CHIEF C. C. ONOH, DEAD AT 82!

"Controversy is a factor of fame" is one of Icheoku's most favorite saying of the departed legend and hero of Wawa (Enugu State) people of Nigeria. And he was controversial and famous indeed! Aninefungwu Okaa Omee 1 of Ngwo, barrister/attorney at law, civil-servant, administrator, businessman, politician, great philanthropist, one time member of House of Representatives, former governor of then Anambra State Nigeria, husband, father, grandfather, community organiser and leader, author, influential, wealthy, war hero and activist, Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh aka CC is dead! CC was 82 years old; and passed on peacefully at his country home in Ngwo, Enugu State Nigeria on May 4, 2009.

A native of Ngwo, Enugu State, Nigeria, CC was born at Ovim in present day Abia State on April 27, 1927 to late Mr. Gabriel Okwo Onoh and Mrs. Esther Nude Onoh. CC succeeded in all he did as a lawyer, politician and businessman; but he is chiefly reputed as a land owner and speculator, who was the Lagos State's Oloto land owning family man of the South-east? CC was guesstimated to own 510 undeveloped plots in Enugu as well as 1,187 fully developed properties in the city of Enugu? Icheoku asks, what then is left for others in a city as small as Enugu? An avid and convinced one man riot-squad/fighter, CC never shies away from the good fight; in a memorable one liner, the late Chief while commenting on his ordeals through his struggles, said, “Twice, I escaped assassination. My jeep was taken away from me. My people were intimidated by government agents, but these acts were not enough to cow me because I believe in the Wawa struggle of truth. Icheoku says, an "Iroko" tree has fallen and politics in Enugu State will never be the same again, with the exit of this indefatigable leader of the people. CC was survived by his children Gabriel, Bianca, Ken, Sandra, Stella and Lilian; numerous grandchildren and his people of Enugu State. His father Gabriel Okwo Onoh and mother Esther Nude Onoh as well as one of his daughter Josephine, had all since predeceased him.

Some of CC's obituaries read as follows:- 1. He will be remembered for his consistent and dogged fight for the emancipation of the Wawa stock of the Igbo race, which led to the creation of Wawa State which is today known as the new Enugu State! 2. He will remain one of the most consistent Igbo men that ever lived! 3. He was a hero who died fighting for the betterment of his people! 4. He should be praised for his doggedness and courageous spirit! 5. His life ran on a vortex of struggles! 6. He was a philanthropist extraordinaire, an iconoclast and controversial figure! 7. He was the light of Wawa people! 8. He was a strong and fearless man! 9. With CC you know where he stood, no man intimidated him! 10. He criss-crossed the political firmament like a colossus; Ndi-Igbo and Nigeria have lost a great man! 11. He was a moving history of Enugu, the city, the people, their culture and their lives! 12. He lived and died for Enugu, and it was something he could never have been ashamed of or pretend it was an unworthy cause! 13. He was a man whose unique politics was about the protection of his people! 14. Love him or hate him, but there was never any doubt about where this man stood on any issue! 15. His demise further depreciates the number of those who fought for Nigeria's independence and lived through today's rot and decline from their then high hopes to today’s wishes for yet another set of good leaders who can dream and have thoughts for the good of their people! 16. He was the father of Enugu State and the most prominent politician to ever come out of Enugu State! 17. He was an astute and fearless politician who genuinely criticised the government of the day without rancour! 18. One admirer surmised that Onoh was the greatest politician that ever emerged from the entire Enugu State and Icheoku concurs that you cannot talk about the Wawa people or Enugu State without C.C Onoh! Icheoku calls CC, the father of Enugu State and the man who led the effort to make that state a reality!

A man who always spoke his mind irrespective of whose ox is gored, and who once blamed the numerous problems facing Nigeria today on an existing structural imbalance in her 48 years of existence. It was his believe that Britain is the root cause of Nigeria's problems as not only did they unwillingly grant Nigeria Independence in 1960, but went on to rig the 1962 election to produce a Northerner as Prime Minister, when the Sardauna of Sokoto Ahmadu Bello, leader of the North then, never wanted one Nigeria! This, according to him, began Nigeria's problems with an unwilling leader leading a reluctant people.

With his exit, Nigeria, South-East, Igboland and Enugu State in particular have lost a real patriot! Icheoku agrees that the ranks of the country's elder statesmen has further been depleted with the passage of this great man, Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh. We pray that the Almighty God rewards him according to his good deeds and for his tireless effort to make the Wawa person walk erect with his head high in Igboland. CC made Wawa people "real" persons in Igboland and for this, every Wawa son and daughter owes him a debt of gratitude and prayer for the repose of his soul. May his family and the good people of Enugu State find the fortitude to bear the great loss; and his shoes like that left by Obafemi Awolowo in Yoruba land, might be too big for any one feet to fill, just yet! Adieu CC !

NEW GENERATION NIGERIAN MUSICIANS, KNUCKLE HEADS? - an article by Vicky Awuzie.

What in the world are those knuckle-heads of new generation Nigerian musicians singing? Has anyone listened to the new breed of Nigerian Hip-hop artists lately? If you have, have you really paid attention to their lyrics? The fact is the lyrics are so vulgar and so much in your face that you could not have avoided hearing the bold idiotic words. These new breed of musicians have completely abandoned their accents, social ills in Nigeria, their names and so much more to emulate American “gangsta” rap. The more I listen to their music, the more rattled I become. Don’t get me wrong. I’m definitely not ancient, but the nonsensical unacceptable lyrics they sing must be brought to their attention. They are copying American rap stars without really knowing what the culture in America is. Some of them have never lived here in America, yet they sing in American ghetto slang.

