WATERBOARDING, THE WRONGFULNESS OF IT?

Water-boarding has occupied our national discourse for quite some time now, that not a day passes without varying groups of people pivoting one way or the other on whether it is torture or not? While some called the spade for what it is, torture; others are prevaricating and conflicted, calling it a wonderful, picnic experience?

Icheoku says, why is the issue of water-boarding being torture or not even making such great headlines? It is because America said they do not torture people; and what a paradox, it would be, if eventually water-boarding constituted torture? What a diminishment of what America stands for, in event water-boarding qualified as torture; thereby making her contemptible in the eyes of the world, which would then regard her as a lying SOB! Petty dictators also, who use such instrument of terror to subjugate and maintain their iron-clad fist-hold over their subjugated subjects, will henceforth be guffawing and beating their chest in victory that they have always been right; that torture works and America now agrees with them? Further, America would have lost its moral authorities to lean on other countries of the world to do better and improve on their human-rights reforms.

Late Saddam Hussein was the most recent example of a dictator who torture sustained in office for over three decades? If America took him out and it was later found out that it too, practices the same torture for which Saddam Hussein was tried, condemned and hung, then that will be a moral equivocation of the highest order? A paradigm of hypocrisy it will amount to, may be? This is what Dick Cheney and his family and their very few remaining cronies/aligns are desperately trying, so very hard, to avoid; hence they are going to the ends of the earth, inventing and manufacturing myriad of fictitious, mirage of their own facts to distort what was? They are fully aware of the consequences of their illegality, hence are fighting a full-throttle battle to divert attention of the probing searchlights? If it is established that water-boarding is torture, then the next step is to find out who authorised it; this is where Dick Cheney and cohorts would be implicated, hence the struggle to mislead the public on what is water-boarding? Any such admission or conclusion that water-boarding is torture or that Dick Cheney instigated or authorised it, will make America be seen in the moulds of Khmer Rouge, Pol Potts and Saddam Husseins of this world which the American public will fight by pushing that the authorising principals be prosecuted and punished? This is the crux of all the prevarications on the definition and implication of water-boarding. So Icheoku now asks, did radio-jock Erich "Mancow" Muller, by going under the water, supplied the crucial evidence needed to prosecute and punish the perpetrators of torturous water-boarding? Did his brave act supply the elusive clarity or missing-link or answer to the question, did America torture people by water-boarding?

Were America a murderous country run by a petty-dictator, then any form of torture including water-boarding will be ok? But the constitution says no, and here is the gravamen of this discussion. Our standards dictates that we can do better because we are better! The argument is not necessarily the efficacy of a cruel and unusual cohesive method of leading someone to believe that he is under an immediate risk of being drowned? No such works, otherwise ask Saddam Hussein how he was able to put a lid under the near intractable Iraq for over three decades? Putting the fear of God of an irreparable bodily harm or even death in someone always works; otherwise there will be no surviving dictator any where in the world? So the issue here is that we did not and should not descend so low as to compete in the same mud-pit with all those dictators, world-over?

Icheoku says, it would have been a cruel irony and a misnomer of a double-speak, for anyone to say that America does not torture people when facts on the ground would otherwise suggests differently; with an evident water-boarding? With due respect to the audacity of radio shock-jock, Erich Mancow Miller, following through with his promised experimentation to disprove that water-boarding is torture; Icheoku commends his six seconds bravery! Unlike the boastful Sean Hannity who chickened out even before the faucet could be turned on, Mancow went under the knife and was man enough to later admit that his previous dispositions were unfounded, exaggerated and buffoonery. Just six seconds under running water, Mancow threw in the towel, agreeing before national audience, that water-boarding is not only torture but torture in the absolute term! Simply put, Mancow decreed that water-boarding is drowning! Such an admission, coming from a sworn enemy of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party; and a bible clutching white-boy loudmouth has diminished Dick Cheney in the eyes of the American public. His acknowledgement has now laid to waste the rants of recent weeks by Dick Cheney and daughters, that water boarding is not torture? They tried as hard as they may but in vain, to defend an indefensible and immoral conduct of torture by water-boarding, which was possibly instigated and approved by the Dick Cheney's angle of the Bush administration?

Ordinarily, Icheoku would this matter rested with Mancow's personal televised experience; but that the President Barack Obama and his Democratic party administration should be firm and resolute with carrying through with the closing of Guantanamo prison as scheduled. They should probably investigate the extent of culpability of officials of the last administration in soiling the image of America, by approving and ordering torture of water-boarding? Only a conclusive investigation into this pot of mess, will satisfy both the rule of law, the American people and other reasonable peoples of this world. Just like the outing of the CIA operative, Valerie Plaine was investigated and punished, so should all other atrocities of the Bush/Cheney administration be conclusively laid to rest too, including the lingering water-boarding.

Now that Mancow has survived being water-boarded for six seconds, Icheoku calls on the remaining loudmouths deniers of water-boarding being torture, to now submit themselves to the pleasant experience of a picnic; being placed under a streaming water fall? Starting with Sean Hannity of Fox Network, who is the most eligible candidate for water-boarding, having voluntarily offered himself to be water-boarded to disprove that it is torture? Then to be followed by the former vice president Dick Cheney for possibly instigating the method and defending it, provided his difilbrator-implants inside his heart will accommodate such a wonderful pleasurable experience? Then next in the list should be mega-loudmouth, Rush Limbaugh whose show for the past two years running has been solely fixated on President Barack Obama; while at the same time calling on MSNBC to stop making him the object of their television productions? Once these three human-beings have been placed under the faucet, in accordance with their gospel of water-boarding not being torture, Icheoku will approve and order that every human being including women, children and adult be summarily subjected to this heavenly bliss? However, should they decline and turn tails, then let the world know that vice president Dick Cheney instigated one of the worst forms of man's inhuman treatment of another man and should be held accountable. Let the world also know that Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh are simple blow-hots, who have no guts to go under the torrent!Icheoku therefore declare both of them, sissy girlie-men! Torture is an abhorred means of interrogation of anyone under United States custody; and anyone guilty of approving it is roundly condemned and should be punished.

