AS OBAMA GOES TO GHANA, NIGERIANS BEMOAN LOSS OF STATUS!

It is no longer a secret that Nigeria, the once acclaimed giant of Africa has lost its premier status in the eyes of the world. Today, Nigeria has withered away in the eyes of the world and is no longer seen as the representative of Africa, among the comity of nations. Such is the perfidy that every sensible Nigerian should seriously be questioning how things got so out of control that Nigeria is now deemed a "pariah" nation? Icheoku says, it is time Nigeria started digging herself out of the molasses it is in now, where successive rudderless and inept leaderships have sunk it into. Icheoku's verdict, Nigeria is bogged down and sinking fast; and barring any meaningful intervention, may soon be completely finished!

The other day, Nigerian foreign affairs team led by Ojo Maduekwe and the Siemens bribe-taker Jubril Aminu were in Washington DC, lobbying the State Department for President Umaru Yar'Adua to meet and greet President Barack Obama? But they were given a cold shoulder, completely rebuffed; and in diplomatic lingo told that the president's tight itinerary will not accommodate such a visit now. Few months later, the G20 London world economic summit once again told Nigeria, that it is about time it put her acts together by ignoring her and not inviting her to the summit? Any hand-writing on the walls, yet? May be, it was such an incomprehensible hieroglyphics of a writing for the authorities in Abuja to decode? Abuja seems to be playing the possum and pretending like the cricket roasting in the fire, that it is just cooling off? How strange? Icheoku says, it sure does not look good that the hitherto giant of Africa, previously the first is now the last!

Once again the world waited to see if President Umaru Yar'Adua meant well when he promised that it is a new day in Nigeria, that rule of law and the will of the masses will henceforth guide elections in Nigeria? But lo and behold, Ekiti State's re-run election proved that the leopard, Nigeria, is not just yet ready to change its spots! That President Umaru Yar'Adua is either a conniving pretender or he is lost at the sea of Nigeria political labyrinth. The world verdict, it now seems is that Nigeria's problem is intractable and they should rather be ignored to see if such apathy will jolt them back to reality? That Halliburton's bribery recipients are still moving freely in Nigeria is without doubt? Also that a high government official implicated in the Siemens $12 million dollars bribery, Jubril Aminu is still heading the Nigerian senate foreign relation committee is instructive on the destructive nature of the powers in Nigeria; who do not care a hue about the damage their charade is causing Nigeria.

Now the mother of all snubs and the first African-American president of America, Barack Obama goes on his first mother-land visit to Africa and it is not going to be to Nigeria? What a heck? How has the mighty Nigeria fallen? How has Nigeria become so decimated in the eyes of the world, that it is probably still being tolerated just for its cheap oil? This Obama's visit to Ghana is particularly "painful" to Nigerians because Ghana does not necessarily factor in Africa in the scheme of things:- not in military prowess, not in international peace-keeping effort, not in population, not in natural resources, not in manpower, not in over-all wealth or just name your paradigm. Were it South Africa it could be understandable! Were it Egypt, Nigerians will accept it; but to Ghana, it can only be interpreted as a move to make a statement to Nigeria, that enough is enough and it is about time they sat up or be forgotten!

Icheoku says, wait until the newly discovered oil in Ghana begins to make its way to the world market and the undertakers will come for a formal interment of what used to be the giant of Africa! Is it too late, probably not; but it is going to take a lot of introspective re-thinking by the authorities in Nigeria to understand that, what is going on in Nigeria is not merely an internal affairs of Nigeria as the whole world is watching. Nigeria needs to re-boot! Nigeria needs to press her re-set button for a new beginning! Nigeria needs to put her house in order! It is so shameful it hurts, the rot that is Nigeria today; that it does not factor in any longer in the analysis of Africa, nay the world!

Icheoku says, it is regrettable that Nigeria has now also lost to Ghana in Washington's permutations of her African interests? That Ghana is being accorded the privilege of hosting the first African visit of the first African-American president of America, Barack Obama in July, 2009 is too much of a slap in the face for the formerly known giant of Africa, Nigeria. It shows a failure of the foreign policy team of Nigeria and hence their resignation is the proper thing to do now. Icheoku therefore calls on Ojo Maduekwe and his team at the foreign affairs ministry to resign their office immediately.