The new wave for them is that they now refer to themselves as Niggas. Do they really know what Nigga means? I bet you if they did they would NEVER utter that word. Do they know that even though the rap musicians in America refer to themselves as Niggas it is partly because of a historical reason and that will take an entire page to explain before one could begin to make sense out of it? Do they know that people are taken to court for calling someone a Nigga in America? Are they aware that the DJ’s don’t allow that word (Nigga) on the airwaves, it gets bleeped out? Please STOP the use of that word in your songs. You don’t know the history behind it.

As I ponder about these new bone-head musicians, the only thing I can think of is that this generation of musicians are non-educated and are exposing their ignorance in their music. One of them proudly named himself Dat-Nigga-Raw. What in the hell was he thinking? Did his mama or papa call him Dat Nigga Raw when he was a little boy? Dat Nigga Raw, please change your name. If you have any relatives in America they would advise you the same. Do all of you realize that your song with the bad words does not get played in our social scenes here in America? When I first received Dat Nigga Raw’s CD, I was taking my two boys to a basketball game, while in the car I decided to play the CD. As the song began and the Nigga words came on, my son asked me if he heard right or was it a Nigerian word. I told him that he heard right. He was disappointed that a Nigerian musician could say such word. He asked me if he knew what it meant.

D’bang is another one who uses the "F" word as if that’s all there is in his brain. In one of his songs, he says “I like the way you’re f**k me". What is wrong with all of you, even the rappers in America who you are emulating will not say such things on a record. By the way, who is 9ice, that’s another one something is wrong with? What’s up with the hooded sweatshirt on the cover of his CD? It wasn’t cold in Nigeria that day or was it? Was it 20 or 30 degrees in Nigeria? Take it off; it’s too hot to wear such outfit in Nigeria. Also, if you want to throw or shower money on your video, please use Nigerian currency (Naira) not dollars. And the fake jewelry all of you are wearing? Give me a break. It is a “gangsta” statement in America and it means something. It signifies a gangsta’s wealth. It also signifies how many records a gangsta has sold and much more. Duncan Mighty was wearing one on his CD cover. P-L-E-A-Z-EEEE. What does yours signify, sir?

One annoying observation that I encountered is the fact that the music from this generation lacks originality. Almost all the beats sound American. I’m really surprised that Nigerian journalists have not hammered on the lack of originality of this generation of musician. What is also surprising is that the songs get played on Nigerian radio stations with the vulgar words on them. Common, DJ’s bleep them out before you play them. We have young people listening and you can’t corrupt them like that. Would you be happy if your child said the “F” word because they heard it on the radio?

Fela, Sunny Okosun, One World, The Wings, Bongos Ikwe, The Apostles, Victor Uwaifo to mention but a few were all originals. They acknowledged the social ills in Nigeria and the rest of the world, but their beats remained true to African flavor. Fela Kuti and Sunny Okosun(RIP) were world famous because of their originality. I gave a radio DJ friend of mine a CD from Nigeria to play on his show to give this nameless artist some American exposure. After listening to it he called me and said – “Vicky, there’s no originality, it sounds like any music an American rapper could have sang.” So, there goes the exposure I was counting on for this youngster. Listen, people in America want to hear that African touch in African music. They are not interested in you if you sound like 50 Cents, The Game or Beyonce.

The point is, stop following American rappers sheepishly. Be true to yourself. The same goes for all of you wearing long boots, hooded sweatshirts and much more in Nigeria. That line of clothing is made for very cold climate. Do you understand? P-square, 2 Face, African China, Jeremiah gang, Timaya are ok. I haven’t heard any of the rubbish I hear from the other artists in their songs. For instance, when P-square says “do me, I do you” he did not use profanity, but we all knew what he meant and that is how it should be. I’m watching out for Desperate Chicks, Yahoozy and so many more. The Desperate chicks tried to drift, but they are ok. Ladies, as long as you stay classy, you will be ok. Just never cheapen yourselves. As I said, I’m very civilized, as a matter of fact, I’m a DJ and I’m happening. So, I know what I’m talking about. These new generation of musicians must come to their senses or risk not having their music played on the radios and social events.

LARRY KING, TIME TO HANG UP THOSE SUSPENDERS?

The irony of high definition television aka HDTV is that it hides no flaws; it lays bare any person or thing on it that not even the most layered of make-ups comes to the rescue. In other words, it is completely a denuding television format! No time has this been clearer than since the transition of CNN to HD broadcast, as the old age of Larry King has really come to LIVE! With his audience, now forced to endure a caricature, scarecrow looking, over-wrinkled and ghoulish-like piece of humanity interviewing guests on topical issues?

Icheoku likes Larry King Live a lot and religiously keeps a date with it, but Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 tells us that the time has come for Larry King to hang up those suspenders! It is about time he went off the television to live out his golden years somewhere outside the peoples view; a viewership that is steadily declining because women are turned off and so are young ones, who are scared of the sight of the "apparition" in colorful suspenders, behind the microphone?

Admitted that Larry King is one of a kind, but what is the use of a show when no one watches? The alternatives are minimal as only his forced retirement is acceptable and good enough to woe back the audience which has become somewhat forlorn. The thing about television is that people have to behold what is on it and unsightly scenes are a great turn-off. If CNN cannot retire Larry King, they should put a screen to mask the contours on his face especially his forehead, or find a way to air-brush his face to make it more appealing. The cameras could be made to pan him away from the guests and use his earlier flips, superimposed as if live, to fill in the gaps; assuming CNN cannot do without him on the set? Better still he could be domiciled to CNN radio where only his still good baritone voice will be heard; but his face now does more harm to the sight?