Water boarding as it is currently described involves strapping a person to an inclined board, with his feet raised and his head lowered. The interrogators bind the person's arms and legs so he can't move at all, and they cover his face. In some descriptions, the person is gagged, and some sort of cloth covers his nose and mouth; in others, his face is wrapped in cellophane. The interrogator then repeatedly pours water onto the person's face. Depending on the exact setup, the water may or may not actually get into the person's mouth and nose; but the physical experience of being underneath a wave of water seems to be secondary to the psychological experience. The person's mind believes he is drowning, and his gag reflex kicks in as if he were choking on all that water falling on his face.

In conclusion therefore, Icheoku says, unlike in the killing of another person which could sometimes be excused by justification, torture by water-boarding does not have any known exceptions or qualifiers? It is either we do or we do not torture people, period! So it is illogical to argue that torture by water-boarding yielded some results, since its efficacy was never in doubt in the first place? What America has been harping on and which is persistently being echoed by President Barack Obama is that America does not torture people, period! Therefore it does not matter whether or not some actionable intelligence was obtained by subjecting some human -beings under a torrent of running water? Except and until valid exceptions are made and recognised, it is the law that America does not torture people; and since water-boarding is torture, we should not have water-boarded anybody in the first place. Icheoku says Dick Cheney and his kitchen apologists are merely grand-standing with their saying that water-boarding is not torture. This can be riped apart by President Barack Obama agreeing to an independent counsel-type investigation, to unravel what actually went down during that infamous Bush-Cheney regime. This will surely put the air out of their tires, stop them cold in their tracks as well as shut them up as they will then be spending their energy putting up their defence, instead of their pitiful faces plastering our televisions, denying the obvious? Do they think that we all dummies or what? Icheoku strongly believes that their present hoofing and puffing is merely a subterfuge to starve off any possible serious inquiry into the infamous water-boarding torture and who authorized it?

SOLUDO'S FORCED EXIT, THE POLITICS OF CBN GOVERNORSHIP?

Icheoku asks, if Professor Chukwuma Soludo's tenure at the Central Bank of Nigeria manifested such a "dedicated service and uncommon sense of duty", why then was he not re-appointed? Why was his contract not renewed, after-all his deputy, Mr. Babatunde Lemo's was re-appointed to another term of five years? The answer, it would seem, was that the Hausa-Fulani controlled bureau` de change operators in Nigeria wanted him out; and hence put an unbearable pressure on the knee-jerk bloody President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who snapped and had to replace him.

In a letter of "commendation" sent to the now ex-governor of Central bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, President Umaru Yar'Adua wrote “As your tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria comes to a "glorious end", I write on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria to place on record our debt of gratitude to you for your "dedicated service and uncommon sense of duty" over the past five years. I am confident that your worthy antecedents in the CBN and in prior appointments in the service of our nation remain sources of inspiration to an entire generation. As I wish you even more astounding successes in the years ahead, it is my fervent hope that you will readily avail us of your distinguished service when the need arises in the future.” Icheoku says the need for Soludo distinguished services is now that the world financial ship is still in turbulent waters and not in an utopia distant chasm future which may never come, especially in today's Nigeria where Ali Baba and the forty thieves are holding sway? Further, what is so "glorious" about one's tenure coming to an end, when a renewable appointment was not specifically renewed; whereas that of his deputy was renewed? If there is anybody who had a glorious run in the eyes of the sick man of Katsina, it is that deputy governor of central bank, who was signed up again for another five years but definitely not Soludo, who had been shown the way out. Who is really fooling who in Nigeria and when will the proverbial Nigerian chicken ever come home to roost?

In as much as Icheoku does not really care about who runs the central bank of Nigeria or in any other way, be-grudge President Umaru Yar'Adua's prerogative to appoint whosoever he pleases to any office in the land, including that of central bank of Nigeria governor; we however object to the continued running of things aground by the Hausa-Fulani hijackers of Nigeria? Nigeria has been in the doldrums all these years due to their excessive, stubborn and fanatical hold on power; and the evidence on the ground does not justify this their obstinate death-hold on power? Also Soludo's stay at central bank once again proved that some people are definitely better at running things?

As Chukwuma Soludo is forced out of the central bank, Icheoku asks him not to walk with a fallen crest but to walk tall, with his head high, because he left indelible prints in Central Bank of Nigeria. His stellar performance as governor of Central bank of Nigeria for the past five years, has debunked some nay-sayers who said that Nigeria's problems are intractable. What Soludo did at the central bank proved these theorists wrong, as it established that problematic Nigeria has a solution, if only the right people are allowed to run things therein, undisturbed. Madam Okonjo-Iwealla proved it; current information minister Dora Akunyili added impetus thereto while at NAFDAC and Professor Chukwuma Soludo has now stamped a seal of performance-ability of and by particular people from certain part of Nigeria? His performance confirmed beyond doubt that some people are uniquely gifted with the can-do attribute and given a chance, can deliver on any given assignment. The good news however is that a financial genius like Soludo will not be in the unemployment market for so long; as some appreciative and reasonable country or financial institution will snatch him up very soon. Where is Okonjo-Iwealla today? What about Obiageli Ezekwesili and the list will soon add up with an inevitable Soludo's elevation to a position, somewhere within the world financial circle?

