.

According to the royal father, the Igbo people are chasing very narrow individual and sectional interests, while their counterparts in Nigeria are integrating and building alliances towards advancing their own common interest. This ugly phenomenon he noted, is manifested in every aspect of the Igbo man's life - in business, politics, church and the creation of autonomous communities and traditional rulers. Continuing His Royal Highness said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo appears to be losing its voice and convening power as an Igbo umbrella organization; noting that even the golden opportunity for the creation of a sixth state in the South-East is now tearing the Igbos apart as they, the Igbos have become so atomized that they are now almost irrelevant in the affairs of Nigeria.

Concluding, the Agbogidi emphasised that Igbos must urgently and seriously ponder wither they are going as a people in Nigeria, otherwise they might become completely isolated almost into a total irrelevancy. Icheoku says, speak on Obi of Onitsha nay Obi of Igboland, as you correctly articulated the unenviable doldrums into which the Igbo-man has put himself in today's Nigeria. It is so painful that they do not even realise the depth of the shit-hole they have dug for themselves by their complete lack of cohesiveness, lack of a common purpose and lack of one central voice that speaks for them as a people. It is regrettable that the Igbos of the era of Nnamdi Azikwe, M.I. Okpara, Akanu Ibiam, K.O. Mbadiwe, Dee Onunaka Mbakwe, Dennis Osadebey, Mbazulike Amechi, Osita Agwuna, are no more and the few other remaining leaders like CC Onoh, Charles Abangwu, Nwafor Orizu etc are of too weary bones now to continue to push the Igbo agenda forward and (Igbotically) patriotically.

Icheoku affirms that what is left today, is a disorganized, dysfunctional and confused people whose only stock-value now is how much money do I have or can I make? The Igbo man's mad chase of money has compromised the Igbo integrity so much that a few shekels of silver is all that the average Igbo Joe needs to sell his brother short. A nation where known criminals including 419 operators are made traditional rulers of communities with chieftaincy titles bought and sold from and by known traditionalists cannot survive muster. This unholy celebration of money in Igboland without any question as to the source is the knife that has cut deep in Igbo man's integrity. The Igbos, like the biblical Esau has sold their oneness for a pot of porridge and hence has been given a basement-position in Nigeria today, below even the Ijaw-man! It has been conclusively permuted by the other more astute component parts of Nigeria that the Igboman lacks unity of purpose and hence can do no harm; trust Icheoku, they are cashing in on that to further emasculate the Igbos.

Icheoku is afraid, the sink-hole where the Igbos now find themselves in Nigeria is so bottomless that, it may be very difficult for them to dig themselves out of it. It will take a Divine intervention or something so drastic to shake them to their existential-foundations, with the potential to obliterate them totally, for them to ever stand a fighting-chance again in Nigeria as a collective people in pursuit of one common objective. Like Jesus said, "it is finished" and Icheoku is afraid the Igbos of Nigeria brought this unto themselves by their "I" and not "We" line of pursuit and action in Nigeria! Igbos should start once again to "Kwenu`ing" and seriously mean it as a tree does not make a forest no matter the size. An army of people is always stronger than a person and the Igbo man should drive this truism into their skull for any prospective future in Nigeria.

DIVORCED AND PROUD NIGERIANS!

As the beehive of Nigerian women who are divorced from their husbands continuously increase, they have found a clever way of ridiculously putting a smiley face on their status. Through the ingenuity of Hajia Atine Abdullahi, pictured here right, a National Association of Divorcees was born to cater for the divorcees, widows and orphans of Nigeria. Icheoku notes however that the association appears to have an axe to grind with men as they exclude divorced men, widowers and apparently male orphans from their beneficiaries? It seems that the NAD is unapologetically, purely a feminists right-wing group; and Icheoku adds, little wonder no man could tolerate them as wives?