As of today, CNN Larry King and CBS 60 Minutes Andy Rooney are two faces whose time have since come, to vacate the television. No matter how good somebody is, before his/her advent there was someone else doing the beat; and if they go there will always be a replacement to carry on the flag, so Icheoku is not ready to buy into the argument that this duo are so good that they are irreplaceable, otherwise what happens should they drop off the face of the earth? At 70 plus and 90 plus years, respectively, CNN Larry King and CBS 60 Minutes Andy Rooney are nearing the last laps of their earthly sojourn as we all human beings are obliged to travel. The audience should not be forced to witness an old age induced cardiac arrest someday on national television, before the management of this two networks wake up to their responsibilities both to the viewing audience and the parties concerned. Icheoku says, Larry King could take up this matter and remove his face on television by retiring if CNN cannot do so; but to continue to torture his audience with his ethereal looks is no longer what the doctor ordered. There is time for everything under the sun and Larry King's time on television has since gone into sunset.

Hopefully, the management of CNN is listening and crawling through blogspheres, and will find out that its audience are speaking loud and clear that some faces need to stay off the tube! Being good at a job is not a reason to continue to subject the viewing public with the image of a Larry King that is increasingly becoming unsightly and psyche numbing. Icheoku strongly believes that were Larry King a woman, so much pressure would have been mounted to have "her" taken off the screen; also were he a minority he would have since been forced off the air since he has doubly passed his retirement age! But being of the "acceptable do no wrong stock", he is still being "accommodated" under the guise of doing one heck of a good job? Be that as it may, Icheoku says, Larry King is now just too sight-unfriendly to continue being on nightly television network, especially so soon before one goes to bed to suffer a Larry King's induced nightmares?

JACK KEMP, DEAD AT 73!

Republican Jack Kemp is dead! He died at his home in Bethesda, Maryland of cancer; on Saturday May 2, 2009. Jack Kemp was 73.

A former quarterback for the New York's Buffalo Bills, a nine term Congressman representing western New York and later had an unsuccessful presidential run in 1988. He was also once President George H. Bush's housing secretary and later Bob Dole's presidential running-mate.

Left to mourn him are his wife Joanne and their four children as well as what is left of the Republican party? Icheoku says, three score plus ten, plus three is a fairly good old age and we pray the bereaved family and friends will find the fortitude to bear the loss. The loss of a beloved one is always painful, irrespective of the age and whatever shortcomings in life prior to death? To the departed, may you find peace according to your work here on earth, Amen! Adieu, Jack Kemp!

YOUR SUNDAY WITH PROPHET MKO TIBETAN

There will be no sermon this Sunday, May 3, 2009! The prophet is indisposed and hopefully he will be back next Sunday. Until then, read your Bible and do good; remember that heaven and hell are real; and after death comes judgment!

SAMANTHA OROBATOR, A NIGERIAN-BRITISH DRUG COURIER?

A Nigerian born British citizen, who went to Laos to buy some "merchandise" was taken into custody after 1.5lb (680g) of heroin was found on her person at Wattay airport in Laos, en-route London.

Samantha Orobator-Oghagbon, 20, who got pregnant in prison (possibly raped by Laos prison authorities), was arrested August 6, 2008. In Laos, anyone caught with more than 1lb (500g) of heroin faces a mandatory death sentence by firing squad upon conviction?

Miss Orobator was born in Edo State Nigeria in 1988 and moved to Camberwell, South London in 1996; where her aunt, Sabaina Orobator helped with raising her. Her father lives in Nigeria while her mother, Jane Orobator and three young sisters live in Ireland.

Samathan Orabotor_Oghagbon is currently being held at the notorious Phonthong prison, where most prisoners rely on their families for food and welfare due to the deplorable conditions therein. Unfortunately for Orabotor, she has no family in Laos to bring her any provisions including food, so she must contend with the available which consists of two bowls of pig fat water soup and 18oz (500g) of sticky rice? What a five star menu? One of her sympathizers articulated her condition as follows:- there is no one there to visit her, no one to talk to and she doesn't speak the language of Laos! Also there is lack of medical care in Laos prisons, which had caused the death of a British citizen Michael Newman in his prison cell last year after he was refused medical treatment. A French national, Francis Prasak, also died in a Laos prison in January 2001 after his requests for medical treatment was also ignored. Icheoku asks, what fate then awaits this 20 year old pregnant mother to be, when other precedents are so horrifying? Laos, it should be recalled is a communist nation of about of 6 million people, under the vice-grip of a dictator and shares border with Thailand.

Miss Orobator according to sources, led a troubled life and had made several suicide attempts in the past. She also suffered from low self-esteem as a result of sexual and physical abuse by men, family and friends." As is always the case with such couriers, Miss Orobator-Oghagbon claimed that she was forced into carrying drugs for a third party? Wonderful? Icheoku says, a faceless third party, really?

SPELLING'S $150 MILLION DOLLARS MANSION FOR SALE; VANITY?

Who is really rich but that person who finds contentment in what he/she has? Who is really happy but that person who finds joy in doing what positively affects mankind? Who really has a bed but that person who sleeps soundly at night? Who really has a home but that person who finds peace and happiness in such a place, which is considered a bastion? The ability to impact a positive change in the life of another is happiness defined. It usually manifests itself as a deep, heart-felt smile and not a pretentious drug/alcohol-induced plastic show of teeth? Click on the picture top right and appreciate the enormity of this property!

With the above premise as a backdrop, recall that the Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:2 , that "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Icheoku says there is never a time this passage was more apposite than the recent putting up for sale, of the biggest mansion in the United States of America? Some said that it is so big that it is bigger than the president's home - the White House? That the Hollywood property known as "The Manor", owned by Aaron and Candy Spelling is on the market, is not necessarily the story here; but that a person would give up such a "paradise on earth" of a mansion in Holmby Hills, Hollywood, California? Icheoku says, such is only possible when the person can no longer find joy from being "enslaved" to such a cavern? The asking price for the 4.7 acres property is a "meagre" $150 million dollars USD and hopefully buyers will be queuing up to try to out-bid one another?