Any reasonable government would have renewed Soludo's appointment without hesitation; especially in view of the fluidity of the world financial situation, which is still threatening many economies of the world, including that of Nigeria. Why change the horse mid-stream and not let the steady hand on the tiller navigate the waters for just five more years? Big deal? Also why not reward his effort and as a tribute for his courageous reformation of the banking industry in Nigeria, renew his appointment to show that the nation appreciated the work he did these past five years? Without Soludo's foresight, which provided Nigeria with the safe parachute in which it landed during this dire financial times, what would have become the fate of its financial system; may be it would have since gone belly-up? But no, he worked tirelessly for an ungrateful Nigerian government which thinks through its butt, and which would allow politics of north and south dichotomy to interject itself in such a high valued government position like the central bank governor? And who says it will soon be uhuru for Nigeria? Please bring up some other topic!

Be that as it may, the Hausa-Fulani north has yet again snagged another key entity, the central bank of Nigeria and no one is talking about federal character? What a subjective term, that only comes to play when issues based on real-performance ability is at stake and the north hides their incompetency thereunder? It does not matter to the north that it now occupies virtually every major institutions of Nigeria, from presidency to senate-presidency to defence to agriculture to finance and now to central bank and the list goes on and on? Our beef is not necessarily against the north but on the compliant Nigerians who merely tag along to the wishes of these mallams without voicing any objection to their dictates? It is unfortunate that Soludo's tenure was not renewed and regrettably the Nigerian financial system may suffer as a result; as it might soon possibly unravel given that the north usually reverses policies just for the heck of it? President Umaru Yar'Adua has reversed many of Olusegun Obasanjo's without proffering any himself, their aboki style?

Anyway, Icheoku, while wishing Soludo well and appreciating him for a successful run at the Central bank, congratulates Sanusi Lamido Aminu, the new point-man designate; and also wish him well! His confirmation is assured, as President Umaru Yar'Adua will always get what he wants from the also north-controlled senate! What a country, that runs on life-support that always sees things first in the prism of north and south; and not necessarily on the merits of the ground evidence? We are not saying that Sanusi Lamido Aminu is not qualified, no, our reasoning is that Professor Chukwuma Soludo's tenure should have been renewed under the circumstance of the prevailing turbulent world financial environment; which he has successfully managed very well so far. Why change a winning team just because of partisan and tribal consideration; and because the mallams said so and as always, will get what they want as owners of Nigeria? President Umaru Yar'Adua is just despicable and a hack partisan of the lowest cadre. Talk about a fanatical maniac, who unabashedly factors in religion and geography in all his considerations and you tell me that Nigeria will be ok?

AIR FRANCE, FLIGHT 447 GONE WITH THE TURBULENCE!

Laden with 228 passengers and crew members, en-route to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport from Brazil's Rio de Janeiro's Jobim international airport, an Air France Flight 447 jet tragically went MIA mid-Atlantic; following an encounter with monster thunderstorms?

Icheoku says, as vast as the Atlantic ocean is, it will be very difficult if not impossible to locate the airplane; which tragically took the 228 people on-board to their watery grave! It is feared that the plane was ripped into smithereens by the murderous storm, which will further compound the search and recover efforts? Icheoku extends our heart-felt sympathy to the families of the men and women aboard the ill-fated airline; as well as the management of Air-France on the tragic loss.

Several military air-crafts were scrambled as well as some naval ships to the presumed point of disappearance to help with recovery. France has also sought United States of America's help with its super-secret spy-satellite as well as its other eaves-dropping listening capabilities to help locate the wreckage of the airplane. The sudden disappearance of Flight 447 was so dramatic that some UFO enthusiasts are saying that it was possibly snatched by some unknown aliens?

As to what actually happened no one is really sure; but speculation strongly favors violent thunderheads reaching heights of more than 50,000 feet high which pounded the plane with hail and high winds, causing structural damage, forcing it to its sudden catastrophic end. What an awesome power of mother-nature that could generate a 50,000 feet high storm; maybe enough to wean the West of its energy dependence on Middle Eastern oil? While French president Nikolas Sarkozy was more realistic with his expectations that the chances of anyone surviving is lower than zero, Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was overtly optimistic when he expressed hope that "the worst hasn't happened and that Brazilians will have to ask God to help them find survivors? Icheoku says, there is nothing wrong with hoping, but sometimes, a realistic hope is the better way to go.

Flight 447 left Rio on Sunday night May 31, 2009 with 216 passengers and 12 crew members on board; people from 32 different nationalities including two Americans, but majority of whom were from Brazil and France! The 216 passengers included 126 men, 82 women, 7 children and a baby; of which, 61 are French, 58 Brazilians, 2 Americans and others from 30 other countries. According to reports, the plane was cruising normally at 35,000 feet, doing 522 mph when it disappeared just four hours into the ill-fated flight. At about 10.48pm, as the plane left radar contact beyond Brazil's Fernando de Noronha archipelago, headed to Paris, no trouble was reported; but shortly after, north of the equator, a wall of towering thunderstorms developed? As the plane went through it at about 11:14 p.m. an automatic message from the plane's computers came through to Paris, reporting electrical system failure and a loss of cabin pressure? And that was it, the last known human contact with the plane, - the moribund Flight 447?

Flight 447 was a 4 year-old Airbus A330-200, twin-engine, long-haul, medium-capacity passenger jet that can hold up to 253 passengers. There are 341 in use worldwide, flying up to 7,760 miles a trip. Air France has opened telephone hot-lines for friends and relatives of people on the plane - 00 33 157021055 for callers outside France and 0800 800812 for inside France. Icheoku says, may souls of those departed Air France Flight 447 passengers and crew, rest in peace, Amen!

NATO-GEORGIA MILITARY EXERCISE, HEAVENS DID NOT FALL?

