RE-BRANDING NIGERIA, HIDEOUS SLOGAN ABORTS IDEA?

The mother of all untruths, "NIGERIA, GOOD PEOPLE! A GREAT NATION!" has been told and a doubtful world is contemplating whether to add "liar" or "a lying government" to what they already know about Nigeria? By putting forward this contraptious "slogan of death" as her re-branding Nigeria slogan, Professor Dora Akunyili, a woman Icheoku admires a lot, has gone into a denial mode regarding the problems with Nigeria? It would appear that she has drank of the same hallucinatory "cool-aid", which is the drink of choice of every Nigerian leadership; and suddenly fantasy is now reality and vice versa.

Icheoku asks, if Nigeria is of 'good people and a great nation', why then do we need re-branding? What is the need to re-brand, a brand that is "good and "great"? If it ain't broke, don't fix it is a popular aphorism of the wise, so why fix an "unbroken" Nigeria? Icheoku says, this is one heck of a slogan that is very difficult to rationalize, in view of what is known about Nigeria? The slogan is as thoughtless as the the program itself which it also contradicts. Luckily, both are now presumed dead on arrival, judging from the lukewarm attitude shown by Nigerians during their launching. From the president, to the senate president, to the speaker of the house, to all the 36 governors except Yar'Adua's inlaw, Bauchi's Govenor Isa Yuguda, no "notable" Nigerian invitee honored the invitation in person; they sent mere surrogates because they do not believe in the project but strongly felt that Dora is out of her mind for embarking on such a white-elephant task? Do not ask Icheoku about Gowon, reason towards the end of this article below?

The slogan is misleading and misrepresented Nigerians as a good people and Nigeria as a great nation? For Nigeria and Nigerians to be what the slogan says they are and at the same time still requires re-branding is faux-naif; which tectonically challenges the intellect? The deduction is that either the protagonists of re-branding are lying through their teeth or one needs a great suspension of disbelief to accept the given as true? Such a foot-in-the-mouth slogan shows that the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua needs to be the first to be re-branded, through their removal from office, before other Nigerians can step in for their own baptism of re-branding? If Nigeria is a good people and a great nation as the slogan suggests, when did the definition of the two words change their meanings? Dora Akunyili failed woefully here, in a rather strange way, unlike her usual articulate characteristics, to call the devil by its name? She failed to confront the albatross called Nigeria, head-long and instead is begging the question, finally finding some sullen-comfort in a lie of a slogan? Dora's tragic detour on this cataclysmic journey of re-branding has made all she hitherto represents, now suspect? In other words, the re-branding effort is the greatest deceptive advertisement embarked upon by any known entity on her populace, for which the proper response should be their chilling cold-shoulders? These Dora Akunyili's led re-branding band of travellers, are completely delusional as to their targeted objective and as their slogan now proves, the programme has no basis for surviving its still birth?

There are usually four stages of over-coming a grief or surmounting a debilitating occurrence in one's life including that of a sick country like Nigeria. First is acceptance or acknowledgment, then introspection as to why, followed by finding the way forward and then, the healing begins. But Dora Akunyili and her band of re-branders suffered their first flaw when they failed to reflectively recognise on their slogan, the reality on the ground in and of Nigeria. This omission is very fatal and thence, began the end of this re-branding boondoggle. For any re-branding to stand a chance of survival, Dora and crew must first, publicly acknowledge in their slogan, that Nigeria is sick; thereafter seek out what is ailing her; followed by exploration of all available options for treatment/medication; before real healing can begin? It is therefore too simplistic and stupefying to proclaim, "Nigeria, a good people; a Great country", when the contrary is the known case and without travelling through this time-tested process.

It is a bare-faced lie to assert that Nigerians are a good people because they are not, otherwise the re-branding would be mute? The slogan is not a correct read of the evidence on the ground, which from the leadership to the destitute-beggars on the street suggests a stark differential? A country known for their criminal fraudulent 419 syndicates is not a good people and if in doubt ask British Jack Straw? A country whose statesmen include Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Yakubu Gowon is not a good people and if in doubt ask the millions of Nigerians who were exterminated under these named decrepitude leaders? Talk to Odi people, Zaki Ibiam people, Bola Ige family, Dele Giwa family and the perpetually still provoked Biafrans, whose blood are dripping off these leaders' hands? These victims of various Nigerian paranoid leaderships, multiplies in number when other faceless, also-murdered among the Nigerian society, is computed alongside. A functioning society would have since arrested and tried IBB for the murder of Dele Giwa? A good country would have arrested and tried Olusegun Obasanjo for the genocides of Odi and Zaki-Ibiam communities of Bayelsa and Benue States respectively? That Yakubu Gowon is still breathing the air of freedom in Nigeria, after the atrocious Biafran genocide goes to show where this re-branding really needs to start from - apologise and pay compensation to surviving Biafrans? Too many Biafrans lost their lives, due to the asphyxiating economic-blockade induced starvation, supervised by Gowon to be just grossed over and talk about re-branding? How do you re-brand a country with so many hurting "citizens", when you have not addressed that sordid chapter of Nigerian history that inflicted so much pain and anguish on those "citizens" and make amends accordingly? Icheoku says, until the worst genocide of mankind's recorded history is fully atoned for, re-branding of Nigeria will remain but a chorus for the loonies of the Nigerian leadership as there is in essence, no real united country to be re-branded! A country whose leadership is bankrupt of ideas and would not or refused to yield the stage for fresh young minds, is not a good people otherwise they would rise up and take back their country; Pakistan did it several times? A country where elections are hijacked and the leadership imposed on the people, instead of it being chosen by the people is not a good people otherwise why not let the wishes of the electorates rule supreme? A country which cannot provide her citizenry with power supply is not a good country otherwise how can the less fortunate, non-affluent and the poor among them afford generators? A country wherein the leadership jets out overseas for medical treatment is not a good country when no provisions are made for her less fortunate and decent citizens who cannot even afford visas? A country where kidnappers run amok, taking hostages, shaking people down and sometimes maiming and killing their victims is not a good people otherwise why not put the situation under control?

What makes a country that cannot feed her population great? What has greatness got to do with a country where ordinary pencils are still being imported from abroad, several decades since her independence? A country that cannot protect her citizens from being butchered all over the world, and many atimes internally, says it is great? A country that cannot conduct a free election is great, in what sense? Nigeria is only great in the jaundiced eyes of these government town-criers; a government that cannot stop the terrorism of religious zealots pervading the country, maiming and killing her citizens at random and with repeated frequency? According to the accepted definition of greatness, Nigeria does not qualify as a great nation juxtaposed with known great nations of the world; except if the goal-post of the definition has once again been shifted in the minds of these Nigerian government officials? Dora Akunyili's re-branding slogan is too comical and self-indulging that no meaningful person anywhere in the world, who is knowledgeable about Nigeria, will take it as a serious sign that things will change. The slogan is such material for which comedy clubs sell out their seats? Nigeria should address her problem head-on, instead of the present attempt at a make-up? Under the current approach, were the Nigerian government a person, she would be a candidate for mental evaluation or be seen as being under the influence of some controlled substance? But in a dysfunctional country, what would any person expect but a lying government, lying to a doubtful and skeptical world audience about a fantasy?

