NIGERIAN-WOMEN'S PLAGUE IN AMERICA, SPREADS TO EUROPE!

As yet another Nigerian woman pays the ultimate sacrifice in the hands of her husband. But this time, gratefully though, it was not in the hands of a Nigerian man, thank God! The deceased Mrs Evelyn Uche Vanacker (Nee Amarim) met her death in the hands of her Belgian husband of five years, Mr. Wim Vanacker; who strangled her in their home before driving about 100 kilometers away from their residence in Bredene Belgium, to dump her lifeless body in an open field, on the border between France and Belgium. Evelyn 31 years old, was killed on March 3, 2009.

Her body was discovered by French authorities and on interrogation, her 35 year old husband, Wim Vanacker, confessed to strangling her. However the motive for her killing is still undetermined as at time of going to press; but pattern suggests domestic violence. Also Evelyn's mother is living with the couple and their two kids so no one knows if her presence had anything to do with triggering her husband's action in anyway?

The Nigerian community in Belgium is protesting the strangulation with a peaceful protest-march today, Saturday March 14, 2009. According to the Chief Coordinator of the protest, Mr. Collins Nweke they will meet at OOSTENDE, - the main square overlooking the train station and proceed therefrom to the city hall and police station to register their protest of an innocent life, so suddenly taken. They will also call for a halt to all forms of domestic violence.

Evelyn is survived by her mother, two children and the killer-husband. We have no information as to her profession or what manner of a woman she is but all those things are now overtaken by her death. Hopefully, justice will be meted out to Mr. Wam Vanacker. Icheoku says, may the soul of Evelyn Uche Vanacker (Nee Amarim) now find rest from the violence of this earth that took her young life! Adieu Evelyn!

ICHEOKU PHOTOS OF THE WEEK!

Human dexterity knows no bound as shown by the very innovative way these Africans transport their wares to the market.

In the picture above left, a woman is seeing pedalling her way to a village market to sell the tray of nuts meticulously balanced on her head; while carrying her child on the back? It is almost magical? Icheoku says, this is a lesson in multi-tasking, indeed!

In this other picture, here right, a man (butcher) is seen riding his motorcycle from the slaughter house to the market to sell his goat-meat. A total of eight (8) fully matured goats, killed and burnt for flavor; are carefully positioned on the motor-cycle, en- route to the meat-market.

If this does not qualify as a choreographed event, Icheoku wonders what else? If only some of this ingenuity can be properly harnessed, who says Africa cannot rise from its despondency? To this woman and man of Africa, Icheoku salutes your improvised transportation feat!

MADOFF, AN AMERICAN 419 CRIMINAL MASTERMIND!

The saga of the mother of all criminal frauds, involving a ponzi scheme wherein over $50 billion dollars was swindled from investors is gradually drawing to a close. The criminal fraudster, Mr. Bernard Madoff is going away for good and for a very very long time indeed; he may have to reincarnate to complete his possible 150 years prison sentence? This will be in addition to paying fine, restitution and forfeiture of his ill-gotten assets. Madoff pled guilty to eleven count criminal charge including securities fraud and perjury, today March 12, 2009 and was marched straight to jail to await sentence on June 16, 2009.

As a convict, Bernard Madoff had his bail immediately revoked and was taken into custody in handcuffs. In revoking his $10million dollars bail, United States District Judge Denny Chin said Madoff had the means to flee and an incentive to do so because of his age. However, Icheoku believes that the remand in custody is to primarily protect him from himself; remember Ken Lay of Enron died in suspicious circumstances before sentencing, which led to some school of thought believing he committed suicide to save his financial empire for his family? At 70 plus years old, Bernard Madoff is a good candidate for suicide, as many consider this option as more edifying rather than pine away in prison to his eventual death? Icheoku says, Bernard Madoff is now the poster-boy of the Wall Street greed and grim which induced the present economic and financial meltdown.

Most of Madoff's victims were Jewish and Jewish charities, which trusted him because he is one of them. These victims included individuals, trusts, pension funds, hedge funds and nonprofit organizations. The scheme succeeded in wiping out life savings, ruined charities and foundations; and apparently pushed at least two investors to commit suicide - one by slitting his wrists and the other by jumping in front of a moving train. Icheoku says, the ghosts of these suicides will hunt Madoff's 6x6 prison cell until he either runs amok or takes his own life; our prediction is that he will not live out his life but will meet a tragic end!

Like the notorious Nigerian 419 scheme, Madoff collected investors money under the false pretence that he was investing same in high yield return ventures; but instead, it was a Ponzi scheme (pyramid) in which early investors are paid off with money taken in from later ones. In his own bone-chilling confessional allocutus in court following his guilty plea, Madoff said in part, "When I began the Ponzi scheme I believed it would end shortly and I would be able to extricate myself and my clients from the scheme. However, this proved difficult, and ultimately impossible, and as the years went by I realized that my arrest and this day would inevitably come. I operated a Ponzi scheme through the investment advisory side of my business, Bernard L. Madoff Securities LLC, which was located here in Manhattan, New York at 885 Third Avenue. I am painfully aware that I have deeply hurt many, many people, including the members of my family, my closest friends, business associates and the thousands of clients who gave me their money. I cannot adequately express how sorry I am for what I have done. I am here today to accept responsibility for my crimes by pleading guilty and, with this plea allocution, explain the means by which I carried out and concealed my fraud". He added, "Your Honor, I hope I have conveyed with some particularity in my own words, the crimes I committed and the means by which I committed them. Thank you". (For the full alocutus, click the link at the bottom).

Icheoku says, the moral of this case is principally two-fold:- whenever something sounds too good to be true, watch out; and also nepotism is a social malady afflicting mankind. The promised returns on investment by Madoff was rather too grandiose to make any prudent financial sense but greed possibly drove some of these investors over the Madoff's cliff?