Icheoku says, as the much hyped one-month long NATO-Georgia military exercise gradually draws to an end, heavens did not fall after-all; despite Russia's strong objections that the exercise should not hold? Whether the cooling-down of their initial strong objection and vituperation was in deference to President Barack Obama or they just chickened out, Icheoku does not know; but says, the world is surely enjoying a less heated polity now and should continue in that direction. As we observed in one of our earlier articles on Russia, Russia and America will never come to firearms hostilities; and the world will not allow them, assuming they become mad enough and want to try. The stakes are just simply too high to permit the fiercesome clash of such two elephants? Now back to our discussion of the on-going NATO military exercise in and with Georgia; and the need for friendly dispositions of countries of the world to one another.

Russia, which had condemned the exercises as "provocative" had to swallow its pride when it became obvious that NATO was not ready to back down and that the exercise was not in any way targeted at them or in any other way a threat to their security. It equally shows the good that can come out of a situation when educated and intelligent men run affairs of a nation wherein instead of bluster and brute force, they can reason out their differences towards achieving and securing world peace. On this particular note, Icheoku congratulates President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia for his understanding and for not heating up the world tension any further; as the world can use less of that now. Admitted he had described the military exercise as "dangerous" because they are taking place in close proximity to South Ossetia where Russian troops are stationed and also "provocative" because they are coming so soon after the conflict with Georgia. However, reason eventually prevailed and he backed down. The way to go, Dimtry!

The military exercise, has been taking place at Vaziani military facility, around 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) east of the Georgian capital Tbilisi and very close to South Ossetia, the breakaway region of Georgia which is recognised as independent by Russia. It started on May 6, 2009 and will last till June 1, 2009. About 700 soldiers from 13 countries have so far taken part in the exercises, which ends on June 1, 2009 with field manoeuvres; and another aspect of it based on peacekeeping training, will run until 3 June. The military exercises are being held under NATO's Partnership for Peace program, under which NATO works with non-NATO countries to build up military cooperation. The exercise is divided into two parts, the first named Cooperative Longbow 09 and aims to improve coordination between brigade commanders with procedure, coordination and command systems was scheduled to involve around 220 soldiers and does not involve tanks. While the second exercise named Cooperative Lancer 09 is a live firing exercise termed "crisis response" and aims to improve cooperation at battalion level. This part of the exercise was planned for around 400 soldiers and involves tanks.

Participating countries in the exercise include Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Macedonia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and United States. However some non-NATO countries who earlier indicated interest later pulled out; possibly not to offend Russia and include Armenia, Moldova, Serbia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan?

Once again, congratulations to NATO for courageously going through with the military exercise as planned and also to Russia and President Dimtry Medvedev for not being obtrusively antagonistic and for allowing peace to reign. Icheoku says, it was just a military exercise and nothing stops Russia from conducting one or even joining NATO as part of the one world peaceful nation it aspires to be. Finally, it gladdens everyone heart that the exercise is taking place and will conclude peacefully without any major incident. Everybody wins!

GEORGE TILLER, M.D., ABORTION DOCTOR MURDERED!

What an intolerant mean mad-dogs these pro-life lunatics are? People who will go to any length, even to the extent of defiling the sanctity of the church to commit murder in the name of protecting an unborn child? Icheoku says, if the life of an unborn child is very important why then take that of an already existing adult; a feloow human being? What a juxtaposition of irony?

Icheoku says, may God punish all these American-Talibans, whose intolerance for change and modernity make them so filled with hatred for another human being, that they commit the most heinous of all crimes, MURDER! They should be condemned by all men and women of good morals and Icheoku here condemns them as the lowest of the low! It is abhorable as it is sinful to desecrate the house of worship with the blood of an innocent man, who was merely providing much needed family services to mankind? George Tiller, M.D. , 67, was shot in cold blood as he worked as an usher during a Sunday service in a church in Wichita Kansas - the land of Wizard of Oz! A very deadly tornado alley where every thing is virtual as flat as their minds and souls? A land which breeds this type of hateful human-being that killed Dr. George Tiller? What a shame?

Wichita city official confirmed that a suspect in the shooting to death of Dr. Tiller, has been taken into custody. Icheoku says, the suspect is such a good candidate for the death penalty; hence should face a speedy trial and executed immediately, for being such an anti-progress, crazy denigrate element of the society. If he has any beef with abortion or an abortion doctor, why didn't he just not get one or disallow his raped daughter to get one or force his niece who has been impregnated by her own biological father to carry the pregnancy to full term or better still, if his wife has ectopic pregnancy and her life depended on an abortion, to just not allow he do it but die, instead? But no, he would rather be shooting and killing people just to realize his dark idea of a society which does not perform an abortionm, even when it medically needed?

What a rabid lunatic this lowest of dregs of humanity is, that wasted an M.D's life? And this is America in the year 2009 and such a level of intolerance still exists? Dr. George Tiller was killed because he shared a different philosophy with the killer on the right of women to have a choice as it affects their own body? Can we all just disagree without being disagreeable?

Dr. George Tiller who began providing abortion services since 1973; once acknowledged that abortion was as socially divisive as slavery or prohibition were, but said the issue was about giving women a choice when dealing with technology that can diagnose severe fetal abnormalities before a baby is born? According to the late medical doctor, "Pre-natal testing without pre-natal choices is medical fraud," and because of this his differing belief, he was murdered by a raving rabid anti-abortion lunatic.

According reports reaching Icheoku.com, Dr. Tiller was was shot today Sunday May 31, 2009 as he served as an usher during morning services at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita Kansas. His wife who was a member of the church's choir saw her husband shot and die performing services for the Lord, inside the Lord's church? This is a case where the Lord would have shown mercy and not allow this despicable piece of trash to have his way. And I am talking about miracle of life, that is?

It is noteworthy that Dr. George Tiller's Women's Health Care Services Clinic in Wichita, Sedgwick County Kansas is one of the only three places throughout the United States of America, where late term abortion services is still provided? With him now gone and possibly no one courageous enough to keep the place open, women needing late term termination of problematic pregnancy are now left with few are choice as to where to obtain much needed natal care? This is not the first time the doctor had been attacked but sure the very last and final one indeed. He was shot in both arms in 1993 by a protester who attempted to shoot off his hands in order to stop him from performing abortions with them? His clinic was also fire-bombed in 1985.