Their failure to secure and/or garner President Barack Obama's first African visit for Nigeria smacks of an ineffective team which does not understand their job description properly and should hence be disbanded. Such a preferred visit to Ghana is an affront on Nigeria's standing in Africa and an insult on the prestige of Nigeria; it besmirches Nigeria and whoever allowed or permitted this to happen, either through commission or omission to effective international diplomacy should suffer a consequence as a result. Nothing short of their resignation from office should be acceptable to Nigerians, including President Umaru Yar'Adua; this is in addition to our call and continues call for President Umaru Yar'Adua to throw in the towel for not knowing what to do with the mandate which was handed to him by the cabals of Nigeria. Until such a day when Nigeria will get its acts right, Icheoku cries for thee, motherland Nigeria! Be that as it may, and in the spirit of African brotherhood, we felicitate with Ghana's President Atta Mills of Ghana on securing this historic visit; and wish him a successful first-hosting right of President Barack Obama of the United States of America in July 2009.

NIGERIAN FRAUDSTERS, NEED RE-BRANDING?

Dora Akunyili, now you have your job cut out for you, as these Nigerian alleged fraudsters could use some of your re-branding potion! They are very good candidates for your re-branding program? They are the reason why Nigeria has no moral value abroad and treated with utmost disdain as a very fraudulent country? Who gives Nigeria a bad name but such fellows as were arrested in New York just recently, for various credit-cards frauds?

This people and their likes are part of the reason why Nigeria needs re-branding? Icheoku says, an opportunity has never presented itself better for the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria, than the present arraignment of these Nigerians for various acts of frauds in New York, United States of America. If convicted, EFCC must explore ways to re-try these people in Nigeria for their anti-Nigeria's image activities; and possibly confiscate their assets and properties which they have squirrelled up in Nigeria over the period of their expatriate escapades! Examples are painful but are very instructive!

What very "good" ambassadors of Nigeria these folks really are? Probably, they fell under pressure of trying to prove themselves to their people back home in Nigeria, that America is all this and that; that they have made it and now living the American dream? What an unfortunate nation that produces so much criminality that no sane person trusts any of them throughout the globe?

As always, Nigeria is once again "demanding" that United States of America government give them details about these 40 Nigerians. Icheoku asks, doesn't the Nigeria government know that freedom of information act is operational in America and that a little diligent search of publicly available records would reveal all there is to know about these suspects? Better still, they can engage an attorney to go to Borough of Queens, New York and demand to see what evidence they may have against these arrested Nigerians?

However, Nigeria have made so many broken promises to her citizens in the past and no one really looks forward to seeing anything come out of the present development in New York. The fact of the matter is that Nigerians need to change their ways; and until the world begins to see Nigeria as a safe place where the incidences of fraud and corruption no longer take the center stage, it is going to remain same old same old! Icheoku says, what is required now is a firm commitment by the authorities in Abuja especially EFCC to set example of their anti-corruption effort with this 40 Nigerians, who have rubbished whatever is left of the image of Nigeria. Enough should really be enough, and opportunity now knocks!

DEMJANJUK (IVAN THE TERRIBLE), NEVER TOO OLD FOR JUSTICE?

A wheel chair-confined octogenarian invalid and suspected Nazi war criminal, John Demjanjuk 89, was deported to Germany to face his past. He was boarded in a wheelchair onto a jet that flew him to Germany to be tried for his alleged role in the murders of Jews and others at a Nazi death camp during World War II. The deportation came on the heels of four days of the U.S. Supreme Court refusal to consider his request to block his deportation order and about 3 1/2 years after he was last ordered deported? Icheoku says, the long grinding wheel of justice has finally come screeching to a halt for Mr. Demjanjuk; an example of someone never being too old for justice?

Born in Ukraine, Demjanjuk is wanted on a Munich arrest warrant that accuses him of 29,000 counts of accessory to murder as a guard at the Sobibor death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Demjanjuk denies the Germany's accusations, saying he was held by the Germans as a Soviet prisoner of war and was never a camp guard? But Rabbi Marvin Hier, a founder of the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center which tracks holocaust perpetrators, said Demjanjuk deserves to be punished and his will probably be the last trial of someone accused of Nazi war crimes? According to him, "His work at the Sobibor death camp was to push men, women and children into the gas chamber. He had no mercy, no pity and no remorse for the families whose lives he was destroying." Icheoku says, could this be a case of vendetta, an eye for an eye according to the venerate law of Moses?

