OGBONNAYA ONOVO, THE NEW IG OF POLICE!

Happily reporting to duty as Nigeria's 14th indigenous Inspector General of Police, here pictured left is, Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo!

Icheoku says, congratulations to Nigeria's new Inspector General of Police, IGP Ogbonnaya Okechukwu Onovo, on his elevation to the position of the number one police officer in the land! In other words, he is now the Nigeria's First Police! To President Umaru Yar'Adua, we extend our gratitude too, for braving all the interest groups' pressure to put the right person on the saddle, to guide the Nigeria police as they perform their security assignment in Nigeria. Ogbonaya Onovo is simply the best there is, to occupy the office; and with the work at hand in this challenging times, no other appointee would have been a better choice; judging from his retinue of experience?

To IGP Onovo, Icheoku says, your job has been cut out for you, as the criminality in Nigeria must be stopped cold, and at whatever and any cost possible. No excuses will be good enough for Nigerians and you must bring the "can do" attitude inherent in the people of the South East to bear on the task ahead; and put a stop to the lawlessness of kidnapping and armed robbery nearly paralysing Nigeria. The country expects nothing less from you, than to give them back their lives which have nearly been taken over by some criminal elements in the country. Please do not give anyone reason to say, "I told you so" to President Umaru Yar'Adua, who went through the eye of the storm to appoint you the IGP! The only appreciation President Umaru Yar'Adua and Nigerians expect from you is perfomance, period! You must deliver security to Nigerians and only this will make or mar your administration.

At 56, Inspector General Onovo still have four more years before attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years, during which period, he must try to establish himself as the best Inspector General of Police Nigeria ever had. Alternatively, if he leaves office in three year when he attains the mandatory 35 years of service; he still would have three years to prove his mettle. Either way, IGP Onovo must make it possible for Nigerians to once again, be able to sleep with their two eyes shut at night; and drive freely on the roads without being maimed and killed by hoodlums or otherwise kidnapped for ransom by men of the underworld. Once Inspector General Onovo can accomplish this, his legacy will only need some little gap-fillers as it would have already been enshrined?

A native of Enugu State, born in February 7, 1953; married and a father of a son and a daughter; Ogbonnaya Onovo armed with a degree in Political Science from University of Nigeria Nsukka, enlisted in the Nigeria Police on August 1, 1977, as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). Since then, Ogbonnaya Onovo has served in various capacities in the Nigerian Police including as Divisional Crime Officer, Administrative Officer, Unit Commander, Second-in-Command to Squadron Commander and Squadron Commander of the Police Mobile Force. Onovo was subsequently promoted Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in January 1981; Superintendent of Police (SP) in October 1984, Divisional Crime Officer and Commander of Surveillance, Chief Superintendent of Police, Staff Officer in the Force Secretary's Office in June 1987, Assistant Force Secretary in the Force Headquarters in 1989, Assistant Commissioner of Police in March 1990, Deputy State Police Commissioner (Second-in-Command), Commissioner of Police (CP) in April 1997, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 1998, Commandant Police Academy Kano in May 2000, promoted AIG in May 2001 and made head of Research and Planning Department at the Force Headquarters as well as Force Secretary which position he held until February 2002, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in March 14, 2002 and Second-in-Command to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in the Force Headquarters and occupied the office of the DIG "A" - Finance and Administration. Ogbonnaya Onovo became Criminal Investigations Department head between 2003 and 2006, and DIG in charge of Administration in November 2006. Onovo equally attended several professional, development and leadership training courses within the Police and other Federal Government and international agencies including the Cadet ASPs Course; Detective Course; Junior Command Course; Middle Management Course; Senior Management Course; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Course; and International Humanitarian Law Program in SanRemo, Italy, among others.

Icheoku says, with a resume` like his, who else could better serve as Nigeria's Inspector General of Police than Ogbonnaya Onovo himself? The new chief has climbed the ropes, learnt all the curves and tricks of policing, horned his skills on experiences garnered over the years of service, which are as diverse as Nigeria itself; have served in various capacities in the police, as would properly equip him adequately with every needed advantage to perform and perform creditably very well. President Umaru Yar'Adua succeeded with this pick, choosing a round peg for a round hole and Nigeria will surely be better off with such a wise choice. IGP Onovo simply stated, cannot just afford to fail or not perform well.

However, with this appointment, it is not yet Uhuru for the people of the South East regarding their full political re-integration in Nigeria? The folks over there should not start basking in the euphoria of the moment, now that the feudalistic North has finally relented and appointed one of their kinsman, the IGP? The people of the South East should not see Ogbonnaya Onovo's appointment as a patronage or a victory; but a well qualified and deserved appointment where the best there is, was appointed and he agreed to serve his fatherland as the IG of police. In Nigeria, no tribe or section should be patronized just for the heck of it, but that the best always be allowed to wear the mantle and deliver for all Nigerians accordingly. Icheoku calls on Nigerian leadership not to unreasonably and irrationally patronize anyone group, including the Igbos, just for political-correctness. Once there is a job to be done, let the most competent Nigerian be allowed to handle the job, period!

Be that as it may, and all sentiments aside, Icheoku hopes that the new IG of police will look up to the other of his kinsmen/women from the South East, who have discharged their duties to Nigeria, creditably and satisfactorily; and use their performance as his new benchmark. Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla, Professor Dora Akunyili and Professor Chukwuman Soludo, just to mention a few, readily come to mind as such Igbo men and women under advisement here. The IGP's anticipated stellar performance in office will further affirm that certain people from certain part of Nigeria, are really endowed with a unique, natural 'can do' abilities. Therefore, IGP Ogbonnaya Onovo, the ball is now in your court to prove the "Okoro" in you!

Also Inspector General Ogbonnnaya Onovo must try and follow in the foot-steps of former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and avoid the corruption triggering banana-peel syndrome, which saw three of his most recent predecessors soiled in office? IG Tafa Balogun went out of office in handcuffs for misappropriapriating 17 billion Naira belonging to the police; IG Ehindero got entangled in a 23 million Naira corruption scandal found in a car trunk, while IG Mike Okiro has a 160 million Naira unpaid loan hanging on his neck? Once Ogbonnanya Onovo cleverly navigates his way through the pile of crap, which is always thrown at an IG's feet, then part of his legacy would have been written in gold and the rest will become mere filling of the gaps.

Once again, congratulations IG Ogbonnaya Onovo on your new appointment; we also reiterates our gratitude to President Umaru Yar'Adua and salute his courage in allowing the most qualified and most senior of the Nigerian police, to assume the office of the IGP; despite the wishes of Arewa Consultative Forum and other Nigerian pressure groups, to the contrary? Our prayer also, is that the Nigerian cabal will give him a free hand to police Nigeria adequately and restore the much needed but lacking security to a country, which has otherwise been ranked a failed state?

***(Just a little factoid for you:- IGP Ogbonnaya Onovo, is now the 14th indigenous IGP Nigeria has ever had; IGP Ogbonnaya Onovo was a classmate of the last IG Mike Okiro, who was also Onovo's best man during his (Onovo) wedding. It is also worth a mention that Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo served four past IGPs as a DIG, which greatly burnishes his credentials for his current job as Nigeria's IGP!) ***

MOTHER KILLS SON, EATS HIS BRAIN?