Also many of the Jewish victims possibly invested in Madoff's scheme because he is one of their own; but unfortunately their trust was misplaced as this particular Jew turned out to be a criminal. "Our own", "our own syndrome" practised by many races in this world should be stopped as the whole mankind is similarly yoked in this one world order. We should encourage diversity so that together we shall all either swim or sink as one; - gain or lose in a shared proportion? Were the funds spread out to various investment portfolios, possibly it could have guarded against such a Bernard Madoff's rip-off? Be that as it may, our prayer is that no additional victim takes his or her life as a result of this financial catastrophe; and that some of the swindled funds may eventually be recovered.

As for convict Bernard Madoff, Icheoku hopes your new 6x6 prison-cell will be as comfortable as your $7 million dollars Upper East Side penthouse? We wish you a happy extended stay in the big house!

Bernard Madoff's statement in court - In Depth with The Post ...

SARAH PALIN'S DAUGHTER, NOW A FULL SINGLE MOM!

The whole world of politics were taken aback when it was revealed that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol was knocked-up and was expecting an illegitimate child; not being married? It was during the governor's vice presidential run with team Senator John McCain, and holly macro something must be done to attenuate the damage from such a revelation. Hurriedly, a boy was extracted from the middle of nowhere, Wassila-Alaska, and made the poster-boy of teenage fathers; he was introduced to a benumbed world as the hard-charging virile Bristol Palin's boyfriend? His name, Levi Johnston.

Many people smelt an "arranged" presentation but decided to give the teenage "couple" the benefit of the doubt. Subsequently, the vice presidential ambition of mother Sarah Palin petered-off when Americans discovered that the beautiful Alaskan governor was just an air-head and soon accelerated to an end. Bristol carried her pregnancy to full term and delivered a baby-boy named Tripp? What a name for a child, following a family name-trend of xxx? Maybe she was "tripping" when she was impregnated? Icheoku remembers that Sarah Palin explained that she named her daughter Bristol because of her love for a city named Bristol in Connecticut, United States of America?

Many body-language experts who watched Bristol and Levi together felt there was some disconnect between them; something was definitely not right as the duo did not share any chemistry whatsoever. This doubt became increasingly manifest when it was revealed that Levi's mother is a crack-head and was arrested for possession of large quantities of methamphetamine? And this is a prospective in-law to the Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin? There is no correlation between apples and oranges but the world decided to wait them out. Today, March 11, 2009 in a well choreographed presentation, the two announced that they have mutually decided to call off their engagement; to which Icheoku says, was there ever an engagement in the first place? Possibly all the world has so far watched, was a Hollywood-like presentation to mask a torpedoing event in the political life of Sarah Palin? What happened to all the protestations of love and intention to marry which the world was inundated with during the hey days of the vice presidential run? How could an engagement of the Alaskan governor's daughter be suddenly called off and why would Levi whose future is not that bright, decide to blow-out a light of hope as represented in marrying a governor's daughter? It is an impossible scenario and hopefully, the details will make the talk-show rounds soon.

The story coming out of Alaska has it that Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, have broken off their engagement; barely three months after the "couple" had a baby. According to Levi Johnston 19, he and Bristol Palin 18 "mutually" decided "a while ago" to end their relationship. According to Bristol's family statement, "Unfortunately, my family has seen many people say and do many things to `cash in' on the Palin name, sometimes that greed clouds good judgment and the truth." Icheoku asks, what happened to the Sarah Palin's affirmation that "her daughter and Johnston are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child."

No matter what happens, Icheoku sympathises with the little angel named Tripp, whose opinion was not first sought before bringing him to this earth? As for Bristol, she will be just fine, after-all she is the daughter of a governor and highly libidous. At worst she can always become another Nadya Suleman? Levi might not find it as easy but hopefully he will collect himself together and pursue a future, which only he can determine. Icheoku wishes Bristol Palin, goodluck and happy life as a single teenage mother!

EMIR OF FIKA TOO, DROPPING LIKE FLIES?

Yet another one drops off the face of the earth, a Nigerian high-up traditional ruler of Fika Emirate, Yobe State. It will be recalled that it is the same state that recently lost her governor Mamman Ali, who died in a Florida hospital on January 27, 2009.

But unlike the governor, the remains of the ruler did not have to go through customs as he died within the shores of Nigeria. The Emir died suddenly by 7.45am on March 9, 2009 inside his palace at Potiskum, the emirate headquarters, of high blood pressure and relatively old age? The Emir was just 77 years old?

Alhaji Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa was also the chairman of the Yobe State Council of Chiefs/Traditional rulers and the paramount leader of Bole people of Yobe State. Icheoku notes, the death of the Emir brings to three, the number of very high-up traditional rulers from the North who have expired within the last three weeks. Shehu of Borno Alhaji Mustapha Umar Ibn el-Kanemi died on February 20, 2009; Gbong Gwom Jos Da Victor Pam made his exit on March 7, 2009 and now this Emir of Fika Idrissa who transited on the 9th? What is going on or are they mere coincidences, judging from the longevity of these men on their thrones?

The emir was appointed the 12th Emir of Fika in August 1976 following the death of his father, the former emir; and remained the 43rd in succession to the throne of Fika-Dynasty until his death on March 2009? Thirty-three years on the throne is not a child's play and Icheoku asks, is there no democracy in this peoples' dictionary? The Emir left behind, his four wives and about 40 children. So long, Emir Idrissa!

ADEBOYE'S REDEEMED CHURCH, A PRIVATE PLANE?

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has finally arrived as a world mega church indeed! With their recent acquisition of a new Gulfstream aircraft worth about $28 million (N4billion), the church has joined the league of "show-me-the-money" churches world-wide; which splash their tax-free dollars on such earthly frivolities? The Gulfstream jet is transatlantic-capable and can conveniently seat about 15 passengers in high luxury comfort, depending on the configuration.