Is Nigeria even really a nation when a part of its population in the South East is gradually being annihilated with hellish vengeance by each successive central government in Abuja? If some critics answer in the affirmative, Icheoku asks, what is the nation made of when qualified bona-fide Nigerians from that specific section of the country are denied their merited positions in the federal bureaucracy and institutions including the police, navy, customs etc just because of where they come from? Please Dora, now tell Icheoku what you are re-branding when there is no basic united Nigeria? It is our thinking that all these people pushing the re-branding of Nigeria agenda, should have their heads examined for some impetuous, appointment-induced euphoric reaction? Icheoku cannot go on and on, enumerating all the ills and infestations afflicting Nigeria, but will stop and say, the only palliative medicine that will heal the ailing Nigeria and Nigerians is the re-introduction of WAI, period! It is only the instilling of discipline into the Nigerian society that will have the efficacy of a NIgeria's rebirth. It is only discipline that will reinvent Nigeria and transform it into a "born-again" country. The current advertorials of "re-branding" will not cut it, it is utopia and will only come to naught.

War Against Indiscipline is the answer; it is the only panacea that will heal the ailing Nigeria. The introduction of WAI to the Nigerian society is the only reason why the Islamist Muhammadu Buhari still finds some favor with this portal. The duo of Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon and General Muhammadu Buhari correctly identified the root-cause of Nigeria's problems, indiscipline and rightly put their cross-hair on it. They were headed in the right direction prosecuting this war when the rabble-rouser, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, rolled into the scene with his band of bandits and derailed it? A disciplined mind is an incorruptible mind! A disciplined president or head of government will not take joy in killing the people he was sworn in to defend and protect. A disciplined mind will not appropriate $16 billion dollars for electricity (power) and the country got darkness in return? A disciplined mind will not send a non-existent phony contract papers to an unsuspecting foreigner and ask him to pay an upfront down-payment to facilitate the transaction. A disciplined governor will not privatize and appropriate to himself, his state government's funds. A disciplined police IG will not embezzle money meant to pay salaries of his police men and women and as a consequence thereof, escorted to prison in handcuffs. A disciplined mind will not rig elections and forcibly foist himself on the people. A disciplined mind will not kill his government's sitting attorney general and minister of justice and nothing is heard of it again? A disciplined mind will dutifully go to work and work to earn the day's wage. A disciplined mind will not take bribe and subvert justice as a quid pro quo? A disciplined mind will not unreasonably over-inflate contract sums or flee a construction site as soon as he is mobilized for the job. A disciplined mind will study assiduously without the need to bribe or sleep with professors for better grades. A disciplined mind will use a full measure-scale to sell his/her products and will not try to fleece his/her customers. A disciplined mind will not stuff white powder or chalk into capsules and pass it off as medicine. The list goes on and on ad infinitum, but the short-lived Idiagbon/Buhari War Against Indiscipline program proved that with discipline, Nigeria can be a better place for all. Icheoku therefore asks, why not try the winning formula of WAI instead of reinventing the wheel of re-branding?

A more goal-directed Dora Akunyili would have immediately owned up to the reason for the re-branding by adopting a more apposite slogan, such as any of the followings:- 1. "Nigeria, we are not all evil, give us a chance to change"! 2. "Nigeria, we have our problems, we crave your understanding"; 3. "Nigeria, we know things are not perfect, bear with us as we fix them"; 5. "Nigeria, working hard to fix the broken" ; 6. "Nigeria, we admit our shortcomings, but we shall overcome"; 8. "Nigeria, working hard to re-gain your trust"; 9. "Nigeria, we are not the best, but we are trying", 10. "Nigeria, working hard to excel" 11. "Nigeria, we are a hugely populated country, the Judas amongst us shall be punished".

Better still, Dora Akunyili could have gone full ballistic and sarcastically adopt a punch in the nose slogan, such as any of the followings:- 1."Nigeria, yes we are bad, run for cover"! 2."Nigeria, we are the people your mother warned you against, run for your dear life"! 3."Nigeria, we are bad, but we are victims of your corrupting influence"! 4."Nigeria, it takes two to tango, without the giver there will be no taker - remember Halliburton"? 5."Nigeria, yes we are Nigerians, the only people Bernard Madoff was afraid to defraud"! The possibilities are endless and any of the above would have provided a more reflective slogan, of a more sufficiently articulated Nigeria situation, which needs a re-branding?

However, Dora Akunyili decided otherwise and misfired when she claimed that Nigerians are a good people and a great nation? Icheoku says, of all the things Nigerians are already known for, it will be a catastrophic paralysis for the government, should it now also become known as being very economical with the truth? Icheoku says, when Dora Akunyili's re-branding slogan categorically states as truth a known falsity, then that peculiar brand of truth itself, needs a re-branding? By knowingly stating as truth, a generally acknowledged falsehood, that Nigerians are a good people, with the intention to deceive the world into thinking in that direction, the slogan is not much different from a typical 419 fraudulent proposition. The present re-branding jamboree embarked by the Nigerian government is merely treating the symptoms of the disease but not the disease itself. Anyone who wants, can shout him/herself hoarse with "Nigerians, being good people" but the test of the pudding is in the eating and Icheoku asks to be shown the freshly discovered evidence? Late Professor Ezejiofor of University of Nigeria School of Law, Enugu once said, "it does not lie in the mouth to say I am, as the onlookers shall attest to your being" and the learned professor of Land Law, now seems to speak directly to Dora Akunyili from the land of the dead? Also in the book of John 5:31, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not trustworthy".

Since the bane of the Nigerian society is their lack of discipline, Icheoku says, why not start the re-branding by first resurrecting and resuscitating the WAR AGAINST INDISCIPLINE campaign, to help first clean the Augean stable which is Nigeria, before other things will fall in place? Then and only then will the ever seeing-eyes of the world see that things have really changed for the better in Nigeria and they will become more receptive. A good wine needs no bush! A good product sells itself! If Icheoku may, who is even buying the crap of this re-branding overseas, when nothing has been re-branded with Nigerians, including their leadership that is trying so hard to sell this bad product? Most of the world audience, targeted-recipients of this re-branding gospel of Dora Akunyili, have embassies in Nigeria; and also with the connectivity of the Internet, anybody can verify what is on the grounds in any given country or place. So who needs a misleading slogan to know about Nigeria? Icheoku says, the re-branding of Nigeria campaign is just another exercise in futility which will only succeed in wasting very scarce resources, which resources could have been more prudently applied to other more resourceful, higher dividend-yielding project/s, of much beneficial use for Nigerians.

Of all the people that honored the invitation to re-brand, Icheoku specifically responds to Yakubu Gowon's remarks, that 'his strong belief and faith in Nigeria as well as the lyrics of the country’s old national anthem, gingered him to ensure that the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970 did not succeed in dividing the country', and says, Gowon's presentment is a baloney as the dire economic strangulation he levied on Biafra was more atypical of a genocidal maniac's action than a patriot? As far as Icheoku is concerned, Gowon can jump off the bridge to nowhere for his atrocious and venomous war against a people who were only fighting in defense of their existential essence? Also on the comparison of NAFDAC with Nigeria by Dora Akunyili, Icheoku implores this vivacious lady of high intellect not to be carried away by her records at the former agency because the difference between the two is as daylight is to darkness? Ordinarily, Nigerians would have rallied around project re-branding, but they do not trust the government, which was not elected by them in the first place, to meaningfully change their fortune or do any good for and by Nigerians. How can a government whose legitimacy was confered by the Supreme Court and not the people, be telling Nigerians to re-brand? What is its' derivative moral authority when it is the embodiment of all that is wrong with Nigeria and needs to be re-branded first, through resignation? It is equally buffonery to say that Nigeria's being the most populous African country and also the largest democracy in Africa, is a sufficiency of a brand? The gist of the bad press which Nigeria gets has no correlation to its size or population but the attitudinal malefaesces of Nigerians. On Tuesday, March 17, 2009 while delivering her address at the lunching of "re-branding Nigeria" logo/slogan, Professor Dora Akunyili said, “There is no doubt that that this country needs change, a change in character and general orientation, a change in the way we talk about our country and above all a change in the ways in which we willfully destroy this country through our utterances and actions”. To this Icheoku observes, the professor forgot to also add, "a change in the way her government came to power"?

