PROPOSITION 8: SIGNED, SEALED & DELIVERED?

The anti gay-marriage Proposition 8 of California received the seal of approval of the states' Supreme Court on Tuesday May 26, 2009! In a 6-1 decision, the highest court of the state upheld voters decision banning same sex marriage in California. This decision has now finally sealed, albeit, the hope of many gay enthusiasts and activists; who were hopeful prior, that the "wrong" wrought by the people of California in the last election, outlawing their right to marry whosoever they chose, could be righted by the state's highest temple of justice? But nope; they were wrong as their hopes were once again dashed by the court!

This perceived right to marry who they desire, which the voters of California knocked into comatose during the last election, had its life support pulled-off by the supreme court of the state! The supreme court was nearly anonymous in the 6-1 vote upholding Proposition 8, the anti gay-marriage ballot measure that passed during the last November 2008 election, which has now by the supreme court's decision, become the law of the state as it affects marital relationship and who one can legally marry? The lone dissenter Justice Carlos J. Moreno noted, "The rule the majority crafts today not only allows same-sex couples to be stripped of the right to marry that this court recognized [in last year's opinion], it places at risk the state constitutional rights of all disfavored minorities. It weakens the status of our state Constitution as a bulwark of fundamental rights for minorities protected from the will of the majority." What is now left for these activists and parties of interest is to start all over again, to try to have the measure allowing them to marry each other, sail through during the next election in 2010 or 2012?

It was hallelujah for anti gay-marriage proponents who were relieved that the court ruled in favor of their sponsored Proposition 8? Icheoku says, regrettably many of these hypocritical people are underground gay men and women, some of whom pick up dates in airport bathrooms and includes a one time head-pastor? Had the supreme court invalidate Prop 8, it would have put the court in direct defiance of the wishes of people of California. However the same court validated the already existing eighteen thousand same sex marriage, leading to procastinators, crying had I known?

Icheoku asks, what are the ramifications of this shut down of the hopes and aspirations of millions of gay Americans resident in California, to marry a spouse of their choice, irrespective of the sex or gender; and in view of the gay-marriage wildfire currently spreading through America from the hinterlands of Iowa to Northeast's New Hampshire etc? Our position is that such peoples activism can only hibernate for sometime before it rears its head again and with determination, shall one day succeed. The only snag here is that unlike other issues where California provides necessary leadership, gay-marriage has and will make California eventually, a mere follower! By this ruling, gay-marriage supporters will have to work hard to persuade Californians who voted to ban such marriages last fall to change their minds, once again, during the next election season. They have been told by the supreme court that they cannot get it through the back door but must be courageous enough to take their battle to the people and convince them on why they should change their minds. What a daunting task this shall be as several times has this proposition made the ballot and severally were they told NO, that they cannot marry as marriage is between a man and a woman? Biologically and religiously, may be? But the 700,000-member political action movement, Courage Campaign, spearheading the legalisation of gay marriage in California is unyielding and will put the issue back before voters as soon as 2010! According to their statement, "The initiative process in California is flawed, the very idea that a majority can vote to take rights away from a minority is flawed. It really is quite outrageous." Icheoku asks, do this group of people ever had any right to marry themselves that was taken away by proposition 8 and now confirmed by the supreme court?

One of the surprises of this ruling is the equivocation of one of the judges who said that there is nothing so special about gay-marriage rights that make them exempt from the state's famously disruptive and pliable constitutional-amendment process and aren't going to get any help from the state's. This position is contrary to his previous position last May 2008 when he said that any discrimination against gays is no less outrageous - and illegal - than discrimination based on race or religion. Also it would appear that by the judges allowing the already married eighteen thousand couples to stay married, that they are permitting an illegality since marriage is now between two opposite sexes only? Further, were any such married spouse to die, does it mean that the surviving spouse will be foreclosed from re-marrying? Icheoku says, both rulings are more confusing than they are clarifying; eliciting the question, did facts formerly not available suddenly become available for these six judges, to persuade them to shift their grounds and in this manner? Will an "illegality" of some now be tolerated while at the same token, others are prevented from engaging in the same act? Justice must be a one cap fits all and not so selective that it sucks? Anyway, justice it would appear in this matter is somewhat subjective! So until changed, it is now a settled law of the state of California that a man can only marry a woman and vice versa except if that person falls among the elite exclusive 18000 already married homosexual couples? So anyone who has any objection to what the supreme court has now ratified and decreed, can take a hike to Iowa or New Hampshire or Vermont and live as they please including marrying anyone they fall in love with?

Icheoku says, love has no gender bias and should not be predicated on genitalia? Also love-making does not dictate that a phallus must plug a particular type of hole as any orifice should suffice? It should be a choice which must be freely made by both consenting adults? Icheoku knows of a woman who has been married for seven times and could not find love with a man until she finally switched and is now happily shacking together with her fellow woman? Should we blame biological makeup that same sex understands each others' needs better; including emotional topsy turvy of life? But are humanity really meant to marry or was it a society's devised institution to hamstring and shackle down roving men? Was it a trap designed by women to secure their old age wrinkled period in life when no man would be readily looking at their direction? Or was it by men who look into the future and see a ballooned pot-belly that will not be readily attractive to women and decided to secure their future companionship and sex now through marriage?

Whatever be the case, love should freely roam and not constrained or confined or restricted as it comes from the deep of the heart; and can only be felt! Whether it is by men choosing to love their fellow men or women falling head over heal in love with their own specimen; should it really matter who we chose to bestow the honor of our love? Love is the meeting of two hearts and no one ever said it is the meeting of two genitalia of opposite sex? What say you depends on your level of exposure and acceptability that certain things are just different. As for Icheoku, we take the discuss further by arguing against any form of marriage whatsoever. Why marry at all; and if you must, then whatever companion you chose should be your private prerogative and not subject to an extended debate or a vote or a ruling. Marriage is and should be a private affair for the consenting adults and state or anyone for that matter, should simply butt out; after-all it is the two parties that will be locked up in the relationship and who will possibly kill themselves eventually due to rabid disagreements? Icheoku therefore says, Californians, please butt out and let everybody marry whoever or whatever they chose to marry; including their dogs, cats, snakes, reptiles or any other pets of their hearts delight! What is marriage after-all, but a union; and for us, any union is good enough, period!

