WAR AGAINST CORUPTION HAS FAILED! - an article by Chinedu Vincent Akuta.

"In the battle against corruption, in Nigeria, corruption has won" - this is the verdict of the author?

“The United Nations (UN) says Nigerian kleptocrats have milked the nation to the tune of about $100 billion dollars thorough various acts of grand corruption, the cost of which it lamented by far exceeded the damage caused by any other single crime”(Daily Sun, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 page 9). “The greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment” (Marcus Cicero).

As far as Nigeria is concerned, we should think not what we can do to corruption but think of what corruption can do to Nigeria and Nigerians. I have made the above statement because of the level of corruption and the sequential reports of corrupt practises in Nigeria . On the average there are new cases of corruption reported weekly on the Nigerian dailies. The rates are very alarming. I am also 99% sure that many cases of corruption do not make headlines mainly because the go unnoticed by the press or the law enforcement agents. For the purposes of space and time, I will examine few cases of corruption in last 12 months to buttress my point. I will start with the power probe.

The National Assembly revelled that $16 billion dollars was invested in power sector without anything to show for it. This investment was made without any single megawatt being added to the national grid. To make matters worse was that some contractors didn’t even know the sites. Talk less of doing any job. Where is this money? Am sure $1 billion out of this amount can build about 3 new refineries. $1 billion should be enough to do a second Niger bridge across River Niger . $1 billion can build a low cost housing estate in Lagos or else where in the country. $1 billion can build a well equipped hospital in Nigeria thereby stopping our government officials from flying abroad all the time for medical attention. $1 billion can be used to create jobs for at lease 10,000 Nigerians. $1 billion can provide maximum security prisons where corrupt people can be sent to. The list of what the money can do is endless.

Towards the end of March 2009, the Nigerian dailies reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 2 comptrollers of Customs over an alleged complicity in a 3 billion naira customs duty scam, involving the controversial Vaswani brothers. The Vaswani brothers are the owners of Stallion Group. Their head office is in Victoria Island Lagos.

Then came the Halliburton $150 million dollars bribe money traced to Zurich . The total amount was $180 million dollars, which means that $30 million dollars is yet to be traced or found. This bribe was paid to facilitate the award of $6 billion dollars LNG contracts. My argument is that the $6 billion which was the quoted contract sum would be about 20 times the initial costs of the project. The federal government should conduct more enquiries and ascertain how much the original cost of the contracts should have been. This is with the view to knowing how much was actually stolen.

At the heat of the Halliburton bribe money discovery, President Yar’Adua promised the nation that once he has a response, he will make public the names of the culprits and take appropriate action. As part of taking his action, he inaugurated the Okiro Panel. The committee has eight weeks to submit its report. We are waiting and watching how it will go. To be fair and to achieve a balance, the president should name every person involved in corruption henceforth. A good starting point will be to name those behind $16 billion dollar unaccounted resources invested in the power sector. Until he does this, many Nigerians will tend to believe the accusations made by Mallam Nasir el-Rufai that the federal government is insincere in the fight against corruption.

Guardian newspapers of Wednesday, 22nd April 2009 online version reported about the African Petroleum (AP) Plc’s share price manipulation scam that made AP to suffer over N240 billion losses. The culprit in this case was named as Mr Eugene Anenih, the managing director of Nova Finance and Securities Limited.

As if there was a competition, the following day being Thursday, 23rd April 2009 , Thisday newspapers online version reported that the suspended chairman of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) with six other commissioners were being charged for fraud of N1.5 billion naira.

Thisday newspapers of 7th May 2009 online version reported that 3 house members including a serving senator of the country are on the run over a N6 billion naira rural electrification contract scam. The same paper reported about officials of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) arrested over N1.7 billion naira contract scam. Thisday newspaper of 8th May 2009 online version reported the story of N250 million bribe scandal given over the Ekiti re-run elections.

Guardian newspapers of Wednesday 13th May 2009 online version reported an allegation made by the special adviser on petroleum to President, (Dr Emmanuel Egbogah). He alleged that some members of the national assembly have taken bribes from some oil firms to truncate the federal government’s reforms in the petroleum sector. The amount was not mentioned.

Just recently, Nigerian dailies reported about the arrest of one Mr. Ejike Onwosugbolu who was carrying N250 million naira cash in three suit cases. On interrogation, he confessed that the money belonged to the present Anambra State governor (Peter Obi). Nigerians are waiting for what the EFCC will do about this case.