When you think it could not get more weirder in Texas, a San Anthonio mother, hacked her son to death, decapitated him and with fork and knife, savoured his cranial contents? Icheoku asks, what manner of barbarism and cannibalism is this, that a mother would kill her son to enjoy his brains? Only in the land of the demented, which Texas is not too far away from qualifying as?

Otty Sanchez, 33, was charged with capital murder in the death of her 3 1/2 week old infant son, whom she partially ate before being discovered and arrested. She has been charged to court and placed on a $1 million dollars bail. According to family sources, Otty Sanches has been a revolving door at a psychiatric hospital before the incident, since no sane being will kill her own son, cut off the head, placed it in a platter and with fork and knife ate up the brains? Gruesome? In Texas, not really! She also chewed off his tiny baby toes for snacks! This is the type of story which makes novelist Stephen King grin like a child in a candy store; it is hair-raising and spin-chilling indeed!

Whether it was post-partum psychosis that led a mother to eat her own child's body-parts, Icheoku does not have a clue but condemns the cannibalism and calls for maximum allowed penalty for the accused man-eater of a mother. It will be recalled that it was in the same Texas that a mother, Andrea Yates, methodically drowned her five children in a bathtub in 2001. Also in 2004, Dena Schlosser killed her 10-month-old in her Plano Texas home, by slicing off the baby's arms. According to her, she killed the baby as a sacrifice and because she want to give her to "God"? Icheoku denounces such nut cases who think that biblical Abraham's call to sacrifice Isaac gives them reason to commit such heinous act as the murder of one's own child? It is condemnable and in view of so many wanna-be mothers who literally go the ends of the earth to seek a child, why did these monsters not give these children up for adoption or even abandon him as in this case; but instead, she craved his brains and now the rest is history.

VERNOM FORREST, THE MAN WHO BEAT SHAUN MOSLEY, IS DEAD!

He knocked his opponents out in a few and now, it took only some bullets to knock him out cold and forever. Ex-boxing champion Vernom Forrest, 38, is dead; shot to death multiple times in a robbery, this weekend in downtown, Atlanta Georgia. Like many cases involving black-folks, no suspects having been arrested yet and he might as well go down as one of the statistics of unsolved murder of black-males of America?

According to the story, the 1992 Olympian stopped at a gas station to put some air in his car tires when a panhandler approached him and asked for some "change". As he pulled his wallet out to find fella something, the man became greedy and decided to take everything. He snatched the purse and ran for it but Vernom, being the boxer he is, decided to fight back. He pursued the fleeing purse snatcher. Icheoku says, that was mistake number one, never pursue a man who needs your stuff so much and probably more than you do, that he had to snatch it from you and make a dash for it? Continuing, the thief feeling cornered, turned but already Vernom had begun to go back to his car, but nevertheless, started firing at the retreating Vernom, hitting him multiple times? Fulton County Georgia medical examiner's office confirmed the homicide, stating that autopsy result showed Forrest died from "multiple gunshot wounds involving the torso and thigh."

The lesson of this sad incident is, 'do not bring out your wallet out to hand folks some "change" as they may turn instantly greedy'. If you ain't got a "quarter" and there is no independent one dollar bill hanging loose somewhere in your pocket, lie to him that you have only credit cards! Safety is very important and probably Vernom was killed for some loose change, of plus-minus one hundred dollars, as no one carries that much cash-money in his wallet anyways? We live and we learn, and this may have the downer effect of people giving to some down on their luck people any hand, anymore.

Forrest, a native of Augusta, Georgia, who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the Barcelona Olympic team along with Oscar De La Hoya. He later won welterweight and junior middleweight titles and compiled a professional record of 41-3 with 29 knockouts. He won his first world title by defeating Raul Frank at Madison Square Garden for the vacant IBF welterweight belt in May 2001, and less than a year later handed Shaun Mosley his first career loss to capture the WBC title. Forrest also recorded a boxing win over Ike Quartey and Carlos Baldomir for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title.

Vernom Forrest was not married but was survived by his son, Vernon Jr.

It will be recalled that Vernom Forrest's death makes it the third high-profile death of a boxing champion recently:- Hall of Famer Alexis Arguello, the mayor of Managua, Nicaragua, was found dead at his home on July 1 in an apparent suicide; and just last two weeks, Arturo Gatti was found dead in a condominium in Brazil with his wife as the prime suspect? Icheoku says, whatever it is that is knocking our boxers out and cold, should please cease and desist as three are quite an alarming number to go just these few weeks. Farewell, champ!

AMERICAN IDOL'S ALEXIS COHEN, IS DEAD!

She gave Simon Cowell, her all, - her fingers, her mouth and her arse? There was no part of her body that she spared in trying to convey to Judge Simon Cowell, how disgusted she felt for not making the American Idol contestant cut in Philadelphia 2007? In short, she was Simon Cowell's known nemesis who refused to be "told off"!

And unbekownst to her, her performance-audition was horrible; one of the worst there was that contested in that seventh edition of American Idol. However, she thought otherwise, thinking she was that yet to be discovered "rockstar" who the judges' myopia failed to discover? Alexis Cohen died in a motor accident this weekend, she was 25 years old.

Alexis, a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania and a former two-time "American Idol" contestant was struck and killed by a car in Seaside Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey on Saturday July 25, 2009. Autopsy report indicates that Alexis suffered massive trauma to the chest, head and abdominal cavity.

Alexis Cohen auditioned for American Idol competition in its seventh season in Philadelphia in August 2007 and again in 2008 during the show's eighth season in Kansas City. At the Philadelphia audition, Alexis sang Grace Slick’s “Somebody To Love.” Judge Simon Cowell said her performance was possessed, and even though Randy Jackson recommended Alexis sing in a cover band, all of the judges passed on sending her to the next round. After Alexis left, Simon Cowell compared her look to Willam DaFoe, who played the Green Goblin in Spiderman. Even though Alexis was initially polite to the judges, she went off on Simon Cowell after leaving. Alexis’ rant included such memorable lines as “Well, Simon didn’t like me, but he’s a big, fat, fuck,” “I thank you, I will leave with my dignity,” “I’m going for actressing,” and “If I could legally moon you, I would.”

During her second coming at the eight season in Kansas City, Missouri, Alexis appearing in a glittering outfits, said, "I returned for my fans and to call Simon an asshole, and I didn’t scream a bit! It’s actually funny, boy were they rude! I thanked them for all their insults. Anyways, I’ve been in two movies since my last audition: one’s a feature film, even though I get paid piss. American Idol had one trained actor audition, and that was me. Anyways thanks for your support all along, sorry my high school enemies bothered your site, but hey it makes good for ratings! Anyways the sharks are gonna come back out and call me crazy, but I didn’t curse a word this year, and I even shook Simon’s hand while calling him an asshole, Great for television, Thanks for everything".

Her rant became an instant hit where she went off against the American Idol judges for not finding in her "the idol" they were looking for? Alexis gave the finger to the camera several times and declared, "I'm going for actressing." Icheoku says, whatever that means?

Continuing her rant, Alexis said, "I'll make it one day. One day, somehow, some way. And I hope that someone sees that I have some talent somewhere whether it be in acting or singing or whether it be the fact that I have the chutzpah and the fuck to be able to get up and talk — to be able to say what I'm thinking, to be able to say what I mean, to be able to speak the heart, to be able to talk, to be able to lead. I will be victorious, always be victorious, all rising."