An addendum however, pictured left leading the early movement for gay rights and equality in America, seating on top of a moving vehicle forefront is Harvey Milk! He was the man who lit the fire that has now snowballed into an inferno in America's gay right movement. He was the first elected openly gay America. He was from New York but lived in the city of San Francisco California where he was elected supervisor and was later assassinated by a religious right winger, Mr White! What would Harvey say about this Proposition 8 and the subsequent supreme court's thumbs up?

MIKE TYSON, MOURNS THE DEATH OF DAUGHTER!

As former boxing heavy weight champion, Iron Mike Tyson grieves, Icheoku says, please accept our condolence on the death of your daughter, Exodus Tyson!

Mike Tyson's four year-old daughter, Exodus died in a tragic freak accident, strangled on a treadmill, in the boxer's Phoenix Arizona home? She was however rushed to the hospital, brain-dead and momentarily put on a life's support; before she was finally pronounced dead on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Exodus Tyson was playing near the exercise equipment in the family home when the accident happened on Monday morning.

Once again, our sympathies champ!

SONIA SOTOMAYOR, YET ANOTHER FIRST!

As President Barack Obama nominates Judge Sonia Sotomayor, 54, to the United States Supreme Court, Icheoku says congratulations judge on a milestone. Being the first Hispanic ever in that court's history, you have smashed the proverbial marble ceiling and hopefully your confirmation will be speedy. We wish you God's speed with your confirmation and pray you dispense justice with fairness and objectivity.

Born in Puerto Rico, Sonia moved with his parents as a child to Bronx project in New York; she later qualified as a lawyer, becoming a judge and is now headed to the apex court of the land! Your life's journey is stellar, inspirational and compares well to the president's himself; and we are appreciative.

When confirmed by the senate, Sotomayor would join Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the supreme court and just the third in its history and the first Hispanic ever to make that citadel of justice. Once again Icheoku says, congratulations!

VIRGINTY FOR SALE; GOING, GOING, GONE!

Will you auction off your hymen for the right price or amount of money? Do you have any moral squabbles with going to bed for the first time with a total stranger just for the money, trading off your womanhood in the process? Will any memories still be still left after such audacity of sexual experimentation? People did it and are still doing it from Romania to Las Vegas and for as little as fifteen thousand dollars? A little whore, Natalia Dillion, pictured above splitting, is offering her hymen for some 3.5 million dollars and Icheoku asks, which depraved he-goat of a man will buy such unwholesome product and for that a price? What is so special about Natalia's privates or that of any other that it should command such an enormous price? Simply put, Icheoku says, such a perversion is not worth it!

The 22 year old San Diego resident and graduate of Sacramento State University, Natalia Dillion went public with her mad quest to auction off her virginity to the highest bidder. Unconfirmed reports indicate that her hymen-auction bidding has persuaded 10,000 men to bid for her coveted prize, so far reaching a staggering amount of $3.7 million; and plans to use the proceeds of the auction to pay for her masters degree in Family and Marriage therapy? Icheoku wonders the values this brat acquired at Sacramento States, and whether this will spun millions of other girls joining the auctioning party for their most priceless body part?

As it appears, Natalia Dillion has started getting followership as another sexual pervert, hawked off her hymen ware via the Internet, using German erotic website gesext.de? Her name, Alina Percea, 18, left, from Caracal, Romania, once put her chastity up to the highest bidder. The winning bidder, a 45-year-old Italian businessman from Bologna, paid for Alina to fly from her residence in Mannheim Germany to Venice to deposit her hymen on the sheets of a luxury hotel bed under a starry sky? Alina had two medical examinations to prove her virginity before the sale was finally consummated? But unlike her hero, Natalia Dillion, Alina got peanuts for hers, just 10,000 euros?

Icheoku says, it would appear that some men have too much money that they do not really know what to do with it and are prepared to pay so much just for some piece of one-night stand? According to Natalia in a close-up right, who echoed our sentiment, "It's shocking that men will pay so much for someone's virginity, which isn't even prized so highly anymore." And be that as it may, let whosoever pays for this piece of flesh know that condemnation awaits him; as there are several other humanitarian activities that could have benefited greatly from his $3.7 million dollars! Simply put, if you do not know what to do with the money, borrow a leaf from Warren Buffet and donate it to charity! Until these hymen-purchasing perverts recover some sanity; and given that hymen is just one, Icheoku asks, what will the Natalias and Alinas of this world sell afterwards, now that their virginity are forever gone? What pitiful daughters of Eve these two women of easy virtue are?

CC ONOH, NOTICE OF PRAYER-VIGIL!

YOU ARE INVITED TO A PRAYER-VIGIL FOR

HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF (DR.) CHRISTIAN CHUKWUMA ONOH (CC);

(APRIL 27, 1927 - MAY 5, 2009).

ELDER STATESMAN AND FORMER GOVERNOR OF OLD ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA.

As you may already know, CC joined his ancestors on May 5, 2009. Being the man he was, representing many different things to so many people; we Nigerians of Igbo extraction in the Bay Area of Northern California, are holding a prayer-vigil event to celebrate and honor this great son of Igboland.

Please come and join us give honor to whom honor is due. CC merits all he could get and we count on your support and presence for the big-day.

DATE: Sunday June 14, 2009

VENUE: Holy Redeemer Church

Golf-link, Oakland California

TIME: 6PM – 12 Midnight

Signed:___cno______________________
Professor Christian Nwachukwu Okeke, Ph.D

Chairman, Bay Area Nigerians Committee for CC Memorial

Phone: 925-209-9620

MEMORIAL DAY, WE THANK OUR FALLEN MEN AND WOMEN!