The case dates to 1977 when the United States Justice Department moved to revoke Demjanjuk's U.S. citizenship, based on information that he hid his past as a Nazi death camp guard. Demjanjuk was previously tried in Israel in 1988, accused of being the notorious "Ivan the Terrible" at the Treblinka death camp in Poland. He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, a conviction which was later overturned by the Israeli Supreme Court. A U.S. judge however revoked his citizenship in 2002 based on U.S. Justice Department evidence showing he concealed his service at Sobibor and other Nazi-run death and forced-labor camps. An immigration judge ruled in 2005 that he could be deported to Germany, Poland or Ukraine; following which, Munich prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for him in March. Appeals followed until the Supreme court agreed with the deportation order.

Icheoku says, based on humanitarian grounds and empathy for his very advanced age of 89 years, Mr. Demjanjuk would have been spared deportation for whatever intransigence he may or may not have committed. The alleged Nazi-war criminal has very little time left here on earth and should have been allowed to live out whatever is left of his miserable life in his Seven Hills, Cleveland, Ohio, United States home. Sending him to Germany is being sent to a "foreign" country, accused of long gone crimes? What is done is done, and forgiveness is human. His now being dislocated from his equally aged wife of many years and the rest of his family is avoidable and could have been avoided. The man is just too old now to even feel the weight of whatever justice that might be meted to him as a result of his past alleged criminal activities. Instead, let his conscience deal with him and let God be the final arbiter.

REMBERT WEAKLAND, A CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP AND A GAY MAN!

A Roman Catholic Archbishop and former head of the Milwaukee archdiocese, Archbishop Rembert Weakland, 82, is a gay man! He finally came out of the closet to admit his preference for men and proclaim his disdain for the Roman Catholic church's canon of chastity and celibacy? Icheoku asks, is it not about time the catholic church modernises and allow her priests and bishops to become real humans? Sex is a universal language and a biological function, so why 'exclude' these men in white robes?

In his upcoming memoir, "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs of a Catholic Archbishop," the gay archbishop purportedly said, I am gay and so what?

It will be recalled that the gay archbishop who has been in charge of the diocese since 1977 was forced out of office after he bribed his victim, Paul Marcoux, (pictured here right), a former Marquette University theology student, with $450,000 to keep him quiet from outing their sexual relationship? The archbishop allegedly, regularly penned love letters to his male object of affection, usually ending it with "I love you"!

Icheoku says, there must be something in a name as Archbishop Weakland was found to be very weak; and unable to withstand temptation of the male butt? The archbishop also encouraged and abetted his priests who were similarly situated as him in their gay-dom and recycled them through the dioceses, instead of summarily punishing or defrocking them for their various sexual molestations and assaults? The archbishop was, simply stated, being his brothers in sodomy keeper? Homosexuality among Catholics priesthood has become so rampant that it could qualify now as a predominantly gay vocation, with an estimated 25 percent to 50 percent of them, gay? Regrettably though, many of them are still officiating and refusing to come out of the closet to declare their freedom of choice and sexuality. Icheoku says, reverends, why die in silence?

Icheoku says, this archbishop is a pharisee and full of sins:- of carnal knowledge, sodomy, bribery, concealment and lying? Icheoku asks, what would Jesus Christ say or do about this his disgraced ambassador Weakland? May be, only a well deserved seat in hot hell, will suffice for and atone for his atrocities; and being the general overseer of God's children, parishioners of his diocese, made his case worse. Weakland not only covered-up his sexual perversion, but colluded to conceal his priests' criminal sexual misbehavior, including child molestations.

It is noteworthy too that Weakland, a Benedictine monk, once served in Rome as leader of the International Benedictine Confederation and also worked on a liturgy commission for the Second Vatican Council, which made reforms in the 1960s meant to modernize the church? Disgraced out of office, the archbishop now lives in a retirement community near the Milwaukee archdiocese and plans to later move to St. Mary's Abbey in Morristown, New Jersey, this summer. Icheoku says, the solution is for the catholic church to let humans be humans, irrespective of the cloak they adorn!

SGT. JOHN M. RUSSEL, A MURDEROUS AMERICAN SOLDIER!

He lost it and dead lay five of his colleagues, all American soldiers, killed by one of their own in Camp Liberty, Baghdad Iraq? The murderer of Camp Liberty, Army Sgt. John M. Russell, 44, of Sherman, Texas, United States of America, is pictured here right! Sgt. Russell grew up in rural Grayson County and graduated from high school in 1985. He entered the Army National Guard in 1988 and served until going on active duty in 1994. His 54th Engineering Battalion is based in Bamberg, Germany where he lives with his wife.