Now she has gone, to the land beyond; killed by a motorist and at a youthful age of 25. Icheoku says, so long 'Miss Acid-Mouth', what a run you had on earth as the world now mourns you for being the girl who stood up and fought for what you believed was Simon Cowell's overbearing mouthing, and for refusing to be intimidated or made to feel like a nobody. Also thank you American Idol, for bringing Alexis Cohen to us, Adieu Alexis!

AT LAST, THE KING'S HEAD GOES HOME TO HIS BODY!

A king that resisted Dutch slave traders, in the then Gold Coast had his head chopped off and shipped to Denmark as a keepsake; and as a deterrent to warn others of the futility of resistance? Now tired of keeping their gruesome trophy, the Dutch has agreed to ship and have shipped back to Ghana, the severed head of King Badu Bansu for a formal internment among his subjects, his people. Icheoku says, the Dutch for putting up for their "laboratory stage play", a human head and that of a Ghanaian King, were nothing other than barbarians!

After spending 171 years in a forced exile in a foreign land, pickled and bottle up in a solution of Formaldehyde, the King's head has now finally gone home to his body, to be with people in Ghana and to be formally interred with his forebears and other kings of yore!

This is a good case-study of the cruelty and barbarism of the Dutch, who not only hung a King but went further to decapitate him just because he resisted their attempt at poaching the best of Africans out of then Gold Coast, as slaves. Icheoku says, King Badu Bonsu II was a hero who called the bluff of the Dutch's solicitation of slaves and refused them his acquiescence to their nefarious slave trade! It does not matter that he died with his honor intact; as the Dutch feeling humiliated by his resistance, hung him and later cut off his head as a trophy, which they probably presented to their own King or Queen in the Netherlands? Icheoku demands that the Dutch pay reparation and compensation for this heinous royal murder; as well as undertake whatever cost inherent in atoning for this sinful act of brutality, towards finally uniting the King's head with his body for his proper transition, in a manner atypical of traditional African way?

The King's head was cut off and taken to the Netherlands by Major General Jan Verveer in 1838; according to the Dutch account, in retaliation for King Badu Bonsu's killing of two Dutch emissaries, whose heads he displayed as trophies on his throne? Icheoku asks, what were the primary mission of the Dutch emissaries if not to persuade and strong arm-twist the King to become an accomplice in their slave trade; and allow them unfettered access to the best Africans they could possibly poach and sell in their criminal slave enterprise? We insist that the apology by the Dutch government for the Dutch involvement in slave trade is not sufficient and can never be sufficient since they appropriated the entire proceeds from the trade and used it all to develop Dutch-land; without repatriating any or some of them to the motherland as compensation? Icheoku says, the Dutch should pay compensation for their illegality; and at least for this King who they killed in cold blood to clear the way for their trade in human-beings. The Ghana government of President Attah Mills should take up this in very high diplomatic circle and insist that justice be served for King Badu Bonsu III and for the millions of other Africans who were forcibly kidnapped, shipped and sold into slavery by the Dutch.

Icheoku affirms that slave trade was not only "unfortunate and shameful," as it "inflicted so much harm on so many people in so many parts of the world," but it was the most heinous of all man's inhumanity to fellow man; for which the descendants of slave-traders should be so ashamed of their forebears' activities that they pay whatever sum is assessed as a fair compensation to the slave-victims descendants? Icheoku says, if the Jews can get compensation for Holocaust why not Africans for the heinous atrocities of slavery; and now with this specifically identifiable case for which Dutch government was complicit, wherein their paid soldier, hung, decapitated and hauled away the head of a Ghana King as a trophy back to Netherlands? The Dutch engaged in this nefarious trade for over three hundred years, after killing off such resistance as King Bada Bonsu III; exploiting the best Africa has to offer in terms of its human resources and selling them off for profit throughout Western civilization; and without returning any proceeds of sale to the motherland? Icheoku says, the Dutch human-plunderers were human-pirates who should be so ashamed of their slave trading past that they should cover their faces in shame.

The King's head was discovered last year in a jar of formaldehyde gathering dust in the anatomical collection of the Leiden University Medical Center, Holland in the Dutch-land. The man who "helped reunite the chief's head with his body" discovered the bottled-up head by accident, where it was locked away in a dark dungeon of a cupboard somewhere discreet, for more than 170 years. Could it be that the Dutch were still exerting vengeance on this King by so locking his head away in such isolated inhuman condition, for this King's perceived "arrogance"?The "discoverer of the King's head" was researching a story about a novel he was writing of an an Ahanta boy brought to Holland in 1837 as a slave. Icheoku says, holy macro, so it was not only the head of the Ahanta King that was shipped to Dutch-land? Has anybody seen the bones of this young innocent boy yet? According to the researcher, in 2002 when he found it locked way, "the staff took it out of the round jar and put it on the laboratory sink for me. It had been turned white by the formaldehyde but it was still life-size and he looked as if he was asleep. I felt, 'this is so wrong, you should go home''. Imagine a royalty being put in a laboratory sink by a Dutch technician, in such a cavalier manner and without any show of respect or dignity whatsoever?

Thank God for the return of the King's head! The delegation which returned King Bada Bonsu III's head were received at Kotoka International Airport Accra by government officials and members of the beheaded King's Ahanta clan, of Ashanti region. It will be recalled that in 2006, the University of Aberdeen in Scotland returned to New Zealand the preserved heads of nine tattooed Maori tribesman decapitated by British colonialists, for trophy in the 19th Century. Also, the same British slave profiteers through its Natural History Museum returned the remains of 18 indigenous Aborigines people part of a population that was violently displaced and some of which were forcefully yanked away from their native Australia to make way for British settlers?

For a little historical perspective, then Gold Coast (present day Ghana) was "discovered" by the Portuguese in the 15th century; then taken over by the Dutch, who were eventually bought out of their priceless possession by the British. The Ahanta Clan is part of Ashanti tribe and is located very near the coast, the reason the Dutch were so desperate for a quick access to their human-merchandise because of easy access to point of shipment? They were the first to trade with the Portuguese but as the Dutch took over and greed forced their hand into the most lucrative of all trades - slave trade, King Badu Bonsu fought back when he realised that this band of Europeans were up to no good. He chose to die fighting and standing tall in death, instead of going on all fours to allow the Dutch unfettered access to their human cargo. Icheoku says, warrior welcome home; now as you stand to be united with your other half, may you find the heart to forgive the murderous Dutch slave traders and their General Verveer for their lunacy, trading on human-beings! Long live your memory and bravery, King Badu Bonsu!

HARRY PATCH, FINALLY MAKES HIS EXIT!

And so it is that the 'last of the Mahicans', British world war veterans, has now kicked the bucket. Last July 18, 2009 when his compatriot Henry Allingham died at 113, it was Harry Patch who remained as the last British survivor of World War 1; but barely two weeks later, he also turned cold. Harry Patch "quietly slipped away" on Saturday morning at the Fletcher House care home in Wells, southwest England, aged 111 years.

Born in southwest England in 1898, Patch was a teenage apprentice plumber when he was called up for military service in 1916. After training he was sent to the trenches as a machine-gunner in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. When the war ended in 1918, Harry returned to work as a plumber, got married, raised a family but didn't start talking about his war experiences until he turned 100 year.

One of his most memorable recollections of the World War battles was the 1917 battle of Passchendaele in which he was wounded; according to Harry Patch's account, it was "mud, mud and more mud mixed together with blood. Anyone who tells you that in the trenches they weren't scared, he's a damned liar: you were scared all the time." During World War II, Harry volunteered for the fire service and helped in rescue and firefighting after each German bombing raids. He outlived three wives and both of his sons.