On this occasion of Memorial Day May 25, 2009, Icheoku says a big thank you to the men and women of the United State armed forces who have sacrificed their lives so that we could have a place to call home, the United States of America! Also their efforts in bringing freedom for so many peoples around the world is equally acknowledged. Icheoku says, what a selfless heroic bunch these brave men and women were and for this we are eternally grateful. We salute their courage!

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, is a national holiday observed usually on the last Monday of the month of May; and commemorates our military men and women who have died while serving their fatherland. It was established primarily to honor the Union soldiers of the American civil war, but was later expanded after World War 1 to include all American soldiers, casualties of any war or military action whatsoever.

This holiday is usually observed with laying of wreaths by the president on the unknown soldier memorial at National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia; and many people mark the holiday by visiting cemeteries and grave-sites of their loved military family member. It is also used for barbecues, pic-nics, sporting and other family gathering events throughout the United States of America. However you chose to mark this important day, just remember that so many people died for you to enjoy whatever it is you decided to do today; and for the freedom which you enjoy. Icheoku asks, will remembering them in your prayers be too much of a thing to ask for? We do not think so and urge you not to lose sight of the very essence of a Memorial Day! Once again, our hearts go out to the finest and the bravest!

NIGERIA DEMOCRACY: GAINS AND PAINS, TEN YEARS LATER! - an article by Chinedu Vincent Akuta

Sincerely speaking, the only gain we have had in the past 10 years of democracy in Nigeria is simply that we have "civilian" regime; admitted it has not been truly civilian in the true sense of it? 8 out of the 10 years democracy, which is Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, was a quasi military government as Obasanjo ruled Nigeria like the military head of state he was! The true civilian rule started since Yar’Adua took over as the president of Nigeria. Whatever positive changes that have taken place since 1999 like improvement in communications, banking reforms, NAFDAC war against fake drugs etc are worthy to be commended. However, I don’t like praising any administration past or present for any positive policy. This is because governance is all about improving people’s welfare. Therefore when government do their work I don’t praise them.

However the mistakes, maladministration and corruption of government officials have always overshadowed whatever good policy they introduce. This has always provoked massive public outcry. The first casualty in the last 10 years has been democracy itself. That is the will of the people has suffered most. Whenever the people speak the government do not listen, rather they impose their will on the people. From 1999 till date, the government has never respected the will of the people. Examples are many. Starting from Anambra state, where Chris Ngige was imposed on the people by his god father with active connivance of the powers that be in Abuja. We all knew what happened. Similar incidents repeated itself in Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Kogi etc.

The Obasanjo’s government conducted the worse elections in the history of Nigeria. Even the president (Yar’Adua) was a product of that election and he has come out publicly to acknowledge the anomalies associated with the elections. The voter turnout has deteriorated since 1999. In 1999 the turn out was over 70% registered voters. In 2003 it reduced to about 35% and by 2007 it went down further.

President Umaru Yar’Adua has promised electoral reforms. But events in and around him is suggesting otherwise. First is the attempt to doctor some of the recommendations of the electoral reform committee. Secondly the conduct of Ekiti re-run elections spoke volumes about the electoral reforms the president has promised Nigerians. The Ekiti crisis gave Nigerians an idea of what future elections might look like. Ex vice president Atiku Abubakar, former head of state Muhamadu Buhari and many other Nigerians have expressed their concerns about the inability of the present PDP leadership to introduce electoral reforms. The latest revelation came from former president Olusegun Obasanjo who is also the chairman of PDP board of trustees. He said that he was not aware of any electoral reforms being carried out by the Yar’Adua administration. This explains it all.

The last 10 years of democracy in Nigeria has recorded the highest number of high profile politically motivated murders. Starting with the late Bola Ige (former Attorney General and Minister of Justice), Harry Marshall (former National Vice Chairman of ANPP South South), Funsho Williams (former Lagos state gubernatorial candidate), Chief Anamosokari Albert Dikibo, Sunday Ugwu, elder brother of Nwabueze Ugwu a former legislator that represented Nkanu East LGA in Enugu state, Alhaji Ahmed Pategi, (Kwara State former PDP Chairman), Victor Nwankwo, younger brother of Arthur Nwankwo, founder Eastern Mandate Union, Odunayo Olagbaju (former member Osun State House of Assembly), Barnabas Igwe, former chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Onitsha Branch, and his wife Abigail Igwe, Chimere Ikoku (former Vice Chancellor of UNN), Chief Ogbonnaya Uche (former ANPP senatorial candidate from Imo State) etc. The list is endless and the police are yet to catch the killers.

The last 10 years of our democracy witnessed human rights abuses in large scale. The Odi and Zaki Ibiam massacre, the state using her apparatus killed more than 3000 of its citizens. Cases of this nature deserve probing. In both cases the solders reduced the town to mere rubbles. Yet the country was supposedly under democratic dispensation. At a point the federal government under Obasanjo’s administration withheld the Lagos State local government share of the federal allocation. There were several cases where the previous government never obeyed any court orders/judgements. Yar’Adua’s government has been respecting court judgements. The judiciary under Yar’Adua has performed credibly well. Without them our democracy would have been threatened. The Nigerian press has done very well, the deserve praises.

Law making in the last 10 years have not been fantastic. The National Assembly has not lived to our expectations. Passing the yearly budgets has not been easy over the years. Some bills have spent so much time at the national assembly that one starts to wonder what our law makers are doing. An example is the freedom of information bill. One would have thought that this bill will have express passage but the reverse has been the case. The Senate has requested from the presidency the original version of the electoral committee recommendations. The presidency has granted them their request. Nigerians are watching and waiting what will be the outcome.