This senseless shooting occurred just few weeks to the end of Russel's third tour of duty in Iraq; as the 54th's 15-month deployment which began in May 2008 is due to end in August 2009. Russel, an electronics technician (communications specialist) with the army, is a veteran of some sort, having served in Bosnia and Kosovo before his Iraqi deployments.

According to the story, Russell who had been referred to counseling by his commander because of some "unspecified words and actions"; and whose weapon was ordered taken away, had gone to the stress center as ordered, preparatory to his transition out of active duty. As he was leaving the clinic, he "became hostile and an altercation broke out." He was then escorted back to his quarters by another soldier. A couple of hours later, Russell seized a weapon from his escort, "commandeered" a vehicle and drove back to the clinic? A soldier from Russell's quarters called military police, but they were unable to stop him in time before the he opened fire, killing two (medical doctors) officers from the 55th Medical Company (staff of the Stress clinic - one from the Army and the other from the Navy); as well as three other enlisted soldiers who were visiting the clinic at the time of the incident. Russell has been charged with five counts of murder of these soldiers and one count of aggravated assault for the struggle for the offensive weapon in the vehicle from his escort.

It will be recalled that at the beginning of the Iraqi invasion, another soldier, Lt. Willie Davis had killed a United States army officer when he threw a grenade into a platoon's occupied tent in Kuwait, preparatory to the invasion.

Icheoku says it is commendable that the military has already launched a criminal investigation into the attack? The investigation should look into whether there was a dereliction of duty by anyone which led to the deaths of these five patriotic Americans? Also why was Russel not stopped by all means necessary, even if by deadly force knowing his history and the reason why he was asked to go to counselling? How many minutes passed between the wrestling of weapon and commandeering of vehicle and the murders? What role did the escort play or was he part of the conspiracy, otherwise what effort did he make to alert other soldiers within the vicinity or even telephone the clinic about the developing story? There was an altercation, he was asked to escort Russel back to his quarters, his weapon was taken away by an aggressive Russel, so what did he do or failed to do? Hopefully, the investigation will unravel why this murderer was able to kill five Americans that easily and within a military camp; without being stopped and by all means necessary. While we await the outcome of the investigation, our condolences goes out to the families of the deceased soldiers as well as their military colleagues and military family. Icheoku says, what a despotic shameful act by Sgt John M. Russel?

AMINU WALI, A 'LOW-LIFE' POLITICAL JOBBER?

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of China, Aminu Bashir Wali, recently said that President Umaru Yar’Adua is the most honest leader Nigeria has ever produced? According to this Yar'Adua town-crier, "in the history of Nigeria, the country had never had a president who openly showed and not only that but practically displayed that he is an incorruptible and honest leader like Yar’Adua, because he never believed in doing anything that would harm the interest of the nation"?

Icheoku asks, did this man try but failed to bribe Umaru Yar'Adua or how did he come to such an emphatic conclusion without any personal experience or knowledge of President Umaru Yar'Adua's infallibility or incorruptibility? Also where has Umaru Yar'Adua manifested his honesty to such a degree or level that he has surpassed all his predecessors in that department? Was it in his promise of power emergency, six months after he is sworn; which is now two years down the road unfulfilled? Talk about honesty! What about his rule of law mantra which his Attorney General Michael Aadoonkaa has perverted? What about his promised election reform when he has failed to implement Justice Uwais recommendations? What about hamstringing EFCC in ferociously going after past corrupt governors? This mallam Wali must be under some influence of something else; as this is definitely not an objective assessment of a government, whose performance so far, is nostalgically invoking the memories of Olusegun Obasanjo's government?

In his own words, Aminu Wali said, "Yar’Adua is the most incorruptible, most honest leader that ascended the leadership of Nigeria, that is why today the nation is having rule of law and due process and he ensure budget discipline and prudent management of the Nigerian resource, by putting the nation on a sound track of transparency and prudent management". By necessary implication, what Aminu Wali is telling the whole listening world is that all previous leaders of Nigeria have been very corrupt and dishonest, including his kinsman, midget Sani Abacha as well as the last president Olusgeun Obasanjo? Why did he not speak up then to alert the world about these past leaders penchant for corruption and dishonesty? What was his parameter for this assessment and were Yar'Adua to recall him today, will his position still remain the same? This man is pathetically shameless and is more deserving of the position of a spokesman to President Umaru Yar'Adua than a Nigerian ambassador to China or anywhere else!