Aptly described as the last of the titans, there are no other known British, French or German veterans of WWI still alive; however there is one United States of America known veteran still kicking it at 108, - Frank Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia.

Harry Patch's funeral will be held in Wells Cathedral, South West England. Icheoku says, now rest the tired old bones, soldier!

TONY ALAMO, A MAN OF GOD INDEED?

Screaming,"I'm just another one of the prophets that went to jail for the Gospel," as he was marched off to jail to await his sentencing, Envangelist Tony Alamo of New Jerusalem Church, will most likely spend the rest of his natural life, an imprisoned sexual pervert who took girls as young as 8 years to bed?

According to his perversion, the age of puberty and not biological age is the determinate factor in girls' maturity; hence once a girl starts seeing her period, she is matured enough in the eyes of "God" for wifely duties, including sex and procreation? And he is a acclaimed man of God?

Tony Alamo, formerly Bernie Lazar Hoffman, was a one-time street preacher who built a multimillion-dollar Evangelical New Jerusalem ministry, with a 15-acre compound headquarters at Fouke, Arkansas. His ministry also has operations stretching from Arkansas, to California and New York.

The 74 years old preacher was convicted on all 10-count Federal indictment which accused him of taking underage girls for "wives" and across state lines. He will be sentenced to prison in about eight weeks and could receive up to a total of 175 years in prison for violating the Mann Act, a law originally aimed at stopping women from being sold into sexual slavery and/or prostitution. Each of the ten count also carries a possible fine of $250,000 respectively, which will burn a $2.5 million dollars hole in his pocket?

It took a jury of nine men and three women about 11 hours to hear his case and about one day to reach a verdict. According to Jury foreman Frank Oller of Texarkana, Arkasas, said jurors deliberated more than a day only to ensure they considered everything. The testimony convinced them the 74-year-old evangelist kept the girls as sexual partners, not office workers as his defense team claimed. "That was the evidence. That was proven, we came up with a full decision that we are quite satisfied with."

Tony Alamo preached a brand of Christianity known as apocalyptic Christianity which dwells on end time teachings. He is a charismatic religious leader who controlled every aspect of his religious subjects' lives. No one obtained food, clothing or transportation without his knowledge and approval? His sect were so enamored in him that they only did as he commanded; his wish was their command as no member of church want to draw the anger of their "Papa Tony." Tony exploited this awe to prey on young daughters of his loyal parishioners who believed he is a prophet. Tony Alamo told his followers God instructed him to marry younger and younger girls. According to the victims testimony, Tony Alamo told them, "God commanded them to be his sexual partners"? Icheoku says, really?

Tony founded the New Jerusalem ministry with his wife Susan in the 1960s; and after his wife passed in 1982, he became more firebrand, attacking Catholicism and the Vatican with vengeful fury? His ministry also designed and sold denim jackets for celebrities, including the late Micheal Jackson who wore one of Tony's designer jacket in his "Bad" album? This caused the Federal government to swoop on him and seize his assets for tax evasion, after the court declared his operations as a business and no longer a church.

Icheoku says, as yet another man of God falls from grace, what will humanity not do or preach in the name of God? Sometimes, Icheoku wishes that the days of brimstone from heaven still exists till today? However recourse will be had in that every deceit or crime always has an end and so it is that Tony Alamo's criminal enterprise has ran out of gas and its full shameful course. WWJSD - what would Jesus say of do? It will be recalled that David Koresh of Branch Davidian, Waco Texas similarly once held his followers captive until they died in a Federal raid of his church compound in the eighties?

GATES ARREST, WAS CAMBRIDGE POLICE STUPID?

May be a more politically correct word would have been used instead? But, hey, this is American society where a nigger is always seen as a nigger and it does not matter if that nigger is the brightest bulb in the chandelier or is a Harvard University Professor or his home address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

So, when once in a while a blackman speaks out passionately and candidly, expressing how he truly feels about race relations in America, some people interpret that as being too strongly worded? But these are the same people, who, having not been on the receiving end of racism in America, and do not know what it is, to be a minority in America questions such opinion as was expressed?

Pictured above right is the man whose wrongful arrest is provoking this perfect storm, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., the director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research; and a tenured professor of Harvard University. Gates also makes regular Television appearances on issues of race in America and has produced a documentary which aired on CNN.

So President Barack Obama spoke as a blackman, who knows how it means to be a 'nigger' in America society. That is the real America the world does not know about, but which is the undercurrent of the society, where a man is primarily judged by the color of his skin and not necessarily the content of his character or his true abilities? There is simmering tension in the land and hopefully it will not ever boil over; with each passing day, a man's heart somewhere in America is boiling with vengeful thoughts on how to get at someone or render a pay-back?

But what is the solution, Icheoku asks? A good staring point is for us all to start talking about our differences and as often as the opportunity calls; and in an open honest manner. That way the walls of prejudices will begin to crumble in earnest as we understand one another better; but to continue to pretend that all is well or that prejudices of race does not exist or that things are honky-dory is a fallacy of the moment which incubates in American society and that is what fuels each person's suspicion of one another. Icheoku proclaims that racism exists and cuts across everyone in America, whether whites, blacks, Latinos, Asians, Native-Americans etc. It is all about protecting what each thinks is his rightful entitlement and the preservation of their race? Let us acknowledge that fact, and then we can take the next step towards exploring ways of improving and making it better?

And so it was that a neighbor could no longer recognise her neighbor in a sunny afternoon daylight in Cambridge Massachusetts; that she called 911 and reported her neighbor as a break-in suspect? But that 'break-in suspect' neighbor was merely trying to push his way into his own house, having misplaced his keys earlier in the day? The police came and the neighbor who was already lounging in his house, was marched off in handcuffs and the rest is now history. Not being on video, we can only rely on "he said, he said" account of what transpired that fateful July 16, 2009 day in Cambridge Massachusetts.

Whether the Cambridge police department was "deeply pained" by President Barack Obama's statement or not, Icheoku does not really care to know; but suffice it to say that Mr. President's comment was borne out of frustration that some sections of the American society are still treating disrespectfully, fellow Americans as if they are second-class citizens? Our position is that two wrongs does not make a right and the Cambridge police chief should have avoided joining issues with the president. We all should rather find a way of bridging the racial divide in America instead of protesting the obvious or being in denial as to what really exists.

Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr was arrested inside his house for breaking into his own house? If really it was a neighbor that called the police, Icheoku asks, why did that neighbor not recognise his neighbor, Professor Gates? OJ Simpson is languishing in prison today for similarly "stealing his own stuff"? But unlike OJ, Professor Gates does not have the notoriety of past accusation of murder and so people rallied around his cause and his charge of disorderly conduct was dropped. If in doubt, how many Network Televisions parade a blackman or any minority in their prime-time slot or any other full fledged anchor-person; yet some deny there is no racism in America?

Icheoku says, whether or not Gates 'flew into a verbal rage' was no reasonable ground to arrest an owner for breaking into his own house; once proper identification has been made to determine his identity? Since when has verbiage become a crime in the land or was he a madman to just fly off the handle without any provocation or prodding? Normal practice dictates that Sgt Crowley, upon ascertaining Gates identity, would have greeted and left, after explaining to Gates that they had received a report of a possible break-in into his house? Therefore, the real question here should be, why did Sgt. Crowley and co overtly prolong their look-in call and not leave immediately after ascertaining Professor Gates identity; and that an owner was the alleged break-in suspect? Peradventure, is it possible that they were surprised that a 'nigger' could own and live in a house in that neck of the woods, in Cambridge Massachusetts and decided to probe further, provoking the "verbal rage"?