The economy has not fared better over the last 10 years. Unemployment is still very high. Government has not done any thing meaningful to reduce unemployment. The power sector which would have helped to boost economic growth was mismanaged by our corrupt leaders. High level official corruption has risen. Crime rates have risen tremendously. Kidnappings are on the rise daily. The Niger/Delta crisis still persists with no solution in sight. There is an on going military operation in the Niger Delta by the Nigerian military as I am writing this article. There is too much tension in the Niger Delta region.

The mood of the nation is low about the Yar’Adua government. People have made several negative comments about his administration. The former chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Thompson Okpoko desribed Nigeria as a sick nation. Lamenting that the nation’s present leaders have lost focus on how to cure the myriads of diseases plaguing the country. His comment was reported by Daily Sun newspapers of Wednesday, December 3 2008, page 10. Campaign for Democracy took stock of 2008 and concluded that “No serious governance actually took place” then it warned that a situation where the country is virtually on auto pilot without serious governance is not healthy” (Daily Independent, Wednesday December 31, 2008 page 1).

Finally there is hope for Nigeria. Nigerians do not have any choice but to make Nigeria rise again. Many Nigerians are tired of the present status quo and are determined to push for political changes. Change is possible in Nigeria. But more Nigerians need to get involved with the political process in Nigeria. With active participation of all Nigerians, political changes will be possible. Changes cannot happen except we work for it. There has to be sacrifices to make for Nigeria. No sacrifice will be too small. Nigerians will have to persevere, like Cuba's Fidel Castro said, “Perseverance will give us victory”! May God bless Nigeria.

Chinedu Vincent Akuta is an activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group”, Leicester-UK!

SOUTH KOREA, SUICIDE OF A PRESIDENT!

See no more evil of me; speak no more evil of me; hear no more evil of me as I can't take it any longer! Lo and behold, it was all over for the former president of South Korea! The pain of a loss of name and reputation was simply too much and so unbearable that life had lost its very essence; and he proactively ended it. His method of choice, suicide by jumping off a 100feet cliff known as the Owl Rock, to a painful death, putting an end to his misery? He is survived by his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, son Roh Gun-ho and daughter Roh Jeong-yeon. His name, President Roh Moo-hyun and he was just 62 years old!

Icheoku asks, did the Korea prosecutors drive this former president to his death? Were his alleged crimes so unforgiveable that only his blood could possibly "atone" for them? Now that he is dead, Icheoku asks, were his transgressions worth the life abruptly taken? President Roh had a name and a face worthy of protection; and he chose not to continue to live a life shrouded in infamy of official corruption. Unlike so many members of Nigerian ruling class, who are worse than President Roh and could use some of his courage, if only they are concionable and gutsy enough? These crop of Nigerian leaders ought to make similar plunges to atone for their iniquities against Nigeria and Nigerians? But nay, they are lily-livered despotic cowards who will rather use the instrumentality of the state to keep the population cowering down in fear; in slavish applaud of the HE who must do no wrong? What a pathetic people that genuflect at the feet of these despots! Who said it shall be ok with Nigeria when her leadership is shameless and have nothing to protect, not even a family's name or reputation?

President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea, enmeshed in a burgeoning corruption-scandal, jumped off to his death from the mountains of his rural southern village of Bongha. A man deeply disappointed in himself, was hiking on a mountain and churning his options, when his grief suddenly overtook him and off he jumped, plunging some one hundred feet to his death. He died of severe head injuries and compound fractures of his entire anatomy? In a suicide note found on his computer, President Roh wrote that life has lost meaning and has become so difficult, he then apologised to Koreans for "making too many of them to suffer because of him"! He asked for some undersstanding on why he did what he did and requested that his body be cremated; possibly suggesting that he so much disappointed South Koreans that he does not want any further reminder to the people of a leader who failed them by breaching their trust and confidence? Icheoku says, what a statesman President Roh was:- he screwed up, he apologised, he felt contrite and unworthy to continue to live with the painful load of shame and odium of bribery; and then he called death's bluff!

President Roh, a former human rights lawyer, served as president from 2003 until he was forced out by what has now become a life-taking scandal in 2008. He had prided himself as a "clean" politician who desired to make a clean break from the murky corrupt past administrations in Seoul, but failed at last to escape the long hands of corruption which eventually claimed his life? His wife, Kwon took a bribe of $1 million dollars from detained Park Yeon-cha, head of a local shoe manufacturer; and so did his relative who received another tranche of $5million dollars kickback from this same man, both allegedly acting as fronts for the now dead President? Last April, 30, 2009 prosecutors questioned him for about thirteen hours concerning these allegations, particularly that he accepted the $6 million in bribes, from the detained South Korean businessman while in office? However President Roh never recovered from the public shame and odium of these bribery scandal and had to end his life as we know it? He had personally apologised to Sout Koreans, saying "I have no face to show to the people of South Korea. I am sorry for disappointing you"! Icheoku says, if the wife was paying any modicum of attention and not thinking how to spend the bribery money, may be she would have read this man's agonising pain and sought serious and immediate intervention on his behalf. Whether some effort was made in this direction or not will be subject of further future discussion as we beg to move on here. Icheoku says, here is a man who understood that it is country first; unlike Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, who instead of admitting and apologising; or even taking his own life for the atrocities he committed against the people of Nigeria while in office, was boisterously saying that he was not elected to build roads or provide water or electricity for the people of Nigeria? And this monster is still walking the streets of Nigeria, a freeman? Icheoku says, what a decrepitude person, the deity of Otta is!

A native of Gimhae, 280 miles from Seoul, President Roh hailed from a poor farming family background and never went to college? He taught himself law and easily passed the South Korea's bar examination? A feat indeed! As a human rights/defence lawyer, President Roh built his reputation defending students accused of sedition under past military backed regimes; and was himself once arrested, and had his law license suspended for supporting an outlawed labor organisation/protest? He later ventured into politics, joined the National Assembly as an opposition liberal lawmaker in 1988. He won the presidency in 2002 on a patriotic mantra of change and to be an independent Korea president for Koreans and not take dictates from Washington, a slogan which resonated with young voters who propelled him into the presidency? He was later impeached for breaking South Korea's political neutrality law by playing partisan politics as an elected president when he urged South Koreans to vote for his party's candidates in an election; he later regained his office following a court's over-ruling of his impeachment?