In a statement issued condemning the shooting, pro-abortion group Operation Rescue said, "We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning."

As Icheoku joins millions of all freedom loving people of the world in mourning Dr. George Tiller, we say let there be tolerance in America! If you do not want something, please do not force your opinion or choice on others; otherwise we all become the Talibans whose imposition of their jaundiced way of life and understanding of their Koran on other people is the cause of all the troubles facing the world today. This is the single most important reason why our boys and girls in uniform are in harms way in several places in the Middle East and Asia trying to improve some peoples life.

This murder in Wichita Kansas of a medical doctor, is a murder too much and should and must be condemned by all. Dr. George Tiller does not deserve this fate and since when, did doing one's job become a crime to be punished with extra-judicial execution; and in cold blood, inside the house of God? The fury of hell awaits whosoever pulled the trigger that took the life of Dr. George; as well as all those in complaicity and those other very intolerant human-beings who would commit a more heinous crime such as murder because of their parochial and warped closeted minds on the rights of the unborn child to life; irrespective of whatever right the would-be mother might have including that of life? It shall not be well with the murderer of Dr. George Tiller. To the bereaved wife and family, Icheoku sympathizes with you on your tragic loss; and pray that God will give you the fortitude to bear the loss. Adieu George!

KEN NIWEIGHA, A VICTIM OF STATE MURDER?

Icheoku asks, who does not know of the mean spirited maniacal and murderous disposition of the Nigerian police? Who has forgotten Dele Udo, the Nigerian sprinter who was murdered in cold-blood by the Nigeria police at Suru-lere? Who is not aware of how they corroborate with hoodlums and sometimes, participate themselves in terrorising the citizens of Nigeria as armed robbers, maiming and killing them in the process. There are stories of their killing innocent motorists and motor-cyclists for refusing to give them bribes? Icheoku says, if these police-men could kill innocent Nigeria victims, what fate then awaits someone who allegedly fired at their boss?

The extra-judicial murder of Ken Niweigha by the Nigerian police force is condemnable and should be condemned by all men and women of good morality. He was a militant and so what? He had been arrested and in custody, why not let the law take its full course? No, as that was a risk too much to take since the sick man at Aso Rock wants results in putting down the activism in the Niger Delta and taking out one of the identified ring-leaders of the movement is a step in that direction? Probably this murderous police chief of Bayelsa State will be rewarded very soon, with a promotion on the orders of the new Dracula of Nigeria, President Umaru Yar'Adua? He is greatly enjoying his new drink, - the innocent blood of the people of Niger Delta being shed by his armed forces? Ken, a man fighting for his people of the Niger Delta was killed in cold-blood by men of the Nigerian police force, who are paid to protect the citizens of Nigeria with money realized from oil, found and exploited underneath Ken's grounds in the Niger Delta? Ken may be anything to the Nigerian authorities but to his people in the riverines of Bayelsa State, he was a hero and his name shall live forever in their minds. Just like Jesus was made immortal by his death on the cross, by this state murder, Ken Niweigha has now joined the elite club of very few brave men and women, whose names shall forever live on.

The pertinent question for the ignoble Nigerian police to answer is, how could a fully manacled, shackled and leg-chain bound prisoner, being escorted by a retinue of fully armed policemen try to escape and was shot in the process? How was he able to pull that Houdini stunt and was shot by the murderous ravaging beasts wearing state issued uniforms and parading themselves as policemen? Yet these discredited men of the Nigerian police take to their heels each time real challenge comes their way such as when armed robbers pay a visit; but here in Odi, Bayelsa they just killed another innocent man, whose only sin was agitating on behalf of his people for a fair share of the oil, exploited from underneath their lands? Like a popular saying goes, you can only kill a person but not a movement; and the Niger Delta issue has made world headlines and people like Ken Niweigha helped make it possible. Ken Niweigha has joined in immortality with the other Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was similarly killed by extra-judicial hanging in the gallows by the Nigerian government? For his bravery in speaking up and doing something about the injustice in the Niger Delta, all freedom lovers and fighters the world over, remain grateful and will forever remember him as a brave man who answered, when duty called.

According to the Nigerian police highly incredulous story, Ken Niweigha, was killed by policemen on the early hours of Wednesday, May 27, 2009; when he attempted to escape from custody in Odi, while being escorted to recover more arms and ammunition? Ken was arrested with three others, following alleged attempt by him to kill the Bayelsa Police Commissioner, Onuoha Udeka? In the police own words, “Upon arrest and interrogation, he promised to take us to his hideout in Odi where he hid his weapons? We did not know that he had arranged with his gang to attack us and possibly spring him free? As Ken was being led to his hide-out, he tried to run away through the slums, but the cops chased and fired at him, and he gave up the ghost" Icheoku says, what a baloney of a concocted story? Where is Madam Dora Akunyili and her re-branding of Nigerian in this matter of a criminal murder of a Nigerian citizen, by the Nigerian police who are now lying through their teeth to cover it up? Is the Inspector General of Nigerian Police, Mike Okiro going to write up this commissioner or probe the circumstances surrounding Ken's murder by his policemen? What a nation in dire strait, Nigeria is? Citizens being killed by her government paid, equipped and sponsored police force? Icheoku asks, at what time or opportunity did a prisoner, fully restrained and in police custody arrange with his gang to attack the invading army of police?