As Dora Akunyili feels and tries to wipe away the heat of re-branding, Icheoku says, attempting the impossible is not always a virtue? To desire to re-brand a Nigeria that is impervious, not susceptible or amenable to such a solution because of entrenched pre-dispositions will be one herculean task indeed. We empathises with the Nigeria's Information and Communication Minister, on the vertical wall she plans to climb? Dora Akunyili presently occupies an inenviable position, trying so hard to put together the broken humpty-dumpty called Nigeria's image. It is good to dream big but reality is reality as the bogged-down EFCC has shown that it is a near impossible feat to correct the wrongs that is Nigeria? However, Icheoku will be glad if Dora could prove us wrong. By her re-branding, Dora is tugging at a massive carcass of a fully grown blue-whale of a Nigeria in quandry, and with her bare-teeth? Icheoku is not a nay-sayer nor do we in any way wish our Dora a failure, but we are just being realistic that her effort will be in vain as Nigeria's image problem is intrinsically entrenched in its popluation's body gnome? To solve one demands a total make-over of the other and not just a coat of paint? Also a country that is not fully united and mobilized cannot be re-branded!

GLOBAL RECESSION AND THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY - an article by Chinedu Vincent Akuta!

The challenges and task of managing this record breaking global recession has not been easy at all. The Western nations appear to be running out of ideas on how to jump start their economies. Countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have committed more than $3.5 trillion dollars to help their banks rebuild their asset base and kick start lending again. The responses from these huge government bailouts have been disappointing. The world has never witnessed a recession of this magnitude. Warren Buffett (the richest person in the world during the first half of 2008 according to Forbes) described the current crisis as an economic “Pearl Harbour” He predicted that the US economy will be in shambles throughout 2009. Quoting Skynews, the world’s richest people have watched nearly a quarter of their wealth go in the last 12 months.

“In a February video message to his millions of supporters, US President Barack Obama told them that US had lost 3.6 million jobs since the recession began. But this is dwarfed by the worries of the International Labour Organization (ILO) which predicted in its annual publication, Global Employment Trends, that eighteen to fifty million workers will lose their jobs this year alone and two hundred million are likely to be thrown into extreme poverty” (The World Today, March 2009, Volume 65 Number 3 Page 5).

The survey carried out by the Indian Labour Ministry indicated that about 500,000 people have lost their jobs in just three months in 11 sectors of the economy. The Federation of Indian Export Industries have raised alarm that 10 million jobs are likely to be lost in the months ahead. China has also lost similar jobs and about 68,000 factories had closed in their coastal provinces as at mid October 2008.

The case of Japan appears to be worse than that of the United States and the European Union. Japan has suffered an immense economic recession due mainly to her high exposure to the slump in global car manufacturing, electronics, and investment equipment. “Russia has been hit hard by the global crisis, with the stock market down almost 80% from its peak, and the rouble sliding fast. Russia’s top 10 billionaires alone lost an estimated $150 billion last year” (The Guardian newspapers of UK, Tuesday 3 March 2009, page 15).

In the UK, a job will be lost every 25 seconds. Experts have also warned that about 320,000 jobs will be lost in the next three months as the recession hits harder. I wrote extensively on the global economic crisis which I titled; Capturing The Casualties From The Global Credit Crunches. (Published on Sunday, 14th December 2008 on http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/). The global economy has deteriorated more, since my article was first published.

“The International Monetary Fund has identified 26 countries, half in sub-Sahara Africa, that are particularly vulnerable to the crisis. Central and Eastern European economies are estimated to face a financing gap of $100 billion in 2009. And the World Bank estimates that 129 developing countries are facing a financing shortfall of between $270 and $700bn” (The Guardian newspapers of UK, Tuesday 10 March 2009, page 31).

Since the world is a global village, Nigeria cannot escape from the global recession. Nigeria will be affected in some many ways. This is because Nigeria has needs to be met by the international community. There will be decreases in oil revenue owning to the problems in the Western economies. We will be affected mostly by the global withdrawal of credit. Foreign loans and international developmental assistance will surely reduce. International donors to Non governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and charity organization like Red Cross etc will shrink. Nigerian banks are most likely going to find it difficult to source foreign loans from their overseas partner banks. There would be decreases in money remitted from Nigerians in Diaspora. Nigerians in Diaspora remit home more than $5 million dollars each year. This is used for various projects at home. This amount will most likely go down.

The unemployment situation in Nigeria will be worsened by the above factors. I will agree with the Nigerian Finance Minister of state, Mr Remi Babalola who advised state governments in Nigeria to be prudent with their resources and look beyond the federation account for funds to execute their programmes. His advise was reported by the Guardian newspaper of Friday March 6 2009 online version. But I seriously doubt if the federal, state and local governments in Nigeria can ever be prudent since there is still high level corruption in all tiers of government. Besides we still have the official secret act. No transparency on the part of government businesses and no credibility. Nigerians do not have access to government documents. No freedom of information act. Therefore the question of prudence will be difficult to achieve. With the above factors, Nigerians should embrace themselves for the worse case scenarios arising from the global recession.

Having said the above, I will ask the government both at the federal and state levels to make some policy changes in our educational sector. The change am propounding is to make skills acquisition a compulsory subject/course in the primary, secondary, tertiary and university levels. If English Language, mathematics, and Gss courses are compulsory in secondary schools and universities, then I see no reason why skills acquisition should not be made compulsory. The idea will be to produce graduates with skills. Skilled people don’t need to search for jobs like unskilled people. Low level job creation is needed to reduce unemployment in Nigeria. Job creation is highly needed this period of global economic recession.

I will also wish to appeal to private educational operators to make skills acquisition a compulsory part of their academic curricular. With measures like this in place, schools in Nigerian will be graduating people with both academic qualifications and skills. Finally I will also appeal to the unemployed people to consider volunteering where they can acquire skill know how. This appeal also extends to various skilled people, workshop owners etc to train the unemployed people who cannot afford to pay for the cost of training. Let there be elements of humanitarian assistance in combating unemployment in Nigeria. We need jobs creation to combat the global economic down turn. May God bless Nigeria.

The author Mr. Chinedu Vincent Akuta is an activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK and can be reached via akutachinedu@yahoo.com

YOUR SUNDAY WITH PROPHET MKO TIBETAN!

The topic of today, Sunday March 21, 2009 teaching is "WHO IS A CHRISTIAN"?

Brethren in Christ, we are asking ourselves a question today, “Who is a Christian”? When Jesus was leaving, he asked “Will I still meet Christians when I return”?; as he had noticed that people were following him because of what they are gaining from him; mostly feeding, canal food but not the spiritual food? See Luke 9:10-17. When Christ was in their midst preaching, there were rumples on their faces so Jesus Christ had to stop and fed them with two loaves of bread and five fishes; these are worldly food. When Jesus handed over to Simon Peter the leadership of his Church, Jesus emphasised on “feed my people” John 21:15-20. It was after the canal food that he asked Simon Peter to assemble his disciple in the upper room in Act 1 & 2 for the spiritual food.