Icheoku notes this is the second church in Nigeria to acquire an aircraft following the Living Faith Worldwide (Winners Chapel) of Bishop David Oyedepo, which has a Challenger aircraft?

As high maintenance as these private planes are, Icheoku says these churches are announcing that they have finally arrived in the big players league. From routine maintenance to the rotables (time-bound parts which are changed regularly), to refitting parts which are changed after every 12 or 15 calendar months whether you are flying or not, to operating cost which sometimes runs upwards of $5000 each flying hour, to landing and parking costs as well as crew? The simple summary is that by acquiring a private aircraft you are making a loud and bold statement that you have metamorphosed into an ATM (automated teller machine) spitting money to keep the bird flying?

Fortunately for these mega churches, they are spending other peoples' money:- from the parishioners, to the tithe-payers, to miracle-seeking devotees and thanksgiving people? Icheoku asks, what would Jesus Christ say in lieu of the many hungry mouths that could have been fed, the naked that could have been clothed and the homeless that could have been sheltered? Twenty-eight million dollars is just the down payment for owning and operating a private jet? What a bail-out this whopping amount would have provided for the world poor especially in Nigeria and specifically in the Redeemed Church family? Icheoku asks, are these people really serving the true God or are they just using God as a means to an end of their worldly desires and aspirations? Icheoku remembers vividly during the temptation of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 4:8-9 when the Devil took Him up to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things will I give you if you fall down and worship me." What did Jesus do, he refused to take the bait saying in Matthew 4:10, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only". So who are these guys really serving?

The above Bible passage and that ensconced in the eight Beatitudes, it would appear do not appeal to these rock-star preachers; otherwise they would have known that their reward is in heaven and not here on earth? Icheoku says, all these worldly things that seek comfort of the flesh are of the Devil and will only ingratiate and gravitate them away from their primary calling to save lives for Christ into a meaningless indulgence. In a country with such suffocating poverty as Nigeria, with some of Redeemed Church parishioners possibly living without basic necessities of life including food, Icheoku says, it is scandalous for the church to chose now to flaunt such extravagance? At a time of global economic meltdown when families are losing their jobs and homes, children dropping out of schools, malaria killing young Nigerians, this church went on a shopping spree? Except there is a compelling reason for this purchase and the church got a deal on the plane, since many owners are shedding themselves of such money guzzling luxurious toys; Icheoku refuses to see the wisdom of such acquisition. Where is the meek in this church headship or the selfless leadership by example practised by Jesus Christ himself? In this regard and notwithstanding its foibles, the Catholic church is still above board; despite being the richest church in the world, yet her Pope still flies commercial on Alitalia airline?

Anyway if the Bible is true, which we have no reason to argue otherwise, Icheoku says, the headship of this church has received their reward here on earth. Their argument of easily getting around and away to their various ecumenical centers world-over, does not justify this lavish investment. And this plane cost about $5000.00 each flying hour it is airborne? Put in the local currency, Pastor Adeboye will be burning about N735,000.00 every hour the plane is airborne which forces Icheoku to ask, who is then fooling who with talk of salvation?

A caveat however, Icheoku does not begrudge this "Man of God" his earned payment under whatever subterfuge, including the ownership of a private plane; but we disagree with the decision, especially now when the whole world is hurting, economically? It does not show a God-fearing leadership of a church with so many devoted flocks who look up to their leader for direction on their quest to make heaven. Admitted that other super-duper churches, especially in the United States of America and Canada, own private jets but this Nigerian, in a country with such a high poverty rate and over 48million of her youth unemployed, such a vagrant display of wealth will only exacerbate the armed robbery and kidnapping scourge in Nigeria; as more wanna-bes shall become more desperate to try and belong! In their parlance, they have to "kill dead body" (make it) in order to finally join the privileged few, private-jet owning elite Nigerians!

ABIA ELDERS FORUM, TO HELL WITH YOUR APOLOGY!

For apologising to Abubarkar Atiku, because he was called out on his prostitutional visit to Olusegun Obasanjo, Icheoku says, the Abia Elders Forum is the most despicable and destitutional of all associations presently parading itself in the South East of Nigeria. Their beggarly apology amplifies the stereo-typical thinking in some quarters, that the Igbos are their own worst enemies? Can you imagine these faceless a-holes selling out on their own son, Orji Uzor-Kalu for a piece of the proverbial Abubarkar Atiku's poridge; and someone please tell Icheoku that the Igbos, with this kind of attitude, stand a chance at producing a Nigerian president of Igbo origin someday?

Why must it be Orji Uzor-Kalu that should be singled out and persecuted for putting his take on the swirling criticism of Abubarkar Atiku for genuflecting back to his old nemesis, Olusegun Obasanjo? That Atiku's caustic visit to Obasanjo connotes “selfishness and inconsistency” on the part of Abubarka Atiku is without doubt; so where then, is the beef against Orji Uzor-Kalu, that this Abia Elders Forum should open their ever-yawning mouth in such a denigrating way? Who in Nigeria did not criticise the miscalculated move by Abubarkar Atiku, going on all fours before Olusegun Obasanjo and naively thinking that his sins will be forgiven? Does Atiku not know that with Olusegun Obasanjo, forgiveness is for God only, but not him? Icheoku says, at the appropriate time, Olusegun Obasanjo shall take his pound of flesh off Atiku's body and with some blood as Lady Portia will not avail her services to Atiku. From Wole Soyinka to Balarabe Musa to Segun Osoba to every politician/pundit in Nigeria as well as the media including Icheoku.com; the criticisms were firing on all cylinders? So why should Orji Uzor-Kalu's merely adding his voice on a national discuss be deemed as inappropriate and an exception by these charlatans under the aeges of "Abia Elders Forum"?