Sgt. James Crowley, as a professional police office, would have after confirming the identity of the accused, conduct a cursory visual sweep of the home to further confirm through pictures and artifacts that Professor Gates is, who he said he is? This way, the whole world would have been saved all these pains of re-starting conversation on race. The matter would have died off quietly, but instead subsequent events prolonged an otherwise police check into the spat which is percolating through our society today. Also, it is very surprising that Officer Crowley does not know or recognise Professor Gates whose eminence is world-wide and a network television persona. Also, being one of the few academia in Harvard makes him a 'sticking sore-thumb', standing out conspicuously in Cambridge and requiring no further introduction? But no, may be through over-zealousness or the rush to be a police officer before this university professor, Sgt Crowley over-reached and today, the world is focusing at Cambridge as another American city with a profiling police department? Icheoku says, if this could happen to a person of Professor Gates stature, imagine what the average Joe blackman is going through in America and this is 2009 and not 1950?

Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts chimed in to say he was troubled and upset over the incident; while Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, said had she spoke with Gates and apologized on behalf of the city, and issued a statement which called the July 16 incident "regrettable and unfortunate."

Icheoku calls on all altercation parties to now sheath their sword; as many Americans have deduced what possibly transpired. As a society, we must learn how to treat each other with respect, understanding that we are all in it together as fellow Americans and this is what will help bring down the walls of racial tension in our society. Icheoku says, irrespective of the rage in the tone of a provoked Professor Gates, Sgt. Crowley would have shown a cooler head and carried out his duty more professionally? But bee that as it may, we beg to move on now from this matter!

ATLAS COVE, WHAT'S ALL THE YORUBA FUSS ABOUT?

Icheoku says, so what if MEND attacked a Nigerian National Petroleum Company owned and operated oil facility located in Yoruba-Land of Lagos State? After-all the Yorubas are the highest single beneficiary in Nigeria, of the pillage, which has been going on in the Niger Delta since independence in 1960? A foxy-race which cunningly goad, leech and encourage the Hausa-Fulani to continuously traumatise Nigeria with their inept and bad leadership. And as soon as they succeed in starting a fire between two sides, conveniently recoil to their shell in the South West and with pretended innocence, starts reaping the bounty of a harvest which they never planted? Enough is enough of this people's always holier than thou attitude and it is about time someone called them to order!

That Nigeria is suffering today under the sick Mr. Slowman was a Yoruba man's doing; a despicable fella whose eight years of bloody visceral occupation of Nigeria brought more harm than good to many Nigerians? When the midget of Kano, Sani Abacha struck, it was with another Yoruba renegade Oladipo Diya? When Buhari struck, it was also with Babatunde Idiagbon and Babatunde is not an Ijaw name? Obasanjo was there previously from 1976 through 1979 but the lot did not improve in the creeks of Nigeria? When Theophilus Danjuma and his co-mad dogs, messed up Nigeria in 1966, resulting in the Biafran civil war, it was with the active connivance of the likes of Adekunle Benjamin, Olusegun Obasanjo, Obafemi Awolowo and such other Yoruba mercenaries that Biafra was forced to abort her attempt at self governance. The Yoruba inexplicably took sides with the Northerners despite numerous and obvious reasons to do otherwise, and through their Obafemi Awolowo introduced starvation as the best instrument of warfare into the lexicon of war-faring. As a a pay-back, they convinced bloody Yakubu Gowon to sign the infamous indegenisation decree through which they commandeered all companies in Nigeria; thereby unfairly gaining and usurping all the economic advantage in Nigeria to the detriment of other tribes? Ernest Shonekan also became a tool in the hands of Ibrahim Babangida to rubbish Abiola's election victory and by extension, Nigerian democracy in general? So with this litany of transgressions, who should really be crying foul here? No, not the same group of people who have sabotaged every bold step ever put forward by other patriotic tribal-nationalities in Nigeria to permanently fix what is wrong with Nigeria? Now that the chicken came home to roost briefly, just for one night in their neck of the wood, they are crying bloody murder, that the stench is too strong; albeit, without any grounds whatsoever, since they are as guilty as the Hausa-Fulani nemesis of Nigeria? Icheoku asserts unequivocally that over 75% of all development in Yoruba-Land including Lagos State, as well as the torched Atlas Cove is owed to the proceeds of the pillage in Niger Delta and we stand to be corrected! So what the heck is this fuss about?

But just for the sake of argument, let us postulate and assume that Atlas Cove jetty is Yoruba's, Icheoku asks, what is wrong in striking at a property which belongs to an accomplice of a crime? The Yoruba's shameless support of the Hausa-Fulani oligarchs' atrocious vice-hold on Nigeria over the years, has transformed them into a people who many a Nigerian would rather they are not part of Nigeria? Was Olusegun Obasanjo not a Yoruba man and did he not rule Nigeria for another 8 years after his first calling, during which time he visited his fair share of atrocities on the Niger Delta people? Was it not during the incestuous Olusegun Obasanjo ignominious eight years terrorist-rule in Nigeria that Odi community of Niger Delta Bayelsa State was almost decimated? Was Olagusonye Oyinlola not one of those fingered with the extra-judicial murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa and where is he also from, Tiv-land? Heck No! Anyway, this commentary is not meant as a diatribe or to poke a finger in the eyes of any particular tribe, no; it is simply that Nigerians in general should see the carnage in the Niger Delta as a national tragedy which every right thinking Nigerian is obligated to help in resolving. Every Nigerian should see it for what it is - the repercussion of sinful act of every Nigerian who has benefited either directly or indirectly from the oil resources of the Niger Delta!

The trailing reactions coming from the South West to the successful expedition of the brave boys and girls of MEND at Atlas Cove, has once again called to question Nigeria's continued existence as one entity? The vituperation shows that Nigeria, really, is not one country and the earlier the hard truth is told the better; so that each nationality therein, which are unhappily yoked together all these years, might feel free to move on as they may please. Things have been blowing up over the years and in various parts of Nigeria including bombs at Ikeja military cantonment which killed over 10,000 innocent Nigerians, also Nigerians of the Niger Delta have been under the sledge-hammer of the Federal armed forces for some years now but nobody seriously uttered any harsh re-vibrating words in condemnation! But now that Atlas Cove went up in flames, suddenly, it is going to lead to a tribal war and such other stupid rantings as does not make any sense?

But does anyone in Nigeria still take these Oduduwa loud-mouths serious, after the missed opportunity of June 12 and the humiliation their race suffered when MKO Abiola was stopped cold from the presidency and subsequently killed? What about their Cicero of Oke-Onaa, Bola Ige? When patriotic Yoruba-duty called on both occasions, they instead turned tail only to emerge from their hibernation now, to huff and puff about a looming tribal war? Common, Nigerians know better and also know the jerks among their society! Icheoku remembers vividly too, that these people and their Obafemi Awolowo clandestinely and cowardly chickened out during Biafra's attempt to permanently reconfigure Nigeria for the good of all? These people are the most insidious bane of Nigeria and the single reason why nothing meaningful can ever come out of any struggle to free Nigeria from the northern 'Cabal-istic' shackles. With them, you never know where they stand on any issue affecting the greater Nigerian State as their 'yes' most times means 'no'? In some fashion, if connivance, deceit, treachery and sabotage has any natural known abode, it is across the River Niger, West of Nigeria; and this is the reason Icheoku says, they should hush and stop beating their chests about an impending tribal war because Atlas Cove was torched?

