MADOFF, GOING AWAY FOR A VERY, VERY, LONG TIME!

For his criminal fraud of more than $50 billion dollars, defrauding several people and institutions, Bernard Madoff was yesterday, June 29, 2009 sentenced to 150 years behind bars! It is instructive to note that unlike in states' prison system, the federal prison system does not parole prisoners, hence all sentences are served out?

At 71 years old, Bernard Madoff, will need to die twice and reincarnate back twice to complete this 150 years prison sentence? In other words, by the sentence, the court literally locked him and threw away the keys; that Icheoku says, were he a brave person, he will drink of the poisoned chalice and call it quits with life? After-all, what else is left of his life at 71 years, than to slowly pine away in a piecemeal fashion to his eventual death, in a seven by five feet prison cell? Ken Lay of Enron was such a 'brave' man who instead of a certain death behind bars, chose to end it like a man surrounded by his family in their summer home at Aspen Colorado; with a bemused world later told that he had a massive heart attack? Will Bernard Madoff similarly have a massive coronary embolism within this period before being assigned his prison cell? Who knows, but Icheoku would be surprised if this man of once great privilege submits himself to this sentence and elect to die a prisoner?

Madoff, a once respected money manager and a former chairman of the Nasdaq, was arrested in December 2008 after his two sons told authorities he had confessed his massive scam to them? Madoff confessed to running a multi-billion dollar "Ponzi scheme" in which investors were paid returns from money paid by subsequent investors? His victims included individuals, charities and for-profit institutions. The investigation found that in reality, Madoff never made any investments, instead he was using the money from new investors to pay returns to existing clients — and to finance a lavish lifestyle for his family. Bernard Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme run since the early 1990s demolished the life savings of thousands of people, wrecked charities and shook confidence in the U.S. financial system.

In his confessional apology to his victims, the father of all swindlers, Bernard Madoff said, "I will live with this pain, with this torment, for the rest of my life. I live in a tormented state knowing the pain and suffering I have created." Madoff said he committed the fraud on his own, but has not told anybody what did with the $50 billion dollars or is he still protecting and covering up for some other anonymous powerful mortals? While making his allocutus, Madoff said, "I cannot offer you an excuse for my behavior; how do you excuse betraying thousands of investors who entrusted me with their life savings?" Stating that at one point, he tried to undo his crimes but "the harder I tried, the deeper a hole I dug for myself."

But rejecting his plea for leniency, U.S. District Judge Denny Chin cited the unprecedented nature of the multi-billion dollar fraud and sentenced him to the maximum allowed under the law; 150 years in prison! The term compares only to those given in the past to terrorists, traitors and the most violent criminals. Icheoku says, by necessary implication, Bernard Madoff now ranks with these dregs of the society whose crime affected so many lives and took a staggering toll on thousands of innocent victims? Bernard Madoff's 150 years prison sentence for perpetrating the biggest and most brazen investment fraud ever recorded on Wall Street, was the maximum punishment for his offence as the the judge practically threw the book at him for his 'extraordinarily evil crime'? Judge Denny Chin of Manhattan, NYC said 'the symbolism of a 150-year prison sentence was important, given the magnitude of the breach of trust over decades, which fraud was very staggering". In the judge's own words, "Here, the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff's crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of irresponsible manipulation of the system is not merely a bloodless financial crime that takes place just on paper, but it is instead ... one that takes a staggering human toll".

Bernard Madoff was so hated that not even one of the more than 100 letters received by the Judge supported Madoff or described any good deeds done by him; all of them practically called for his head; which prompted the Judge to observe further that "the absence of such support is quite telling"! Even his wife, Ruth Madoff pictured left, appeared to have abandoned the cornered Bernard in his hour of greatest need; while delivering her Brutus stab, she said "I am embarrassed and ashamed; like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused. The man who committed this horrible fraud is not the man whom I have known for all these years." Icheoku says, Madam Madoff, you may tell that to the marines since you never questioned how your hyper lavish lifestyle was ever funded; only to now turn an anti-Bernard Judas? What a jolly-go little bitch this sissy is? While some of his victims vented their despair and anger, some others openly wept and/or raised their voices, labeling Madoff with such derisive names as "a monster", "a true beast", "an animal", "an evil" and "a low-life"? One victim surmised her feeling thus, "Life has been a living hell. It feels like the nightmare we can't wake from". Another said, "He stole from the rich. He stole from the poor. He stole from the in between. He had no values. He cheated his victims out of their money so he and his wife Ruth could live a life of luxury beyond belief." One other observer said of Madoff, his was an "indescribably heinous crime", deserving a very long prison sentence so that he "will know he is imprisoned in much the same way he imprisoned us and others." Another said, Madoff was effective because he seemed normal; "but underneath the facade is a true beast, who "should not be given the opportunity to blend so seamlessly into our society again." According to the prosecutor Madoff "stole ruthlessly and without remorse." Icheoku summarises that a man getting such a rap-sheet as this, should tread carefully in the prison as his nemesis might follow him therein? Bernard Madoff, it would appear over-reached and will certainly pay a hefty price for his arrogant 'catch me if you can' criminal scheme?

It is also instructive to note that Madoff had earlier been stripped of all his personal property, including real estate, investments, and $80 million in assets his wife Ruth Madoff had claimed were hers. This was sequel to a preliminary $171 billion forfeiture order issued against him, which left his wife with a paltry $2.5 million that couldn't be tied directly to the mother of all frauds. The terms of the order require the Madoffs to sell a $7 million Manhattan apartment where Ruth Madoff still lives; an $11 million estate in Palm Beach, Florida, a $4 million home in Montauk and a $2.2 million boat which will be put on the market too. Concluding, Icheoku says, whether Bernard Madoff summons the courage to do the right thing or chooses to die in prison, it is important that his saga has finally completed its course; that the moral lesson of this is that greed is not good, does not pay and that all is vanity, according to the preacher in Ecclesiastes 1:2! For such other Bernard Madoffs of this world, if 150 years behind bars sounds like a picnic, then continue in your evil ways, otherwise turn a new leaf today and spare yourself such a debilitating sorrowful experience!

NIGER DELTA, THE DAY THE STRUGGLE DIED?