Icheoku says South Korean have lost one of their own, and a former president for that matter! Whether these allegations of bribery were enough to drive him off the cliff is debatable but did the former president ever seek serious professional intervention to save his moribound life? Better still did he ever consider relocating to a Penthouse suite in Las Vegas to forget his sorrows and put his past behind? Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand, when similarly embroiled in a bribery scandal, relocated to a posh London suburb to decompress, so why kill yourself because some money exchanged hands corruptly? Was it worth the life? Or was this man simply a coward, too squeamish to stare down his accusers, and then as an escapist, took his life in this manner? Do Koreans believe in God or heaven and hell and if so, where will this suicide-president now go? Anyway, as we send our condolence to South Koreans, the family of President Roh and his friends and admirers, Icheoku asks, isn't it ironic that the same prosecutors that literally drove him off to his death are now expressing their condolences on his death? Life's irony is sometimes incomprehensible. They also said that their investigation will be wrapped up soon and you ask yourself, against a dead person? Maybe the Korea style? Either way, adieu Mr. President!

A WEDDING GOWN, DO YOU MIND?

Just for your Saturday morning, this couple are stepping into a church to solemnize their marriage! It is called wedding! What a wedding gown indeed; and it was acceptable to the groom as well as the couples' family and they look happy? Are the couple somewhat inebriated or is appearance this time, deceptive? But what about those glasses of vodka they are clutching, afterall they are Russians? Do you have a differing opinion?

Icheoku asks, if you are planning a wedding, are you going to go conservative or be like this couple, appreciate that you only live life once? A food for your thought!

HISHAM TALAAT MUSTAFA, AN EGYPTIAN-BILLIONAIRE MURDERER!

He is an Egyptian billionaire real estate tycoon! He ordered a hit on his former paramour, a Lebanese pop singer! He was tried and convicted for her murder! His sentence, DEATH! The verdict is however subject to an immediate review by the religious Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, who is expected to act by June 25, 2009. Icheoku says, for prosecuting this case to a logical conclusion, the Egyptian judiciary has proved itself to be above board and as not having a price-tag? Worthy of particular mention is the judge of the Bab Al-Khalq criminal court who rendered the verdict, Judge Mohamed El-Qenesowa, pictured here left.

In many other countries of the world, his money, influence and political connections would have purchased him extra legs to walk away from justice, a free man; assuming he is even prosecuted! In Nigeria for example, so many people have been murdered and in some cases by known high and powerful people; yet nobody has ever been held accountable for these crimes?

A member of the National Democratic Party which has held a vice-like grip on power in Egypt since the 1970s, Convict Hisham Talaat Mustafa, 50, was a member of parliament of the Egyptian upper house, the Shura? Mustafa, pictured here right, is reputed to be one one of Egypt's richest men, and as member of the Egyptian elite high and powerful, had ties to the son of Egyptian president, Gamal Mubarak? It was however, before the verdict, being speculated that but for the insistence of the authorities in Dubai-United Arab Emirates, that he be prosecuted for the murder that the murder charge would have been squashed because of the convict's connections. Whether the president will pull some strings or use his executive powers to commute or suspend the sentence will be determined in due course; but President Hosni Mubarak should know that the whole world is watching and waiting for justice to take its course in this case; and he must not constitute himself a clog in its wheels. Kudos to the Egyptian judge, who courageously rendered this verdict without fear or intimidation of the high and powerful?

Mustafa was found guilty of murder for hire:- he had paid £1.3 million ($2 million) to a hotel security guard and former policeman, Mohsen el-Sukkari, to kill the Lebanese star Suzanne Tamin, 31. Miss Tamin, pictured left, rose to fame in the Arab world, in 1996, after winning an Egyptian Pop Idol show, - the Studio al Fan talent show. Mustafa was caught talking about the killing on "state security eavesdropping tapes." Icheoku says this is one example where warrant-less wire-taping worked for some positive results? The question remains, were it in America, would such evidence withstand judicial test of muster - the legality of how it was obtained? This is akin to a case of beauty and the beast, and now the beauty have ended up in the belly of the beast; who shall in due course hang for his crimes against a beauty queen impresario? An eye for an eye, may be?

Miss Tamin, the victim was found severally stabbed with her throat slit in her high rise luxury Dubai-United Arab Emirate apartment in July 28, 2009. The twice-divorced Miss Tamin was having an affair with Mustafa, a married real estate entrepreneur? When she ended the relationship, she moved to London where she met and married her third husband, an Iraqi-born world kick-boxing champion, Riyadh Alazzawi? Mr Alazzawi alleged that he had received threats from Moustafa demanding he give her Tamin or be killed; also that Moustafa had offered Tamin $50 million to leave him, Alazzawi?

The knife-welding assailant, El-Sukkari, worked as head of security at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt which Moustafa built; and had travelled to Dubai last July to carry out the dastardly murder. His DNA was found on clothes inside the victim's apartment and he was captured entering the Dubai apartment complex on the day of the murder by an on-site security camera? The murder-weapon, a knife allegedly used in the killing was also recovered. There was also a footprint found on the crime-scene which matched a shoe recently bought using al-Sukkari's credit card? Eavesdropped telephone conversations between El-Sukkari and Mustafa, wherein Mustafa was telling El-Sukkari, pictured bottom right, to throw his former lover off her balcony was tendered in evidence and supplied whatever missing link left of their culpability? The case which commenced on october 18, 2008, arrived at a decision seven months later!

His lawyer, Samir al-Shishtawi, called the ruling "severe" and said he expected it would be overturned on appeal? Icheoku says, what a consolatory statement made by an over-priced lawyer, trying to pallicate his unsatisfied, convicted client! It is only corruption on a grand scale that could change the verdict of death, based on overwhelming evidence of the prosecution.