Continuing, Aminu Wali said, that since the past eight years of democratic governance in Nigeria, the country has witnessed unprecedented development? Icheoku says, Aminu Wali, please the show us the evidence? However, Wali had pointed to the provision of GSM (cell-phones) and freedom of speech and associations as his indicators; and you begin to wonder why Nigeria has stagnated ever since her independence from Britain since 1960? It is because of ambition-less mallams like Wali Aminu who have stubbornly held unto governance and been in charge of affairs ever since. Who shall it be told that in the hierarchy of developmental projects, that it is only 'GSM and freedom of speech' that qualifies for "unprecedented development"? Where in his ladder of importance does power, transport, health and even basic water and food supplies fit in?

The problem with these Nigerian political jobbers is that they will readily say and do anything just to remain relevance to each successive government in power including the slow-man, Umaru Yar'Adua's government. Where is this mallam's candour for truth or does he easily sleep at nights with such a guilty conscience of having told known lies? Which sane person, watching the last ten years of "democrazy" in Nigeria, particularly the last two years of a near-stalled governance of President Umaru Yar'Adua, will not see through the fog of lies of this mallam from Kano State, Nigeria? Icheoku asks, in which department of Nigeria's life has the political establishment performed so brilliantly well, that it rises up to Aminu Wali's assessed "unprecedented development"? Our conclusion is that it is only in the warped mind of this mallam, who in an attempt to keep his lifeline job, must sing the praise of his employers, the Umaru Yar'Adua's government. Shamelessly, he is in China lying about how President Umaru Yar'Adua is the best thing to ever happen to Nigeria? Icheoku says, just the facts mallam! And regrettably, the reality on the ground does not support his hopeless claim that at last, Nigerians have found the messiah in his President Umaru Yar'Adua!

BOB MARLEY, A TRIBUTE TO THE SUPERSTAR REGGAE AMBASSADOR!

On this 28th anniversary of the death of world-famous reggae maestro, Robert Nesta Marley aka Bob Marley, Icheoku remembers the legend who engraved reggae into world conscientiousness? Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica to father Norval Sinclair Marley and mother Cedella Booker. He lived long enough to become the greatest reggae artist ever known to the world; he died of cancer on May 11, 1981 in Miami Florida United States of America! Officially he was married to one wife, Rita Marley but was reputed to be a great womanizer and had several children outside wedlock! Bob Marley was survived by his 13 children: three with his wife Rita Marley, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and the remaining eight with separate women.

Bob Marley had a stellar musical career culminating in the release of over 100 songs and more than twenty albums before he was diagnosed with cancer in July 1977. Following an ulcerating wound he sustained on his right hallux or big toe, while playing soccer (football), Bob Marley was found to have a malignant melanoma. His big toe was to be amputated to save his life but being a Rastafarian, Bob Marley refused because Rastafarians belief that the body must be "whole" to see Jah! He also cited worries that the operation would affect his dancing? In his own words, "Rastafarian, I don't allow a man to be dismantled". The cancer later metastasized to his brain, lungs, liver and stomach.

Bob Marley played his final concert at the Stanley Theater Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on September 23, 1980 and immediately flew to Germany to seek treatment from a cancer specialist, Josef Issels. It was however too late as the cancer had already progressed to the terminal stage; and he was en-route Jamaica to be with his family for his final moments on earth, when his medical condition forced an emergency landing of the plane carrying him in Miami Florida, USA. Bob Marley subsequently died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami Florida on the morning of May 11, 1981 at the age of 36. His body was flown back to Jamaica and after a state funeral, was laid in a crypt near his birthplace with his Gibson Les Paul guitar, a soccer ball, a Cannabis bud, a ring that he wore every day that was given to him by the Prince Asfa Wossen of Ethiopia and a Bible. According to sources close to his bedside, his final words to his son Ziggy were "Money can't buy life." Icheoku says, if only the men and women of power of this world know, especially the rat-pack Nigerian leaders, so called, who do not care a whiff about the ordinary Joe-Nigerians they are supposedly leading, while crazily looting the treasury dry? Midget Sani Abacha readily comes to mind!

Among some of his world recognitions were the City of New York renamed portion of Church Avenue from Remsen Avenue to East 98th Street in the East Flatbush Section of Brooklyn to Bob Marley Boulevard. Bob Marley also received a star at Hollywood Walk of Fame, where stars receive stars on the sidewalks at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles California, USA!