“The greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment”(Marcus Cicero). Corruption has prospered in Nigeria mainly because corrupt government/private officials have a way of escaping punishment. It also shows the mindset of these evil people. Quoting former Justice Oputa, “Nothing will happen in our nation, in our society which did not first happen in our minds. If wrong is rampant, if indiscipline is rife, if corruption is the order of the day, we have to search our individual minds for that is where it all starts”.

Prevention is better than cure. My simple advice to the authorities in Nigeria should be to fashion out a preventive strategy against corruption. Secondly the authorities should consider making corruption a capital offence. We can borrow a leaf from China on the best way to fight corruption. The political parties were the indicted national assembly members are from, should take disciplinary actions against them. But before then let them refund their loot to the people of Nigeria .

Corruption is every where in the world, but the difference is how various countries approach it. When the expenses scandal involving British MP’s became open in the United Kingdom , the Tory leader (David Cameron) ordered senior conservatives to pay back thousands of pounds to the tax payers. The Tory leader humiliated several members of the shadow cabinet by naming them one by one on the national television. He ordered all the people involved to return the total amount claimed. He apologised to the nation for the actions of his party members. In same way, the Nigerian parties were the corrupt national assembly members are from should apologize to Nigerians.

America is also another to place to look out for how to deal with corrupt people. A good example should be Madoff who master minded one of the biggest fraud in history. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison. Nigerian authorities can do same at home if the federal government is true to its fight against corruption. If no tough measures are taken, corruption will continue to win the battle against corruption. May God bless Nigeria.

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

DANIEL JAMES MURRAY, WANTS THE PRESIDENT DEAD?

As evil as they are, these haters would rather America not move on? Last week they killed the abortion-doctor, George Tiller, M.D., inside a church in Wichita Kansas? What pathetic fanatic will take the life of another, in protest of the lives of other unborn and inside a place of worship - a God's house? Now they are up to another mischief but fortunately enough, their point-man was nabbed before he could carry out his evil plot against the president! Icheoku says he is such a despicable piece of humanity, undeserving of any co-mingling existence with the rest of decent Americans and therefore should be put away for a very long time.

Daniel James Murray, 36, aka 'Cape Man of 10 Blue Jay Way', from Rexford, Saratoga County, upstate New York, was arrested on Friday, June 5, 2009; ending a nationwide manhunt for the fugitive racist redneck. Daniel was arrested at 7 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the Riverside Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada; a gambling town 100 miles from Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona line?

Daniel was described by some of his neighbours as "troubled but not dangerous"? While his father, Michael Murray, said "He's sick. He's been sick for about 10 years." Murray is the registered owner of eight guns, including semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, some of which can carry 15 rounds of ammunition. It would appear that given his past sheet-rap with the authorities, this Daniel is a recidivist criminal who needs to be finally removed from the society and permanently? Icheoku says, what an arsenal for someone 'not dangerous' indeed? What is a sick man doing with such cache of firearms, if not to start a mini-militia and ferment trouble?

Daniel Murray it was alleged, opened and closed an $85,000 savings account within just two weeks; which raises great suspicion as to the source of the money and adds credibility to a possible conspiracy to commit or try to commit a state assassination of the president? Was it possible that the money was raised in furtherance of the conspiracy? As they say, follow the money and hopefully the trail will lead to the other co-conspirators or financiers of the plot; or at least shine more light on what was afoot before Daniel was nabbed. Murray opened the savings account at Zion’s First National Bank on May 19 with an $85,000 check from Mountain America Credit Union; and on May 27, he returned and withdrew $12,698 from his account, demanding small bills in non-sequential order? Possibly to cover the trail of the expenditure? According to the story, as the teller counted the cash, Murray said, “We are 94 million miles from the sun, and are in between the sun and moon, and the eagle that flies between them, and it’s a giant step for mankind. … I have traveled thousands of miles to be here and know things that are going to happen … the banking system will fail and people will die. … There will be chaos in the world.” Icheoku asks, what does this loony know? Was it a conspiracy to kill the president, in which he is involved or what? Not done yet, as soon as he was handed the cash, Murray said, “We are on a mission to kill the president of the United States?” Murray subsequently returned the next day to withdraw the remaining $72,000 from the account. Icheoku asks, why was the authorities not alerted the first day as soon as he stepped out of the bank with the initial withdrawal?