Icheoku asks who constitues the membership of this shameless association, the Abia Elders Forum ? Shame on you, Abia Elders Forum and whatever you represent does not include the interest of the Igbo-man. Unmask your ugly self and let us know what you have contributed to the general welfare of the average Igbo-Joe since your inception? Your vituperations on Orji Uzor-Kalu adds impetus to the saying that some Igbos can sell their mother for a few shekels of silver; and also shows that the Igbos are the most disunited of all the people that ever walked the face of this earth. What shall it take for the Igbos to once again become each others brother's keeper? Icheoku says, Orji Uzor-Kalu was right to add his own opinion about the Abubarkar Atiku's infamous visit to the medicine man of Otta and nobody should hang him out to dry or unwantonly criticise his freedom of speech; particularly these lilliputians who purportedly begged Abubarka Atiku to please forgive Kalu? These guys are naughts and out of their freaking minds? They are the men and women every Igboman should beware of! They are the present danger and new-saboteurs of the Igbo struggle in Nigeria. Icheoku says, Igbo people must be ashamed to be so identified, after this shameful condescensional act of unsolicited apology of the Abia Elders Forum.

In their offesive statement, the Abia Elders Forum (AEF) through its Publicity Director Uchenna Kalu, said "it received with sadness the utterance of the former Governor of the Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu, on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. We apologise to Atiku over Kalu’s recent statement calling him a “chameleon, selfish and inconsistent. We commiserate with Alhaji Atiku because we know exactly the role he played in moving the country forward and we urge Atiku to forgive Kalu over his utterances and we call on him to continue to associate with the Abia people". Icheoku says if this people are not the lowest of low-lifers on earth, nothing else so qualifies? How condescending and slavish for them to beg Atiku to continue to associate with Abia people and Icheoku asks what is the benefit derivable from such association? When have Adamawa people ever begged to be associated with anybody, not even Olusegun Obasanjo when he was torturing their own Abubarkar Atiku? Who is the chameleon if not Atiku? Who is selfish if not Atiku? Who is inconsistent if not Atiku? Inspite of all his hoofing and puffing against Olusegun Obasanjo, he still crawled back on his knees to beg for forgiveness of his sins? So Orji Kalu was right! Despite swearing to be the symbol of democracy struggle in Nigeria, Atiku abandoned course and without consulting his followers surrepitously arranged to and went to prostrate before Olusegun Obasanjo? And again, Orji Kalu was right on the money! An Atiku's visit founded on his selfish desire to rule Nigeria at all cost, even if it means dinning with the devil Olusegun Obasanjo; and again Orji was right! Peradventure, a big surprise awaits Atiku as Nigerians will resist such a drooling son of a bitch from becoming their president.

Unlike Abubarkar Atiku, Orji Uzor-Kalu had remained steadfast with his convictions and was the first to throw his hat in the ring to stop Olusegun Obasanjo from his third term bid? That he suffered greatly without cowing down to Olusegun Obasanjo was a fact of general awareness; losing his Slok Airlines operating license as well as Hallmark Bank etc as a consequence of standing up to the lunatic of Otta, Olusegun Obasanjo. That Orji Uzor-Kalu fought off Olusegun Obasanjo's machine and got "elected" twice as Abia State's executive governor and topped it all when he was succeeded in office by his own chosen candidate, under his own newly floated political party, PPA; is there for these urchins consituted in Abia Elders Forum to see? Abubarkar could not even win his own state of Adamawa and yet it is the same Atiku that this Abia Elders Forum prefers and is begging to forgive Orji Kalu; and to also not forsake Abia State? What for and wherein is the dividends of such felicity?

Icheoku says, it is regrettable as it is omnious that some Igbo people do not recognise their heros, of which Orji Uzor-Kalu eminently qualifes as one, belonging in the same genre as Odumegwu Ojukwu, Senator Ken Nnamani and Ralph Uwazulike just to mention a few. Icheoku says this, because we recognise where people stand in periods of high adversity and not those story-tellers, like this Abia Elders Forum, who re-appear from their hide-outs after the tornado had already blown away? Calling Orji Kalu a political rascal does not belittle his stature as he, Orji Uzor-Kalu has by his accomplishments during his short life on earth, achieved so much that these rat-packs called Abia Elders Forum can only day-dream about. That Orji Uzor-Kalu is a man is without doubt and a brave man indeed; and to say otherwise will be as pitful as a jealousy-driven denial of the obvious. Aptly described by Orji Uzor-Kalu himself, these folks of Abia Elders Forum are a bunch of irresponsible and faceless political orphans! Icheoku does not care about the veracity of the excahnges between Orji Kalu and Atiku but only mindful that Orji Uzor-Kalu should not be singled out to be crucified, for chastising Abubarkar Atiku's ill-advised, capitulating visit to Olusegun Obasanjo, period!

GBONG GWOM JOS, MAKES HIS FINAL EXIT!

Another Nigerian high up has joined his ancestors, but this time however it was at a local hospital. Unlike others whose remains had to be flown back to Nigeria from various foreign hospitals wherein they expired, this latest ruler died in the land of his forebears.

The Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of Plateau State Council of Traditional Rulers, Da Victor Pam, is dead. He died at Jos University Teaching Hospital by 5.00am on Saturday March 7, 2009 at the age of 73.

The deceased, a Berom, hailed from Du district of Jos South local government and was the third Gbong Gwom Jos; the other two being Da Rwang Pam and Da Fom Bot. He ascended the throne of the Gbong Gwom in 2004.

Icheoku says, adieu Gbong Qwom!

YOUR SUNDAY WITH PROPHET MKO TIBETAN!

In the name of the Lord Most High, I bring you this good tidings, today Sunday, March 8, 2009, The topic for today's bible discussion and spirituality is "FASTING".