Icheoku says, our all time Bob Marley's favorite song is "Could you be loved", so what is yours? To Bob Marley, Icheoku says, your fans are steadily growing both in numbers and regions; and as a reggae enthusiast myself, "Irie say, sleep on Marley until dat day when Jah shall call up all his children, home for rendering of account". Icheoku hopes King Selassie is ok and that heavens, at least allows medical marijuana use? Bob, is there ganja up in the skies, man? Smoke on Bob! What a legend you were that took reggae to olympian heights! We miss you much!

FULANI DEPORTATION, IS NIGERIA REALLY ONE COUNTRY?

It is ridiculous, it is total absurdity, it is the stuff folklore is made of, it is laughable, it is inexplicable and totally unacceptable that Nigerians are being deported from Nigeria by fellow Nigerians? Whatever happened to the constitutional right of a citizen to unfettered access to every nook and cranny of his choice in his own country? Where is the official boundary line for a citizen in his/her own country?

What an arrant nonsense that these Biroms of Plateau State are forcibly removing and shipping away, fellow Nigerians of Fulani ethnicity, from their state territories? Icheoku says, it is as convoluted as it is provocative that this is happening in 21st century Nigeria; with some Nigerians being forcibly told by some other Nigerians that they are not Nigerian enough to live in and call some parts of Nigeria home!

One wonders what then is the use of the entity called Nigeria when some Nigerians therein, cannot freely exercise their rights of citizenship fully, through habitation of any place they choose, within Nigeria's territorial space? Why still continue to maintain that albatross where membership of it are strictly restricted to the area where each comes from? Today it is Plateau State declaring Nigerian Fulanis person non grata in their state; who knows whose turn it shall be tomorrow? What happens were the Fulanis to become so infuriated and decide to retaliate, by forcing the hands of their governors to deport other Nigerians, especially the Biroms of Plateau State living in their midst? Icheoku says, this will be the unravelling of the fragile bond holding Nigeria together, so the authorities must therefore act decisively to reverse this thoughtless and senseless action of the Plateau State government before it heralds the end of Nigeria as we know it.

The headline, "Plateau deports 20,000 Fulani – FULDAN chairman" is what every right thinking Nigerian should be really ashamed of; otherwise how do you explain that citizens of a country are drastically limited as to where they can call home in their own supposed country? According to the reports, the National Chairman of the Fulde (Fulani) Development Association of Nigeria (FULDAN), Malam Ahmad Usman Bello, said that about 20,000 Fulanis have been deported from Plateau State to some states in the North-West.

This sinister action of Plateau State government amplifies and mirrors what the late coupist, Gideon Orkar, attempted to do during his failed coup against Ibrahim Babangida regime; when in a similar vein, he announced that five northern states have been excised from Nigeria? Icheoku asks, do these Middle-Belters of Benue-Plateau region really mean well for Nigeria? Do they know that they are undermining the structural integrity of Nigeria by their actions and utterances? Their being neither north nor south, compounds the matter as they are not even capable of an independent existence, assuming they are let go or allowed to go? But they have now become the real problem and troubled child of Nigeria who must be check-mated before they force Nigeria down the drain-pipe into the sewer.

Icheoku is not particularly a fan of the 'one-Nigeria', as is currently being run aground; but until a national sovereign conference resolves some of the vexing issues in Nigeria, let no one take matters into their hand to decree some artificial "international boundary lines" within the same country! Until the parameters for Nigerians continued co-existence or otherwise is clearly spelt out, let every Nigerian have the inalienable citizenship right to thrive, unencumbered, in any town or village or locality or state or region of his/her choice without let or hindrance.

It is on this premise therefore that Icheoku condemns and unequivocally too, the mindless and thoughtless deportation of some Nigerians by fellow Nigerians and from Nigeria? To where then, one may ask? Icheoku responds, to their own section of the country? And someone still calls this 'one-Nigeria'? In the year 2009, this cannot be happening after 49 years of independence and a tolerated co-existence of the peoples of Nigeria; and therefore should and must be stopped. Plateau State did not act right, their action is abhorable and shameful and militates against the fabric of the Nigerian State! Such deportation must not be allowed to stand, if the Nigeria State is to be sustained and therefore must be reversed and forcibly, if need be.

JACOB ZUMA, A POPULIST PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA?

As South Africa swears in her fourth president today, May 9, 2009 at Union Building, Pretoria, Icheoku says, congratulations for successfully transferring power, once again, to a new democratically elected president!