It was after receiving the power of the Holy Spirit in Antioch according to Act 11:26, that the name Christian was first mentioned in the Bible. The apostles were Christ-like in their behaviour, performing miracles with the power of the Holy Spirit. But now, it is no longer so, because the General Overseers, Pastors and church goers are full of themselves, favouritism, eye-service, and between them is a great rivalry as everybody want to prove a point and show that he is greater and better? The question is, is this what God asked of us as Christians?

If the Lord himself can be humble enough to wash the feet of his disciples in his own days, who are we? Compared to the leader/s we have today, it is no brainier as everybody now want to be the first; forgetting that the first shall be the last and the last the first? When you look at fasting today, many churches under heaven confuse their disciples about fasting by choosing their own calendar, their own time, their own period (with some going sometimes upwards of 80days), going away from what is written in Isaiah 58 and 59? When they want to break their fast they break it with very good food, while their members are made to go hungry? They ride very expensive cars and allow their members to go on foot? And they say "it’s well"! What is well one may ask in being callous to your fellow human being?

Also when you look at church leaders today, they say they have big plans but what they are laying down is for their families. They believe their families are the best under heaven, and instead of visiting the mortuary to see some of their mates there, they prefer to go to Jerusalem. There, they tell lies that African people need aids, while their brothers are busy selling ammunition so that they can kill themselves. With all these, does anyone still believe that God still leaves in the churches? No, as God is no longer in the churches; he lives inside of you and therefore you can pick up your miracle anywhere. When all these supposed church-leaders were in their normal jobs, they are nobody. See 1 King 19 vs. 9 – 21; John 1 vs. 22 – 24; Luke 3 vs 14; Luke 3 vs. 1 – 9; Exodus 18 vs. 12 – end; Zacharia 10 vs. 3 – 5; Zacharia 11; Acts 10.

The most dreadful thing is that the leaders are pointing to the crowd, professing what is not true, like having healing school and telling them to submit; then requesting rather than telling them the truth and how they can experience the Lord in truth and in spirit. See Jeremiah 6 vs. 16; Jeremiah 17; Nehemiah; Lamentation 3 & 5; Isaiah 55; Ezekiel 37. So with all these things, we need to buckle up. Psalm 37 vs. 37; Proverb 11; Proverb 19 vs. 23. Remember the miracles that happened in the life of Shadrack, Meshak and Abedinigo; and David before Goliath in the bible; these people did not send request to anybody and yet they got their blessings! Also what happened in the life of Daniel in the lion’s den, - all these are practical things we need to emulate. Read the following bible verses Daniel 3 vs. 16 - end; Lamentation 17 vs. 40 -50; Daniel 6; Acts 6; Esther 7; Job 1 vs. 1-12; Job 42 vs. 10-16; Isaiah 38; Acts 27 vs. 18 - end.

Therefore brethren in Christ stop worshiping canal human-beings and make Jesus Christ your mentor today. Look unto the cross and believe in him for he is your creator; as every human being will leave this sinful world someday to account for all their deeds. Whatever we do today is being recorded, both those done in hiding and those in the open. Always have these at the back of your mind as you pursue your daily activities and it shall be well with you. Read James 5 vs. 17. Until next Sunday, read your Bible, be upright as heaven and hell are both real; death is given and thereafter comes judgment.

OAKLAND-CALIFORNIA, THE BAQUBAH OF AMERICA?

Three police officers of the Oakland Police Department, hitherto fathers, husbands, uncles and brothers of certain family members somewhere, were felled down today, Saturday March 21, 2009. The slain officers include Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35. The other police officer John Hege, 41, is in grave condition at the intensive care unit of Oakland's Highland hospital. They were murdered by a single felon, Oakland's 27 year old Lovelle Mixon (right) who was wanted on a parole violation! His weapon of destruction, an assault rifle?

Should these policemen have died or deserve to die protecting lives and properties of Oakland residents? Icheoku says, we don't think so and pray for the repose of their souls. Fortunately their murderer was himself also killed in the ensuing shoot-out; so the Oakland community can feel safe that this blood-hound has been purged from the society!

According to reports, the suspect was stopped around 1.00pm for traffic violation by mounted motor-cycle officers; and he immediately opened fire on them killing one and wounding the other. He fled into a nearby apartment building and hid in a closet. When arriving officers, following an intense manhunt by men and women of the OPD, assisted by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers, Alameda County sheriff deputies and BART police, entered the apartment and was searching for the suspect, as they approached a closet, the suspect opened fire from inside the closet, killing two officers and wounding another, who returned fire killing the suspect at about 3:30 p.m.

It is unfortunate that these officers had to die in the line of duty, trying to take into custody, a wanted fugitive from justice; but the department as well as their families should take consolation that they died, doing what they took oath of office to do!

Icheoku extends our condolences to their families as well as the men and women of the Oakland Police Department on the lost of three of their finest and bravest.

PRESIDENT UMARU YAR'ADUA'S LEFT HAND?

Please click on this photograph of Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua and pay particular attention to his left hand; the one adjusting his (parachute) babaringa. Now what do you see? A sign of a gravely ailing and lonely man whose days may be numbered?

Icheoku appreciates his stoicism while dealing with this mortal challenge and the defiance he is putting up to whatever is ailing him. Our only concern is that as President, he owes it to the people of Nigeria, whose president he is, to explain to them the nature of his affliction. That way, any Nigerian pouring supplications to God on his behalf, will have something to really mention to God!

Be that as it may, while wishing the president well, Icheoku says, President Umaru Yar'Adua should come clean and level with Nigerians on his ailment. A sick man's mind is always divided and cannot function properly in discharging the duties of his office. The president, it appears, spends most of his time contemplating on his next line of medical treatment and/or option; and have less time to do his job. Not even his much touted power emergency have been declared, two years down the road and the epileptic power situation in Nigeria has taken a turn for the worse?

Is any Nigerian still wondering why President Umaru Yar'Adua has not achieved anything; not even a single thing is attributable to his two years in office? Have you clicked?

POPE BENEDICT XVI, A RADICAL OR A FEARLESS REFORMER?

The Bishop of Rome and the Pope of the entire world Catholic church, Pope Benedict XVI is a man who means so many things to so many different people, depending on who you ask. To Icheoku, he is a man who braves the odds to speak his mind!

When he delivered a speech in September 2006 in Germany quoting the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus who had said that the Islamic religion is intrinsically violent, hell was let loose throughout the Muslim world? In the pope's own words, "He said, and I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." He was pressured to explain his statement and he threw additional light thereto. But for an apology, those protesters did not get any from the pope?

Again, the pope readmitted a hitherto ex-communicated bishop of the church, Bishop Richard Williamson who debunked the claim that six (6) million Jews were killed during the holocaust. According to the bishop, such a tale is a baloney as only less than 300,000 Jews were killed in the holocaust. In the bishop's own words, "I believe there were no gas chambers... I think that two to three hundred thousand Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers." The holocaust-denying bishop maintained that the claim of gas chambers was a ruse as the existence of gas chamber in the then Germany, is yet to be conclusively determined. The Jews were hellish mad and demanded a retraction. But what did the bishop of Rome do, he deftly managed the crisis and Icheoku did not remember him, or the said bishop claiming a mistake or apologising for the incident. However, the Jewish power-bloc pressured the Argentine government to refuse the renewal the bishop's work authorisation and he has since returned to his native England.