Is the ravaging military expedition in the Niger Delta of Nigeria the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end of the oil-war in the area, which has so far, defied military solution? Icheoku says, the war which has been going on ever since oil was first discovered at Niger Delta's Oloibiri in 1958 and just recently escalated into a full blown shooting-war by the Dracula of Aso Rock, President Umaru Yar'Adua is not the answer? The war which previously included all manners of psychological-intimidation, repression, protestation, agitation, intermittent police action has now suddenly escalated due to the excesses of the Hausa-Fulani hijackers of Nigeria who decided to kill-off Niger Delta people in order to covet their oil? Niger Delta people, who they consider a pain in the neck and hence had to roll in their tanks, airplanes, war ships and other weapons of mass destruction to completely annihilate, and blood flowed and is still flowing? Even one of this Hausa-Fulani uncircumcised mallam was quoted as saying that killing off 5 million of the Niger Delta people for the sake of the rest of 145 million Nigerians should be considered a reasonable option? And you ask yourself, what manner of blood-hounds are these mallams? Ka-ji-kwo?

But how could an otherwise agitation for such a good cause as resource control, gone so awry that sympathies have been since been lost and won respectively? How could the world, especially other Nigerians pretend that what is going on in the river-rine Niger Delta is merely a skirmish by a government trying to quell some recalcitrant dissidents aka militants? When and how did Niger Delta freedom struggle lose the propaganda war in the crisis to the Hausa-Fulani machine?

A few years ago before this current crisis snowballed into the inferno it is today, many Nigerians as well as other peoples of the world paid real attention to the brewing crisis in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Unfortunately the vanguards deviated or rather their struggle was hijacked by a few miscreants who careened it off course and turned it into a criminality of kidnapping and with it, they succeeded in turning off the generated interest and sympathy of these third parties. Icheoku recalls that world-media Cable News Network, CNN, did a documentary on the Niger Delta struggle, anchored by Jeff Koinange then CNN’s Africa correspondent, responsible for reporting for CNN from across the African continent; which they later followed up by dispatching Lisa Ling with a full camera crew from New York, Georgia, United States of America on a fact finding visit to one of the militants' camp inside the belly of the beast in the Niger Delta. The reporter/war correspondent was not impressed by what she saw and heard; and concluded that these guys are not serious, they are disorganised, rudderless and without a common purpose. In short they are a bunch of hooligans and criminals, indiscriminately shooting off guns and intimidating people? Put in another way, they are a bunch of menacing thugs and Tompolo is in hiding?

After watching this rather sorry commentary on the Niger Delta struggle on CNN, we concluded immediately that it was the end of the road for the struggle? Borrowing from Jesus Crucified, 'it is finished' and so it was, that the days of the militant' struggle were numbered? Icheoku says, bad press is rather too cancerous and anybody, including those supposed freedom-fighters in the Niger Delta, who ignores it, does so at their peril. The Niger Delta agitators ignored the power of the press and today, they have paid and are still paying dearly for this stupidity and unforgivable ignorance. What a hefty prize, indeed, that their noble and courageous struggle was branded a terrorist-militant dissidence, forcing the world to look the other way while the Hausa-Fulani marauders slaughtered them and pillaged their society?

Icheoku have opined on the best 'sea-route to India' regarding the Niger Delta struggle but they were not heeded. We advised on the need to have an organized centralized commanding authority divided into both political and armed wing, to pursue the struggle in a dualized fashion but t was not heeded. The Irish example buttresses this point? We also advised against the kidnappings going on in the Niger Delta, of people of Niger Delta by people of the Niger Delta masquerading as militants; yet it was not listened to? We posited that a house that is divided among itself is bound to fall after the kidnap and release of author Elechi Amadi; yet it was not heeded and today, what remains of the struggle is a mere house of cards, that will topple with with further squeeze; with Tom Ateke begging for amnesty? We advocated taking the struggle outside the Niger Delta area, to the Hausa-Fulani peoples of northern Nigeria in their Northern enclave but it was not heeded? We also canvassed that the Niger Delta freedom fighters avoid pitching a direct battle with a brutal earth-scorching Nigerian army as they are not a match both in equipment and viciousness; but it was not heeded? We also advised the understudy of the Irish Republican Army, Sons of Iraqis/ Mujaheddin as well as all other freedom struggles in history; and how it is suicidal to take head-on an organized centralized army of any nation; but it was not heeded. We warned that the North will use their divide and conquer strategy to have their way in the Niger Delta and today, the rest is history as so many militant-wings mushroomed and none of them could be said to be the authentic bastion of the peoples struggle?

The result is an earth-scorching invasion by President Umaru Yar'Adua' s army which have killed, maimed, vandalized and burnt the areas known as Niger Delta. We also advised on the need to pursue propaganda vigorously; and the need to engage some public relations firms to sell the struggle to the world but it also was not heeded? What happened, the north succeeded in branding the struggle as a bunch of disgruntled terrorists-militants fermenting trouble who must be got rid of; the world acquiesced their tacit approval and the dogs of war were let loose upon defenseless peoples of the Niger Delta. Icheoku says it is because the Niger Delta struggle lost the propaganda war, yielding their freedom fighters status to mere militants that they have not fared well in the current campaign in the delta? Henry Okah is in inhuman military detention, captive of the feudalistic north? And who wants some bunch of weed-smoking, AK47 totting militants in their neck of the wood, when the atrocities of Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq flood our television screens daily? Who wants to be beheaded or kidnapped for ransom or forced to live a particular type of regimented life under an Islamic Mujaheddin Asari Dokubo control? Not this writer and not anyone I personally know. This was the picture painted of the "trouble-makers" of the Niger Delta and the world left them on their own, so you see?

There is no manner of words which has not been employed to describe the mediocre-struggle of the Niger Delta militants:- disunited, disorganized, dysfunctional, clueless, incoherent of objective, inarticulate, lacking strategy, rabble-rousers, trouble-makers, criminals etc and the list goes on ad infinitum? For a country which has fought a civil war before against the people of Biafra who were forced to defend their right of peaceful existence in Nigeria, today's escapade in the Niger Delta does not bode well for Nigeria united? So far the Niger Delta freedom fighters have given a good account of themselves with their brilliant performances both against the invading soldiers and the arrogant oil companies? About 18 Nigerian soldiers and 3 officers dead or missing as a result of militant activities is no small achievement under the circumstances considering the investments made to bring these soldiers up to the fighting machine which they supposedly were? Reliable sources has it that so many other soldiers were also gravely wounded and these are fellow Nigerians pitted against their fellow Nigerian of the Niger Delta because some Hausa-Fulani oligarchs are being very unreasonable in asserting obtrusive control on other peoples natural resources? What a display of feudalistic arrogance by these mallams of the Nigerian far north?