Since the end of racist minority apartheid government in South Africa, three successive presidents have handed over the baton of power successfully; unlike in some other African countries including Nigeria? Starting with Nelson Mandela, the first elected post-apartheid president of South Africa, to Thabo Mbeki then to Kgalema Motlanthe and now to the new president. Icheoku hopes that the new man of power will honor and respect the abiding-faith tradition as shown by his predecessors, and successfully usher in his successor at the appropriate future time. Like United States President Barack Obama, President Jacob Zuma has stepped into the over-sized shoes of President Nelson Mandela, and has become another 'leader-president' of South Africa?

Congratulations President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa (Msholozi) Zuma 67, on your inauguration as the fourth president of independent Republic of South Africa. Unlike the Nigeria's imposed President Umaru Yar'Adua, your election on 22rd April 2009, was world-adjudged as free, fair and credible; and as reflects the general will of the people of South Africa. With South Africa now emerging to fill the leadership gap of Africa abdicated by Nigeria's ineptitude, the world now looks upon you to provide the necessary leadership that will propel Africa forward. Also we expect you to make South Africa once again livable by all, irrespective of race, creed or religion. The terrifying crime rate, if checked, will be a welcome first step; and above all please do not let over-zealousness drive your promised land redistribution agenda. Always take a lesson from Zimbabwe and advise yourself accordingly while prosecuting this project-redistribution, so that you may avoid the pitfalls of President Robert Mugabe, who has lost the world on what he really wants out of Zimbabwe? Please you must handle your land redistribution promise very tactically in order not to alienate the "lease-holders" as obtained in Zimbabwe with its concomittant consequences. This alone is the reason why the "others" are very wary and apprehensive of your presidency and wanted to thwart it through all those sleazy allegations and accusations! Be advised and stay advised!

The world could use another popular, smiling, dancing, cultural, joking, jocular and manly-handsome president in Pretoria! The black-race in particular, hopefully, will be proud of your leadership for all South Africans and you cannot afford to fail them? Icheoku prays, you represent every South Africa and be the every people's president and not in any way whatsoever, permit and/or allow the xenophobia-induced animosity and attendant cleansing to continue to periodically boil-over. As a lasting legacy, please strive to make South Africa the melting pot of Africa just like the United States of America is to the world. Mr. President, please remember your pro-masses’ campaign-promises to improve economic conditions, create jobs, fight crime, build houses for the masses, improve on public services, schools, make health care affordable and tackle HIV/AIDS pandemic.

However, Icheoku fears that the new president may eventually go the way of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe who was so blinded by his 'patriotic zeal' that his miscalculations led to the dog-house where Zimbabwe is presently today; causing so much pain and suffering to the people of Zimbabwe by his recalcitrance? Hopefully, President Zuma will appreciate things differently and not myopically as his cousin in Zimbabwe whose perception is most of the times, different from the realities on the ground? Another fear is that his very limited educational development may impede his analytical power and/to understand that running a government is distinctly different from running one's family or harem? With only a third-grader (primary education standard three) education, the jury is still out on how the new president will be able to cope as well as understand the intricacies of good logical presentations and/of the nitty-gritty of governance? But he is loved and respected by his people and hopefully, wisdom will supplement whatever formal educational training deprived him. To the exuberant leader-president of South Africa, Icheoku wishes you good-luck as you try to improve and sanitize South Africa, especially the crime wave; and also improve race relations, which is currently a sitting tinderbox. Once again, congratulations, Mr. President!

OLUCHI, A NIGERIAN MODEL!

Her name is Oluchi; at last one good thing to come out of Nigeria recently? She is a model! Icheoku says, she is pretty hot? She will be a great contestant in Tyra Banks' American Top Model! A weekend treat for your eyes only, from us to you!

SEAN HANNITY, A SPINELESS COWARD?

The recent outburst by Fox News' Sean Hannity that water-boarding is not torture is overtly boisterous; since he could not follow through with his election to be water-boarded, in order to prove his demented theory? Icheoku says, a man who cannot keep his words is a sissy and Sean Hannity now, eminently qualifies as such a girlie-man.

Sean Hannity talks the talk but is too scared to walk the walk! Like Dick Cheney who dodged the draft but loves to send others to the war-front, Sean Hannity is a coward. Most people who like to talk tough are usually weakling who mask their fear with such talking tough. Sean Hannity chickened out from being water-boarded, despite offers of various money donations to his charity, should he follow through with his boast? A comic can say whatever he likes to gene up his audience and wow his listening crowd, but when such a loud-mouth volunteers on air to do something and fails or refuses to carry it through, then something is wrong with his head? Such a talker who develops a cold feet after such public boast diminishes himself in the thinking of the general public, especially his loyal listeners.