Instead of apologising for a statement founded on his deep-rooted conviction, Bishop Williamson wrote, "Amidst this tremendous media storm stirred up by imprudent remarks of mine on Swedish television, I beg of you to accept, ........., my sincere regrets for having caused to yourself and to the Holy Father so much unnecessary distress and problems." In response, Papal spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said he had "nothing to say about this letter; everyone can evaluate it as they see fit." The Vatican has asked nothing of Monsignor Williamson, who is not an 'ordinary bishop' of the Catholic Church."

Mr Williamson for the records, was a member of the Society of St Pius X, which was founded by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1970 as a protest against the Second Vatican Council's reforms on religious freedom and pluralism. The late Archbishop Lefebvre made him a bishop in unsanctioned consecration in Switzerland in 1988, prompting the his immediate excommunication from the Catholic church with four others by the late Pope John Paul II. Upon lifting his excommunication, the Vatican asked him to recognise the authority of the Pope and the Second Vatican Council? Equally of note, is that the pope, as a German kid, allegedly was fond of Hitler and hung out at Hitler's youth rally? But he however grew up loving Jesus and ultimately joined a monastery; becoming a priest, a bishop, a cardinal and now the Pope! His lifting of an excommunication placed on a holocaust-denying bishop made one commentator to scream, "Don’t you love it when life deduces logic for you"?

Icheoku says, this is not the first time the actual number of Jews that died in the holocaust has made the front page. Iranian Ahmadinejad once questioned the veracity of the claim that six (6) million Jews were killed during the holocaust? The accuracy of the figure has been a discourse of many academic communities who continuously question how that record was kept by the Jews? However, Icheoku says, whether or not six million Jews were gassed or an accurate record was kept of the killed Jews is immaterial. The accuracy of the numbers should not matter at all, since one Jew is even too many to just kill for no apparent reason? The holocaust, like slavery, like the crusaders, like the inquisition, like every aboriginal depopulation and genocides around the world is a horrible experience which haunts the affected people, and should not be used as a wedge issue by anyone.

Once again, on his pastoral visit to African Cameroon, the pope has stirred the hornet nest of the billion dollar contraceptives (condom) industry. According to the pope, "HIV/Aids was "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem". All the party with interest are firing on all cylinders on what the pope said; Icheoku remembers that Thabo Mbeki of South Africa was similarly harangued when he questioned the veracity of HIV/AIDS, stating that food could be a better panacea than all the condoms and anti-viral medications? Icheoku adds, condoms break and a hungry man will fall victim to even common malaria and without food, he cannot build enough immunity to fight off whatever ailment that may be afflicting him?

Anyway, love him or hate him, the Pope is a man of strong conviction who speaks his mind without let or hindrance; and for this his manly-personality, Icheoku admires the man of God dearly. In a politically-correct world where many people do not really say what they are thinking for fear of the possible fall-out, this pope stands out as an exception. Such men as this pope, with strong character is what the world really needs in order to move forward towards solving many essentials of the day. The pope is not officially a politician and should not be expected to live his life like one, in hushed musings; he is not standing for any re-election nor campaigned for one in the first place, he was a Divinely chosen one to lead the Catholic church. Icheoku therefore, asks the people and other leaders with interest of this world, to stop holding Pope Benedict XVI responsible for all his statements, or with the same standard as they would a politician. The Pope is what the world needs; and only our support and prayers will suffice; but not setting unattainable standards. To the Pope, Icheoku says, speak on; as your over one billion followers are listening as well as other millions of non-indoctrinated admirers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6C9BuXe2RM

KAYODE OGUNDAMISI & NFL, KUDOS TO YOU!

Icheoku extends our warm congratulations to the Nigeria Liberty Forum (NFL) and its coordinator Kayode Ogundamisi, on what it pulled off at the London School of Economics, protesting the devil-incarnate, Aremu Babalawo Olusegun Obasanjo!

We at Icheoku.com feel highly elated that for once, Nigerians are beginning to take their criminal leadership to task, demanding that they answer for their misdeeds while in office. The paradigm for measuring the success of this protest was not in the number of protesters that turned-out, but that some people were brave enough to confront an African evil, Olusegun Obasanjo. Olusegun Obasanjo has been de-plumed by the NFL and he can no longer pretend that all is well with him before Nigerians. For this brave first-step, Icheoku says, thank you NFL for a job well done; and particularly to our Kayo, you are the real deal! You are the man! You refused to die in the face of tyranny by speaking out! You are the stuff, legends are made of! Unbeknownst to you, by your thoughtful action, you have become a Nigerian of renown and so many will be wishing they were as brave and as foresighted.

By your action, you have unmasked the masquerade, Olusegun Obasanjo who has now officially joined the horrible men and women of this world, whose sight or visit anywhere attracts odium and ridicule. Surely, there will be other copy-cat demonstrations and protests to follow, whenever and wherever the deity of Otta rears his ugly head, henceforth. It is about time these murderous imbeciles of Africa are shown and placed in their proper places; and fortunately your NFL has shone the light with your protest in London on March 18, 2009. It was an event whose time has since come, and thanks to the trail-blazing initiative of your NFL, the whole world is now abuzz that Olusegun Obasanjo's misdeeds is finally and gradually catching up with him. Olusegun Obasanjo deserves the noose and in an Iraqi society, that would have been his ultimate welcome/send-off gift; those tomatoes and eggs that he was pelted with, were rather too precious to waste on such an incestuous vagabond. That he was also booed is an indication of the very bleak future that awaits him. For once, your commendable action denied Olusegun Obasanjo his usual arrogant, grandeur, pomp and pageantry appearances; as he was instead, smuggled into the venue, like a common criminal being protected from his victim's family, through a pantry? This humbling entrance was in itself also a huge success as it greatly perforated his larger than life ethereal ego.

In the coordinator's very own words, "The NLF considers it a public duty to stop people like Obasanjo from representing Africa anywhere, because he represents the same failed face of Africa. We cannot afford different versions of Mobutu Sese Seko, Idi Amin, Emperor Bokassa, Conteh, Marcias Nguema, and their ilk representing us. Obasanjo has the traits of the worst tyrants in Africa, but he seems to have the international community under his spell. They overlook his indiscretions and scandalous crimes, and shower him with credibility when he should be cooling his heels in jail or hiding away in one remote corner of the world, far, far from decent people! Obasanjo is a monster, not a statesman"!

Icheoku agrees with the above summation and adds, Olusegun Obasanjo does not only have the traits of a tyrant but is the worst tyrant to have ever walked the African soil freely. Peradventure, his nemesis will soon catch up with him, like the other bygone tyrants of Africa!

NATASHA RICHARDSON, WHAT AN EARLY SUN-SET?

She went on a ski-vacation and that was it, the usher of her final exit from this world. Natasha Richardson, that is and at a very young age, a mere 45 years mortal sojourn on this earth?

Natasha, had sustained a head injury, following a fall at a ski-slope, while taking private ski lesson at the luxury Mont Tremblant Ski Resort in Quebec, Canada. It would appear that her injury was delayed as she felt fine initially, only to lapse later. She was rushed to a hospital in Montreal before being flown back to New York for further care. However she did not survive her injury as she passed away at Lenox Hill Hospital on Manhattan's Upper East Side about 5 p.m. Wednesday March 18, 2009.