Whatever the review, Icheoku says with the adduced mountain of evidence, the only rational outcome of such a review that is possible, is to affirm the verdict and order the immediate carrying out of the sentence forthwith! There was a murder victim; the murderer has confessed; the murder-weapon was recovered; the security camera's captured image of the killer is riveting; the shoe foot-print; and the mother of all evidence - the telephone conversation admission! Conclusion, affirm and execute the sentence as any other "strange" decision will be interpreted for what it is, procured!

NIGER DELTA WAR, JONATHAN GOODLUCK SHOULD RESIGN NOW!

Icheoku commends the chairman of the Nigeria Federal Government's Vision 2020 Sub-Committee on the Niger Delta, Prince Tonye TJT Princewill for resigning his office, in protest, over the massacre of his people of the South-South Niger Delta by the Nigerian government! What a selfless patriot and a real leader this prince is, who will not stand and watch the government which he is a member of, wantonly massacring his people! Well done, Tonye!

Based on this courageous display of qualitative leadership by Prince Tonye TJT Princewill, Icheoku hereby call on the Vice President of Nigeria Jonathan Goodluck and all remaining members of President Umaru Yar'Adua's administration from the Niger Delta and the entire South-South, to resign immediately in tow, in solidarity, and to protest the ongoing 'genocide of oil' in their homeland. Duty calls and Vice President Jonathan Goodluck must so answer by resigning now! No amount of gold in Aso-Rock is worth selling-out your people by abandoning them in this their time of dire need! If your power cannot be used to the benefit of your people, then why seek and hold it?

Ken Saro Wiwa was killed for oil and now what is left of the people of the Niger Delta are being killed-off, while Vice president Jonathan Goodluck is cozying up to the feudalistic mallams from the Sahara desert, in the name of being a loyal vice president? What manner of a man will be having a party while his house is ablaze but Jonathan Goodluck? Power is ephemeral and with what face will he return home to the Niger Delta area someday to explain why he stood akimbo while watching the northerners massacre his people? When has anybody killed off the Fulanis because they will not part with their cattle for a mere pittance? So why must it be the people of the Niger Delta South-South that must be forced to give up their oil because the oligarchs said so? Jonathan, your people are being annihilated, don't you get it?

Icheoku says, this ongoing carnage on "disposable" Nigerians must stop forthwith; otherwise let Nigerians review their continued existence as an entity? Enough of this bullshit from the north and by the north against a helpless peoples of the Niger Delta; whose only sin is that they are asking for a reasonable fair share of their own nature-endowed resources!

This is the time for all men in the Niger Delta to stand up and be counted as the northerners do not have any extra ball to be lording it over Nigeria, unchallenged? The Niger Delta/South-South governors should immediately protest the ongoing carnage in Abuja and threaten non-cooperation, if it does not cease immediately. Where are your souls Nigerians, that you should remain silent while fellow Nigerians are once again, being slaughtered or is Odi and Zaki-Ibiam not enough blood-shed already? The man died in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny; are the men in Nigerians, all dead? Speak up, Icheoku commands you and end the onslaught in the Niger Delta now! Give to Niger Delta what is theirs and let them pay taxes on it to the federal government! It is the right thing to do! It is equitable! It is the practice all over the rational world and it is also commonsensical!

AMERICAN IDOL, KRIS ALLEN SHOCKER!

And the winner is, Kris Allen, the new 2009 American Idol! What a surprise that the cool and so good looking Kris won and to the utmost surprise of fans, book-keepers, speculators and followers; trumping an "assured" and confident Adam Lambert, to emerge victorious in the just concluded 2009 American Idol competition.

Even the 23-year-old from Conway, Arkansas was surprised himself that he won; and after recovering from the initial shock, in his own words, said "I'm sorry, I don't even know what to feel right now. This is crazy."

Allen's smooth vocals and boy-next-door image probably gave him the edge, after nearly 100 million viewer votes were cast, choosing him over the rocker Adam Lambert; a hitherto fans-favorite? Icheoku congratulates the Arkansas native on his victory and wish him a successful career run.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, BACK AT HIS GAME?

Icheoku admonishes, "except she is your object of affection such as a spouse or paramour or some other special love interest, the butt of any woman is off the limits for any man's wandering hand, including that of President Bill Clinton"! A popular saying has it that fool me once, shame on you; but fool me twice shame on me! Also there is no lesson learnt in the second kick of the mull! So Bill Clinton, why tempt the devil by throwing the dog a red meat?

What are we saying? That former President Bill Clinton should maintain a very safe distance from any woman whatsoever, except if that woman is Hilary Clinton or Chelsea Clinton or his mother in-law Mrs Rodham, period! With Bill, not only must nothing be going on, it must also be seen beyond every shadow of doubt that nothing is going on! Put in another way, the very act, its appearance or semblance thereto are all disqualifiers, period! Any suspicion or doubtful overture is sufficient to find him 'guilty as charged'; and this picture above right is "offensive" enough.

The highly suggestive picture above left, shows President Bill Clinton touching the butt of Fran Drescher at the Life Ball charity event in Vienna over the last weekend? Icheoku says, what will Hilary think? Fran Drescher as you may recall is an Emmy Award and Golden Globe nominated American film and television actress, comedian, and activist. She is especially known for her television series "The Nanny".

After the Monica Lewinsky scandal that almost ruined his life (career and family), any reasonable man in his shoes, would have had a red-flag implant in his ear to warn him off, of any woman violating his territorial space. It does not matter who that woman is, except a Hilary approved-woman or one under her watchful presence and gaze! The public will not show mercy anymore, should another scandal break out and hence Bill must not give any rumour-mill, reason to even speculate. He must be on his guard, 24/7. We do not know the reaction of the Secretary of State over this picture, but Icheoku says, it sure does not look good for a recently sexually-rehabilitated man like Bill Clinton. He knows he is always "the usual suspect" and hence must be seen to be holier than even the pope and as celibate as an eunuch? We are talking about appearance here, Bill. Hopefully Hilary saw the picture for what it is, a harmless lending of hand on the butt? But why not on the shoulders, Mr. President?