The importance of fasting:- fasting is very important spiritually, medically and otherwise. Today there are many churches with different opinions about fasting but I want you to accept the one that supports fasting from Ash-Wednesday through Easter day. Today as always, fasting is very important to everybody as it is only God who can put food on any-one's table; nobody can boast of tomorrow or his ability to pay his next month's rent or mortgage without God's approval. Everything for most part largely depends on prayer and if you want to get things from him you have to deny yourself of her food and anything worldly.

Therefore, this year, fasting is very important and although it is not by force, they used fasting and prayer to salvage the city Nineveh. The bible teaches us how the Lord accepted their fasting to save their humanity. In Matthew 4:2 even Jesus fasted for forty days and that helped him jump the hurdles set by Satan. He was empowered by God. Fasting is very important, if you are not a special disciple please better join us now as we fast and wait unto the Lord. For instructional reading, please see Acts13:2-3, 10:30, 14:23, Nehemiah 9:1, Est.4:3, Psalm.35:15, 69:10, 2Sam.12:16, 2Cor6:5, 1Sam.7:6, Zacharia.7:5, Deuteronomy 9:3, Jeremiah.36:6, and Joel.2:12.

Brethren in Christ, fasten your seat belt and abstain from food and unworldly things, to allow the blessings of 2009 to be equally shared by us in the name of almighty God. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us there is time for everything under heaven, embrace yourself spiritually now as you embark on fasting, which time has come in your life. Until next Sunday, leave your life as will be pleasing before the Lord. Amen!

TSVANGIRAI:- ONE SURVIVES, ONE DIES IN AN ASSASSINATION?

It is with heart filled with sympathy that Icheoku condoles the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, on the loss of his wife, Susan Tsvangirai! It is most regrettable that death chose to strike now when the struggle for the soul of Zimbabwe between her husband and Robert Mugabe was almost over. Death, oh why now?

That Susan was the pillar of support to her husband Morgan, throughout their marital life and especially during these last years of great struggle to free Zimbabwe from the death-grip of Robert Mugabe, was of general knowledge. As we write this obituary, our mind is racing to one conclusion, that this death has all the trappings of an assassination? Robert Mugabe and his security agencies cannot share power and will not share power; hence would go to the ends of the earth to stop the Tsvangirais' meddlesome interloping in their power-hold. Unfortunately, it is now one down with one more to go.

Icheoku says, Morgan should run to the mountains of safety for his dear life and immediately; as another truck will be crashing into him in due course if he is not poisoned before then. The ways and means of African despots is nefarious and they sometimes even kill their mothers just to maintain a hold on power. Icheoku says this is not an ordinary accident that took this affable lady's young life, no as we are fully aware of the tactics, atypical of African despots. To understand our position, please follow our trend of thought here. First, all African leaders travel to places in a protective convoy of gun-totting stern looking security kill-joys, who will not blink at squashing a life of any intruder. Second, the security agents usually close and condone-ff every intersection on the road to be travelled by the leader and sometimes such stretch of road remains closed-off until after such a visit. If these are given and accepted as informed premise, how then did this driver of the truck make contact with the vehicle carrying the Tsvangirais? Also how did the driver of the truck know exactly when to start his vehicle, drive it from a distance to timely impact and plow into the Tsvangirai's vehicle? Why was it the exact vehicle carrying the Tsvangirais that was specifically impacted amongst the convoy if they were not specifically targeted? All the corresponding coincidences are rather too many for it to be just an accidental contact of a rogue truck that took the life of Lady Tsvangirai. Icheoku says, based on what is obtainable in Africa and the road so far travelled in this analysis, Susan Tsvangirai was a victim of a state's assassination and her husband, the prime minister Morgan was also targeted, but was lucky to escape with his life.

Looking at the damage on the SUV carrying the Tsvangirais, it does not appear it was an unsurvivable accident. The pictured accident-vehicle does not look as if there was a tire-burst? Could it be that Susan was possibly not wearing her seat-belt, and was ejected from the rolled-over vehicle, crushing her skull in the process? Icheoku calls on Morgan Tsvangirai to institute a powerful probe to determine how his pillar of strength was taken away from him and so suddenly?

Our fear is that Morgan is merely a "ceremonial" prime minister without any real power, none of which Robert Mugabe has yielded. Morgan could not even secure the release of his deputy minister for agriculture Roy Bennett, who is in detention, despite a court's bail order, being tried for treason. Also currently available information has it that the magistrate who granted Mr. Bennett bail, Livingstone Chipadze has himself been arrested for not kow-towing Robert Mugabe's wishes that Bennett does not see the day-light again. The only meaningful advise from Icheoku to Morgan Tsvangirai, is to resign his office in protest against the illegitimate government of Robert Mugabe; then he can reboot his opposition for a more forceful agitation from outside the government for security purposes. Being so close to the government as a prime minister will only bring him too close for the hatchet men of Mugabe to chop off his head. Morgan Tsvangirai, please do not be a seating duck for Robert Mugabe's enforcers, as nothing in Zimbabwe as presently constituted, is worth making your kids orphans. They have already lost their mother and losing their father also might be too haranguing a trauma from which they may never fully recover from? Robert Mugabe has already killed your wife and must be regretting the shoddy job done by his henchmen in not also getting you in their flaky accident?