Now they are ganging up against men and possibly will entice other remaining happily married women to also kick their husbands to the gutter and join them - "the fully and truly liberated women of Nigeria"? They are organising a rally in Kano-Nigeria this month, to protest what they termed the growing number of divorce in Nigeria's Kano city and particularly against what they claimed is the “insufficient husbands in Kano State.” Icheoku asks, if there is a dearth of husbands, why then divorce the one you have even if he is a talakawa or an almajiri? What should be important for the likes of this fire-breed, fiery eyed Atine Abudullahi is that any human-being with a man-hood is good enough, period! But to forever be hopping around in search of a Brad Pitt with all the money in the world and who is also heavenly well endowed is no brainier as it is the root-cause of their predicament! Any three-legged individual should ordinarily suffice, as they say in the land of the blind, one eyed person is usually the king, so stay and love the one you have.

According to available information, the association is expecting one million divorced women at the event in Kano and Icheoku says, you then begin to wonder how many women are still married? As if to add impetus to Icheoku's assessment, a recently released data from Kano State government shows that over 80% of marriages in the state were unstable.

Hajiya Attine Abdullahi, who is the executive director of the association, said the rally is to highlight the incidences of divorce as a growing social problem bedeviling their Kano State. Icheoku says, may be this Hajiya can start by converting to a more marriage-respecting religion since her Sharia practising Kano state encourages Muslim men to treat their women as chattels that can be easily disposed and at will.

A $170,000 DOLLAR WRIST-WATCH FOR A NIGERIAN ARMY MAJOR'S WIFE?

Our beef, writing this commentary is that the "culprit" here, is an ordinary army major's wife. Icheoku asks, how much is her husband's salary or is he a trust-fund child to afford such superlative luxury? How did he come about such a huge amount of money to splash on just a wrist-watch? A whopping $170,000.00 USD for a wrist-watch? That is incredulous as it is scandalous, and it is by a Nigeria army major? However the wrist-watch is not the most expensive wrist-watch ever made, sold and bought; no, as the black diamond-clustered CHOPARD, top left, retails for $1,130,620.00 USD! But for a petty army major's wife to be able to afford such a watch, that is the lead-story here!

Were she Bill Gates wife, Aliko Dangote's wife, Carlos Slim's wife or any of the harems of a Middle Eastern Sheik, Icheoku will not give a damn as we do not begrudge riches. We are a capitalist bunch who strongly believe that such off-the-chart ornamental-valuables, should be made and bought by some people of means. But for an ordinary major in the Nigeria army to afford this piece of luxury, that calls for somebody's head on a platter! It is ridiculously pathetic that such is happening in a Nigeria, where so many people go to sleep every night without food in their stomachs. This is a glaring example of an oasis of extreme extravagance surrounded by abject poverty and want where bread is a luxury for most families. The near state of hopelessness in Nigeria was caused by the likes of this Major Mustapha and yet he finds the temerity to display his ill-gotten wealth in this blingy form? Icheoku says it is shameful and encourages that business man whoever he is, to pawn away the wristwatch and use the proceeds for some charitable work of mercy. He should utilize the proceeds for something more important than an army major's wife egotistic wrist; after-all, it came out of the purse of Nigeria, a product of corruption.

Icheoku says, the EFCC should not involve itself in this private and personal family-friends matter. Why should the government agency be used by the Mustaphas' for privately investigating what happened to their little piece of bling-bling? Who cares if a family-friend breached the trust of a very corrupt woman-owner of a wrist-watch who is married to another corrupt despotic-enforcer? The EFCC should not have arrested the Lagos based business magnate and philanthropist over his alleged involvement in the controversial wristwatch? According to the story, the wristwatch valued at US $170,000.00 (N23.4m) allegedly got missing since 2005 after the major’s wife, Hadjia Hafsat Al- Mustapha reportedly gave it to the business man said to be a family friend for repairs. The business man was to help her replace the dead battery and fatigued strap (band) during his then upcoming overseas trip. But unfortunately, according to the businessman, the wristwatch alongside other of his valuables were stolen at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja during a visit, which burglary was immediately incidented with the police.