The Manor is a town unto itself with first class amenities including a barbershop, a beauty salon, a 100 vehicles parking lot with 16 covered carports and about 100 rooms each customized for specific purposes. Built in 1991, the three-story 56,500 square feet mansion incorporates an automated projection screening (movie) room, a bowling alley, a flower-cutting room, library, gym and media room, wine cellar/tasting room, a silver storage room with humidity control, a swimming pool, a reflection pool, a pool house with a kitchen, a tennis court, fountains, a waterfall, a spa, a koi pond, a roof-top rose garden, a mixed garden and a citrus orchard. To house the mansion staff, there is a service wing with five maids' bedrooms and two butlers' suites with kitchenettes, five fireplaces and four wet bars? Icheoku asks, who wouldn't want to be a servant in the manor? The mansion has so many rooms that not even Candy Spelling is sure of the exact number of rooms, but it is believed to be in excess of 100? Some of the rooms includes ceilings that reach up to 30 feet high?

Candy Spelling said she is re-locating to a pent-house condo which she bought at Century City, Los Angeles California for $47 million? According to Candy, she is simply down-sizing from a $150 million dollars home to a $47 million dollars pad, because she just found out that the manor is too big for just one person? Icheoku says, what an epiphany that she just suddenly realized that a 100 rooms plus home is too indulgent for one person to call home? In her final eulogy to the mansion, Candy Spelling said, “I have a lot of wonderful, wonderful, wonderful feelings about this house and special things that I went through in "building" it, with a love that you can’t even imagine; yet I feel like I’m moving on to a new chapter in my life.”

Icheoku says, should no buyer be found for such excess, may be Candy should consider donating the property to the state of California for public use! Late Billionaires Hearst and Vanderbilt estates made similar gift-gesture of their "paradises on earth" when they got fed up with their own vanity and gave it up? That will be the good thing to do and exactly what sociology would recommend as no rational mind will judiciously think that such a monumental housing scheme befits single occupancy? It will be recalled that Aaron Spelling's magic hands produced such hit-shows as “Charlie’s Angels,” “Dynasty” and “Beverly Hills 90210” before he died in 2006. The Manor is really a trophy property, comparable to the Playboy mansion!

27 NIGERIAN UNITED NATIONS PEACE KEEPING FORCE SOLDIERS, SENTENCED TO LIFE?

Mutiny as defined, is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly-situated individuals, typically members of the military or the crew of any ship to openly oppose, change or overthrow an existing superior authority! Or to disobey an order which they are legally bound to obey? Or cause a revolt or rebellion against a constituted authority?

Icheoku asks, does demanding for ones' duly entitled payment rise to the level of a mutiny? The dictionary says NO! However, the authorities in Nigeria think otherwise and have sent away for life, 27 patriotic Nigerian soldiers, for an offence which they did not commit? The protesting soldiers did not oppose or change or overthrow any existing authority? They did not disobey any lawful orders but were merely demanding to be paid their earned income? Also the soldiers did not revolt or cause a rebellion against anybody, so where is the beef for which they have been severely punished? A coup de tat would qualify? A violent uprising would? A wilful unruly disobedience to a legal order would? A mayhem would? But a protest-demand for payment of earned entitlement does not, will not and should not qualify as a mutiny; if any, the authorities that precipitated the protest, by not paying or withholding earned emoluments, are the culpable party here. The underlying question should be, why were these soldiers not paid their earned entitlements? Eight hundred (800) soldiers worldwide participated in the United Nation's Peace Keeping Mission, NIBAT 15, in Liberia between August 2007 and April 2008; 773 of them were paid for the job done leaving 27 of them, who happened to be Nigerians, unpaid; and now their attempt to draw attention to their plight have led to their being pilloried?

If the soldiers protest was deemed unacceptable, may be the authorities should have done the right thing by paying them and hence muted the protest. But no, they withheld or refused to pay them, and these soldiers, family men and women who like any other Nigeria have needs and responsibilities, protested and their reward is a life sentence? What a damper and downer on a group of young men and women who want to do right by and for their country? Icheoku says, such a travesty should not be allowed to stand as a dismissal from service would have been a more appropriate punishment, if it is established that protesting for ones' earned income is now against Nigerian military code of ethics? But why should a disciplined body like the military fail and/or refuse to pay salaries of her staff or was it another case akin to the former Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun; who used to put money meant for the salary of policemen and women into a high yielding interest account, to scheme off profit before "remembering" that everyone have needs and responsibilities? A judicial investigation is needed to unravel why these 27 Nigerian soldiers were not paid their entitlements when their counterparts from other parts of the world were duly and timely paid! This is the right and correct thing to do instead of merely addressing its symptoms with this harsh sentences!

The Brigadier- General Ishaya Bauka's military court martial's life sentences on these soldiers is rather too excessive and should not be allowed to stand. It lacks rational and once again puts Nigeria in the bull-eye of world mockery as a land where real culprits loom free while innocent patriotic soldiers are penalised for merely asking to be paid their lawfully earned income. If any person is liable in this case, it is the authorities who withheld money which belonged to someone else, the protesting soldiers. Icheoku calls on the appellate authorities to overrule this judgment and not allow it to stand as it lacks merit. We are emphatic that a peaceful protest, no matter how unsavory it may be to the authorities, does not rise up to a mutiny; for which these soldiers have been unlawfully sentenced to life imprisonment. These soldiers "merely blocked a road" for some hours and did not damage any property or injured or killed anyone, so why the harsh punishment?