Susan Tsvangirai, died Friday March 6, 2009 afternoon in a "road accident" that also injured her husband Morgan. The collision occurred about 30 miles south of Harare, between 1600 hours [1400 GMT] and 1700 (about 2.00PM), on the Harare-Masvingo Road. Morgan Tsvangirai and his wife Susan were headed to their hometown of Buhera, south of the capital, from the capital Harare. As their vehicle collided head-on with a heavy truck, Susan succumbed to her injuries and died soon afterwards at the scene. Morgan was conscious and in a stable condition in a local hospital. To complete the "mafia-like hit" drama, the first visitor Morgan Tsvangirai had at his hospital bed was none other than Robert Mugabe himself? And we are talking about "The Godfather movie"! Icheoku asks, how can the trailer of a large truck suddenly and precisely swing out from nowhere, in front of the Tsvangirai's moving vehicle, sideswiped their vehicle with such a great speed that it rolled-over leaving Susan dead with her husband in hospital? It is the stuff, Hollywood movies are made of, especially if that Hollywood movie was out of Sicily-Italy? It requires the total and complete suspension of disbelief to accept such a mirage of a coincidence? Icheoku says, it does not help speculations when several "enemies" of Mugabe's Zanu-PF party have been killed in the past in such orchestrated and staged accidents?

According to one observer who raised similar doubt on the accident, "I'm skeptical about any motor vehicle accident in Zimbabwe involving an opposition figure. Robert Mugabe has a history of strange car accidents when someone lo and behold dies; -- it's sort of his modus operandi of how they get rid of people they don't like."

It is instructive to note that "car accidents" took the lives of the estranged Defense Minister Moven Mahachi in 2001, the former Employment Minister Border Gezi's in 1999 and former minister and regional governor Elliot Manyika, last year December 2008? And car accidents never saw these men while they were still in the good books of Robert Mugabe until they became "renegades"? Icheoku says, it is such a big coincidence that each of these three deemed "disagreeable" men and now Susan Tsvangirai all died in car crashes?

A full independent investigation is what is needed to get to the root of this one murder too many! Despite all the present Zimbabwe's government-kites being flown to the world as to the possible cause of the accident, from the driver of the semi-truck possibly sleeping on the wheels, to a possible tire-burst of the Tsvangirai's vehicle etc , Icheoku says, only Robert Mugabe's exit from power in Harare can solve this riddle. Until then, and as the world joins Morgan Tsvangirai to mourn the loss of his wife, Susan Tsvangirai, Icheoku wishes the Prime Minister God's protection as the vermin of Harare will surely make another attempt to stop his crusade to better the lot of the Zimbabwean people. Please accept our condolences, Mr Prime Minister and may your wife's soul find peace with the Lord! Adieu Susan Tsvangirai!

An MDC spokesman describes 'critical' accident »

Play Video Zimbabwe Video:Mugabe visits Tsvangirai in hospital BBC

Play Video Zimbabwe Video:Zimbabwe PM's wife killed in car crash CBC.ca

Play Video Zimbabwe Video:Zimbabwe PM hurt, wife killed Reuters

SUDAN, OMAR AL-BASHIR SHOULD SURRENDER NOW!

The present braggadocio of the Sudanese henchman in Khartoum, Omar al-Bashir, will eventually come to naught. History does not support his present defiance of a duly constituted International Criminal Court (ICC) as its issued warrant for his arrest, shall be executed somehow, somewhere and sometime. Omar al-Bashir should, on hindsight ask Libya's Mummar Qaddafi his experience being roiled-over against the international community? What about the other lunatic who held Iraq hostage for over three decades, Saddam Hussein? Today only his bones which lay beneath the earth somewhere in Tikiriti-Iraq testifies to his ever existence; and he died like a common criminal, hung by the neck until it snapped, in the gallows by the brave people of Iraq.

Icheoku says, Omar al-Bashir should be humble enough to start discussing terms of his surrender, indictment and possible imprisonment for war crimes against his people of Darfur origin. At least he stands to get a fair trial which he denied his people of Darfur who he summarily executed just for their skin color? An Arab killing real Africans just because he is a bigot and now that his hour has come to face his nemesis, he is hoofing and puffing at the international community? The International Criminal Court is a fair court as recently demonstrated when the former president of Serbian President Milan Milutinovic was found not guilty of war crimes by that court, which had earlier indicted him. So, Omar al-Bashir, if you have nothing to hide, begin your defense at the Hague today and right now by turning yourself in!

Omar al-Bashir and his apologists can call it whatever they like, but those people of Darfur who he sent to their early graves; decimating their villages and towns in the earth-scorching policy of his killer-government, are not White people but Africans. It therefore flies in the face of reason, for his government to tag the warrant for his arrest as a "neo- colonialist" move to destabilise Sudan; a Sudan which Omar al-Bashir had personally and single-handedly destabilised when he choose to exterminate a part of its population simply because they are blacks? The risk of such a warrant destabilizing Darfur is a levitating argument since Darfur has since been destabilized by the action and/or in-action of Omar al-Bashir himself. Such sentimental argument has since become mute and should not be factored in, in prosecuting the warrant for Omar al-Bashir's arrest. What is of consequence here is that the ICC has the backing of the United States of America and her European allies; so the so-called African Union can shout all they can or throw all the tantrums they want but Icheoku says, shame on them for waiting this long, until the ICC did a job they could have themselves since done. With over 300,000 Sudanese people of Darfur ethnicity killed and millions more displaced by Omar al-Bashir's government, who in his right mind will argue against bringing this bloody Dracula of Khartoum to justice?