Natasha was was born in London in 1963, to actress Vanessa Redgrave and director Tony Richardson. Natasha studied at London's Central School of Speech and Drama; where she learnt her ropes as a screen personality. Her life on the screen started at a very tender age of just 4 years with her appearance as a flower girl in "The Charge of the Light Brigade".

Some of Natasha's screen and theater career credits include, Patty Hearst, Cabaret, The Handmaid's Tale, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Comfort of Strangers, Nell, Widow's Peak, The Parent Trap, Wild Child, Evening and Asylum, On the Razzle, Charley's Aunt and The Seagull.

Although no official cause of death has yet been disclosed, Icheoku believes that massive trauma to the brain brought about her demise.

Natasha, a naturalised American was survived by her husband of 18 years, fellow actor Liam Neeson, sons Michael and Daniel, sister Joely and her mother, actress Vanessa Redgrave. Her father Anthony Richardson, though divorced from her mother, had predeceased her since 1991?

One of Icheoku's most favorite Natasha's known statement, says, "We've all been through it in one way or another and so we've had to be strong. Also we embrace life. We are not cynical about life."

Formerly married to producer Robert Fox, the dazzling beauty Natasha Richardson, is seen here left in a photograph with her now, widower, Irish Liam Neeson. Icheoku says, you've gone to be with the angels and may the good Lord give your bereaving family the fortitude to bear your loss.

Adieu Tasha!

NIGERIA, A FEDERATION OR A UNITARY STATE?

The other day it was Plateau State that President Umaru Yar'Adua ordered not to swear in her elected local government officials. This time it is Ondo State that is being over-ruled when its dissolved council was asked to re-constitute on direct orders from Abuja? Icheoku asks, is Nigeria now in a unitary system of government or is it still practising elected democracy by federating states?

It is abhorable that Abuja does not seem to get it, that there are three tiers of government both at the center as well as in the 36 respective states. Further, each of these are independent of one another and cannot be dictated to by any of them, including the one at the center in Abuja. Under the military dispensation, it is alright for the head of the junta at Abuja to tele-guide his appointed minions in their respective states; but a new sheriff is in town as the governor of Ondo State was not brought into office on the mercy of President Umaru Yar'Adua. The governor won an election on his own merit, having been adjudged as the superior candidate by the the people of Ondo State who chose him to represent them and carry out their will. In an elected democracy, where leaders are elected by the populace, it is an aberration for an elected president to order an equally elected governor around? Icheoku calls on the Olusegun Mimiko led government of Ondo State to take a cue from Plateau State and resist Umaru Yar'Adua'a current attempt to subvert and undermine democracy in Ondo State. Mimiko should not take orders from Abuja as both him and President Umaru Yar'Adua enjoy equal grundnorm, deriving directly from their respective electorates. It is therefore inconceivable that this mallam, King of kings in Abuja, is following the template of discredited past military administrations in Nigeria, in thinking that he has omnibus powers over the states. Icheoku says, we don't think so. Our advise to the governor of Ondo State, is to go to court to contest the constitutional validity of his over-ruled order, sacking the local government officials of his state. Whether he has the authority to do so should be the prayer before such a constitutional court and let other things fall as they may.

Icheoku is not an apostle of excessive powers being concentrated in anyone "demi-god" and for President Umaru Yar'Adua to now think that he could tele-guide whatever happens in every part of the federation, is another example of what is wrong with the Abuja sicko? Nigeria is no longer under a military unitary rule so President Umaru Yar'Adua should get that fact right into his head. Olusegun Obasanjo got away with such barrack-mentality of a central command, and declared states of emergency all over the place; sending his army to commit genocides in Odi and Zaki Ibiam without the Bayelsa and Benue States asking for such his intervention, in what is purely their internal state matter. Umaru Yar'Adua must and should be stopped from following in the foot-steps of the discredited Otta idol, Olusegun Obasanjo. Icheoku wonders who the legal adviser of President Umaru Yar'Adua is or does that portfolio fall under Turai's too? It was Plateau yesterday, today it is Ondo, and who knows whose turn it shall be tomorrow to become the next guinea-pig state for thwarting and suppressing constitutional democracy in Nigeria?

How can an elected executive of a state be over-ruled by another executive of another state (though bigger state, Nigeria)? Icheoku says, such suggests that Nigeria is not a truly federating states but still yoked to a unitary form of government; with Abuja still micro-managing the entire geographical entity called Nigeria. It is a tragedy which must not be allowed to see the light of the day. Also, that the federally controlled police is being used to perpetuate this unconstitutional anarchy is a reason to re-visit the need for the states to control their own police and use it to secure their mandate whenever threatened by such an over-reaching act of the central government in Abuja. President Umaru Yar'Adua is asking for trouble by forcibly subjugating the government of Governor Olusegun Mimiko led Ondo State. Icheoku says, peradventure, Umaru is not a student of history, otherwise he would have advised himself of the consequences of the Shehu Shagari's NPN attempted perversion of the electoral will of the Ondo people during the 1983 Omoboriowo aborted imposition.

May be this latest face-off is a PDP's ploy to take through the back door what the electorates of Ondo State, as affirmed by the court, denied them? Better still, President Umaru Yar'Adua should have awaited for the outcome of the court action, instituted by the sacked council men and women against Governor Olusegun Mimiko for their sack, before stepping into the fray. Icheoku says, Ondo State belongs to the Ondo people and they should be allowed to internally resolve whatever differences they may have in an Ondo fashion. For Abuja to just jump into such a family dispute, uninvited, is a fragrant abuse of powers of the central government and should be resisted by all men and women of goodwill in Nigeria. Whether the former Ondo State PDP governor Olusegun Agagu was right to conduct the local government election in the state in total disregard to a subsisting court order restraining him otherwise; whether the current Governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, was right to dissolved the "illegitimate" councils; and whether any constitutional provision was violated in any way, is a question for court's determination. Since the parties are already sui-juris, the meddlesome interloping of Abuja was uncalled for and can only be interpreted one way only, POLITICS!

Icheoku says, the present political manipulation by President Umaru Yar'Adua's led PDP government to weaken and undermine the newly restored government of Olusegun Mimiko, should not be allowed to succeed. It should and must be resisted by all, and using every means necessary is a good enough option! Ondo people, do not let President Umaru Yar'Adua treat your governor like a paid prostitute!

IRISH, HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

To the Irish, Icheoku wishes you a very very merry Saint Paddy's day.

The green is nice, the shamrock rocks, the corn-beef is smoking hot and so is the cabbage. When you wash them all down with some Guinness, then let the party begin. But who parties like the Irish, no person known to Icheoku.

We rejoice with you as you enjoy your festivities, commemorating your favourite patron, Saint Patrick! Once again, Happy Saint Patrick's day!

PLACENTA EATING, A MODERN DAY CANNIBALISM?

Even in the world of weirdos, placentophagia will stand out as one of the most bizarre practices ever embarked upon by human-beings!Icheoku wonders, whether the stretch of the human taste-bud will ever end? That humanity can eat the after-birth from a newly delivered woman, sounds too strange to be true but investigation reveals that such practice has been an on-going beastly event of mankind. Admitted that animals usually eat their after-births, but for human-beings, it is rather a strange phenomenon?