Laughably, South-west zone Action Congress, some faceless traditional rulers, some so called elders and some very corrupt local government council chairmen in Lagos State have demanded an unreserved apology from MEND, over their milestone Atlas Cove hit? Icheoku says, not in this lifetime should they get their wish! What a bunch of impostors these people are, who chickened out from a 'tribal war' for a good cause when it mattered most, when their nose was cut off during June 12 democratic struggle in Nigeria? Icheoku says, this Prince Tajudeen Olusi, should understand that MEND was simply crying out loud for attention, and by visiting the mayhem on Atlas Cove was merely pushing all available envelopes against a recalcitrant feudalistic Nigerian government. Their attack on Atlas Cove oil jetty was not borne out of any specific vindictive animosity against the Yoruba race or Lagos State; they simply saw a window of opportunity to strike at a possible Nigerian jugular-vein and decided to take it?

Hopefully this Prince now sees the light; otherwise, MEND should disregard his useless threats of this being "the last of such" attack or that any attempt to repeat what happened, "would be met with serious consequences which the attackers would live to regret.” What Nigerian armed forces could not achieve, a knee-jerk people without liver is threatening to accomplish? Anyway, it is the usual Yoruba blow-hot, empty threat which several tests of times have proved them incapable of seeing through, as they lack the guts to carry them out? Further, the attack on Atlas Cove jetty was not misplaced in any way since Lagos State is part of Nigeria and has benefited tremendously from the oil exploitation of the Niger Delta. Also it is very arrogant of this Prince Olusi to claim that “Lagos State has always provided refuge to several displaced Nigerians fleeing from conflicts and disasters', since Lagos is not his exclusive preserve and Nigerians can and should feel free to live in any part of Nigeria without let or hindrance or any prior authorisation or permission of anyone, including this so called Prince Whatever his name is and his fellow sons of the soil?

MEND, please be assured that thousands of Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo and his Yoruba Council of Elders can only bark but not bite over an issue which was never directed at them, but to the federal government of Nigeria. No target or place should be safe any longer in Nigeria as long as those Nigerians inhabiting the enclave keep quite and pretend the issue of the Niger Delta is not their business or concern; or pretend it is a problem between the Hausa-Fulani and the Niger Deltans. All have sinned and come short of glory in Nigeria that has benefited from the oil in the Niger Delta while remaining aloof and indifferent to the challenges facing the region. If this Adeyinka Adebayo sees it as a matter capable of triggering inter-tribal war, Icheoku asks, between which tribes does he want to wage this his war? Will it be between Yoruba and who, since Niger Delta cuts across nine states and impacts over ten tribes? Who will be on the receiving end of his artilery? - The Ijaws? The Itshekiris? The Ibos? The Efiks? The Ikwerres? The Edos? The Ondo Yorubas? The Ibibios? The Kalabaris? The Efaks? The Efangs, etc? In short may be this man is advocating a regional war or another civil war or a war to end all injustices in Nigeria, at the end of which every group goes its separate ways to pursue their respective destinies within their secured mutually exclusive territories? Icheoku says, the extension of violence by Niger Delta militants to the South-West was not "an invitation to an inter-tribal conflict" but a cry for help whose time has since come. Every Nigerian is yoked in the Niger Delta conflict together and together they shall solve it; but to pretend or wish otherwise is basking in ocean of fantasy.

A Nigeria tabloid, Sun Newspapers was economical with the truth in its editorial on the Atlas Cove incident, wherein it "strongly condemn the attack on the Atlas Cove Jetty" describing it as 'dastardly and despicable'? What an editorial in denial of the facts on hand as it relates to the ongoing freedom struggle in the Niger Delta? What forced the hands of the Federal government of Nigeria to pursue peace, if not the bravery and audacity of such attacks as was carried out on Atlas Cove? Icheoku says, the militants reserve the right to blow up anything, anywhere, in any part of Nigeria, including the Atlas Cove jetty and/or any other facility, funded from proceeds of sales of the Niger Delta oil; and if this is what it takes to get the full attention of the oppressors, so be it! But for this tabloid, Sun Newspapers, to editorialise that the Atlas Cove attack was "unprovoked and unjustifiable" shows the yellowness of that paper and/or the lack of editorial dept of its editorial staff. How dare this newspaper state such a fallacy of nonsense as a given, that the attack was unprovoked? Was it not the Hausa-Fulani who left their desert enclave in the north for a military adventure in faraway South of south Niger Delta? Was this their ill-advised military adventurism provoked and by whom or what? After-all the owners of the land in Niger Delta are merely trying to assert their ownership and control rights over what is in their land? Is this sufficient reason to send in the killing machine Nigerian armed forces to wreck such havoc as is ongoing in the Niger Delta? We don't think so!

The struggle in the Niger Delta has since become 'ethnicised' by other Nigeria tribes which have kept silence while the most vicious ethnic cleansing of Nigerians is going on in the Niger Delta; and while carrying on as if the life which has been drastically interrupted in Niger Delta is not their business or are lesser of theirs? There is at present no lasting unity and/or peace in Nigeria, so who gives a damn if the tension boils over and Nigeria unravels? It is President Umaru Yar'Adua who has to accept on behalf of the Hausa-Fulani north that occupation of any type is not good; and commence a meaningful dialogue with the necessary parties in the Niger Delta, so as to find an agreeable way forward out of the imbroglio they created with their unwarranted invasion. Further, the routing of the Nigerian Naval Force at Atlas Cove jetty is just another good eye-opener of the unpreparedness of the Nigeria Navy to defend Nigerian territorial waters at its hour of need. Were it to frog-jump and horse-whip innocent Nigerians on the streets of Lagos, for not yielding fast-enough the congested roads for their siren-blaring goons to pass, then they are very methodical indeed? But to defend an ordinary jetty from a non-professional fighting force of MEND, they could not muster and Nigeria prides itself the 'giant' of Africa? Their apparent mediocrity was the primary reason Olusegun Obasanjo hurriedly handed over Bakassi to the Cameroons, because the Nigerian Navy was not prepared to be humiliated in battle by the Cameroon gendarmes? It is a manifestation of the deep rot of an inept governance of a people by the worst dregs of its society, wherein Naval ratings and their commander are left with no weapons on hand to guard and defend such a vital facility as Atlas Cove jetty. Without MEND Nigerians would not have known this about their navy, so in a way, that was positive.

It is also a lie for anyone including Sun Newspaper to claim that the militants have no country other than Nigeria; because Nigeria does not accept Niger Delta as part of them, otherwise the decay therein would not have been allowed to fester for this long. More-so other Nigerians would have joined the protesting MEND and the greater Niger Delta people to secure for them, a fair shake of modernity paid for by their oil wealth? Also a 'Bayelsa Country' does not sound bad at all for a name; and in view of the lunatic Hausa mad-mallam who suggested that all Niger Deltans be killed off to end the disturbance to oil flow, make the idea of a sovereign Niger Delta country, which can guarantee their existence, a necessary future option? Icheoku condemns the Sun Newspaper's editorial as a manifestation of the dearth of courageous journalism in Nigeria since the death of Dele Giwa by Babangida's parcel bomb; and as a manifestation of what is wrong with the fifth estate in Nigeria.