In addition to all his good works of charity especially his AIDS/HIV activities, his new gig as United Nations special envoy on Haiti and being still married to the United States Secretary of States; Bill must discipline himself enough not to cause another scandal and rock the boat once again. Bill must discipline himself to allow Hilary Clinton to concentrate on the job she is currently doing for President Barack Obama's administration and the American people. It will be regrettable if speculations, fuelled by such photograph as this, causes her another hysteria and sleepless nights thinking about her husband's "lecherousness"?

Hilary must not be made to lose focus on the many prevalent world issues she is tirelessly finding solutions to. What a dynamic Secretary of State she has so far proved herself to be? We are proud of her work so far, including securing the release of Iranian detained journalist Saberi. Please, please Bill, you must, by all means necessary stay off the skirts; and save the world the agony of having a cause to look at another one of your pitiable pictures, as this one here right? As you well know, the mother of all sex-scandals aka the blue dress is still oozing fresh in memory; so put your hands in your pocket instead, assuming they are too heavy that they must rest on something, but definitely not on a butt somewhere in Vienna! Good cause or no good cause, you must first try to maintain Hilary's sanity as her plate is rather too full now, to worry about a possibly "horny, philandering" husband?

FUNERAL NOTICE OF CHIEF CHRISTAIN CHUKWUMA ONOH!

Late Chief Christain Chukwuma Onoh

(April 27, 1927 - May 4, 2009)

Aninefungwu Okaa-Omee 1 of Ngwo who joined his ancestors on April 27, 2009 will be laid to rest at his family's compound in Ngwo Enugu State, Nigeria on July 3, 2009!

Father of Enugu (Wawa) State is gone! A man of the people is no more! May his soul find rest in the bosom of our Lord, peace be unto him, Amen! Icheoku says, you shall be missed a great deal! Adieu, Mega Personality!

RSVP: The Onoh Family of Ngwo.

Fondly remembered by his people of Enugu State, Nigeria.

MICHAEL MARTIN, SWEPT AWAY BY A TIDAL WAVE OF CORRUPTION!

According to one commentator, the rumblings in the belly of the earth of British politics finally erupted and out spewed the speaker of the parliament! The first in about three (300) hundred years of uninterrupted political bliss of parliamentary speaker-ship in Britain? What a political earthquake, indeed?

The speaker of Britain's lower house, Michael Martin, 63, agreed to step down after lawmakers from all the major political parties demanded his resignation over an expenses' scandal ranging from claims for manure to pornographic films; that has tarnished the reputation of parliament. Parliament has been thus damaged by a series of reports in newspapers based on leaked information on how members milked the expenses system to supplement an annual salary of around 65,000 pounds ($100,700)?

Martin, a former metalworker, who rose through the ranks to become the "unwilling" speaker who was literally dragged to the chair of the speaker, faced intense pressure to resign from lawmakers who saw him now as an obstacle to reform; and facing a no-confidence motion already signed by 23 members of parliament (MPs) from all major parties, he threw in the towel. In his terse statement to the parliament, announcing his resignation, Martin said "In order that unity can be maintained, I have decided that I will relinquish the office of speaker on Sunday, June 21, 2009"! The last speaker in recorded history of Britain to be forced out from the post was John Trevor, who lost the confidence of the house in 1695 for taking a bribe. Prior to him, other previous speakers had their heads cut-off, for infra-digs affecting the esteem of the parliament. The Parliament will elect a new speaker, who could come from any of the major parties, by secret ballot on June 22, 2009; a day after Martin goes. His Glasgow North East constituency will conduct a bye election to fill his vacating seat.

The scandal has since forced an immediate change of policies in Parliament including imposition of stricter curbs on expenses, until an in-depth review and over-haul of the system is completed later this year? Henceforth, lawmakers would only be able to claim rent, mortgage interest and utility bills for their second homes in future, preventing them charging the taxpayer for items such as cleaning swimming pools or repairing tennis courts? The past four years of claims will be reviewed. Parliamentary officials will refuse any future claim they think is unreasonable and publish approved payments online. Icheoku says, what a necessary first active steps being taken to avoid a repeat occurrence, unlike the rogue-infested Nigerian house of representatives where a 2.6 billion Naira car-purchase scandal failed to even ruffle any feathers of its leadership nor induce some reformation of the scandal-inducing conditions?

It will be recalled that Martin now joins the growing number of causalities as a result of the unfolding scandal; a junior minister have already been forced to step down pending an inquiry, while two Labour lawmakers have been suspended and a senior adviser to a government minister has also been forced to quit. Also a Conservative member of parliament Douglas Hogg, who was sharply criticized over reports he claimed thousands of pounds in expenses for cleaning the moat around his second home, said on Tuesday he would step down before the next election. Icheoku says, this shows that corruption is not an exclusive preserve of African and other developing countries; but unlike in African and developing countries, their masses are never left high and dry but are provided with basic amenities of life, hence they rarely feel the impact; and not like the ravaged and pillaged Africans!

PAKISTAN'S ROMEO AND JULIET, TO DIE BY STONING?

When you think you have heard the last of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, here comes two love-struck birds who must not marry or have the fate of impending death await them. They chose the later and today, their days are numbered as they stow away from the stones and rocks of their would-be persecutors, Pakistanis preserving their "honor"? What a perversion that people whose hearts have melt together will not be allowed to enjoy the bliss of their found love? Icheoku says, it is a crime to fall in love in Pakistan except your family approves!