Icheoku says their life sentence is an excessive, outrageous, cruel and unusual punishment; at worst these soldiers could have simply been dismissed for insubordination but certainly not sent to prison for life based on the adduced evidence. A protest-demand to be paid an earned income is not mutinous and should have not attracted such a stiff punishment as life imprisonment; there are so many other deterrents for the action of these "convicts" which at best constituted gross indiscipline but definitely not mutiny.

PRESDIENT BARACK OBAMA, CLOCKS 100!

President Barack Obama, your first one hundred days in office has been a beehive of activities, tackling both domestic and foreign problems facing our great country. For these, we are grateful and pray that the Almighty Lord will continue to protect that which He has painstakingly made possible.

From the economy to foreign relations to the Somalia pirates imbroglio and now the Mexican swine flu; anyone who said you have been idle must be thinking with "half his brain tied to his back".

Icheoku says, the journey so far has been good and we sure look forward to the rest of the journey with you, as you lead us to our eventual destination! Once again, congratulations Mr. President on your first 100 days in office!

ARLEN SPECTER, DEMOCRATIZED!

As the tent of the Republican Party continues its deathly shrink, one of the few republicans with a moderate viewpoint, with half his brain tied to the front, devoid of rabid extremism, the senator from Pennsylvania, has jumped ship! With his departure, the residue now left of the Republican Party is a fully 'Talibanized' amalgamation of very few die-hard good old boys and their mistresses; transforming the well accommodating Republican party of the old into a religious, bigoted, club of right-wingers whose breed are rapidly dying off? Icheoku asks, does the present day republican party still qualifies as a political party? The senator of 29 years from Philadelphia, Arlen Specter, 79, is now a democrat! Alleluia! Icheoku says, welcome to your natural political home, Senator!

Unfortunately the right-winger hacks, instead of a reality-check, are trying in vain to explain away the monumental loss which their party suffered today with this departure? Thankfully, the Democratic Party under the charismatic and dynamic leadership of President Barack Obama has become such a huge tent that there is space for Arlen Specter, as well as other fidgeting, intending 'departees'! Icheoku says, we shall not be surprised if Senator John McCain follows suit. In declaring his intent to cross-over, Senator Arlen Specter said, "Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans." Welcoming the move, President Barack Obama, in a telephone call to Arlen Specter said, "We are thrilled to have you!"

Arlen Specter, like John McCain is a known maverick who votes mostly according to his conscience and not on party lines. He cast a deciding vote against the confirmation of Republican Party Judge Robert Bork for the Supreme court; voted "not proven, therefore not guilty" on the impeachment of Bill Clinton; voted for President Barack Obama stimulus package against his former party's objection and he is a rare pro-choice Republican? In the words of an observer, Arlen Specter did not make the switch early enough and surprisingly, Specter's growing doubts about the Republican Party took so long to percolate?

Icheoku says, if he survives this move and gets re-elected to the Senate, Senator Arlen Specter would have become a truly all round living survivor: he survived an open heart surgery, brain cancer and lymphoma! Adding a political survivor to the resume will make Arlen an the legendary cat with nine lives and Icheoku's Survivor Extraordinaire! Once again, welcome Arlen!

(Read Senator Arlen Specter's statement.)

SEBELIUS KATHLEEN, SWINE FLU SPEEDS UP CONFIRMATION?

Icheoku says the only good thing so far to come out from the Mexican swine flu is today's speedy confirmation for the Secretary of Health and Human Services, of Kansas governor, Kathleen Sebelius.

With 54 Democrats, 9 Republicans and 2 independents voting "YES" and 31 Republicans, as usual voting "NO", with "half their brains tied to their back" in deference to their master Rush Limbaugh, the nation now has a secretary to lead the effort at checkmating the Mexican swine flu? The roll call was 65-31 votes to confirm and thus the former governor of the state of Kansas was sworn in to head the department of Health and Human Services as its secretary. Icheoku says, congratulations to Kathleen Sebelius and wish her God's speed in midwifing President Barack Obama's health care reform to fruition.

It is noteworthy that the Republican extremists were only against her candidacy because she is a moderate who maintains a rational approach to women's right to choose?

Icheoku says, may be the right thing for these brand of republicans to do, is to move over to Pakistan's Swat Valley to live with their ilks among the Talibans; as the United States of America has so far moved irretrievably with progressive ideals, to continue to accommodate their very myopic life of ideologues!

SWINE FLU, ATTACK OF THE MICROBES!

With 149 already killed and about one thousand stricken, what exactly is swine flu? Swine influenza aka swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. It causes high levels of illness and low death rates among pigs. Pigs infected with influenza virus have a runny nose, lethargy, cough and decreased appetite. The virus likely spreads from pig to pig through contact with infected mucous secretions. Swine flu is caused by any virus of the family orthomyxoviridae, that is wide spread among pigs(swine) populations.

Strains of swine flu virus also can be directly transmissible to humans. Most human infections occurred following direct contact with infected pigs? People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at higher risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. Swine flu can also mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human such as the Mexican outbreak which is believed to have undergone this mutation? Influenza or flu is a continuously occurring event among animals, especially birds population.

However, there has been at least one documented case of human-to-human transmission of swine flu. In March and April 2009, over 1000 cases of suspected swine flu in humans were detected in Mexico and the Southwestern United States of California, Texas, New Mexico? The Mexican 2009 swine flu outbreak, of a new strain H1N1 influenza virus was first detected by in March 2009. As of April 26, 2009, Mexico City schools, universities, and all public events remained closed or suspended while other schools in the U.S. closed due to confirmed cases in students. On April 27, 2009, Mexican government officials announced a nationwide shut down of schools.

This never-before-seen strain of swine flu has turned killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and also urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings. They urge people to take common-sense precautions including covering your coughs and sneezes, with a tissue that you throw away or by sneezing into your elbow rather than your hand. Washing ones hands frequently and if soap and water aren't available, with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or gels is also advised. As a precaution, people are advised to avoid close contact with someone who's sick and avoid crowded gatherings in places where swine flu is known to be spreading.

The good news however is that swine flu is sensitive to and treatable with the flu drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Face mask is also advised to effectively cover a person's mouth and nose so that if a person is around someone who is infected, there is a decreased likelihood of transmission. It is said that the available scientific evidence does not support the general wearing of face-masks by those who are not ill, whilst going about their normal activities. Currently there is no vaccine for swine flu but vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of common influenza and includes fever, cough, sore throat, lethargy, lack of appetite, while runny nose, nausea, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few other patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

People should avoid touching their mouth, nose or eyes with their hands unless they've washed their hands. If people do cough, they should either cough into a tissue and throw it in the garbage immediately, cough into their elbow, or, if they cough in their hand, they should wash their hands immediately. Generally, swine flu viruses spread through uncovered coughs and sneezes or by touching your mouth or nose with unwashed hands? Swine Flu is spread between humans through coughing or sneezing of infected people and touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, like a doorknob just touched by someone who sneezed into his hand. The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.

This particular Mexican swine flu has unusually been aggressive on healthy young adults, much like the deadly Spanish Flu of 1918, unlike most other influenza strains which devastate young children and elderly adults as well as others with weaker immune systems. Icheoku hopes medical sciences will once again rise up to the challenge and stop this swine flu inn order to save humanity from possible extinction assuming it takes a turn for the worst!

IBRAHIM BADAMOSI BABANGIDA (IBB), ATTACK OF THE GENERAL?

For crying out loud, it appears that disgruntled Nigerian gestapo-generals are suddenly conflicted with their conscience and are now speaking out? Icheoku asks them, what suddenly came over you and what have become of you lately? First it was Yakubu Gowon who lamented the disappointment by the political establishment who has caused the polity so much pain that they are fast losing faith in democracy? Now the evil genius himself, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has added his hollering voice, barking about lack of medical services in the country? Icheoku says, when coup-plotting generals start to shout, their minions in uniforms may be getting their subliminal message that it is ok to strike; and President Umaru Yar'Adua must be wary of these midnight wolves as it portends danger?

As head of a government-kidnapping and hijacking military junta for eight years, Icheoku asks, what did Ibrahim Babangida do to develop medical facilities in Nigeria? Nothing! Nada! Zilch! Some years later after he was disgraced out of office by June 12th, he is now preaching against "convenient overseas' treatment" by some government officials? What a pathetic hypocritical scumbag, this fox of a military man is? He is not called the evil genius for nothing as his conniving and contriving double-faced Janus of a person becomes obviously manifest, each time he tries to take a faulty step towards his futile rehabilitation before the Nigerian people. That this gospel of anti-overseas treatment is coming from a son of a gun, who himself gave impetus to the practice; and having himself, just returned from one such overseas medical checkup and treatment in France is mind-boggling. This is a man whose penchant for staying alive to enjoy his looted money from Nigerian treasury is such that he is phobic of any pain no matter how mild; that he jets out to check it out? That he is now antagonising other government officials who compete with him with the practice he institutionalised is a cause of concern especially as to his mental health? If Icheoku remembers correctly, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, as then Robbin Hood of Nigerian government went to the America Hospital in France for radiculopathy surgery; wherein Domkat Bali, before he was humiliated out of office, came back from visiting him in his hospital bed to report that Babangida is doing ok?

This is a man who taught Nigerian government officials how to be callous, mean, base, to loot the treasury, kill people with parcel bomb, annul free and fair elections, wipe away oppositions, frequent overseas for medical treatment? Here he is now, preaching dearth of medical facilities in Nigeria? He sure truly lives up to his alias "Maradoner? Icheoku says, were this mallam to look in the mirror he would readily see that he was addressing himself instead? Ibrahim Babangida annulled the freest and fairest election ever conducted in Nigeria and such is his pariah-state now in Nigeria, except for his praise-singers, that what late MKO Abiola once said concerning him, "with a friend like IBB no one needs and enemy", has made him a denigrate person of Nigeria? Now, this self-acclaimed prince of Minna has opened his gap-toothy mouth to advocate the development of medical facilities in Nigeria which he never found necessary to do while in power for eight long years? A power he stole through the brigandage of a military coup de tat? What a despicable person, this mallam is and he finds a place where he is still allowed and recognised to speak; and on such a solemn occasion as Olikoye Ransome Kuti's memorial lecture? Icheoku asks, IBB when you had the opportunity, what did you do to provide and/or improve medical services in Nigeria and you had the money then due to the gulf war oil windfall?

The only reason people like this snivelling wicked man from Niger State still thrives is that Nigeria is not a civilized place otherwise he would have since been put away for all the atrocities associated with his regime? First was his treasonous forcible take over of government, then came the killing of Dele Giwa, Mamma Vasta, Gideon Orka and crew; followed by the looting of Nigeria treasury of $12.4 billion dollars; also for refusing to answer to a constituted authority of the Justice Oputa commission and lastly, for conspiring with Sani Abacha to take over government by not retiring him alongside, when he was pressured to hand over power to weakling Ernest Shonekan? On any of this count, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would have been sent away for a long prison sentence if not to the execution stake; but no he is in Nigeria, a country where criminals reign supreme and now he is talking?

In his offensive statement, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida said, “If by now those who are highly placed to develop medical facilities in the country find it very convenient to go on medical examination overseas, then something is fundamentally wrong". To which Icheoku responds, Ibrahim Babangida wasm once highly placed as the head of a military junta in Nigeria, but failed to do something? Again, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida had opportunity to develop medical facilities in Nigeria but his wickedness blinded him and he also failed to do so? Further, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida personally, finds it very convenient to go on overseas medical checkup/treatment, and he just recently came back from one in France? It is obvious that Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has now finally confirmed what the whole world has known all along, that something is fundamentally wrong with him; as no greater tragic-personality in Nigerian history exists, other than himself.

Our advise is that all these grumpy old retired Nigerian generals should let the polity be, as they have been traumatised enough by them and their inhuman actions when they had power. Please Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Icheoku admonishes you to hush as you do not have the moral standing to address such issue as medical health services in Nigeria, since you ignored it when you had the opportunity and means/resources to do something about it. Nigerians are tired of you and your devilish ways and hence pray that you disappear, like we advised your brother in coup planning Yakubu Gowon, into the doldrums. Nigerians do not need any advise from their former nemesis whose liberties while in power was rather excessive and draconian? If this is an effort at your rehabilitation, IBB, then you are stuck as your consultants are doing a heck of a shoddy job. You cannot rewrite history and this your very attempt at lampooning "convenient overseas medical treatment by officials" is simply too ironic, coming from a pharisee like you. Away with IBB, the evil genius and his advise!

YOUR SUNDAY WITH PROPHET MKO TIBETAN!

Brethren in the Lord, the topic for today's interaction is JOY! Presently, on Main Street, High Street and Wall Street we see bitterness on the faces of everybody; the faces of people in the world is not very happy today and you ask why? Even the faces of young school leavers, married and unmarried directors, travellers and traders etc, has been overcome by sadness. Simply put, sadness has covered the entire world and you ask why?

According to the book of Genesis 1, after God created everything, he was happy with what he has created? God created happiness for himself by his creation and as you know, as mere soldiers, we are only passing through this place but once and nobody can create joy for you but yourself! Remember some people are on their sick bed, some people are in wheelchairs, some people have cancer, some people have just one month to live, many other people have received their death-date already and some people are even in prison, so why don't you create joy for yourself, why not be happy? Medical science has made it clear that it takes 72 nerves to frown and just 14 nerves to smile? So why not be happy with less tasking of your nerves? It really cast less to be happy. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Religious people have a reputation, partly deserved and partly not deserved of being gloomy; but you would never guess how many times in the Bible, amazing joy was mentioned. Being in the right relationship with your God and your fellow man is a source of great joy. The person who knows where he or she stands with God can feel joy in all situations, for it is not dependent on other externals.

Joy in the Bible's view, is not the same as pleasure or amusement. It is more enduring, as it is not based solely on the pleasant sensations of the moment but also looking forward to eternity. The Bible could be called an "anti-sin" book. It is! Also we need to remember that it is a 'pro-joy book! His angel endures but a moment in his favour. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with gladness. Read Psalm 30:5 & 11; Psalm 33:21; Psalm 46:4; Psalm 63:5 and Romans14:17.

Until next Sunday when we meet again, ask yourself if all the worries in the world is enough to deny you your joy and happiness; remember no matter how bad your situation, there are so many people out there, you are better off? Now, rejoice and be glad and joyful! Keep God close to you, Amen!

GOLDEN GIRLS' BEA ARTHUR, DEAD AT 86!

Known by the moniker, Dorothy in the Television comedy, "The Golden Girls", Bea Arthur who played Dorothy, the daughter of Sophia Petrillo, late Estelle Getty, is dead. She was 86 years old and died of peacefully in her sleep at Los Angeles California, USA. She had cancer.

She was tall, baritone-voiced, witty, vivacious and matronly. Her use of "Ma" to address her mother, Sophia and the way she drags it out was quite endearing.

The Golden Girls,” created by Susan Harris aired as a series on NBC from 1985-92 and reruns till today. It focused on the lives of four previously married but divorced or widowed and aging women who shared a house in Miami. Three retirees - Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan - and the mother of Arthur, Estelle Getty, lived together in the house.

The group portrayed the lives of older women as lively, uncertain, dramatic and passion-filled as those of college sorority sisters. They dealt with various serious life issues ranging from aging, gun control, gay rights to domestic violence. "The Golden Girls" was so riveting as Sophia told stories of her days as a young girl growing up in Sicily-Italy; how they pound their clothes on a rock in a stream to agitate the dirt; with her seeming bouts of dementia? Dorothy always stops her by saying, while making a face, "Ma"?

The twice married and divorced mother of two sons, Bea Arthur was born Bernice Frankel in New York City in 1922. Those who watched "The Golden Girls" know that a gifted actress has passed on and I count myself a fan. Icheoku says, adieu Dorothy as you join your TV mother Sophia in heaven!

A MAN AND HIS LAMBS!

Icheoku picture of the week shows a Pakistani man who is hitching a ride with his two sheep? Please notice the special relationship between both animals and their owner and how relaxed they are? Isn't that peace on earth, that both man and animals are getting along very well? Man's adventurism is unlimited, especially if that man lives in the Taliban controlled Swat Valley of northwestern Wazaristan, Pakistan? Until tomorrow, enjoy this ingenuity of a man and his animals' camaraderie! Now, you may click on the picture for a more detailed-pixelled outlook? Peace on earth!

GOWON, AWAY WITH DEMOCRACY?