Icheoku says, some pontificators who are arguing that the ICC is selective in its decisions on who to prosecute should read history. Unlike President George Bush who was prosecuting a war against a foreign sovereign, Omar al-Bashir was waging a war of extermination against his own people of Darfur, Sudan. Omar al-Bashir directed attacks on his unarmed civilian population, which population he had sworn an oath as president to defend and protect. The people of Darfur were not collateral damage to the conflict raging on in Sudan. No, they were victims of Omar al-Bashir's deliberate, intentional and calculated act of aggression on a civilian populace. Omar al-Bashir according to the warrant for his arrest, is being sought for "murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing and forcibly transferring and displacing large numbers of Darfur civilians and pillaging their property". Also, after Hitler's maniacal attempt to take-over the world failed, a subsequent war crimes tribunal en-panelled, tried some of his cronies for their role in the genocide. They were tried principally for exterminating their native as well as other civilian Jewish population and not necessarily for bombing London to near smithereens. The implication is that act of war is recognised by the international community and so Hitler was legally engaged in act of war with Britain; but his conduct of deliberately targeting Jews was what was frowned against? Therefore, to state that the ICC is selective by not indicting President George Bush on Iraq is stretching the parameters and hence, over-reaching. President George Bush did not deliberately target Iraqi civilian population for extermination, as most of Iraqi war-dead were victims of collateral damage occasioned by the armed hostilities between two nations? We all must be able to distinguish the two scenarios and accept that what Omar al-Bashir did against his people was heinous as it was horrendous; so his sentiments of "neo-colonialism" should not be allowed to fly. It is a plebeian argument meant to evoke an unfounded emotional passion of patriotism in the masses of Sudan and some faceless African nations.

Look at Egypt being "greatly disturbed" by the ICC's decision when they could, but chose not to stop the carnage of Darfur simply because it was a fellow Arab that was perpetrating the "genocide"? Also it was their crony Omar al-Bashir who had fought alongside Hosni Mubarak in their war against Israel in the 1970s? Further, Mubarak is a fellow dictator like Omar al-Bashir, and sees nothing wrong in his friend trying to wipe out real Africans from their land in Africa's Sudan? That the African Union said the ruling could strike a fatal blow to faltering peace moves in Darfur is a testament that this union has no moral basis for its existence. Icheoku asks, where was this African Union all these years since the mayhem in Darfur was taking place or were they hijacked by the Arabs thus rendering it impotent and hence being used as a mere tool? According to one commentator, by this warrant of arrest, Omar al-Bashir is now a wanted man; which Icheoku rephrases to read, Omar al-Bashir is now the world's most wanted genocidal criminal.

Icheoku congratulates the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo's for bringing this warrant of arrest against one of Africa's bloodiest despot. We pray that the international community will give him the necessary back-up muscle to prosecute and put away this vampire of Khartoum for good. Icheoku says, the good news is that precedents favour the current position of the ICC, the good people of Darfur, Sudan, Africa, and the entire world. We have previously seen such grandstanding by other despotic African-terrorist-leaders eventually come to naught and this donkey in Khartoum will not be an exception? From Idi Amin Dada of Uganda to Libya's Ghaddafi to Liberia's Charles Taylor, it has been the same conclusion - they all capitulated and so shall this soon to be former president of Sudan. Saddam Hussein once taught he could take on the world and his epitaph in Tikiriti now possibly reads, "here lies the lunatic of Baghdad who killed and buried his own people in their thousands and in mass, unmarked graves".

Icheoku says, the present action of the International Court of Justice (ICC) has our full support and we pray that all the dictators of Africa should meet similar fate as befits every crazed-out lunatic of this world! How Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, a potential "indictee" of this court, escaped prosecution for the Odi and Zaki-Ibiam massacres is yet to be determined. Icheoku calls on Omar al-Bashir of Sudan to save himself and the world further pain, and immediately hand himself over to the ICC to be prosecuted for his crimes against humanity of Darfur!

A NIGERIAN, SENT AWAY FOR 188 YEARS!

In the spirit of "re-branding", a Lagos, Nigeria court sentenced a criminal fraudster to a whopping 188 years behind bars! By this sentence, the Nigeria court is making a statement that it is no longer business as usual for criminal masterminds in Nigeria. Samson Oluwatoyin Lukula was sentenced by an Ikeja High Court, Lagos to virtually a triple life sentence which means he will need to die and come back trice in order to fully serve out the term of years; judging by the average life span of 63years for a typical Nigerian male?

Mr. Lukula had passed himself as a qualified accountant (CPA) and obtained a job with his false credentials and thereon the job, defrauded his employers to the tune of over N40 million ($400,000.00)? The court found him guilty on all the 94-count charge of forgery, stealing, uttering and false declaration. According to available information, the convict "went to a notorious slum in Lagos Island, Oluwole and forged several certificates including a University of Lagos (BSc) degree in Accounting; an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) certificate and a National Youth Service Certificate (NYSC) discharged certificate. With these fake documents, he secured employment as a Finance Manager in an Investment Company in Lagos, without being discovered. Icheoku says, little wonder certificates awarded by Nigerian Institutions of Higher Learning does not worth much outside the shores of Nigeria?

Being the master forger he is, Mr. Lukula forged his employer's bank deposit slips and with it diverted company's receipts into his personal account to the sum of N40,000,000.00! He also forged the signature of one of his employer's client and defrauded it of N1.5million ($10,000.00). He was arrested and charged for these crimes. The Court found him guilty on all the counts and sentenced him to two years imprisonment on each of the 94 counts. In addition he refunded the sum of N5.4million and forfeited a N7million property to his victim and was also ordered to re-pay the sum of N500,000 to the victim every month until he amortizes the balance on the N40million defrauded.

Icheoku says, this is a step in the right direction and only prays it extends to the political class in Nigeria, who are the real mega-fraudsters. Regrettably, no politician has been convicted and sent away to prison since the fabled EFCC sprung into action; while Nigerians are being inundated daily about the "barking and no biting" anti-corruption agency? Icheoku implores the EFCC to be courageous and take a bite on the political class to regain its relevance amongst Nigerians.

VIEIRA & WAIE OF GUINEA-BISSAU, WHAT A DOUBLE TRAGEDY?

As another African leader bites the dust, the whole world is trying to make sense out of the double tragedy that struck the tiny West African country of Guinea-Bissau. Her President Joao Bernardo Vieira 69 (right), and Chief of Army Staff, General Tagme Na Waie (below) were respectively killed within just a few hours apart. The former by 5.00am Monday March 2, 2009 and the later on Sunday March 1, 2009 night?