Human placenta is allegedly very high in nutrients and is thought to prevent post-natal depression or post-partum syndrome. It is also believed that, eating the dark red, waxy white film-like, usually covered in blood vessels birth-residue, helps bond mother and child better? Icheoku asks, is any of this enough reason for human-beings to cannibalise their own after-birth? Placenta which feels like liver to the touch, is slimy but firm, and smells like fresh meat; is the organ that forms in the womb to link the blood supplies of the mother and baby, providing sustenance to and removing waste from the baby.

Medically, there is no particular health benefits or risk from eating placenta, and the derivative nutrients are no different than those found in the liver. Placenta can be taken as a meaty milkshake, whereby some of the bloody lumps are popped into a blender along with rice milk, bananas and sugar, then blitzed up to form a thick, foamy blood-red liquid with an aroma of fresh meat called placenta-shake. There is also the roast-placenta, which ingredients includes fresh placenta, one onion, one yellow or red pepper, one clove garlic (crushed), 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 bay leaves, salt and pepper. Then pre-heat the oven to 180°c (fan 160°c, gas 4). Place the placenta in a roasting tin. Cut the veg into wedges, and combine in a bowl with garlic, oil, bay leaves and seasoning, place the mixture in a tin around the placenta and cover. Roast for one and half hours, pouring off excess liquid as necessary. Serve and enjoy! Other recipes for cooking placentas, include placenta-stew, placenta-lasagna, placenta-jerky (dehydrated placenta), placenta-powder (sprinkle over foods or placed in capsules to take as placenta-pills), placenta-power drinks and sushi-placenta where the placenta is eaten raw. In Chinese culture, the placenta is known as a great life-force and is highly respected in terms of its medicinal value. It is usually dried up through dehydration in the oven, then using a mortar and pestle grind up and then you can mix it with food or ingest it within capsules as placenta-capsule?

Even Tom Cruise in an interview with GQ magazine spoke highly of eating placenta and is believed to have eaten his baby's placenta? In his own words, "You don't know placentas, I do. I've studied placentas. I know dozens of ways to prepare them. I know what wines go with them. What do you know"? Stating that placenta "reminds him of veal, but with a springier texture like heart." Continuing Mr Weirdo said the benefits of eating placenta, include reduced hemorrhaging and a decrease in the likelihood of postpartum depression? According to Mr. Cruise, placenta-tartare preserves the greatest amount of the placenta's nutritional content, and is prepared by mixing one pound of finely ground placenta, one teaspoon of brown mustard, one-half teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, one teaspoon each of Worcestershire sauce and brandy, one egg, a pinch of salt, and ground white pepper to taste. Refrigerate the mixture for half an hour to allow the flavors to blend in properly and then serve as a spread on crackers or toast, accompanied by any wine with a subtle red-meat aroma, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot? Icheoku says, what a recipe from the man made notorious for crazily jumping up and down on Oprah Winfrey's couch?

According to the face of Scientology, placentas can be eaten cooked too such as in placenta aglio olio e peperoncino, a mixture of placenta, garlic, olive-oil and pepper? His recipe, gently blanch one pound of placenta that has been cut into one-quarter-inch-thick discs. After blanching the placenta for no more than thirty seconds, drain and set aside in a deep-heated serving dish. Heat one cup of extra virgin olive oil in a pan. Add three to four cloves of crushed garlic and one hot chili pepper pod. When the garlic cloves begin to brown, discard them or they will overwhelm the flavor of the placenta. Pour the olive oil over the placenta. Sprinkle with black pepper and one teaspoon of chopped Italian parsley. Stir well and serve immediately with fresh-baked crusty Italian bread and a sweet white wine?

Of all these placenta delicacies, Mr. Scientology said his favorite placenta dish is placenta meat-loaf; which he begins by chopping one onion and combining it with one teaspoon of black pepper and one sleeve of crushed saltines. Then combine one pound of ground placenta with the onion, pepper, and saltines. Add one teaspoon of bay leaves, one teaspoon each of white and black pepper, a clove of roasted and minced garlic, and one cup of chopped tomatoes. Mix well. Place in a buttered loaf pan, cover, then bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for an hour and a half, occasionally pouring off excess blood. Sounds like a Dracula meal? But with Tom any weirdo is the best form of entertainment?

Placenta contains high levels of various vitamins, such as B6, and eating it increases a mother's blood levels of a hormone known as CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone), a known stress-reducer. This hormone is normally secreted by the hypothalamus. Icheoku says, no matter the supposed benefits derivable from eating an after-birth, the practice is nothing short of the practice of barbarism. Humanity cannibalizing its kind in form of a delicacy is unacceptable under any circumstance and the thought of it is plainly gory.

UMARU YAR'ADUA, KILLS FEDERAL CHARACTER IN NIGERIA?

When will Southern Nigeria wake up from their slumbering and let the North realize that they are not so entitled to hijack all there is in Nigeria, just for themselves alone? Since the inception of the sicko of Katsina, every office worth a few million dollars in budgetary allocation has been given to a Northerner. And what does the South do, remain the timid bride waiting on the table of the arrogant mallams up North, who are growing more empowered every day?

Just few weeks ago, President Umaru Yar'Adua reorganized the federal media in Nigeria and brazenly put three Northerners to head the three organisations and this is in a country where there are so many tribes with three principal ones, two of which is based in the south. The three directors-general of the national broadcast organisations, notably the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice Of Nigeria (VON) are all from the core North. Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, Director General of VON is from Adamawa State; Malam Usman Magawata, Director General of NTA is from Kebbi State and Malam Yusuf Nuhu, Director-General of the FRCN hails from Katsina State. Icheoku asks, would the North accept such disproportionate appointments from the south were the tables to suddenly turn?

This total and bullish disregard of the principle of federal character by the mallams of the North, which principle is the bond holding Nigeria together, Icheoku says is tasking the continued existence of one "Nigeria"? If there is nothing there for other component parts of Nigeria, the question remains, why continue a non-working order? Should anything happen and Nigeria is no more, blame the North for their speed-balling of Nigeria's disintegration by their unbridled self-centered indifferent attitude to other stake-holders of the Nigeria experiment.

To further add insult to injury, the Northern oligarchs are going full steam and aggrandising and gulping down what remains of the Nigerian federation. Just recently, President Umaru Yar'Adua made additional appointments, using his fellow mallams to fill the positions. The new Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yusuf Bomoi is from Yar'Adua's home state of Katsina and new Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Muhammad Nadada is also from the north, Bauchi to be precise? And they are doing this without any regard to the federal character or quota-system operating principle in Nigeria. Were it JAMB or Law School or WAEC, the north, because of their learning-disability (a bunch of retards), will insist on quota system to get their fair share of the slots but when it comes to them usurping everything Nigeria, then such a proportionate system is jettisoned out the window? Who says these cattle-rearers are fools? Icheoku says, when will enough be really enough with these kola-nut chewers? Needless to mention that both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal has both mallams as their respective heads.

It has been the same pattern since the inception of the Umaru Yar'Adua's administration and nobody appears to be perturbed, not even the Vice President Jonathan Goodluck who supposedly is representing the southern interest in the government? What will it cost him to speak out against this northern arrogation of what belongs to everybody, after-all he was elected alongside Umaru Yar'Adua and cannot be just sacked? What will it take to make these mallam realize that Nigeria is not their sole property? What is the south waiting for or is it when the north produces both the president as well as the vice president of Nigeria? From posting of ministers, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and officers of the directorate cadre in the federal service, each has been made to particularly favor a section of the country up North, and one wonders, were the reverse to be the case, would the North accept what they are forcibly shoving down the throat of Southerners?