Icheoku says, was Yakubu Gowon sending subliminal message to his primary constituency, the military or simply playing the role of a "prophet", when he said that democracy in Nigeria may soon lose its appeal? In the very own words of this Birom man, “Unfortunately, democracy may not take firm roots in an environment of debilitating and excruciating hunger and poverty, compounded by weak or non-existent basic infrastructure, social injustice and physical insecurity. ..... ........the continued presence of corruption, its attendant unemployment and poverty; social insecurity and uncoordinated governments’ policies and programmes, over the decades, would make government by the people lose its appeal".

To Yakubu Gowon, Icheoku says, the only military intervention that may be acceptable to Nigerians again, will be that intervention that will hold every past leaderships in Nigeria, including yourself, accountable! A pure Jerry Rawlings - type of military putsch that will purge the Nigerian society of all its canker-worms! Only such will suffice, otherwise Nigerians should say to Gowon, no deal! Thanks, but no, thanks!

Experience has shown that the problem with Nigeria leadership is not in their dress-code, 'khaki or agbada', but in the ineptitude of the ruling class as found both in the civilian and military wing of the leadership. They are both corrupt and uncaring! The bitterness left in the mouth of Nigerians by the trio of endemically corrupt gnomes Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Olusegun Obasanjo military regimes, proved that the military is as light-fingered as their civilian counterparts? So Gowon was preaching to the choir to observe that there is corruption in the democratic government of today, as Nigerians hopelessly live it daily and the military is not sacred either? If Gowon's expectant military cannot take care of business properly and clean the Augean stable very well, Icheoku says, they should remain in their barracks and not disturb the relative freedom in the country now; more-so such adventurism is no longer popular but belongs in the last two decades with his ilks.

The Nigerian-Biafra civil war villain, who permitted and supervised the worst genocide in the history of mankind and who himself narrowly escaped the firing squad for his alleged role in the Benue-Plateau coup that killed Muritala Mohammed, is now pontificating holier than thou, when every present day Nigerian problem could be traced and squarely placed on his feet? Who is Gowon to now advocate a better government for Nigerians when he had the most promising opportunity to make Nigeria great but blew it? It was during Yakubu Gowon's puerile government that Nigeria became awashed with petrol-dollars during the oil crisis of 1973, which brought billions of dollars into Nigeria's coffers that Gowon was allegedly heard saying, 'there is too much money that he does not know what to do with it'? Icheoku says, if this son of Plateau State had any modicum of foresight whatsoever, he would have diversified and fully invested the Nigeria economy in such a way that it would today, rank among world's emergent economic powers; which would have earned her an invitation to the recent G20 world economic summit in London? Such massive investment and diversification would have also inoculated Nigeria from its oil-based monolithic economy, which swings alongside the pendulum of world oil prices? But no he did not do it and today, look who is talking?

Gowon is responsible for all the ills afflicting Nigeria today after he killed off so many Biafrans, the vanguards and arrow-heads of Nigeria's then emerging developmental economy and later asphyxiated the surviving ones, when he could not find the liver to implement his three "Rs" of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation? As if these wicked actions and failed policies of his were not enough to secure him a place in hell, Gowon went ahead and implemented his twenty (20) pounds only, monetary policy, as accrual to every Biafra irrespective of how much that fellow had in the bank, prior to his armed hostilities against a people just fighting for their existential survival? It is instructive also to note that it was within this total eclipse of Biafrans, that Yakubu Gowon carried out his indigenization experiment which is the precursor of today's lack of appetite for foreigners continued investment in Nigeria? Yakubu Gowon is such a despicable fellow that Icheoku wishes he falls off the face of this earth and disappear completely from sight, instead of forcibly reminding people what he represented and still represents till today - a bloody despot!

So what if the nation’s democracy caves in, as desires by Yakubu Gowon? Icheoku says, it will not be the first time nor will it be the last time; so why increase the pressure on the charge of the polity by stating what every right thinking Joe-Nigeria knows is a question of time? Each successive Nigerian governments have been corrupt except for the Buhari-Idiagbon regime, whose short lifespan helped a great deal as the 53 suitcases scandal proved? Tafawa Balewa was corrupt? Gowon was corrupt, maniacal and genocidal? Obasanjo first coming was the same? Shehu Shagari and Umaru Dikko were no exception? Same goes for Ibrahim Babangida? Ernset Shonekan was a titular head devoid of real power so he could not have helped himself with the nation's treasury, even if he wanted? Sani Abacha's loot in Switzerland has not been accounted for till date? Abdulsalam was smart to hand over the hot-potato called Nigeria to Obasanjo so soon after he took over, but was later compensated with 16 billion Naira power contract which has neither been executed nor accounted for? Obasanjo's second coming became the mother of all corrupt governments in Nigeria and the last has not been heard of the bawdily of that infamous government. So Gowon, what say you now? Corruption with its attendant unemployment, poverty, social insecurity and uncoordinated government policies and programmes are a fact of life in Nigeria which Nigerians have almost come to accept as a given; so this disgusting human specimen, Yakubu Gowon was not saying anything new and should have shut up? May be he needs some contracts from the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua?

In summation, Icheoku says, as a coupist military junta himself, Yakubu Gowon did not achieve much for the upliftments and development of Nigeria during his time in power; except that he caused millions of Biafrans to perish in the worst genocide of recorded history! Biafrans, a people who were and still remains the only reason for Nigeria's survival and whose enterprising spirit is so stellar that it is unmatchable? A superlative people, Biafra, whose industry provides the single most commanding force dejure driving Nigeria, despite the tight-strait they are forced to operate in by each successive repressive and very antagonistic governments in Nigeria? Icheoku therefore demands of Gowon to hush and put up, as corruption is not only the preserve of civilian governments to warrant a coup as he impliedly advocates now? Alternatively he should stop disturbing the general psyche of Nigerians with his outbursts and from a guy who could not even win his primary constituency during Babangida's option A4?