As Icheoku mourns the foreseeable end of an otherwise worthy struggle, which was terribly mismanaged and/or sabotaged; as well as the devastation wrought by the Major General Sarkin-Yarki Bello led Hausa-Fulani invading army of the north, we sympathize with the people like Ken Niweigha who laid their lives for this struggle. Let us hope the people of the Niger Delta have learnt their lessons and the next time around, it will be a very different approach. Also it is important for Niger Delta people to understand where their biggest and best alliance in Nigeria is? It is also essential for them to understand where to align themselves in Nigeria - with the only big brother who they truly have, the Igbos! In the Igbos lies their destiny if they must succeed in their struggle and no amount of their ass-licking of the Hausa-Fulani or the Yoruba will make them worthy of equal acceptance in their eyes? The people of Niger Delta saw how dismissive they were in the eyes of these Northerners, when one of them mouthed that they are disposable and just five million of them can be and should be sacrificed for the greater welfare of other Nigerians? Are you scared? Icheoku says, as you suck your wounds, oh Niger Deltans; now you know what not to do!

However, we must acknowledge the courage, gallantry and bravery of the resistance at Okerenkoko, Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State. At least they achieved somewhat victory as every trained Nigerian soldier's life was worth a lot in this lopsided hostility between them and the militants and 18 of them were forced to drink of their potion as they paid the supreme sacrifice, including a major, and a lieutenant colonel? Icheoku says, if an ill-equipped and out-numbered resistance could wreck such quantum of havoc on the Nigeria army; it finally explains why the authorities in Abuja hurriedly handed off Bakassi to Cameroon, because they were deathly afraid of the chances of their army pitched in a battle against the Cameroon gendarmes?

Regrettably too, the palace of the monarch of Gbaramatu Kingdom was ransacked and razed down by the invading Northern soldiers which forces Icheoku to ask, were it in the North, could any of these soldiers have ventured into the emir's or sultan's palace? This is one of the burning issues that need resolution in Nigeria - the equality of Nigerians?

Icheoku also disagrees that money is being lost as a result of the activism in the Niger Delta, as the oil which is not being exploited and sold off today, is merely being deferred for future earnings! What is the use of selling off the oil today under the very highly corrupt government in Nigeria which will as usual fret it away and without addressing the pressing needs of the people for whose primary benefit, God put the resources under their grounds?

Finally, Icheoku says, no matter how the current military rampage in the Niger Delta concludes and while sympathizing with the unnecessary loss of lives, the bravery of those sons and daughters of Niger Delta were not in doubt. As they struggle through whatever is left of their pitched battle with the feudalistic Nigerian armed forces, struggling to free themselves from the shackles and take back what belongs to them, their oil resources, we wish them Godspeed! Peradventure, providence will remain on their side until a somewhat victory is achieved in due course. All that is needed is some perseverance, a show of resolve and the will to carry-on; and eventually the world will be forced to step in to call for a truce and possibly a conference will be called to settle the lingering problems afflicting the Niger Delta? If the Hausa-Fulani accedes the control of the natural resources, that will be alleluia?

To the brave people of Niger Delta, let it be known to you that the nearest hour to dawn is usually the darkest and the last laps of a marathon is usually the toughest; but if you persist, you shall surely cross the finish line. Victory is within reach more than you know it as Port-Harcourt and Warri refineries crude oil shortage is a sign that your effort is beginning to yield dividends? Also President Umaru Yar'Adua cannot be so desperate for an amnesty if he is not deathly afraid of losing the current showdown? But first, you must stop kidnapping your people, your kinsmen, your women and children; so that you can regain their goodwill, the support of the world and stop being seen as mischievous miscreants bent on disrupting oil flow to Western countries? Reassert yourself for what you are, - the freedom fighting crusaders of the Niger Delta!

Icheoku says, try not to lose your focus and the ideals behind your fighting as it is for a just cause - the freedom of your people and God will see you through! We strongly believe that we have not seen the last of you, not the beginning of the end of your struggle? Fight on Niger Delta and you shall be bountifully rewarded in due course! Icheoku supports your righteous struggle to be emancipated from the talons of the lazy and arrogant feudalistic mallams of the Sahara desert! Aluta continua!

MICHEAL JACKSON, PRAY FOR HIS SOUL!

He is now forever gone! All we, mortals can do now is to pray that the good Lord will find his soul worthy of a heavenly reward.

Micheal Jackson brought so much fun and joy to millions of his fans world-wide and he will forever live in their minds as the greatest superstar to ever live. Icheoku joins millions of mourners who are grieving on this loss, seek solace that to die is to live in the minds of those who loved you.

What a life, that a healthy man wakes up in the morning and before noon drops dead? Why are we in this world? Will you start your race for heaven now or are you going to wait until it is too late?

Peace be unto his soul. Ciao Micheal!

MICHEAL JACKSON, OH WHY?

Icheoku is still mourning Micheal Jackson and will resume our regular editorial/commentary on Monday, June 29, 2009.

Please bear with us as we dedicate these four days, as a mark of our respect to this once in a lifetime musical genius, MJ! So long Mike! We shall miss you a great deal, Shalom!

MICHEAL JACKSON, DEMISE OF THE SUPERSTAR!

He touched our lives in so many ways; and above all he filled our souls with joy and happiness through his music/performances.

Who can count how many hearts Micheal Jackson brought joy to during his very short life on earth? Not Icheoku and certainly not you, our visitor! Thus adding impetus to the saying that it is not necessarily how long one lived that is important but how effective such life was. Micheal had an effective 50 years short life, becoming during this period, the best of the best in his chosen profession, musical entertainment! Bye Micheal.

MICHEAL JACKSON, GONE!

What is in this life afterall, here today, gone tomorrow? The King of Pop, the best entertainer to ever walk the face of this earth, the one whose music moved millions of feet and touched gazillion of souls; the 'magician' whose music awakes any slumbering party world over, the levitating icon whose feet sometimes appear to float on dancing stages, a man who became a superstar at 9 and ran the full course on the front page is no more! He finally parted ways with the mortals of this merciless world and possibly will now be left alone?