The wristwatch's value has been described as ridiculous by one official who, like Icheoku, could not understand the mindset of this army major splashing a whopping $170,000 on his wife's wristwatch? Moreover, how did he or she come about such a large sum of money for such a foolery? In the words of the official, “You mean somebody is wearing a wristwatch that cost as much as that?, that is madness."

Because of the ridiculousness of this Nigerian army major's expenditure on a wrist-watch, Icheoku went to town to research costs of wrist-watches. Our findings however shows that there are very expensive wrist-watches out there; but the question remains, how was this army major able to afford this piece of jewelry? From our investigation, there are some ladies' wrist-watches dripping with jewels which cost a fortune. From premier Swiss watchmakers come such fine masterpieces such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Girard-Perregaux etc. Chopard pictured above, at $1,130,620.00 is about the most expensive wrist-watch presently available. There is also the Ulysse Nardin at $408,000.00; Vacheron Constant at $340,000.00; Girard Perreguax at $280,000.00; Patek Philippe at $240,000.00 and so many other timepieces for the well healed of the society!

According to one critic, such wrist-watch under advisement here is "a mere luxury that has no soul." They are otherwise called "complications found at the priciest levels! Like many of such world's most expensive watches they are produced in severely limited quantities--including infinitesimal editions of one sometimes--and frequently have buyers lined up long before they're finished, often at rates of just a few per year. However in 1999 the most expensive watch ever sold, a 1933 gold Patek Phillipe with 24 complications, was auctioned off at Sotheby's for $11 million dollars USD!

Icheoku says, this exposes once again the rot the northern men of power has driven Nigeria into. If an ordinary army major's wife from the north could afford a $170,000.00 USD wrist-watch, can you imagine what the northern generals' wives themselves own? Or better still, try to fathom what wealth their men of power have personally siphoned from the southern oil wells? It is a pity that the south has left them have their way and for so long; but the EFCC must butt out and leave the Lagos business man alone to enjoy his share of the national cake of Nigeria, courtesy of a major's wife?

LIBERIAN TERRORIST GOES AWAY FOR GOOD!

Like father like son and so goes all despots! From Iraq's Saddam Hussein and his sons Uday and Quasi to Liberia's Charles Taylor and his son Chuck; it is the same despotic blood flowing in their veins. Luckily the American justice system has once again risen to the occasion and stopped this despicable low-lifer, mad son of Liberia's madman, cold in his tracks and die he will in the big house. Charles "Chuckie" MacArthur Emmanuel "Terror" Taylor, 31, bastard son of the former executioner-in-chief of Liberia, Charles Ghanskay Taylor was put away for good and for a very very long time, where he can no longer cause grief to the good people of Liberia! Chuck has been de-plumed and will forever not be able to do any harm again to the good people of Liberia.

In short, Chuckie will only know freedom again stretched out cold. Only in the land beyond, as he can only leave prison on a gurney - dead as a door knob! When, after staying 97 years behind bars! He is 29 now and by the end of his 97 years term should be 126 years if lucky enough to wear the toga of the world's oldest living person then. Kudos to the American fearless judiciary whose justice system is no respecter of criminals and criminal master minds! Chuck Taylor's offense includes torture, maiming, rape, mutilation, murder, summary executions without trial of innocent Liberian citizens. Chuck was simply speaking, a clone of the other once lived, mad son of Saddam Hussein, Uday!

According to presiding Judge Cecilia Altonaga, it is hard to conceive of any more serious offences against the dignity and life of human beings than what Chuckie visited on the Liberian people. While handing him the sentence, Judge Altonaga said, "1,164 months in prison" is the appropriate sentence for crimes of a universally condemned torture that was witnessed in Liberia under the watch, supervision and sometimes execution of Charles "Chuckie" Emmanuel Taylor".