Take a look at all the prime ministries of Defence, Finance, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Petroleum, Agriculture, Justice, Water Resources, National Planning and Natural Resources etc and tell Icheoku which of them is not commandeered by a Northerner?

Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources - Abba Sayyadi Ruma
Minister of Defence - Shettima Mustapha
Minister of Environment and Housing - Halima Alao
Minister of FCT Administration - Adamu Aliero
Minister of Justice (Attorney General) - Michael Kaase Aondokaa
Minister of Women Affairs - Saudatu Bungudu
Minister & Chairman National Planning Commission - Shamsudeen Usman
Minister & Chairman National Sports Commission - Abudlrahman Gimba

Federal Ministry of Works & Housing - Hassan M. Lawal
Federal Ministry of Police Affairs - I.Y. Lame
Ministry of Petroleum Resources - Rilwanu Lukman
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology - A. B. Zaku
Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development - Engr. S.M. Ndanusa
Federal Ministry of Transport - Ibrahim Bio

Icheoku would not have a problem with any Nigerian occupying any position, but in a country like Nigeria where unwilling nations are unequally yoked together, it makes better sense were things to be more equitably distributed. Also were these mallams capable and productive, nobody will raise too much of an eyebrow, but they are known failures whose stranglehold on Nigeria has kept Nigeria down all these years since her independence. It is time to speak up Southern Nigeria, or forever remain enslaved by the North who does not have the common decency or sense to discern that their crass appropriation of all the goodies in Nigeria can only mean one thing, and one thing only, a rise-up! Northern Nigeria, please put yourself in the shoes of the south and see if you can take what your dishing out to them?

Click and read :- hausa fulani strikes again on lopsidedness in appointments in Nigeria!

YOUR SUNDAY WITH PROPHET MKO TIBETAN!

Today, Sunday March 15, 2009 teaching is anchored on the letter "P". I call it the THREE "Ps" of PROBLEM, PROMISE AND PROVISION.

PROMISE:- Everybody knows what and how to make promise; they also know what it stand for either spiritually, carnally or otherwise. Promise is when you manifest a desire to give or offer somebody something. In Genesis 12:1-13, God promised Abraham that whoever bless or curse him so shall also be blessed or cursed; that was a promise. In Joshua 1:1-10, God said nobody will be able to overcome Joshua, that is also promise. In Genesis 8:22, three promises were made by God. In Genesis 13, Abraham was promised that where he laid his feet he shall possess, that we shall also be helped not to fail. Brethren where are you today? Are you out or within the promise; if you do not love your neighbour, you are outside of the promise already. Read generally, Numbers 14:34; 1King 8:53; Psalm 105:42; Act 1:4; Luke 24:49; Roman 4:13; Galatians 3:18-22; Ephesians 1:13; Hebrew 10:36; 2 Peter 2:19; and 3:4,9; 1 John2:25.

PROBLEM:- Problem has come to inconvenience everyone. It is not a friend of anybody. The first thing you think when in problem is to get all your relevant documents ready and travel out to USA. But that does not even mean that you have jumped all your problems as at the port of entry, you may still face problems. However, be polite to the officers as something familiar; for instance, people leaving Africa where law is not respected or is abandoned and the use of connection is the order of the day, leaving one’s family behind to meet many white people in America or Europe could mean inviting problems. A careless phone call from your family in Africa can rubbish the whole situation and invite problem or put problem into your life forever. Somebody who carefully use a used-razor blade may ignorantly face problem of HIV, or careless with his job with this global economic recession may lose his job and commit suicide; or keep on with concubines may also face problem that can cause him his life. Brethren, there is no big or small problem.

Finally, if you never desist from telling lies, begin today to tell the truth. Even people in government tell lies, the problem in USA today was caused by the immediate past president of the US who did not tell the truth about the weapons of mass destruction. There is consequences for telling lies. If you were a Christian and you backslide, you have already invited problem into your life. If you face a family you cannot take care of, you have invited problem into your life. Read the following Bible verses, Revelation 3:1-10, 1 Timothy 6:1-10; Galatians 5:16-end; 1 Corinthians 5:1-10, Romans 1:18-end; Exodus12 and 14; Job 3:20-end; Jonah 1:6-10; 2 & 3; Acts 5:1-10; Judges1:4-10; Joshua 6:1-15; 2 Kings 6:19-26; Esther4:5,6, Acts 27:20-end; Mathew 27:1-5.

If you refuse to abandon the worldly things you are inviting problem to yourself Daniel 4:3,16-end; Numbers16. There are many places in the scripture where problem works in people’s life, check yourself today to see the problems that you have caused for yourself. Proverb 21:30-31, 19:18-24, 24:10, 19:23. Are you ready for your problem in the scripture? Pharaoh, Saul, Judas, Ananiah, Samson, Saphira, Goliat, Lot’s wife, Pharaoh soldiers, Dathan, Abiran, Koran, Moses all these people died in their problem.

PROVISION:- A lot of people die without using the provision given to them by the Lord Almighty. Narrowly King Nebuchadnezzar was saved by God in order to see the provision ahead of him. When you are newly employed, if you can breakthrough your problem, your provision will come. Jesus promised to die and rise up the third day which he did, in order to come and give us the provision he promised. In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to use his son for sacrifice, but provision came as a ram. He was also faced with a lot of problem and so was Job also faced with a lot of problems - Job3:20-end but in Job 42:10-21, his provision eventually came. Also in the book of 2 Kings 5:1-end, of Elisha and the lepers in the law of Samaria, provision came. In Deuteronomy 28:1, if you delight hearken to the words of God and then your provision will follow. Genesis 13:13-21, says lift up your head and see, that is provision too! If you are still passing through the troubled waters today, look up unto the cross and the man Jesus, will save you. Ecclesiastes 11:3 says "IF YOUR CLOUD IS NOT FILLED-UP WITH WATER, YOU CANNOT HAVE RAIN"! Please also see 1 Timothy 6:1-10; but verse 6 specifically says we came to the world with nothing so why are you running from pillar to post, why are you delighted in robbing Peter to pay Paul? Please read the book of Luke 16 about the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Also see 2 Samuel 14:14; that told us that a day is coming when we shall be like water splashed on the surface of the earth that cannot be got together. if you want to compare Christian, yesterdays we had genuine ones but nowadays we have plenty of fake pastors, fake evangelists and fake prophets were everywhere. All these have been said before hand in 2 Timothy 3:4. You have to take your stand on issues, don’t lie to yourself and be yourself 24/7. Remember to read Jeremiah 5,7,11, Psalm39, Hosea 4:8, Romans 11:29-end; with all these please do a good job.

In school we are taught about evaporation, if there is no evaporation there is no rain, do good always so that rain can fall on you and your family. With the way things are now, church cannot save you, as only Jesus can save you. If your church cannot change you, then change your church. If your thinking cannot save you, look for a spiritual leader; look at 2 Kings 6:20-23, 7:6-9, Mark4:38-39, Acts27:22. Those that are blessed in the Bible they worked for it and the Lord blessed them; please do good so that your land will flow with milk and honey. In Psalm23, the last line says who shall dwell in the house of the Lord, how many of you are going to the house of the Lord, prepare what to offer; so brethren drop your tithe, pay your dues on time to God and it shall be well with you in this fasting period. 1Corinthians13, 3:5-10, 4:4.

As you read this message, meditate on your ways and start doing good today; remember the promise he made to you in Psalm 23. See you next Sunday

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!