Micheal Jackson transited to a higher plain this afternoon. He was just 50 years old? He was officially pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center Los Angeles California at 2.00pm; where he was rushed to by paramedics who had responded to a 911 call at his home by 12.30pm only to find the superstar incapacitated and not breathing? Efforts to resuscitate him both in his home and the hospital did not yield the desired result; hence bringing to an end a life that was full of glitz and glamour; admittedly with some hiccups along the way?

Micheal Jackson sold more than 100 million albums during his lifetime musical hurricane; with his most famous musical work, the 1982 Thriller album, selling an estimated 50 million copies worldwide? Off the Wall, Beat it, Don't stop till you get enough, Wanna start something, "Billie Jean" and the track titled "Thriller" itself were among Icheoku's most favorites of Micheal Jackson musical works. What about you?

According to one mourner, Micheal Jackson 'was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever'. One observer intoned, "It seemed to me that his internal essence was at war with the norms of the world. It's as if he was trying to defy gravity"? Another described him as 'the freakish figure, middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life'? Icheoku says, so f***ing what? Why judge a book by its cover? Sometimes perception could be wrong?

Micheal Jackson was an experiment encapsulated in his child-state throughout his life. He did not know any better, having not grown up normally to understand that people do not have to get 'stuck in the middle' forever? He was merely trying to live out his childhood which early stardom forcibly aborted and never allowed him the chance to horse-play with his mates; but his good intentions were wrongly interpreted as being rather too cozy with children; and a willing "victim" with his despicable mother became a tool in the hands of a 'gotcha ya' prosecutor? Luckily enough jury of his peers, saw through the heap of lies and acquitted him; but the innocent man never recovered till the tragedy of today, June 25, 2009? Icheoku concludes, Micheal Jackson was lynched by a society which created him, made him what he was before finally pushing him over the cliff? He was in essence, a victim! So wherein lies the joy of success if all ends this way and at a very young age of just 50 years?

Those 'lynch-him' crusaders notwithstanding, compared to other known music superstars such as the Beatles and Elvis Presley, Micheal Jackson ranked the numero-uno of them all. He was a first among equals of the music world. From the tender age of 9 till he passed away, he was loved and hated by friends and foes alike. A fan base which adored their idol and a warped overzealous officials who wanted to bring him down at whatever cost, hounded him into the introverted pain-killer dependent miserable man that finally succumbed today. Icheoku says, now that Micheal has taken his final bow, may all those detractors and prosecutors of him, who instigated an unfounded child molestation allegation which took a heavy toll from an innocent man, forcing him into a brief exile to the Middle East and upon return to the States, into a cocoon, now pop their victory champagne as they have conquered Micheal?

It will be recalled that Micheal Jackson was preparing and conditioning himself for his scheduled 50 shows, musical concert in London this summer, beginning July 13 when he expired? What a transition, but we are happy he did not suffer death by dying installmentally through an affliction or a debilitating disease; or being locked away to rot in an isolation ward of a prison somewhere nondescript, assuming his detractors had their way? Admitted his fans, including our team of contributors will miss his musical ingenuity a great deal; what a loss?

Finally like a message sent to someone in New York, "No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow!" Icheoku prays the good Lord to forgive Micheal of whatever sins he may have committed but which he did not have time to confess; and grant him permission to entertain the angels in heaven with some of his very moving musical renditions with which he captivated this world. Adieu MJ.

GOVERNOR SANFORD, HIS EVITA?

With head bowed in shame of being caught cheating on his wife, the governor of South Carolina sang, 'Don't cry for me South Carolina'! Icheoku says, the governor should have advised himself appropriately before jetting away to snuggle in the bosom of his Evita in South America!

So it turned out that the missing governor was not missing after-all; rather he was smooching his Evita in far away Argentina? Icheoku asks what is wrong with our politicians that they do not necessarily learn from the history of other similarly situated misjudgement of the past? Do they think they are somewhat different and so special that their foibles will be a different kind of experience, with no prying eyes watching or inquisitive curious mind finding out? May be they do not use their brains or their brains has been corrupted by the power of politics that the feeling of invincibility sets in to eventually bring them down from their Olympian height? How many times is really enough for these cheating politicians or is the case of the second kick of the mull which teaches no lesson, at all?

Governor Mark Sanford, 49, decided to simply vanish into the thin air, Houdini style, thinking that his wife, four boys, friends, family and other South Carolinas are too blind to notice his absence? But unbeknownst to the philandering governor, he is not just any ordinary Citizen-Joe who could even die without a smidgen of sorrow; but a governor of the State of South Carolina with responsibility for its people? Also the governor was married to a wife with who he has four young children, all boys; yet failed to understand the enormity of his responsibility to them as well, and owed to them some explanation on his where-about?

As if the governor was not already in enough deep molaise, he chose the weekend of Father's day of all days, to embark on this his love-struck transcontinental journey to the land of the Argentines? Was he not aware that as a father and a husband, that his family will be there to celebrate the day with him as well as present him with some gifts for fathers day? His family called the governor's office to inquire on the where-about of their bread-winner with the office responding that they thought the governor took the day off and was spending it with his family; and thus was the cat let out of the bag and the governor was declared "missing"? Governor Mark Sanford, a former three-term congressman, was elected governor of the state of South Carolina in 2002 and is in his second cum final term as governor.

After seven days of dalliance in far away Argentina, he magically reappeared at Atlanta international airport, a passenger returning from Buenos Aires. But surprise, surprise; laying in wait at the airport for him was a journalist from the state's 'State Newspaper' who had driven three hours to the airport following a tip-off. She prodded the governor for explanation on his where-about following his disappearance from South Carolina over the father's day weekend. He rambled through a somewhat explanation at the airport; and subsequently followed it up with a press-conference; wherein he addressed his infidelity! Icheoku says, no matter what happens, lying to his staffers about hiking in the Appalachian mountain trails while in Argentina is unbecoming of a chief executive of a state! Also leaving his four boys and his wife longing for their family head on a father's day is equally unthoughtful and selfish!

That governor Sanford was indifferent to his wife's feeling is a fact. That governor Sanford took some risk, travelling overseas without security clearance is a fact. That the governor was reckless in not handing over to the next in line is a fact. That the governor was irrational in not thinking that he will be caught is a fact. That the governor disappointed his family by cheating on his wife and not being there for his four boys on father's day is also a fact. The four young boys possibly questioned their mommy if they really have a daddy? Otherwise, Icheoku says, what the governor did is no other person's business but that of his wife's primarily, and his four boys; if she and the boys chose to forgive him, so be it, case closed!

Also the people of South Carolina who were deprived of their chief executive and left with no shoulder to cry on in case of an emergency have a stake in the matter. Every other person should butt out and let these parties sort out their internal affair privately, with the philandering governor/father. Should he resign his office? May be, if precedents of New Jersey is called into play; but the call is for the people of South Carolina, but none other, to make. This is because his leaving the country without formally transferring his executive power, exposed the state to an unreasonable degree of risk, were there to be an emergency?

Icheoku says, crying a river now is too late, Mr. Romeo-Governor as you would have spared yourself the present agony by realising that as a public figure, your actions matter. Further, it is very selfish of the governor to just say that the affair is now over, just because he had been caught; after-all the affair began about eight years ago and he did not consult with his 'Evita' before trying now to back out of a love situation? Was it a desperate move to save his political career or what? Was it lust or love that pushed Governor Sanford into a plane to Argentina; which helps to understand the current, 'it is over now' disposition? May be he is just being the politician he is, scoundrels of the earth which most most people do not take seriously anyway! And he is of the republican brand?

True to type of these arch-hypocritical Republicans, while a congressman, he had voted in favor of three of four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton during the Monica(gate) Lewinsky scandal, citing the need for "moral legitimacy." Icheoku asks, which 'moral legitimacy' now protects this inter-continental love-forlorn Pharisee governor of South Carolina from his international love export? None, we know of? We do not however mind people's intermittent foibles and mistakes in life, but if that person is a republican with their holier than thou attitude, then our fifth sense triggers on; hence this umbrage. At least Bill Clinton did not leave the confines of the Oval office but this governor took an international flight to far away Argentina, not minding associated risks both of accident, kidnapping, armed robbery and even death just to satisfy his amorous thirst? What if something terrible had happened and no one could trace the governor? What a humongous embarrassment it would have been for a state's governor to just disappear into the thin air without a trace?

Governor Mark Sanford threw caution to the winds and unmindful of his safety, jetted out to Buenos Aires to be with his love interest, leaving his four boys and the mother of the boys, his wife of 20 years, Jenny Sanford, alone and lonely on a father's day weekend? Icheoku asks what manner of man would live his family so stranded, just for a piece of funky Bermuda-triangle in far away Argentina?

His wife is pretty, rich, tall, slender, intelligent, active and had given him four handsome healthy boys; so what else does this horny-dog want in another woman? Could it be her 'magnificent gentle kisses', 'tan lines', 'curved hips', 'the erotic beauty of holding herself or two of her boobs in the faded glow of the night's light? If Jenny was not up to par or has relaxed too much, couldn't the governor have re-oriented the mother of his four boys to reinvent herself into a sexier Sarah Palin hootchie-mama type personality; instead of cheating on her and spending the family's money to indulge himself in an overseas love-triangle? What a cheating scoundrel, this governor Romeo Mark Sanford is?

Finally, Icheoku says, Governor Mark Sanford's rather lunatic-like action, throws light on the anguish of so many married men who are not really happy being married? What was he thinking, one would like to ask? Icheoku says, his brain is empty and incapable of formulating any thoughts! His present action shows that majority of married men feel trapped in their marriage and would rather be playing the field; otherwise how do you explain a flight of over 10,000 miles just to be with the other woman? Is it possible that many a married men want out but feel compelled by societal etiquette to remain yoked in a marriage which light has since gone out? Whatever was the underlying fuel for this love-trip, Icheoku says, if you are an exception to the rule that many married men are; and that you are so happily married that you cannot appreciate what overcame this governor, or do not feel any empathy for this governor or lacks understanding of his action, please drop us a line and let us know! But until then, Icheoku wants you to know that about 99.9% of all married men are not so happily ever after!

D.C. METRO ACCIDENT, WHAT WENT AWRY?

The Washington D.C. fatal Metro-transit train accident was possibly a result of computer glitch which failed to halt the approaching train?

Presently available evidence suggests that effort were made by the operator to slow down the train before it crashed, jack-knifed and climbed unto the preceding train's cars. The emergency brakes' button was found pushed down as expected; as well as evidence of braking on the train's rotors, indicating it was likely that the operator tried but failed to slow it down?

At the time of the crash, the train was operating in automatic mode, controlled primarily by computer, with the operator merely opening and closing its doors and responding to emergencies, if any? So why did the computer go to sleep while on duty, causing such a catastrophic accident that has so far had claimed nine lives, including that of DC National Guard commander and his wife; while injuring more than 70 persons, in what is considered the deadliest accident in the 30-year history of the DC Metro? Or was this another case of the limitations of technology as opposed to humans?

Pictured right is the operator of the accident-triggering train, that rammed into the other trains' stopped cars, Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield, Virginia who also died in the collision.

Metro General Manager John Catoe said that "there is no evidence whatsoever that this driver has done anything to cause this accident"? To which Icheoku retorts, could Mr Catoe have spoken too soon since records of possible distraction of the train-operator by texting or phone call, has not been conclusively excluded? Further such ill-advised statement supplies needed ammo to wrongful-death action lawyers, who will cleverly heap all blames for the accident on the DC Metro to up the ante? More-so since evidence equally exists that the operator tried, according to operating procedure, but could not stop the train? A case of a defective equipment provided to the deceased train operator to work with?

It will be recalled that this was not the first time that DC Metro's automated system has been questioned? In June 2005, it had a close call because of signal troubles in a tunnel under the Potomac River; when an alert conductor noticed he was getting too close to the train ahead of him even though the system indicated the track was clear and hit the emergency brake in time, to avoid a collision? Icheoku asks, was the operator of this fatal accident possibly distracted by texting or phone-call, that she realised too late the dysfunctional computer system; that although she managed to reach the button; but it was too little too late to avert the collision?

Also this was not the first time a DC Metro accident has resulted in some fatalities as three people died in January 13, 1982 when some of its cars derailed? Equally in November 2006, two Metro track workers were struck and killed by an out-of-service train? And another Metro worker was struck and killed in May 2006.

As the investigation into what caused the accident continues, Icheoku empathises with the families of the deceased, the surviving passengers, as well as the DC Metro itself; which will certainly be slammed with series of lawsuits? As hard as it may sound, the transportation authority will certainly part with some substantial sums of money in settlement claims and/or payment of damages!

BURQAS IN FRANCE, PRESIDENT SARKOZY SAYS NO!