The marauding and rebellious soldiers which took the life of the president were reacting to the act of violence authorised, sanctioned and carried out by and on the orders of the late president on their chief of army staff. According to available information, the chief of army staff was bombed to death in his official quarters on the direct orders of the late president? Icheoku says, what a brutal taking of law into ones' hands both by the president who instigated his own very demise and the amok-running khaki-boys who wasted him in retaliation! Why must a sitting African president always see himself as a "god" who can, at his whims, take the life of another human-being without first going through due process? In a way, Icheoku some-what accedes to the riotous soldiers show of instant justice, at least to prove to these African "demi-gods" leaders that they are not all that supreme!

If the chief of army staff did something wrong, where was the president's Commander-In-Chief's power, with which he would have relieved him of his office; rather than the primitive act of "shooting him between the eyes"? The chief of Army staff was, before any-other thing, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle and a tribesman to so many Guinea-Bissau people; so why would the late president think that his action will not elicit a response? This is especially so in Africa, where tribal loyalty far exceed any allegiance to any oath of office, and revenge-killing is somewhat viewed as very honorable; and coming just a few hours after the state murder of an "innocent" Chief of Army staff makes it more "worthwhile". According to law, one is innocent until proven guilty, so without any form of trial, the Chief of Army Staff would be adjudged innocent.

Icheoku says, the Chairman of ECOWAS Mohamed Ibn Chambas assertion that the killing "is not only the assassination of a president or a chief of staff, it's the assassination of democracy", is an arrant nonsense as the president is not by himself the democracy in Guinea-Bissau but a mere product of the democracy and in his absence, another president will be elected. Also, if only the president had realized that in a democracy, there is a thing called rule of law, may be he would have not authorized the brutal murder of the chief of army staff and by so doing would have been alive today. The army sustains democracy in any given society and to simply kill their chief of staff without any cogent reason and in total disregard to due process, was the biggest insult on the Guinea-Bissau Armed Forces and peradventure, they reacted accordingly, as expected. Admitted an eye for an eye makes the world go blind, but Jesus Christ minded us that he who kills by the sword goes by the sword!

The Guinea-Bissau armed forces spokesman Samuel Fernandes, spoke well when he vowed that they "are going to pursue the attackers and avenge ourselves." Icheoku says, now that they have avenged the death of their chief of staff, may they allow democracy to continue to flourish in Guinea-Bissau and remain the brave custodians thereof, which they are! Be that as it may, Icheoku commiserates with the people of Guinea-Bissau on the double tragedy of their army chief of staff and president's violent deaths.

JACK BAUER & 24, THAT WAS OVER-BOARD!

Nobody slaps an American president, period! And it does not matter if that slap was handed down on a Hollywood set! Icheoku is an avid fan of Jack Bauer's 24, but when the writers and producers of the thriller, allow a scene where the "terrorist" rogue General Juma lays his filthy hand on our president, we condemn such as very indecent.

Today's episode was hair-raising until that downer where our helpless president was forced out of her secured-room, by the threat of Juma to slice her daughter to pieces. And to watch her already stressed but courageous face be slapped by General Juma was as unthoughtful a scene as it was very insulting to our general psyche. No one slaps an American president anywhere, anytime and no matter the circumstance.

Icheoku would have preferred the Vice president gave the order to assault the White-house or better still the agent escaped with the president's daughter to alert the security agents that Juma does not have the president. There were several instances where the spitfire of 24 would have been maintained in a more dignified way other than to slap our president. This is an over-kill and please 24 and crew must take this under advisement when scripting subsequent series! Such a scene is simply speaking, a no no and as unthinkable as it is horrifying!

We understand that the whole episode was intended to make us stand on our toes till next Monday, but slapping of an American president was a disrespect to all Americans and that president, being a woman, in lieu of the recent Chris Brown roughing-up of Rihana, fortifies the stereotype of humiliating women in a masculine world!

Icheoku condemns this scene and hopefully we are not the lone voice in denouncing this humiliating slap of an American president by the rogue General Juma of Singala.

"THIS IS PAUL HARVEY, GOOD DAY"!

He was exactly what legends are made of! Certainly he belonged to that genre of very few gifted radio icons who knew how to hold their audience captive? Like Rush Limbaugh, he communicated to his audience in a language of familiarity and succinctly too!

Veteran radio commentator, Paul Harvey passed on to the world beyond, on Saturday February 28, 2009 at the very ripe age of 90! ABC Network that carried his program, confirmed his death and added that Paul died at his winter home in Phoenix, surrounded by family. Although no official cause of death was immediately available, Icheoku says, the cause of death is good old age!

Paul Harvey had a radio career spanning over 70 years from 1933 until his death. On May 10, 1976, he began "The Rest of the Story," program which delved into the forgotten or little known facts, behind stories of people and events. He usually signed off this program with his signature "This is Paul Harvey, Good-Day"! It is estimated that some 18 million people tuned into his daily reports to hear his 15-minute take on the day's events. He was heard on California's Bay Area KGO Newstalk Radio AM 810 as well as on over 1300 other radio stations and 400 Armed Forces Network stations, world-wide. According to one tribute, Paul Harvey "truly communicated. He talked right to you. In words you could understand. He looked straight into your eyes even on the radio. He spoke with conviction, enthusiasm, and all of his arguments made so much doggone sense".

Paul Harvey was survived by his son Paul Harvey Jr., who is often heard filling in for Paul Sr., especially on the "The rest of the story" program. His wife "Angel," the former Lynne Cooper of St. Louis, had pre-deceased him as she passed away on May 3, 2008. Icheoku says, may the soul of Paul Harvey rest in peace!