In summation, Icheoku warns, while thanking the United States of America security agencies for once again thwarting a plot against the president; all these trouble-makers should be very careful not to plunge America into a total darkness by their nefarious plans and/or action. Should anything happen to the president, it will be one herculean hell let loose on earth and we pray the day never comes. Pitiful people, whose life exist only on a warped superiority complex, instead of embracing the new day America has seen, are in Hades, planning to cause trouble and peradventure draw the ire of the world on us. If they must be reminded, the president's term is just four years and eight, if re-elected; so what is a maximum of eight years that you cannot quietly move out to the Australian outbacks to live it out, in protest of a colored president living in 'your' White House? As you may know, you can always move back to America at the end of his term, if you so desires. But love him or hate him, he is our president and needs our support and prayers. Icheoku says, the president should not be distracted from the burning issues of state, currently engaging his full and undivided attention by the likes of petty Daniel James Murray and his threat? The president must be allowed to serve out his mandate without let or hindrance, as any attempt to cut it down by reason of some people's insane cruelty will be catastrophic; as it will be mightily resisted and protested.

A HEALTHY HAPPY BABY, TO LIGHT UP YOUR WEEKEND!

We are working off-site today and hopefully will give you something to read and ponder, before Monday. So enjoy your weekend; we are glad you checked in. So long!

SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI, THE NEW CBN HONCHO?

Once again, it suited them and the phraseology is that "Sanusi is not responsible for enforcing federal character principle"? With this sarcastic remark, and acting in accordance to an Arewa template, the midget of Oturkpo and Nigeria Senate president, David Mark stifled all reasonable effort made by Senator Ikechukwu Obiora to question the qualifications of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for the job of governor of Central Bank of Nigeria; as well as the concentration of nearly every other juicy and choice positions in the north? Senator Ikechukwu Obiora just wanted to know whether federal character principle is now dead in Nigeria but David Mark will not let him, being part of the northern conspirators?

This latest appointment was in crass disregard to the tripod arrangement-based federal character principle, whereby appointments in Nigeria are made to reflect evenly on the diversified geographical entities comprised therein? This is the existing understanding of all Nigerians, upon which the country had held together all these years despite all manners of provocations, intimidation, discrimination and outright brigandage by a certain section of the polity. It was based on this arrangement that David Mark even found himself occupying the Nigerian senate presidency? What he didn't say during his ascendancy to the senate president is now ok; just because he is from the north and his Arewa Consultative Forum decreed so? Icheoku says it is a big joke, the entity called Nigeria; and its politics, a mere northern convenience of "when it suits them"? But we must acknowledge, albeit reluctantly, that the northerners are the most savvy, adroit and astute political group of people in Nigeria; and they are good at homogenising their viewpoints and objectives. Simply stated, they are political professionals? But regrettably, the Igbos of Nigeria are still playing in the minor league of Nigeria politics, awaiting possible elimination, unless they fine-tune their politics and very soon, too!

How did this happen that Chukwuma Soludo lost out in this power-struggle with the north; and why was pressure not mounted by every right thinking sons and daughters, east of the Niger to avert this aberration and save Soludo's job? Why did the people not rise up in unison, in support of the lone-effort of Senator Ikechukwu Obiora to checkmate this shameless arrogation of all that is something to themselves, by the northerners? Where was Ike Ekweremadu or is his vice presidency of the senate merely titular? Where was Oha-n-eze? Where were the five governors of the South East? Where was oxygen-nose Vincent Ogbulafor, the ceremonial chairman of the PDP? Or was he not a disciple of the all powerful former chairman, 1978 Ali Must Go? Where were everybody, anybody and even somebody that Soludo was left alone in this fight, high and dry, before finally succumbing inside the belly of the beast? He was literally speaking, chewed and spit out by the authorities in Aso Rock? Peradventure, power will someday shift and Icheoku will like to see these mallams, especailly the midget of Oturkpo, David Mark complain about any federal character principle

For the umpteenth time, Icheoku wants to reiterate that we do not have any beef with governor Sanusi. We are merely pointing at the oddity that is Nigeria; and how some people from certain parts of the country are toying with the collective psyche of all Nigerians, especially their continuing to see themselves as one people? The issue of federal character has been rubbished drastically under DV President Umaru Yar'Adua's government and this is what is ticking us off on the wrong side; just in case you must know? Also it will interest you to note that Sanusi, 47, is the son of a former emir of Kano, and a graduate of economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also studied Arabic and Islamic Studies at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan between 1991 and 1997; thus "qualifying highly" for the coveted governorship of the Central Bank of Nigeria? When compared with the first class brain, PhD in economics fellow, that he just replaced, then you get an idea on why Icheoku is raving mad?