As head of Liberia's "elite" paramilitary unit that doubles as anti-terrorist services unit during his father's 1997-2003 despotic rule, Chuckie was solely responsible for keeping his father in power by viciously cutting down every opposition, both imaginary and real. Before sentencing, Chuckie fearfully pleaded for forgiveness, saying "Sorry to my brothers for what happened during the 14 years of war in Liberia. My sympathies go out to all the people who suffered in the conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone. I will meet my obligation no matter what it would be". Icheoku says, Chuckie failed to take responsibility for the mayhem he wrought on Liberians but merely mouthed a shallow apology without any contrite heart; which apology was borne out of fear and a ploy to mitigate his sentence. Here was a man who gleefully hacked off children's limbs with their parents forced to watch the gory macabre with their own very own eyes and for 14 long years, now pretending to be sorry for his crimes? Icheoku says this beast has no heart at all and if any, is made of cold steel!

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Chuck Taylor was taken into custody in Miami Florida on March 30, 2006, while trying to enter the United States illegally from Trinidad. He was initially charged with passport fraud and pleaded guilty. On the day before his sentencing in December 2006, he was indicted on torture charges based on the agitation of some Liberian victims representatives, living in the United States. That indictment included graphic detail of brutal killings and tortures Taylor allegedly ordered, supervised and in some cases personally carried out himself between April 1999 and July 2003.

One of his victim was placed naked in a pit as stinging fire-ants were shoveled over his body and later buried alive. He also tormented his victims with molten plastic, electric shocks, spear, lit cigarettes, hot clothes-irons, bayonets, fire-ants, scalding water, sharp metal-rods and water-filled holes topped by iron bars and barbed wire. He personally shot several men and ordered one man to be castrated before being beheaded. Prosecutors initially sought a 147-year prison term but the Judge was lenient enough to give this marauding beast of Monrovia, just 97 years prison sentence.

And who is his daddy but the petty dictator pictured left, now cowering before the court of justice at the Hague for crimes against humanity. His name, Charles Taylor! The notorious former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, is on trial at The Hague, Netherlands before a UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, where he is facing 11 count charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity. A verdict is expected in the case, this year 2009.

Icheoku says if only Nigerians will learn to cash in on available provisions of law in America, hounds like Olusegun Obasanjo could be arrested and tried in America, for his crimes against the Odi and Zaki Ibiam people of Nigeria! The people of Liberia made this 97 years behind bars outcome possible. A Liberian Human Rights and Refugee Welfare Organization (LIHRRWO) based in the United States petitioned for Chuck Taylor's indictment and launched a campaign that planted his feet deeper into the quicksand of law; after his initial arrest for passport violation. LIHRRWO, based in Minnesota, earlier notified the then US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales through a letter asking the Justice Department to hold Chuckie for more investigation unrelated to the passport fraud for which he was arrested and detained.

In a subsequent press release the group revealed that it has dispatched letters to the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Emilo Gonzales, and Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Justice Assistance through Secretary Michael Chertoff requesting the prolonged detention of Chuckie Taylor. According to the group, Charles Taylor, Jr. needed to be kept in detention so that he would be questioned about his role in the abuse of human rights when he served as commander of the Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) in Liberia between 1998 and 2003. LIHRRWO said it would use the United States Tort Act to bring a lawsuit against Chuckie Taylor in the US for his involvement in the death of Liberians when he served as “head of his father killing squad, the so-called Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU).” Icheoku says, if Liberians can do this why not the Odi and Zaki Ibiam people against Olusegun Obasanjo or don't they have representatives in the United States?

Icheoku says, this beast of Monrovia is a deplorable and abhorable animal who deserves to serve every second of the 1164 months behind bars prison sentence. This animal was born in America and having grown up in the United States of America, one would have expected him to know better; respect the rules of law but never, instead he was bit by the same bug which generally bite every African man of power; he became afflicted and immediately morphed into a ravenous killing mad-dog which he became. If I were the judge in the case, a big needle in his vein while strapped down, would have been my preferred instrument of punishment but 97 years is no picnic either.

Thank you American judiciary, for holding this animal accountable for all the atrocities he committed in Liberia. Icheoku wants to let you know that there are still hundreds of Chuck Emmanuel Taylor in Africa and such fate as was handed out today should be their awaiting portion! God bless America!