Icheoku supports wholly, the stand of French President Nikolas Sarkozy, rejecting the Islamic dress-code for women, burqa, in France!

It is man's inhumanity to man and debasing of another human-being under the subterfuge of religion. It is dehumanising to force a fellow human being to be under a perpetual cloak of body-covering, irrespective of the searing temperature of her operating environment. Worst still, many of these peering eyes long for some allowance to express themselves and show-off their beautiful figures, but which the mullahs will not tolerate under their warped, subjugated interpretation of the Koran? We have researched this dress-code in the Koran, but came short of any masquerade-like, head to toe, total covering prescription for the women folks? The necessary question is, why hide beauty beneath the mask? Why put a light under a bushel? Why not glorify the creator with exhibition of the wonderful art of nature, usually hidden beneath the layers of covering?

While branding the face-covering, body-length gown known as burqa, a symbol of subservience that suppresses women's identities and turns them into "prisoners behind a screen, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, declared the Islamic burqa is not welcome in France! Icheoku says, hurray, the way to go Mr. President and hopefully your weighty voice will empower all Muslim women all over the world to forcefully kick out the clothing enslavement? In Sarkozy's very own words, "In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement — I want to say it solemnly. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic." Icheoku says, good speak President Sarkozy; it is about time somebody spoke out against a practice, which time has come to be junked into historical artifact.

Why cover a light? Let France be for the French and anyone who does not want to comply with 'French dress-code' or is so infatuated with the burqa; let such a fanatic return to her country of origin in the Middle East. There she can be as enslaved as she might wish; but to remain in France and wear scary garbs is unacceptable and this is the gist of President Sarkozy's speech? Where in the Muslim world would a woman be allowed to wear bikinis or revealing outfits, yet they will not respect Western civilization and its dress-code but chose to scare the daylight out of our kids, completely masked and parading our streets and shopping malls?

Icheoku says, whether such a ban would create tensions or not is irrelevant as when in Rome, do like the Romans? In France, all must strive to be French, period! Has anybody in the Western hemisphere ever thought about women wearing micro-minis in the Middle East or even considered possible conflict or tension? Their draconian laws on dress-code is total and absolute; and does not have any room for consideration of tension or conflict; so why must it always be the west being called upon to make accommodations? Our take is that if anyone is so interested in entombing herself while still alive, let the person move back to the Middle East but should leave the French alone?

It will be recalled that the French just went a step further from the Dutch government which last year described the burqa and other clothing that covers the face, as "undesirable," but stopped short of a ban because of concerns of possible religious discrimination? Kudos to the French, whose president is continuously proving to have the desired balls, needed of a leader. Once again, Icheoku affirms the righteousness and correctness of the French President Nikolaz Sarkozy's courageous position on a divisive and scary outfits!

NEDA SOLTANI, THE FACE OF IRANIAN DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE!

As Neda Soltani pays the supreme sacrifice with her blood, protesting the emasculation of democracy in Iran, Icheoku says, the Iranian people must not allow her death to be in vain. She is the stuff, heroines are made of and we hope she is accorded that recognition with some form of immortalization?

Irrespective of how the current political imbroglio is eventually finally resolved, Ms. Neda has proved with her life that certain things are worth dying for; and having died for democracy in Iran, she will forever be remembered by democratic enthusiasts world-wide particularly in Iran as that brave lady who laid down her life for the sake of democracy.

Did she die well? You bet! Did she lay down her life for a just cause? We think so! Everybody, including all those mullahs of Tehran will someday die including the trigger-happy rogue state-agent who surreptitiously fired the shot that took the life of Neda Soltani. To die is to make that needed transition, so let her family not grieve so much as she has now moved on to the next realm. For the grieving family, we say, please accept our condolence and know that Neda died for a worthy cause. Icheoku says, it shall not be well for all those 'leaders' of this world who use brute force to maintain their stranglehold on power; and even kill their people just to remain in power. Should Neda have died for peacefully protesting what she believed to be a sham election? No, but in a tyrannical society where brute force rules, anything goes?

Icheoku condemns the Iranian government's refusal for the family of Neda Soltani to publicly mourn the loss of their daughter, as a vindictive act of aggression on a dead Iranian person. She is dead already, killed by her Iranian government, so why deny her a right to a public funeral as desired by her family? The issue of public security or safety should have not triumphed the need to accord respect to the dead; so the Iranian authorities would have saturated the funeral cortege with their security operatives and allow Neda to be buried as pleasing to her family and not hamstring it. To the new face of Iranian democratic struggle, Icheoku says, Adieu brave lady and may your Allah receive your gentle soul in paradise!

HALLIBURTON BRIBERY, TODAY IS OKILO'S DATE WITH HISTORY?

Eight weeks ago, the Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, promised to publicly name the corrupt Nigerian officials implicated in the gut-wrenching $180 million dollars Halliburton' bribery scandal? IG Mike Okiro had spoken in his capacity as head of an empanelled commission to investigate the bribery scandal?

Today June 22, 2009 is the last day in the promised eight weeks period and marks the day of the promised disclosure. Icheoku says, if by the end of work today, no such disclosure is made by the Inspector General of Police in keeping to his promise, then there is no hope for Nigeria? Barring this disclosure, Nigerian officials including this Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro will henceforth be seen as shriveling lying scum-bags, whose words means nothing.

Their silence will be interpreted as an effort to cover up the scandal and protect the big guns who were neck-deep in the bribery, including several former heads of state and government, presidents and ministers and legislators. What will this do to the already sullen image of Nigeria but sink it deeper into the pariah state which it is accelerating into. Nigeria deserves better and the world will like to know what became of the anti-corruption effort of the current government?

Icheoku therefore calls on President Umaru Yar'Adua to compel the Inspector of Police, Mike Okiro to disclose these bribe-takers in the name of re-branding Nigeria! It is imperative and the right thing to do as nothing less will be satisfactory!

SWINE FLU WEDDING, LOVE CONQUERS EVERYTHING?

What love has put together, not even the deadly swine flu can put asunder; and so is it that this infected couple had to say their "I do" behind surgical masks? In their wedding on June 14th, in North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, Highland Park, Illinois, Ilana Jackson and Jeremy Fierstein told swine flu to go to hell as they proceeded to tie their nuptial nuts not minding the grim diagnosis they had received earlier? Their own was flu or no flu, the wedding must go on?