Pervez Chachar and wife Humera Kambo are seen in the picture above, sitting in a makeshift room in a police headquarters in Karachi; still enjoying whatever moments they may still have left on this earth; as fatwa is a subsisting decree which only runs its course when the accused's blood is spilled. Their respective families have decreed that they shall die for bringing dishonor to their families by falling in love with each other, rival tribes who have been at each other's throat will not allow love to heal old wounds? Icheoku asks, is there any similarities with Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet classical with this Pakistan's Pervez and Humera?

This is a case where the world should rise up to defend this two love birds; including giving them an asylum at a more civilized part of the world, if the Pakistani authorities cannot protect them. Icheoku asks, when has falling in love become a crime? The couple's intransigence for which they have been condemned to die by stoning, is falling in love and marrying each other without their families' approval? Until they are killed, the newlyweds who are from rival tribes in Pakistan, dare not venture out of their self-imposed prison - the police station, as they fear their families will hunt them down and kill them to preserve some families' honor? What a lunacy, in this 21st century and in a country that prides itself as a nuclear power? What honor are these people talking about, that is of such magnitude as to warrant spilling of the blood of innocence? Pakistanis, this is shameful; it gives you a bad name and should and must be stopped!

NIGERIA SHOULD ABOLISH QUOTA SYSTEM - an article by Chinedu Vincent Akuta.

The Federal Character principle which gave rise to quota system in Nigeria was established to solve the problems of inequality and marginalization as expressed by certain parts of Nigeria. Among other reasons for introducing the quota system were because of differences in the socio-economic development of different parts of Nigeria. Secondly there were disparities in the levels of educational developments in different parts of the country. Some sections of the country (North) were alleged to be educationally disadvantaged, while some regions (South) of the country were acclaimed to be educationally advantaged. Therefore the past leadership of Nigeria thought it wise to introduce quota system so as to bridge the gap.

The federal character principle was adopted during the 1977 Constitutional Drafting Committee. It became part of 1979 constitution of Nigeria. From this point in our nation’s history, the questions of merit or competitiveness among Nigerians were set aside in place of quota system. This system has hindered development and it defiles all logic. How can a nation make progress when their best cannot occupy their due positions because we are practising quota? We cannot move forward as a nation by putting round pegs in square holes. From the time of incorporating the quota system into the Nigerian law books till date, the federal government has used it as a policy instrument in recruiting people to all federal government establishments like the armed forces, police, ministries, federal government owned universities etc. Because it’s in our statute book, the various state governments and all local governments’ use the quota system in their various appointments etc. Merit, experience and hard work do not matter if quota system is in use especially when it comes to appointments. Its contrary to what Max Weber (1864-1920) said, that employees should be hired and promoted based on merit and expertise. We choose mediocre in place of merit. The use of quota system has brought about intense lobbying each time there is vacancy to be filled.

Thisday Newspapers of 25th April 2009 online version reported that President Yar’Adua has become “sick and tired” of high level lobbying from all corners for the replacement of Inspector General of Police who is due for retirement soon. This is the result of quota system, were merit can be set aside in filling a vacant position. Quota system means injustice as far as am concerned. Apologies to its beneficiaries. The mere existence of this charter in our law books means that the country has been established on the paths of injustice. This concept of quota system will certainly prevent the best from emerging in all circumstances. America was established on freedom, equality, human rights and democracy. They live by it and they also export it to the whole world. Quoting the former President of United States, late John F. Kennedy, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty”. Because America is a free a society, the emergence of Barack Obama as the United States President became possible.

In the United Kingdom, there is the equal opportunities act. Based on this act, United Kingdom employers makes appointment on merit by a fair and open process. Employers treat applicants equally regardless of your ethnic background, origin, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability etc. Since Nigeria started the federal character/quota system the country has retrogressed. I want to be proven wrong, but I believe that the spirit of federal character/quota system gave rise to the zoning formula adopted by most political parties, example PDP. This same zoning formula contributed immensely to the emergence of the former president Obasanjo. I will leave Nigerians to make their judgement on the administration of Obasanjo. My own assessment on them is that they performed very poor especially with conducting elections, power supply, road maintenance, health system, fighting corruption etc. The same zoning formula which is a brain child of federal character/quota system gave rise to the emergence of President Musa Yar'Adua?

It will be better for Nigeria to have credible leaders who will discharge their duties effectively from one section of the country, than what we are having today. Nigerians will benefit more if leaders who will deliver on dividends of democracy emerge from a particular state or region. Choosing leadership based on zoning is completely wrong. This concept of quota system has done more harm than good. Therefore this is the time to abolish quota system or quota system will abolish Nigeria. Quota system laid down the quest for the scramble and looting of our nations resources. People, groups, politicians, contractors etc lobby for positions all because quota system has replaced merit. When people, politicians, regions or states do not get positions they start shouting of marginalization. When they succeed, they loot because they feel it’s their turn. Patriotism and national interest do no longer exits in Nigeria due to this policy. Quota system encourages tribalism and division. This twin evil makes peace and love to be difficult in a country like Nigeria. Just recently, it was on the headlines that Nigerian Senate was boiling over the distribution of 60 billion Naira voted for constituency projects. Aggrieved Senators accused the Senate appropriation committee leadership of being discriminatory in the sharing of projects among the senatorial districts. This accusation of being discriminatory in sharing projects can also be attributed to quota system or federal character. This is despite the personal interest of our senators.

Quota system is like an evil which was left unchecked. This evil (quota) was tolerated and encouraged by the Nigerian leadership. Quoting Late Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India, “Evil unchecked grows; evil tolerated poisons the whole system”. Quota system has poisoned the entire Nigerian system. The aim of introducing quota system should have been achieved by now which is well over 30 years. Therefore I strongly advocate for its abolition. I use this medium to call on the President to start the process of abolishing this system. It has done more harm than good. Since we are clamoring for constitutional review, let’s remind ourselves on the need to remove this from the books. Greater part of our problems can be traced to this system. Hoping that the Nigerian authorities have taken note. May God bless Nigeria.

Chinedu Vincent Akuta is an activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK!