OMAR BONGO, ANOTHER AFRICAN DESPOT KICKS THE BUCKET!

President Omar Bongo of Gabon, Africa's longest-serving despotic-dictator since 1967, has at last, eventually died! He was just 73 years? What an end to an era, which everybody cannot wait to see come to pass? He was a mean midget dictator and absolutely corrupt.

Icheoku does not mourn his death but let it be a sign to other African henchmen, that there is always an end to everything under the sun. With Omar Bongo now gone, Africa should continue to pray hard that the good Lord will take care of other remaining madmen of Africa, who are holding a death-grip on power and for too long now! The list include Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, Lybia's Moummar Ghaddafi, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea; as well as other emerging petty-dictators and anti-democratic elements in Africa especially Mwai Kibaki of Kenya?

Fearing arrest for corruption in France, Omar Bongo has sought treatment in Spain, where he was receiving treatment at a clinic in Barcelona before he died. Omar Bongo had cancer and probably died of it? It will be recalled that his wife Edith Lucie Bongo, had passed on in March 2009.

His son, the current defence minister of Gabon, Ali-Ben Bongo, is likely to succeed him as president; except the Gabonese people rise up to the occasion to put an end to the madness and nip in the bud, a disastrous dynasty?

SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS, PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST!

The five South East governors, once again paid their 'suck-up-to-him' visit to the Dracula-Vampire of Aso Rock, President Umaru Yar'Adua! Icheoku condemns and unequivocally too, these visits, as unproductive and unnecessary ass-kissing gimmick which does not do Ndi-Igbo any good. Instead, it reduces, in the eyes of other Nigerians, the prestige of the people of the south-east who would at best, now be seen as a beggarly slavish people? Enough is enough, of these visits! Please save the face of Ndi-Igbo, maintain their honor and dignity, you five "wise-ones"!

According to the story, governors Peter Obi of Anambra State, Abia State's Theodore Orji, Ebonyi State's Martin Elechi, Enugu State's Sullivan Chime and Imo State's Ikedi Ohakim went to Aso Rock to plead with President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for the upgrade of Enugu local/regional 'airport' to an international standard airport? But as always and in his usual foxy calculating manner, the president 'promised to look into their request'? Icheoku says, it will take Mr. Slow-man the remainder of his expected tenure of 5 years, 11 months, 30 days, 23hours and 59 minutes 59 seconds to finish looking into this request; and may be, in the same manner as the previous presidents/heads of states who had promised in vain to look into it since the end of the civil war in 1970?

These governors represent over 50 million Nigerians who call themselves Igbos; hence in whatever they do, they must factor in the pride of the Igbo nation as it is necessarily impacted. Experience tells us that respect is earned but never conferred since it is not a title; so if the Igbos want the respect of and equitable accommodation by other Nigerians, they must earn the right thereto and positively, too. Also if they want power, they must be prepared and ready to take it willy-nilly as they cannot genuflect their way into power, and it does not matter how many pilgrimages they pay to Aso Rock? Such ill-advised visits have not in any tangible substantive manner, improved the lot of the Igbo nation in the past, not now and there is no guarantee it will in the future? So why make it? The only way for the Igboman's lot to truly improve in Nigeria, is for the Igbos to adroitly steer one of her own into Aso Rock and then, they can do it for themselves and by themselves. The north have four more years following their remaining two, and thereafter, it shall be the turn of the Igbos to ascend the presidency of Nigeria? Icheoku says, this should be an unconditional position of the Igbos, and it does not matter if all the Buharis of the Nigerian armed forces conspires once again, to scuttle it. This Igbo position, should be clearly spelt out and made known to the rest of Nigerians as a non negotiable charter of the Igbos. Then the ways and means of realizing this objective, should be the primary pre-occupation of these governors, but not paying unproductive visits to Aso Rock!

How does the Igbos prepare themselves for the eventual hand over to them of Nigeria's presidential relay-baton in 2016? When the time comes, will they be ready to present and rally around a consensus candidate? Are strategies in place to successfully navigate the shark-infested and treacherous waters of Nigeria politics? The money, the politics, the campaign and logistics are they being garnered and put together? These should be the agenda and occupying responsibilities for these governors but not Aso Rock incessant visits?

Icheoku have written severally on this need and once again, we ask these five governors, when the time comes in 2016, would the Igbos be ready to present a unity candidate for the presidency of Nigeria? This is what every rational person in Igboland including these five governors should be engaging their energy in and nothing more, including going to Aso Rock. This is the time to strategize and position two or more candidates who shall lead the effort for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction come 2016. Two candidates, objectively selected, groomed to be ready and to be sponsored, with a clear objective of winning the presidency in 2016. All that is needed is a completely motivated Igbo son or daughter with means, reach, connection and the lion-heart to do what is needed in Nigeria?