About 48 hours to their wedding, their doctor called to report the diagnosis of a swine flu test they had taken following symptoms of vomiting, achy limbs and burning fever. It was positive! Undeterred, the couple deferred their hospital check-in but instead proceeded with their life-changing event, their wedding ceremony. Icheoku says, the way to go lover-birds, as we cannot live our lives in perpetual fear; afraid of all that life could throw at us including swine flu? To Ilana Jackson and Jeremy Fierstein, both 26, Icheoku says congratulations of your wedding and may the bravery of your defying swine flu guide your marriage into its golden years? The husband, Jeremy Fierstein, suspects he had contracted the swine flu while traveling to Chicago from Boston?

The professional hairstylist and makeup artist Jackson had hired refused to touch her? The couple stayed 10 feet away from all guests at all times? Instead of walking down the aisle, Jackson and Fierstein walked farther distance around the guests? They were not allowed the normal bridal/wedding dance? They wore surgical masks and latex gloves throughout the wedding ceremony and so did some of the guests? No guest was brave enough to hug either of the couple? It was definitely a little different than a normal wedding but Icheoku says, a wedding is a wedding! Once again, congratulations swine flu couple, Ilana and Jeremy Fierstein!

PROPHET M.K.O. TIBETAN, WORDS OF WISDOM!

Today, Sunday June 21, 2009, the topic for our meditation is "THE SEED IN YOUR HANDS"? I am your pastor and prophet, Marcus Koredele Oluwatosinmi Tibetan and I come to you today from Dublin Ireland.

I want the whole church to open with me to the biblical book of Luke 8:11-13, because we are picking our topic from there today, titled 'the seed is in your hand'! The almighty God has planted the seed in you, therefore you need not pray 24/7 to get anything because the man has put the seed in your hands. When you look at the world today everybody want to be rich and go to heaven but no one wants to work for it. Even the people in Nigeria want to go to America for a better life and people in America want to go to Nigeria to get hold of abundant oil and possibly monopolise it? They know the right thing to do but yet have failed and/or refused to do so because they don’t plant the good seed; rather they plant the deceitful seed that can take them to nowhere.

When you look at the bible passage, the seed is the God massage, the word of God; so if you fail to allow it to germinate then how can you say you are a good Christian? See Joshua 7:1-8, Jeremiah 1:1-10, 5:20 to end, Haggai 1:1-10, Isaac 28:18? How can you advertise it before devil, if you look at the life of David before the gentiles and the wild animals, he advertised the seed and became victorious; he was therefore tagged with the title “the friend of the Lord Almighty” 1Sam 15,16,17,18 and 19 all pointed out that David planted the seed in the right place and it was well with him. See Genesis 37, 38, 39,40,45,47 and 50:19. Also in the life of Daniel, Shadrach, Messiah and Abednego they sow their seed at the appropriate place and at the right timing. See Luke 5:1-10, when the comptroller of the world met, (the fisher men) he asked them to turn back to the high sea and they accepted his words and it was well with them because he planted good seed into their lives. In the life of Saul and Barnabas in the Act of Apostles 11, 13, 27, 10, 15:12 to the end, and 16, these people in the above passage sowed good seed and it was well with them, so stop complaining because the Lord have started a good thing in your life; he knows all things, therefore sew good seed which he has given to you. In the book of Matthews 25:1-13 the parable of the ten bride maids, the 1st five sowed wisely while the other five sowed stupidly and it was recorded of them. Sow your seed now before it gets contaminated because the weather of tomorrow may not be conducive for the seed. Until next Sunday, remain blessed!

NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE NIGER DELTA?

For a starter course, please click Watch how the JTF killed the Boma Brothers in the ...! What other evidence does anybody need to conclude as Icheoku did, that the Nigerian government is carrying out a systematic extermination of the people of the Niger Delta; just to covet their oil? Theirs is the curse of the black liquid, petroleum?

Watching the gory video of Nigerian army murdering two innocent brothers in the Niger Delta sent shock waves down our spine. It is particularly so because the victim's only known crime was coming from a particular section of the country? The Nigerian army officer that pulled the trigger could be heard in the background, interrogating one of the brothers, who was then still alive; trying so very hard to find out his ethnicity? As soon as he answered, a gun-shot crackled and he slumped in death. Another was fired to finish him off and this is happening in 2009 Nigeria with the whole world watching, hands akimbo?

If this is not ethnic cleansing going on in the Niger Delta, Icheoku doubts if any other thing so qualifies and the war criminals in Abuja, President Umaru Yar'Adua and Vice President Jonathan Goodluck must be held accountable for this ongoing carnage in the Niger Delta of Nigeria? Icheoku says, luckily this shameful episode was caught on camera; which leaves one to ponder the quantum of blood-letting which have been going on therein that were not known to mankind? Icheoku calls on the world criminal court/tribunal trying Liberia's Charles Taylor to make room for the duo in Abuja as their unleashed mad-dogs are fermenting atrocious mayhem in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, for which they must and should be held to account?

Pictures do not lie; more-so when that picture is a motion picture - video? It is audible enough to hear the soldiers making a spectacle of their quarry, with one already killed while his brother was seen patting his dead brother's arm, in a gesture of mourning? What followed was as eerie as it was unbelievable as he was murdered in broad daylight, in cold blood, with people watching just for who he was? No gun was found on him? He had already surrendered, was laying faced-down beside his killed brother and had only raised his head to answer the soldier who was interrogating him about his ethnicity? Then, lo and behold, he was executed by Nigerian soldiers under the command and direct order of President Umaru Yar'Adua? This was not a case of unknown soldiers as these murderers were captured on video-camera, with their voices clearly discernible. These scoundrels of our time must and should be prosecuted to the full letters of the law for the murders of these two Boma brothers.

In trying to defend his government's violence against a defenseless people of the Niger Delta, the Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe said, "We do not tolerate human rights abuses. We will investigate this video and if crimes were committed participants will be punished"? To which Icheoku says, tell that to the marines as Nigeria not only torture people, they abuse peoples' fundamental human rights and has killed before, is killing now and will kill tomorrow! What is there to investigate in a clear cut case of recorded videography? What a hopeless group of gendarmes, who running Nigeria aground?

In the same token, Icheoku says, whether the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and other militant groups in the region are "existential threats to Nigeria" is irrelevant, as their demands could easily be met were the government in Nigeria sane enough to separate fact from their illusion?