Admitted, this blogger periodically listens to this Rush Limbaugh wanna-be program, sure he is miles away from Rush, but would I continue to tune in after his failure to carry through this boastful election to be water-boarded? I don't think so and so are several thousands of other listeners who now see him as a comedian, whose words should not be taken seriously. Icheoku says, Sean Hannity's fearful refusal and/or withdrawal from being water-boarded proves that he honestly believes that water-boarding is torture. What a conflicted individual, Sean Hannity is!

I have no personal beef to cut with Sean Hannity, but he should know that, until he is water-boarded as volunteered; and thereby enrich his charity with $1000 for each second he lasted under the faucet, he has lost face! Alternatively, he should apologise to all those victims of water-boarding, or withdraw his offer to be water-boarded and acknowledge, like several millions of right thinking people that water-boarding is torture. Until one of the above happens to redeem him, Sean Hannity has been permanently diminished in the eyes of the world, especially Americans who hence see him as a simple loud-mouth, blow hot!

PATRICIA OBIAGELI CHIDIAC, MURDER ON A HOLY GROUND!

She stepped unto the steps of a church for her usual Sunday morning 10.00AM mass, gun shots rang out and dead lay Mrs. Patricia Obiageli Chidiac!

The Imo State-born Nigerian business-woman, married to Lebanese Mr. Malik Habib Chidiac, was assassinated by four gunmen on Sunday May 3, 2009. The crime scene, the holy grounds of Sacred Heart Catholic Church Apapa Lagos! A place of worship, hitherto and in other civilizations considered sacred, now desecrated by these marauding beasts of Nigeria.

Bandits who seemingly have operating-cover from Nigerian security agencies including the police; otherwise how does one explain their brazen audacity striking in the full glare of a fully congregated church and in broad daylight? So many unsolved murder mysteries in Nigeria has now been augmented by this one murder inside a God's house? Icheoku says this is an affront on God, the Catholic church and Nigerians in general and deserves a decisive action to bring the culprits in and punish them severely.

It is instructive to note that the late Patricia had her police protection, which was assigned to her due to numerous death threats, withdrawn just on Friday May 1 and two days later on May 3, she was killed. It is also a major coincidence that the now widower-husband allegedly left Nigerian shores with the couples' four children on the same Friday that his wife's security detail was withdrawn? Icheoku asks, was the husband's action a result of fear for the lives of their four children or to provide a clean alibi should the law decide to focus its radar on him following his wife's murder? And in a twisted macabre manner, the "bereaved" husband now says that he does not want police investigation into the gruesome murder of his wife; forcing Icheoku to ask, what a loving husband would suggest that his wife's murder be left cold, except his hands are bloodied by the wife's blood?

The murder of Patricia was witnessed by the congregation as well as the parish priest, Reverend Father Andrew Sullivan, who was officiating the mass. According to the account, two of the gunmen laid in-wait inside the church, perfectly blending as parishioners, while two others were on a mounted motorcycle waiting outside! This shows that they painstakingly followed the victim's routine which suggests a perfect job of hired assassins? Icheoku calls on the pope and the local catholic church in Nigeria should demand a thorough investigation of this murder and the punishment of all culpable parties thereto.

The irony of this murder is that the victim went out of her way to try and purchase security for herself due to numerous death threats she had received, including three bullet-proof vehicles. She had driven in one of the vehicles, a fortified Mercedes SUV, to the church; but unbeknownst to her, the assassins had outsmarted her and had correctly figured out her most vulnerable time? The assassins clearly understood that she will be most vulnerable in the house of God and decided to strike where she would not be sitting behind the protective amour of her bullet-proof vehicles? Psalm 127 tells us that the sentinel watches in vain except the Lord watches with him? That no amount of security is sufficient to protect a person from a willing evil person which this murder further confirms? Icheoku says, so much for bullet-proof vehicles as this lays to bare, the billions being wasted by Nigerian politicians on armoured vehicle acquisitions? Only a window of opportunity defeats the effort as this case just proved!

Anyway, this murder like so many other unsolved murders in Nigeria unfortunately, will similarly soon turn cold due to the lackadaisical investigation inertia of the Nigerian police which is never accredited with solving any major serious crime in Nigeria? Icheoku says, shame on President Umaru Yar'Adua for continuing to retain the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, whose incompetency has made Nigeria worse off and is daily being made subject of public ridicule and scum. It is regrettable that such an enterprising woman would be cut down in her prime and inside a church in broad daylight with impunity? Adieu Pat!

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?