Our fear, however, is that when 2016 eventually gets here that the Igbos may be caught unprepared; and still engaged in their selfish, self-centered, petty intra-fighting over who their candidate shall be? May be by 2016, the Igbos will still be unable to produce a compromise unity-candidate of ability, means and note; with about 100 of them still jostling for the one position? Such a scenario will thus make the 26 candidates who came out for the PDP party's chairmanship a mere child's play and you ask yourself, when shall the Igbos grow up, politically?

The puerile politics of the Igbos must stop, in order for them to realistically get somewhere meaningful in Nigeria? Icheoku says, it is about time the Igbos learn how to play the real politics, the Nigerian style? If the Yoruba could accept one of her most despicable sons, Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, as Nigerian president of Yoruba extraction and did not oppose his presidency, then why won't the Igbos learn from that? Also that in a fight with hoodlums, you do not send your most timid child to the village square but you send the fiercest, bravest and most daring; who understands the name of the game and who would not be easily cowed or intimidated by other hoodlums? This is the biggest single problem militating against 2016 and the Igbo's quest for the presidency of Nigeria? Who shall they send? Icheoku have answered this million dollar question in the past and hereby reiterates, that Igbos should send either Orji-Uzor Kalu or Ken Nnamani or Andy Uba or Dora Akunyili? Any of this son or daughter of the soil, is exactly what doctor-politics ordered as they are battle-tested and will deliver on cue for the Igbo nation!

Going to Aso Rock by these five governors does not and will not cut it; and it does not matter the aegis or subterfuge founding such visit. Olusegun Obasanjo was made a chief by some Igbos, and with drums and fun-fare, welcomed in Igboland during his campaigns. He won all Igbo states and what did Igbos get in return, but the shutting down of Igbo-owned and operated businesses including Ibeto cement, Slok airlines, Hallmark Bank and Savannah Bank - a bank owned by Jim Nwobodo who led Olusegun Obasanjo's campaign in Igboland? Obasanjo was in power for eight long agonizing years and not a single project did he execute in the entire Igboland; including the left-for-dead River Niger Bridge? Needless to say that many visits were also paid to his Aso Rock over the persisting neglect of the Igbo nation? It is therefore delusional to think that President Umaru Yar'Adua is any different; as his lopsided hegemony-driven appointments have so far proved? His latest refusal to renew Chukwuma Soludo's appointment as the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, despite the stellar performance he put up re-organising Nigerian financial institutions, should be a pointer at his mean-nature and adds impetus to our assertion that these visits are not meritorious. Icheoku says, so, why not leave the sick man alone?

The Igbos are a tenacious people and have survived several despotic governments in Nigeria and will also survive the present one. The Igbos, through their governors, should therefore stop condescending to anyone including the mallam at Aso Rock; all they need do is simply to get ready for their turn in 2016. Then, they can redress all the imbalance and neglect which their geographical area have suffered these past four decades since Nigeria's independence. Like Jesus Christ said in Matthew 6:33, seek ye the kingdom of God and the rest shall be added unto you; Icheoku calls on the Igbos to first secure the presidency and then you can divided the oil-money however you deem fit! That is the only thing you really need to do as it will be a means to an end of so many things. You simply have to take it, and uncompromisingly, too! But first you must manifest to all other stake-holders of Nigeria that you are very serious and prepared to take what is rightfully yours come 2016; that no man can stop you and it does not matter how hefty the price that may be paid? Like the Boy-scout's motto, BE PREPARED; Icheoku asks, are the Igbos prepared for 2016? The five governors of the south east should answer this question in the affirmative and let the Igbos know what plans of action are in place to get the Igbos ready for the task ahead. These governors should start now to articulate who among Igbo notables shall best represent the Igbo interest at Aso Rock? Then constitute a committee for their audition and final selection; and commence work immediately for the dream's actualization; call it for what it is, "THE IGBO PROJECT 2016"!