Continuing, the Nigerian police said, their men put up a stiff resistance in duelling with Ken's gang and that during the exchange of bullets, which lasted several minutes, the militant leader was shot several times before he died, while trying to escape from police custody? Icheoku says, it is very instructive to note the motive of the Nigerian police in taking the laws into their hands; just to visit Ken Niweigha with their own brand of instantaneous justice? Further, the single fact that Ken Niweigha was the only one killed during the alleged gun battle; and at about the hour of midnight confirms the modus operandi of the notorious Nigeria police extra-judicial killings? Stories abound of many Nigerian citizens detained by the police who corroborate stories of their cell-mates being led out at about midnight from their cells by the police and never made it back, only to be declared missing in due course after a short while? So many prisoners never make it out alive from Nigerian police detention/custody and unfortunately now, Ken has also joined the statistics?

Until his death, by summary execution by the Nigerian police, Mr Ken Niweigha, led the fearsome Egbesu Boys armed militia in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Icheoku says, Ken died fighting the good fight; his death is one of the necessary sacrifices so far made by the people of Niger Delta in their quest to realize their dream of being no longer exploited by the central authority in Abuja, controlled by the Hausa-Fulani of Nigeria? To die is to live in the hearts of those who loves someone and Ken shall live on in their hearts. Adieu Ken Niweigha, may your restless soul now rest in peace. You were a warrior and died as one; we shall never forget!

WE DO NOT SUPPORT DEMORACY, SAYS THE NORTH?

The man who was a sworn thorn in the flesh of Joseph Tarka; and who was quoted as once saying to him, "If you tarka me, I will dabo you" is at it again. He has spoken and told the listening world that Nigeria is not a practising democracy; but a contrived warped system of cabal approved and installed government which takes care of what the north wants, period! And the north wants to continue to milk Nigeria, dry? But is Benue State, technically speaking, even the North? Anyway that politics is for them to try and figure out as Icheoku now pivots back to the meat of this write-up.

Godwin Adzuana Daboh said the North will never allow Vice President Jonathan Goodluck to succeed President Umaru Yar’Adua were the latter to quit office either by reason of death or incapacity. In his own very incendiary words, Daboh stated, “The North cannot allow Jonathan to complete the term of Yar’Adua. The position here is that there will be an interim government within which somebody from the North will be elected to complete Yar’Adua’s term. We are not giving one day of this administration to the South.”

According to this loudmouth, in the event of the sickly President Umaru Yar'Adua kicking the bucket or resigning by reason of incapacity, the north will not allow the vice president Jonathan Goodluck to succeed him? Holly molly! What an arrant assault on democracy? But Nigeria, unfortunately does not practice democracy. Icheoku queries, what is then the use of the office of the vice presidency if not to provide a feeder slot should suddenly the president drops off the scene? If a recalcitrant section of Nigeria will not allow a smooth transition of government from a president to his vice president, what then is the use of having that office of vice president in the first place? Nigeria might as well default to a single occupier presidency to make it easier for all parties in case of a vacancy; wherein the foreign minister or senate president will step in to conduct fresh elections. This way, such a would be humiliated vice president who would not be allowed to succeed his president will have his ego in tact since there won't be any vice presidency, talk-less of being denied the opportunity when it avails itself?

Peradventure the rest of the Nigerian society and other sectional areas have allowed these mallams to always bullshit their way through, without any repercussion or resistance whatsoever. Icheoku asks, what then is the use of a vice president who cannot succeed a president, should the need arise? The North says Jonathan cannot take over from Umaru Yar'Adua and it does not matter what the constitutional provisions on succession is, after-all the north says so and so be it? The North is not a respecter of anything in Nigeria including the constitution; and despite the unequivocal provisions of the 1999 constitution that in the event of the president’s death or he resigns or is removed from office, that the vice president shall succeed him and take over the government, the north says no?

The north remains the stumbling block of Nigeria's growth and their linchpins, such as this Godwin Daboh, are always unguraded with their utterances; that you wonder what would become the fate of NIgeria were other personalities from other regions of the country become as crass and as vituperative as some of these mallams from the sahara desert? The irony of this all is that the north do not contribute much to augment the lot they are taking out from the central coffers and yet asserts themselves, like bandits into the affairs of Nigeria and unapologetically in order to guard the goose that lays their golden eggs?

Nigeria's development has stunted over the years because of the North's rudderless and uninspiring fixation with and in governance, which continues till this day. If anyone is still wondering why Nigeria is so leprous, epileptic and dysfunctional all these years; let the person search no further as in the north, lies the answer. A people who do not know and do not know that they do not know? A people, whose their very indulging lazy almajiri-culture, ill-equipped for governance and/or the running of anything; and yet they will not make way for people with the know-how to deliver Nigeria from its abys? What an obstinate and obtrusive group of people, these mallams are? The north also have continuously and consistently truncated governments in Nigeria through their military coups; fragrantly and without apologies to anyone held Nigeria hostage and shackled down to their peculiar idionsyncrsies; and for so long? It is pitiful as it is regrettable that they are that brazen and that other sections of Nigeria are too cowardly to put up any meaningful challenge to their hegemony? So if the north said 'No' to Jonathan, it remains 'No' to Jonathan; and the rest of the cowering and merely tolerated members of the Nigerian clobbered society, can only salute and fall out; case closed! What a bastard people, these Northerners, indeed are? Did you just mute to yourself, if I am angry? Yes, you betch ya! I am angry at the way things have been ran aground by these species of humanity, the Nigeria Northerners, that is!

KARINE RUBY, DEATH OF A CHAMPION!

She was a former Olympic snowboarding champion who won the 1998 Nagano-Japan Olympics gold medal in the giant slalom. She also won a silver medal in the parallel giant slalom at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in the United State of America. She was also a six-time world champion with 65 snowboard World Cup victories. She is no more; her youthful young life claimed in a mountain-climbing fall accident on Friday, May 29, 2009. Karine Ruby was just 31 years old!

Karine retired from competitive snowboarding after the 2006 Turin Olympics. She took interest in mountain climbing and was training to become a mountain guide, when she fell to her death on Mont Blanc in Chamonix France.