How can someone, for example, from United States of America state of Maine go down to the state of Texas and take their oil and then turn around to shoot the Texans who are agitating or complaining about their oil being stolen from them? Then immediately turn around to accuse the resisting Texan of causing trouble? What does that Maine expect? For the Texan to simply roll over and watch the worst debasing of his people taking place before his eyes and do nothing? What then does the word 'honor' mean? It defeats every logic and this irrationality is what the Nigerian government is trying so desperately to sell to the world; but happily enough, no one is buying this piece of deceit anymore.

Icheoku says, this mind numbing video must be in compliance to Alhaji Bala Ibn Na’Allah recent call for the extermination of the over 20 million Niger Delta inhabitants to make way for the rest of other 120 million Nigerians; who will then live happily forever after?

ATEKE TOM, DO NOT SURRENDER, REJECT AMNESTY!

Tom Ateke, Icheoku says, whatever you do, do not crawl on your knees to genuflect before your oppressors! You must not surrender and be taken prisoner by your oppressors; otherwise what you stood for and fought for, with so many peoples' lives sacrificed and some now dependent thereon, would have been in vain. Remember Biafra and what the Igbo man is forced to deal with in today's Nigeria because of that single mistake of an unfinished, inconclusive war? Why not cultivate a different fate for yourself and your people of the Niger Delta and persevere in this struggle? Please reject President Umaru Yar'Adua's amnesty, it is an omnious trap!

Remember that the North does not keep her promises; and if in doubt, ask what happened with the promised three Rs of of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction by Yakubu Gowon at the end of the civil war? Remember the promise of federal character principle which was the pivot of all federal postings and appointments; and check for yourself how far President Umaru Yar'Adua is keeping to that promise? Remember Umaru Yar'Adua's promised power emergency declaration and see how fast he had declared that much needed power emergency in Nigeria? With Umaru Yar'Adua there is no honor in his dictionary, so he will at the convenient time, once again, renege with his promise to grant you unconditional amnesty when his minions find a convincing reason to eliminate you. If truly you have worked for the State Security Service, then you know exactly what that midnight police escort out of the cell portends? Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida conducted the freest election ever in Nigeria but when the time came to keep faith with the result, he reneged and annulled it? Sani ABacha would not even entertain dialogue and hung Ken Saro-Wiwa without any justification whatsoever, except to remove him from his opposition to injustice of the Hausa-Fulani?

Tom Ateke, only cowards go to their captors in chains, so be a brave man and think about Ken Niweigha and do the right thing. If you surrender now, when what motivated your militancy has not been resolved or addressed, the whole world will see you as an opportunist, waiting to be acknowledged and possibly rewarded? Such a u-turn will show, you do not have a core and that you are an unprincipled man who would abandon his followers mid-stream; once convenient? Think about all the boys who call you leader and laid their lives pushing through your agenda? Is it fair to now tell them that you were wrong all this while?

Instead of your surrender, if the Fulani-Hausa North is serious, let they convene a sovereign national conference to iron out all the issues afflicting Nigeria including the Niger Delta? At best if the JTF's heat is too much for you, go under and lay low or even leave Nigeria for the time being, like your compatriot Tompolo; but to surrender to these feudalistic lords is simply sacrilege as it will show that you never had convictions in the first place? The Hausa-Fulani North made their kinsmen both the Petroleum Minister and Managing Director of the NNPC and they want to talk amnesty with the owners of the oil? My question to you Tom Ateke is, what makes you believe that this time, they will be different; more-so since your freedom activities had claimed some lives and disrupted so much ever since? What makes you think that they will not shoot you and blame armed robbers for so doing? Did you ask what happened to Ken Niweigha who was shot at the back and killed in cold-blood? Icheoku wants you to know that with the Hausa-Fulani, they only know one thing, and one thing only, conquer and plunder?

Please Mr. Ateke, Icheoku asks you to think through the ramifications of this purported move of yours to capitulate and go prostrate before your Hausa-Fulani tormentors. It does not matter the term of the surrender or how finely it was couched and worded as a presidential amnesty; the real question should be, what has changed since you decided to pitch battle in the struggle for the emancipation of the peoples of the Niger Delta? If you believe in something and you are not prepared to die for it, then an opportunist might as well be your other name. The Hausa-Fulani has not shown any serious interest at a genuine reconciliation. They are still holding Okah captive; they are ravenously looking for Tompolo? They have killed Ken Niweigha? Several other Niger Delta youths, women and children have died since the struggle as a result of their scorch-earth aerial bombardment of the Niger Delta? Several palaces of traditional rulers have been decimated in the Niger Delta, a thing you cannot imagine with the emirs or sultans yet it is ok with Niger Delta royals?

So what makes you think that as soon as you surrenders, that the events of the Niger Delta will change for good? Please do not be fooled by these empty promises of amnesty, because if President Umaru Yar'Adua does not kill you on direct orders, someone-else somewhere would, may be someone who may feel betrayed by your defection or even the feeling of it? Rivers State's Governor Amechi is already raising objection about your amnesty, so you can now tell that some freedoms are not worth the free in them?

Tom Ateke, please do not surrender your manhood; it is cowardly to accept this amnesty! Look at Biafran-Igbos who are still suffering in Nigeria almost four decades after, because of a similar mistake which Philip Effiong led them into in 1970? If you must know, the world is putting pressure on President Umaru Yar'Adua to end the Niger Delta invasion; and he is trying to placate them with this his rushed offers of amnesty to quickly end the struggle of the brave youths of the Niger Delta? So why make it easy for him now when a little perseverance is all that is needed for a third party's conciliatory proceedings? If Umaru Yar'Adua is serious and sincere about the plight of the Niger Delta, why is he not addressing the issues fueling the activism? Why would he appoint both the minister of petroleum and managing director of NNPC from the north and not the Niger Delta that owns the oil? Instead of a slavish surrender, demand for talks/conference and condition the amnesty thereon; it is more productive than accepting a condescending amnesty like a beggarly person. Tom Ateke, Icheoku says, there must be no retreat and no surrender! The nearest hour to dawn is always the darkest but your daylight as well as the greater Niger Delta peoples', is nearer today than it was yesterday and you must not capitulate now! Aluta continua, Tom! The people of the Niger Delta appreciates your bravery!

APB:- Nigerian soldiers are committing war crimes in the Niger Delta of Nigeria; for evidence, now click Watch how the JTF killed the Boma Brothers in the ...