Once the presidency is secured, then they can transform the entire South East to an Abuja of the South East; and re-develop the eastern headquarters of Enugu City into a mega city just like Lagos? Then if they want to build international airports in every state capital in the south east, just like the Hausa-Fulani did in the north, please be our guest? If they also want to appoint all the key ministers from the south east, oh well and dandy; just reference the Dracula-Vampire of Aso Rock as your precedent for doing so? If they want to produce dollar-billionaires from the south east, simply, hand-out import licences and oil-blocks to Igbomen and women; after-all North's Aliyu Dangote became a billionaire through his government approved monopolies, importing consumer goods into Nigeria? Icheoku is not aware of anything which he manufactures or produces in Nigeria, except some cement which he re-bags? Also Femi Otedola represents the South West in the club of dollar-billionaires, so nothing is wrong if a South East person is equally inducted into such an elite exclusive club of Nigerian dollar-billionaires, in order to complete the tripod, federal character of Nigeria?

But first you must get into Aso Rock and the road-map thereto, should be where your energies are directed at the present time and not dissipated in paying non-meritorious homage to Umaru Yar'Adua? Do you know how many presidents/heads of state that promised but failed upgrading Enugu "airstrip" into an international airport, starting with Shehu Shagari's 1979 administration? Icheoku says, the politics of not upgrading Enugu airstrip is as ingrained in the body-gnome of the leaders in Nigeria as the aversion for the Igboman in Nigeria? Moreso, if Enugu 'airstrip' is upgraded, most of the other airports in Nigeria will become redundant since Igbos constitutes more than 65 percent of world travellers in Nigeria? So why would they be the harbinger of the demise of their airports when they can simply keep them running by not upgrading the one at Enugu; thus compelling the Igbos to continue patronizing their airports, through forced stop-overs? Do you know how many administrations in Nigeria that had promised but failed to build a second bridge over the River Niger, starting with 1975 Muritala Mohammed's regime? Did these five governors forget also that Yakubu Gowon's 1970 promised three Rs of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction were not implemented; but frustrated intentionally, to further victimize the Igbos, after the civil war? It has been just one string of empty promises, made one after the other, merely to placate the Igbo-child who is throwing sudden-fits and tantrums over their neglect in Nigeria? Icheoku says, if the governors want any of the matters that necessitated their visit to Aso Rock resolved, they must do it themselves by getting an Igboman/woman into Aso Rock; and such occupant can then prioritize accordingly. Hopefully, when the time for this redress comes, Nigerians will remember that the Igbos have been neglected for so long and were not the one who started the crass nepotism, tribalism and regionalism currently pervading Nigeria?

Icheoku says, genuflecting to Abuja each time will not fix what is broken, hence you must cease and desist from making such pitiful visits. Regrettably too, when you make such visit, courtesy demands that you tell the sick-man of Aso Rock what he wants to hear; which in turn forces you to lie. such as when you falsely praised Umaru Yar'Adua for doing such a heck of a good job? Icheoku says, if what Umaru Yar'Adua is "not-doing" is considered by you as doing a good job, then something is definitely awry with your perception? It is either your appreciation of the word "good" has diminished drastically or you were afraid to tell the king the truth in front of his face? So why box yourself in such a catch 22 situation, where you must implicate yourself, either way! Icheoku says, Mr. Slow-man has not done anything to warrant any praise and not by you, the South East governors?

Please, please, governors, enough of these visits! They are not worthy of your time and since they are not productive? Imagine your knee-jerk imput on the Niger Delta genocide that “we remain prayerful that everything will be resolved in the interest of the country”? This is not a sufficient reaction because those Niger Delta people are also Nigerians, being unecessarily slaughtered just because of their own oil? A real manly-man would have called on President Umaru Yar'Adua to end his adventure in the Niger Delta forthwith, period! Also you failed or could not secure a renewal of Soludo's contract at the central bank of Nigeria? And on the Niger Bridge, instead of inquiring what is holding up the project, you were busy talking about dredging; which shows that possibly you did not go to Abuja on the people's business but to secure your second term in office, come 2011? It is pitiful that such visits are taking place in the Igboman's name and behalf? Never again! Not in their name! Not on their behalf shall you ever embark on such a visit to Aso Rock! To the five south-east governors who went to see President Umaru Yar'Adua, you have been forsworn and forbidden never to visit Aso Rock on behalf of Ndi-Igbo again; but implored to work assidiously to put 'Onye-Igbo' in Aso Rock, as president of Nigeria in 2016! That is the 'Ebe ana eje 2016'!

FYI: It will be recalled that the South East Governors on July 31, 2008 paid a similar visit to Aso Rock to urge the President's understanding on the need to create one additional state in the south east? As always, President Yar’Adua expressed his qualified support that the issue was purely constitutional? This event has since been over-taken by other Arewa-based agenda, which the president is rather pursuing with whatever remains of his fast-fading life?

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!