But be that as it may and in deference to what now is and has become, Icheoku appreciates the tone so far set by Sanusi and pray he will live up to his words. We like his observation that "he will consolidate the gains of both the fiscal and monetary policies of his predecessor in office. That he shall build on Soludos legacies to further restore public confidence in the banking sector". We noticed that Sanusi poured encomiums on Soludo, stating "I think this country should thank him for a tremendous work job well done. I think he was a very good governor. I think the CBN under his leadership has improved more. I think he has established a foundation on which we are to build." Icheoku says, unlike a typical Nigerian, Sanusi also acknowledged the lasting legacy for the banking sector left by Soludo; and for this, we particularly appreciate him for being so magnanimous, in a Nigerian society of near-total "bring-him-down" syndrome? We must say that it is very unusual for a Nigerian to say good complimentary things about his predecessor in office; for this, we commend Sanusi while stating, what a fresh start and a breath of Caribbean air his statements are?

The Central bank of Nigeria governor Sanusi further observed, that Nigeria "is a country where we do not have linkages. And because of the absence of linkages, we don’t have economic growth. We produce gas and export it, we do not have power plant. We produce crude oil, we import refined petroleum products. If we can set up power plant, set up our refineries, their multiplier effects on the economy and on growth is amazing, and if we don’t do that we cannot grow. The small scale industry that we talk about cannot survive without power". Icheoku says, this summation is simply brilliant and hopefully, the Generators-Mafia of Nigeria will allow him have his way to persuade President Umaru Yar'Adua to turn the page and declare his power emergency? Again, we extend our congratulations to Sanusi, on his new dig! All hail the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria!

THE CAIRO SPEECH, A MESSAGE TO THE ARAB WORLD!

Give it up to the United States of America President Barack Hussein Obama as he once again struck the right notes at Egypt's Cairo University, while candidly speaking to the Arab/Muslim world as America's chief salesman! As usual, the expectations were met and he did not disappoint; he never disappoints, anyway!

In a message described by the chief imam of Cairo as "comprehensive and conclusive", President Barack Obama was direct and straight to the point as he marshaled out certain issues of rising conflict including Americans phobia of the Muslim world since after 9/11; the need for tolerance in the Middle East; the Palestine statehood and right of decent existence as well as Israel's right to peaceful secured existence. Icheoku says, President Barack Obama hit the ball out of the park, both in content, style and delivery; and for this, we feel honored to have him as our 43rd!

Delivering his time had come to "speak the truth" and "seek a new beginning" speech, President Barack Obama said that "America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings"? Icheoku however, begs to differ with Mr. President on the tolerance and human dignity aspect of his speech, as highlighted in red above? Icheoku says, both are alien to the Middle East as they are not readily available since they are not allowed to flourish by those autocratic governments as exists in the Middle East?

Otherwise, Icheoku supports President Barack Obama's new initiative to finally address these existing misconceptions, and hopefully, with the help and support of Arab/Muslim leaders, find lasting solutions to them. Thus some of those thorny issues emblematic in the Middle East could be resolved so that the world would concentrate on other issues of common challenge and interests; instead of being intermittently diverted by Israeli and Palestine intractable conflicts. Two nations sired by the same patriarch, Abraham, according to history; but who have decided to brand each other mortal enemies just because of some piece of arid land?

Once again, Icheoku congratulates Mr President on this effort as one in the right direction! We wish him God's speed as he strives to etch his name in the sand of time as the American President who finally resolved the Middle East conflict. Kudos to you, Mr. President! President Barack Obama left the Middle East to Europe with stops in Germany and France to mark the world war anniversary celebrations and will return to the United States on Sunday, June 7, 2009.

For a full text and video of the Cairo Speech, now click the links below:-

Full text: Barack Obama's Cairo speech World news guardian.co.uk

Complete Video of Obama's Cairo Speech - The Lede Blog - NYTimes.com

BIAFRA, A MOTHER AND CHILD?

Icheoku says, a country that would starve her citizens to this level of living-dead and failed and/or refused to pay compensation thereafter, to the surviving victims of its machination, is mean, vicious and retributive.

The mother and child above, probably did not make it out alive from the genocide of Biafra; but they live on in this iconic portrait of man's inhumanity to a fellow man! It is because of mother's love, that she was prepared to still make additional sacrifice of letting her similarly emaciated child, feed off what is left of her breast-milk? To this mother, Icheoku says you are a great mother, the pride of every womanhood, anywhere!

Now you know why the memories of the Biafran war of self preservation against the foreign powers backed Nigeria government, is still very raw and provokes great sensibilities in the minds of the people of former Biafra, 39 years since the end of fire-arm hostilities? Biafra needs to be compensated for the war crimes committed against them by the Nigerian government. Icheoku says, this is the right thing to do and now is the time to do it; thereafter, the healing can earnestly begin. Until then, who knows?

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!