According to the account, the former Olympic snowboarding champion now turned mountain climbing enthusiast, was roped to other climbers when she and some members of her group fell into a deep crack in the glacier on the way down the mountain. She died following impact alongside one other 38-year-old man from Paris region; while a third victim, a 27-year-old man was evacuated by helicopter with serious injuries and is now hospitalized.

Regrettably Ruby was about completing her training as a mountain guide and was due to qualify as one, just in a few weeks before her life was cut short by the tragic accident. She will be remembered by her family, friends and well-wishers as the Frenchwoman snowboarder who won several honors doing what she loved best. Happily enough, Karine died also doing what she loved to do, tackling and enjoying nature at the same time. Icheoku says, may her soul find rest in whatever is out there, including God? Adieu Karine Ruby!

CATHOLIC PRIEST, QUITS PRIESTHOOD FOR A LOVER?

Horny and in heat, a United States of America amorous Roman Catholic priest, from Miami Florida has dumped his cassock to be with his love interest? Who still doubts the awesome power of love; such that this priest is ready and willing to trade heaven for a woman, because of it? Or was it a case of one piece of a very sweat magnetic ass, which proved irresistible to this man of God, that he had to defrock to retain it? Icheoku says, the little temptress that brought down this man of God will have to face judgment, for being the conniving little whore she is; and for daring to play where angels feared to tread?

Icheoku asks, are there no other non-ordained laymen in Miami for this little Delilah to seduce? Why a reverend father? Why must it be a man of God that she schemed and has now finally brought down from his priesthood? Jesus Christ warned against being a tempter when he said, woe betide he/her through whom temptation come! This woman is definitely now a marked person? This latest fall from glory posits a very important question, is there still any merit in the celibacy practice of priests of the catholic church order? Should it continue to still be the present day cannon for priests or is it a thing which time has since past and now belongs to and should be consigned in the dustbin of history? Icheoku says, the catholic church should let their priests marry, as other professions permit marriage by their practitioners; so why not the catholic church? Also being married is not an antithesis to efficacy or/and pastoring?

Reverend Father Alberto Cutie, formerly of St. Francis de Sales parish in Miami Beach has decamped to the Episcopal Church order, which accommodates horny men like him, as priests, so that he can continue to love his paramour, Ruhama Canellis, and also pastor the church at the same time? Who loses but the catholic church and so a need for them to revisit this ancient prohibition of their men in flowing cassock from fulfilling basic need of humanity, SEX? I his own words, the priest said, "I've seen with my own eyes how many brothers of mine serve God as married men and with the blessing of having their own families". This jumping of ship will once again rekindle the debate about the Catholic Church's celibacy requirement of their priests? While some Catholics expressed sympathy for Cutie and said it was time to end the celibacy rule; others said that, given the recent scandals involving U.S. priests sexually abusing young boys, and Irish priests raping, flogging and enslaving children in Catholic schools, they were relieved that Cutie had merely become involved with an adult woman.

Reverend Cutie was earlier this month, relieved of his duties at the parish following published photos of him in swim trunks, snuggling and kissing a woman on the sands of a beach in Florida? He was well know in Miami where he doubles as a priest and also a television, radio and newspaper Spanish-language contributor? He later admitted he had fallen in love with the woman and broken his vow of celibacy. He apologized for his behavior, but told the Univision Spanish-language television network, "I didn't stop being a man just because I put on a cassock. There are trousers under this cassock." According to some observer, "I think it's a different century. It's time for a change. I just think it's absurd to demonize a man for behaving so naturally. I think the Catholic Church is behind the times.

The Episcopalian church is part of the Anglican Communion, which traces its roots to the Church of England, formed when King Henry VIII split from the Roman Catholic Church in order to divorce and remarry. The Episcopal church ordains men and women as priests, married or single, and has seen controversy within its own ranks for ordaining gay priests. At a news conference following his welcome at Episcopalian Trinity Cathedral by Bishop Frade, Reverend Cutie described his move as "going into a new family", stating that he would continue to proclaim God's word. According to him, "I will always love the Catholic Church and all its members who are committed in their faith and have enriched my life in so many ways," Icheoku says, what a priest in agony, who would rather have stayed in his catholic faith, had they let him stay and profess his love; but no, they pushed him and he jumped!

SOUTH KOREA, FAREWELL TO AN EX-PRESIDENT!

South Koreans trooped out in their hundreds of thousands to bid final farewell to their former president, Roh Moo-hyun, on Friday May 29, 2009!

Roh Moo-hyun, a president who was driven to his death by suicide, by a bribery scandal? His body will be cremated according to his wish, after the state funeral.

President Roh, 62, died May 23, 2009 after jumping off a cliff behind his home in the southern village of Bongha. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Icheoku says, the people of South Korea will miss him!

NORTH KOREA, QUEST FOR A MASS SUICIDE?

Despots all over the world usually do not like to go out cold and alone. No, they like to go out accompanied and possibly with as many people as they can ensnare. Iraqi Saddam Hussein did it and till today he is still claiming victims, both Iraqis and foreigners alike. Was it Hitler? Mussolini? Charles Taylor, Pohl Pot? Just name it and you get the same answer. Never alone!

Kim Jong-il, North Korea's 67-year-old leader, pale, frail and fraught with anxiety about his future since he suffered a stroke last year, is now trying and getting ready to make his final exit with a bang! So true to type, the almost dead-man walking despotic leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il does not want to quietly go into the sunset to meet his creator; and is now stirring the conundrum of crisis to herald his thunderous exit? He knows and his people of North Korea knows it, that he is a nitwit when it comes to war with the world, but yet he is sounding as bellicose as you can get? Peradventure, his wish will soon be granted him and woe betide those his one million man army, who must be made to suffer being incinerated by the most powerful bombs ever known to mankind? Icheoku asks, why don't they avert this problem by taking Kim Jong-il out in a coup or putsch now, and save North Koreans further decimation both economic and through possible military action? He is nearly dead and he knows it; but he does not want to die alone - the way of all despots!