In summation therefore, every Nigerian whether Yoruba, Igbo or other ethnic groupings including the oppressors, Hausa-Fulani and the oppressed Niger Delta tribes, should be prepared to take some little pain before the genie of Niger Delta struggle is completely put back in the bottle. To achieve equity in Nigeria, all the benefactors of the Niger Delta oil must see themselves as accomplices to injustice, hence if they are visited with some late Sunday night barrages of machine gun-fire or one of the installations in their neck of the wood torched; they should suck it up and see it as a necessary sacrifice which they must make, in order to fix what is broken in Nigeria. But to threaten a tribal war in an inter-connected society is reckless; Ondo State is part of Niger Delta and by necessary implication have freedom-soldiers in MEND and being a Yoruba-land, which tribes will be fighting against each other in this Adebayo's impending internecine tribal-war? Moreover no Yoruba orchestrated tribal war can be as earth-scorching and vicious as the ongoing northern Feudal war being fought with the Nigerian armed forces in the Niger Delta?

Therefore, no one in the Niger Delta should be moved by such boisterous threats from the people of Western Nigeria, whose cowardice is of general knowledge. All things considered and the Yoruba blustering not withstanding, one clear lesson of the Atlas Cove incident and its attendant aftermath is that Nigeria is not really one country nor a nation of people. Imagine the Yoruba West threatening tribal war and stating that they have been "very accomodating to other Nigerians"? What does that mean? Imagine a Lagos State that was fully developed with proceeds of Niger Delta oil, being former capital of Nigeria, in the verge of being appropriated exclusively by one of Nigerian tribes? How can any Nigerian tribe ascribe to themselves the ownership of any part of Nigeria when Nigeria is supposed to be a country and belongs to every Nigerian? How can a people be referenced as strangers in their own supposed country that another group of people reserves the right of expulsion or exclusion of that others, from a particular section of the geography? Icheoku says, if any body or group of people need to apologise for the attack on Atlas Cove, it is the Yoruba who have inserted their tribal sentiments into a national matter; notwithstanding that Atlas Cove is situated in Lagos State? This Yoruba inserted myopic tribal dimension is very omnious and higlights the deep-rooted animosity and misgivings among many nationalities which were clubbered into Nigeria. In any event however, the best solution probably may be for every person to just go their separate ways peacefully, instead of the continued stress of putting up in a 'humpty-dumpty' of a country, called Nigeria, which no member thereof really wants to belong to or work hard enough to sustain? Until there is a resolution, Icheoku salutes the bravery of the Atlas Cove incident!

TACO BELL CHIHUAHUA, PASSES ON!

It is with sadness that Icheoku comments on the passing away of Taco Bell's beloved advertisement star, the Chihuahua named Gidget.

She was 15 years old which in human age translates to 105 years old? What a ripe old age for this man's little best friend to make her final exit from this world. Lovers of Taco Bell will sorely miss their little talking Chihuahua.

Gidget was mercifully euthanized after suffering a massive stroke late Tuesday night at her trainer's home in Santa Clarita California USA.

A star of a 1997 Taco Bell television commercial which ran until 2000; Gidget was seen as a male dog who, through the magic of special effects and a voice actor, proclaims in a richly accented voice: "Yo quiero Taco Bell" — Spanish for "I want Taco Bell." Gidget flew first-class, opened up the New York Stock Exchange and made an appearance at Madison Square Garden? She also appeared in a 2002 commercial for GEICO insurance company, now famously represented by the British-accent talking green gecko; and in the 2003, appeared in the movie "Legally Blonde 2.

Gidget remains will be cremated! Icheoku says, ciao little cutie!

JACK BAUER, A FREE MAN!

The chief protagonist of Fox Television hit-wonder 24, Jack Bauer will not go to prison or be prosecuted for roughing up a pestering Jack McCollough in a New York City nightclub?

Manhattan district attorney's office said that all charges stemming from the head-butting of the victim are being dropped because the victim would not cooperate with prosecution? Icheoku says, good job, Mr. Jack McCollough and thank you for not putting America's saving agent behind bars; otherwise no one will be there to protect us from those fanatical, raving mad terrorists and torture out vital information from their sorry behinds whenever needed.

Real name, Kiefer Sutherland was charged with misdemeanor in May 2009, after designer Jack McCollough said Sutherland head-butted him and broke his nose in a Manhattan nightclub. Icheoku says, what an irony of coincidence that the victim shares the name Jack with Keith?

It will be recalled that the duo had issued statements few weeks after the altercation wherein they said they have resolved whatever differences they had; with Keith apologising for the snafu. Whether some millions of dollars in settlement exchanged hands, Icheoku does not know but we are glad that our Jack Bauer was left alone to continue to hunt down and give terrorists some bloody nose! When is our 24 going to come back, Keith?

IKE EKWEREMADU AND THE INSANITY OF AUTOMATIC TICKETS!

Nigeria Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his co-travellers in the Federal House, a bunch who has nothing to show for their wastage of Nigerian resources all these past years, are at it again. This time, these bunch of political-hooligans who did not even win their election free and fair, in the first place, now desire to have their offices stamped for them automatically and possibly for life?

Icheoku says, these guys need to have their heads examined for some pathological deformities and defects; as their present mindset are unbecoming of supposed democracy beneficiaries? How dare these folks want to harm the same process that brought them to office, that they now seek to disparage and rubbish the same system that threw them up by their recent outlandish and outrageous request, to be imposed on Nigerians without any elections; thereby denying Nigerian electors their constitutional right to choose who their representatives shall be?

Icheoku says, instead of an automatic tickets for these people, a referral appointments should be made for them to visit their shrinks to detoxify their brain of this most insane thinking of all times? Upon what basis, one may ask, do these democracy-truncators want their terms automatically renewed? Icheoku says, none and when the constituency funds they periodically squander is factored in, may be a march to the confines of the prison yard might be a better destination-option, instead of going back to the National Assembly buildings at Abuja, unopposed?

The irony of it all is that whenever it suits their convenience they will make allusion and references to America but fail woefully to offer and provide Nigerians the same good government as America provides her citizens? Imagine the cavalier manner with which they hurriedly confirmed Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi without any hard questions whatsoever, yet they want to cite America as their template, when the heat being put on Justice Sotomayor is still smoking really hot? What about treasury secretary Tim Geithner and what he went through during his confirmation hearing, or even the general elections held in the United States of America, where there was no Olusegun Obasanjo to impose a sick Umaru Yar'Adua on anybody? Back to Ike Ekweremadu and his recent interview wherein he expressed some support for automatic tickets; Icheoku asks, how did he get to the senate in the first place if not for the gesture of former governor of Enugu State Chimaroke Nnamani? Who told this man, Ike Ekweremadu, that America has parliamentarians or that America recycles her representatives automatically and without elections? The reason why Nigerians are being rode like donkeys by people like this loud-mouth, Ike Ekweremadu, is because majority of Nigerians are without requisite knowledge about what obtains in the rest of the civilized world; otherwise there would since have been a French-Bastille like revolution in Nigeria; and this time against the rogue-elites holding them down all these years. But they are riding on the ignorance of a majority Nigerians who do not know any better about what it is that their government owe to them, her citizens.