It is pitiful that Kim Jong-il cannot read the handwriting on the wall to understand that he can only fire just one shot, that provocative shot, and his land will be turned into a pile of dust? Icheoku says, if he is so incapacitated by reason of sickness to comprehend the faith that awaits his buffoonery, why is he still in charge of North Korea or its armed forces? Where are the men and women of North Korea or are they all cowards of the country who must tremble and cower at the sight of their ailing leader? Icheoku says, Kim Jong-il is over-playing his hands; and now, is the time for the world to be ready to forever solve his problem, the Saddam Hussein way, if need be.

In the interim, the world should simply ignore him and await, trigger-ready, for any further provocative move he might make and pray it is the firing of the first shot. Since Saddam Hussein was taken out, that part of the world known as the Middle East has rested from being on a perpetual edge; except the dust of apprehension which Iranian Ahmadinejad intermittently raises. Icheoku is not a war-monger but at the same time, we do not shy away from the good fight; and we conclude here that North Korea is steadily graduating into such a good fight which the coalition of the willing must be ready to stand up to! Enough of this jittery on North East Asia peninsula! Icheoku says, end the tension, take Kim Jong-il out!

North Korea's penchant for defying the world is known and continual: last month, in utter disregard of international calls for restraint, it launched a rocket which it says was a communications satellite; but which the world believed was part of its ballistic missile program? When the world denounced the launch, instead of apologising and/or backing off, North Korea threatened to carry out more tests and followed through with that threat. It triggered an underground nuclear test in its border with China, believed to be comparable in force to the blasts that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki! This was followed with the launch of three ground-to-air missiles in the area of the test, immediately soon after. They also fired additional short range missiles subsequently; and had since become recalcitrant about further six-party talks.

Lastly, when its brother neighbour to the south, South Korea threatened that it will join a United States of America-led initiative aimed at intercepting NOrth Korea's shipments suspected of carrying equipment for weapons of mass destruction, North Korea warned that such move would be considered by it as an act of war! Now South Korea has technically joined with Pyongan saying it has ended the 1953 armistice between the two Koreas and hostilities shall soon begin. So what next? May be smarting to fire the first shot? Icheoku asks, when is the first salvo going to leave the guns of North Koreans with projectiles raining down on the South? Further, when shall enough be really enough of these provocations by a repressive country that once executed a factory boss, by a firing squad in front of 150,000 people, for just making an international phone calls? His offence, trying to reach the outside world? Really! Also, we ask, when he finally and foolishly fires the mother of all shots, will the world be ready and resolved to respond in kind and forcefully too, in unison?

Until then, Icheoku says, Kim Jong-il, his army and people of North Korea are not that suicidal to provoke a fire-fight with the world. It would appear that they are merely huffing and puffing, craving for attention and should just be ignored; with a watchful alert maintained in case they over-reached thenselves. In the event of their miscalculations, the world must be decisive in conclusively solving this problem, once and for all. A caveat however, provided China is in tandem with the world!

BARCELONA, 2009 UEFA CHAMPIONS!

They out-played, out-classed, out-kept and out-skilled them; - the Spanish over the British, that is! And so it is that Barcelona Football Club decimated Manchester United Football Club and won the 2009 UEFA Champions League!

The Roma Finale 2009 played at Olympic stadium in Rome Italy on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 was spectacular, highly technical and mesmerising. The Barcelona boys were simply terrific and were rewarded handsomely with a 2-0 win over their Manchester United rival. Cameroon's international Samuel Eto`o opened the scoring with a tenth minute goal and then Lionel Messi ended it with a seventieth minute header.

Icheoku says, the Brits were lucky as the toll would have been 6-0 had Henri, Messi, Xaui's free-kick that struck the side post and Puyol's 85the effort paid off. But a win is a win and Barcelona won with two un-replied goals, to emerge the current European champions! Congratulations! Also our congratulations goes to Barcelona's ex-player turned coach, Pep Guardiola for winning the championship, the first time out; as the helmsman at Barcelona! May be signs of great things to come with a former player, coaching his former club?

What happens to Sir Alex Ferguson long stay with Manchester United will be shortly determined, but Icheoku says, maybe it is time to try a fresh man, with fresh ideas and a different focus! Once again, congratulations champs, Barcelona FC!

JUDGE SOTOMAYOR, PUMMELLED BY SOME ANGRY WHITEMEN?

Like dogs of war, they are gnawing and trying to tear to pieces the recent nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as a supreme courts judge nominee. From the fathomless reasons they have deployed as a subterfuge, Icheoku says, these bunch of lunatic fringed persons are just angry white-men, who are mad that their White-house is being occupied by a colored man; and will use any given opportunity to throw some tantrums!

This pack of hyenas are led by Rush Limbuagh, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich and Sean Hannity. The good news however is that this rabid bunch and their followers are very few in numbers to constitute any serious threat and should be seen for what they are, a grawling pack of wild dogs! They should know that it is a new day in America; an America which has since moved on, leaving this disgruntled bunch at the train-station.

Some of them have even gone to the ignoble extent of denigrating the education received by this judge-nominee, in two of the most prestigious institutions of academic excellence in America, namely Princeton and Yale, as "qualified" education? This is as low as it can get and America should now know who their real enemies are.

If anyone is looking for the face of racists white males of America, Icheoku says, look no further, as starring before you, are the faces of Dick, Sean, Rush, Newt and Karl!

Luckily, the Judge Sonia Sotomayor nomination will sail through and let these guys jump off the bridge, should they so choose! Enough of their selfish sense of entitlement, in a multi-cultural and multi-racial America of 2009. Icheoku hopes, their antics will not rub Americans on the wrong side, to keep them off power and for a very long time too!

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!