The most surprising thing with this postulation is that it is coming from a supposed lawyer and a democrat who should know better but for his selfish interest to become a perpetual senator? His agitation for automatic ticket is not in any way democratic but despotic and autocratic; his re-echoing of what the military-man, David Mark desires is rather very appalling for a man whose credentials includes a law degree. According to Bamanga Tukur, "there is no automatic position in democracy; positions are by elections or consensus. Nothing in democracy is automatic. Automatic positions are only seen in autocracy. Those practicing autocracy are the ones being automatic in their dealings. But democracy is entirely a different system. It is the coalition of willing and progressives who rely on peoples' mandate for good governance" Icheoku says, Bamanga Tukur spoke the minds of many silent and intimidated Nigerians as well as so many other democracy practitioners world over. Nigerians must therefore be prepared to rise up to stop the likes of Ike Ekweremadu, David Mark and the House of Representatives members clamouring for express ticket to return to the National Houses, unchallenged and unopposed?

Icheoku says, the solution to retaining some experienced persons in the national assembly is to have staggered elections throughout Nigeria, so that at any given time, some old steady hands are found at the tiller. Elections to various offices in Nigeria should not be cramped into one day and rushed through by rigging and intimidation; that way some senators and members of the House of Representatives will always be there to orientate the incoming freshmen and women who are newly elected into office? Those Americans, Ike Ekweremadu mentioned during his said interview who have somewhat become instituitonalized in Washington DC go through their parties' primaries and elections during slated periodic subsequent election cycles in their respective states? Icheoku says, there is a proper and better way 'institutional memory' could be maintained constitutionally, such as by spacing elections but not to forcibly and untra-vires the constitution, legislate that. Ike Ekweremadu should stop being clever by half by selectively pointing to certain places where senators enjoy 'similar privilege' as he is suggesting their Nigerian counterparts now enjoy? This guy, Ike Ekweremadu should know that in those his referenced places, Senators are democratic, they are not election-riggers and intimidators who employ thugs to harass and maim and sometimes kill their opponents; that senators are not Siemens bribe takers; that elections are held and that it counts; that there is a clear transparent processs which produce acceptable results and that officials are elected but not selected and/or imposed on the people. So, if he must ensure that 'Nigerian system runs like every other system, especially those who we have borrowed from', then he must start from the basics - fair and free election so that the real peoples' representatives and/or senators can emerge and not those masquerading impostors who were imposed on the electorates of Nigeria. But regrettably in Nigeria, it is always the case of 'shave me the Ogbodo's hair-style without asking to do what Ogbodo did to deserve and earn the hair-style'.

Irrespective of how well these people think they have performed, which Icheoku cannot substantiate, the bottomline is that their planned action is anti-democracy; and without zoning, may be Ike Ekweremadu would not have been in the senate talkless of being the deputy senate president; and the same goes with David Mark. Zoning sustains Nigeria as no man or woman is a repertoire of governance or performance, and others should be given a chance to prove their abilities. If there is no Olusegun Obasanjo to compare with sick Umaru Yar'Adua how would Nigeria know which president is Mr. Slowman? If there is no Colins Ndu to compare to Ike Ekweremadu, how would Ike Ekweremadu be opening his mouth this loud as deputy senate president? Democracy is about options and any human-being antagonising this vent should be condemned by all as an aspiring despot who should be stopped at the door of power, pronto. If Nigeria were to have bought Ike Ekweremdau's argument long time ago, may be Colins Ndu would still be in the Senate with Ike Ekweremadu struggling with his legal practice somewhere in a nondecript address in Enugu; but here is a man who zoning helped to throw up and is now anti the formular which gave him political-birth? Chairman of committees is not sufficient on its own to truncate democracy, otherwise why did Nigerians rise up to stop Olusegun Obsasanjo's third term bid? How do you know who will be better if the opportunity were never presented to that other to try out his/her hand or head? If not that Sullivan Chime came up, no body would have fathomed how corrupt Chimorake Nnamani was in Enugu State and the list goes on; including Lagos State GOvernor Fashola who seemingly is out-performing his predecsessor Bola Tinubu? What a bull-crap coming from this deputy senate president, who in his greed for power, failed to heed the time-tested warning that, everything has a beginning and an end; and that the present day 'experienced senator' was once a green horn. If these senators think that they have given a proper account of themselves at Abuja on behalf of their constituencies, why are they suddenly so afraid of standing for another elections in 2011? It baffles Icheoku so much that some of these people conveniently tailor their argument just to suit their present devilish scheme to covet what is not theirs? The senatorial district which they presently represent does not belong to them or any one individual, so the wheel of democracy must be allowed to spin out who occupies the seat in 2011 and thereafter. So Ike Ekweremadu, enough!

Senate President David Bonaventure Mark allegedly instigated this Ike Ekweremadu's haranguing of democracy ideals because his political star in Benue in 2011 has deemed so much it is almost non-existent, hence he is trying everything to guarrantee his position through a backdoor of an illegality. Ike Ekeremadu's 'invaluable experience' argument as a reason for this automatic tickets flies in the face of the fact that Nigerian democracy, when it re-started in 1999 had no prior existing left-over member/s in the Federal House from which pool his 'invaluable experience' senators were drawn from? Icheoku says, if these senators are not so afraid of losing the next election, admitted they never won the last one, free and fair; why this sudden attempt to surreptitiously maintain their seats without fighting for them at the polls? It is equally instructive that David Mark's so called “reliable, competent and knowledgeable” senators have not legislated in any way beneficial to the Nigerian masses as to improve their lot, since their corrupt sojourn in Abuja?

What is democracy without choices and how many terms would these 'special breed of senators' serve before others get a chance were they to have their way? In democracies like the United States of America, continuity or 'institutional memory' is dealt with through staggered mid-term elections, which ensure that not all legislators run for elections at the same time; and that some with the requiste legislative experience are always there to bridge the gap. Also, legislative institution should be established to serve as a feeder-lot to incoming legislators instead of trying to perpetuate discredited ones on the pretext of 'maintaining instutional memory'? Further in America, each legislator goes periodically, through their parties primaries before standing an election with the other party's candidate, where their constituencies decide who to send to Washington DC? Icheoku will anchor this commentary in one observer's statement that "despite the importance of legislative experience, it is not a sufficient reason to inject unfair, selfish, and illegal values into Nigeria's democracy. Automatic tickets would serve the selfish end of a few, who once they consolidate their hold on power, can legislate themselves into perpetuity thereby hurting democracy". Therefore, Icheoku calls on Nigerians to reject the call for automatic tickets and insist on constitutionally guarranteed democractic rights of Nigerians to chose/elect their candidate through the ballot either by raising of hand, paper or electronic; but their voices must be heard as to who represents them!

FRANK McCOURT, DEAD AT 78!

He brought the world the best seller, 'Angela's Ashes' - the Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of woe about his impoverished Irish childhood. Angela's Ashes was a story about the extraordinary life of an ordinary man. Irish native, naturalised American citizen, Frank McCourt died Sunday of melanoma in a New York City hospice, aged 78.

'Angela's Ashes was a long Irish wake, "an epic of woe," of some sort, finding laughter and lyricism in life's very worst. It became a million seller, won the Pulitzer and was made into a movie of the same name, starring Emily Watson as the title character, McCourt's mother?

Frank McCourt was survived by daughter, Maggie McCourt and brother Malachy McCourt. His remains will be cremated, with a memorial service planned for September, 2009.

Icheoku says, so long Mr. 'Angela's Ashes'!