ROBERT NOVAK, DEAD AT 78!

Conservative political columnist and commentator, Robert Novak has died. Bob as he was fondly called, lost his battle with brain-tumor, practically one year after it was diagnosed in July 2008; when he expired at his Washington DC home, earlier today. Bob was 78 years old.

A native of Joliet, Illinois, Bob Novak was a journalist extra-ordinaire; - a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, Wall Street Journal, AP, co-hosted CNN's "Crossfire" and "The Capital Gang", edited Evans-Novak Political Report, co-wrote regularly the political column 'Inside Washington'. Bob also occasionally contributed to Fox News.

He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Novak, of so many years, a son, Alex Novak and daughter, Zelda Novak. Icheoku while urging his family to be strong in this time of great loss, says, his firebrand type of conservative journalism and viewpoint will be greatly missed. Adieu Bob!

AS NIGERIA BREAKS UP, BLAME IT ON THE NORTH!

A house built on a sandy foundation is bound to fall and so it is with the Nigeria state? A state which was contrapted by the British colonising masters, of several disparate nationalities, clobbered into an amalgamated Nigeria in 1914 and given independence in 1960. A state which has no foundational basis for existence as one entity, not in culture, not in religion, not in language, not in aspiration, not in character and not in geography? A state which none of its many different nationalities desire to remain so yoked together as one and hence do not work towards galvanizing it into a much stronger entity? Nigeria, simply put, was a fraud of the British colonialist; hence the constant quaking of its core, with burning urge for the various nation-states therein, to respectively go their separate ways? Icheoku says, the Nigeria state's ship is fast listing and barring any divine intervention, will soon capsize!

Regrettably, several back to back decrepitude Northern Nigeria willy-nilly governance has brought about the rot that is present day Nigeria. They have not helped the matter in any way; rather they have made the limping child-Nigeria, now a complete cripple. As is evident everywhere within the Nigeria political structure, the lame-child Nigeria is now on a death watch; in comatose, on a life-support, waiting for the plug to be pulled at anytime? Would it be violent or peaceful, no one really knows but the signs are not good. Icheoku would rather Nigeria peaceably winds down rather than shed millions of blood to achieve the same result, - separated federations or countries? The signs are ominous and none of the component parties constituting Nigeria likes the way the country has disappointed its citizens of the expectations of the past four decades plus nine years? So why not these nationalities just sit down to resolve how the common goose that lays the golden eggs can be safely made to cater for the separating states instead of waiting forlornly for a miracle of re-branding?

A Nigeria which Tafawa Balewa, Yakubu Gowon, Muritala Mohammed, Shehu Shagari, Muhammed Buhari, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Sani Abacha, Abdusalam Abubakar and now Umaru Yar'Adua, all northerners; helped to sink into political and financial abyss? But is there any flicker of hope for such Nigeria in distress? Icheoku does not think so, as the moribund Nigeria-train has since left the station without a captain? What is today being seen all over the country with all these restiveness is the after-burners of a long festering frustration which is beginning to now boil over? If it is not OPC, it is MEND; if not MEND it is MASSOB, if not MASSOB it is AREWA or their military wing BOKO HARAM, and the list of armed agitators goes on and on? It also follows that one kidnapped victim here, follows another one over there; which number was augmented last Sunday with the abduction of Nollywood's Pete Edochie? Even a Roman Catholic Bishop of Owerri diocese recently fell victim to the now pervading kidnapping menance in Nigeria. Armed robbery has gone off the hook and people are being killed like never before? Blood comparable to that of a war-zone is continously being spilled in Nigeria. Over 47% of youth unemployment persists in Nigeria and politicians appear not to have learnt any lesson in how not to loot the nation's treasury? What other sign is anybody or any doubting Thomas waiting for, one may ask, to read the bold hand-writing on the wall, that the Nigeria state will soon become a historical once was? As with many other failed states, when the Nigerian state eventually fails, everyone will go to his neck of the wood to start all over again; and so, very soon, will be the fate of the various nationalities comprised of Nigeria.

Now the mother of all harbingers of the ill-wind blowing against Nigeria's unity, - a United States of America Pentagon assessment, puts Nigeria in the throes of an imminent possible break-up? As is widely known, these people are hardly wrong with such assessments that Icheoku calls on Nigerians to start bracing themselves for impact! The wrecking iceberg is already sighted on the horizon and only mother-luck can save the impending head-on Titanic collision; which will free all nations hitherto yoked together, to move on and forge their respective nationhoods in the best way they know of? Meanwhile, as the United States military prepares for their beach-head landing in Nigeria to secure the oil facilitites, with a disintegrating Nigeria at sight, Icheoku says, how would the various ethnicities in Nigeria accept this impending fate? Will the landlocked north accept their fate or will they battle to the finish to maintain a Nigeria which will give them access to the waters of the Atlantic as well as the oil wells?

According to Mr. Daniel Volman, Director of the African Security Research Project in Washington, the Nigeria infamous date with history is the year 2013, two years after the 2011 elections, when inter-ethnic wars were supposed to fully break up Nigeria? International dimension will be added to it because of Nigeria's oil and other mineral resources deposits with United States of America, Europe, China and Russia possibly taking sides in the battle of 'Serengeti', which will take place in what was formerly known as Nigeria? One school of thought even posits that the United States had concluded arrangement to interven militarily, upon the imminent collapse of Nigeria, to principally secure their oil access. Icheoku asks, will Russia, China, France and Britain watch in silence with hands akimbo, as the United States takes over yet another major oil fields of Nigeria? The test of the pudding is in the eating, so we must avoid sounding presumptuous and wait to see how the problems of a disintegrating Nigeria will be eventually solved? Barring a United States of America direct intervention in such Nigerian scenario, a Ghana or South Africa or Africa Union led military intervention is equally being bandied as an option. Also there are indications that within the government of Nigeria itself, various fault-lines are emerging among officials, which does not bode well for a government with any given survival skills. Such is the prospective calamitous state of events in a disintegrating Nigeria, that it is being suggested that the exigency of it might force the hands of the United States to go it alone and intervene, in event the other powers drag their foot or object or appear not cooperative?

It is instructive that in 2005, the same United States assessment had placed Nigeria's possible break-up around 2015; which is not too far from the new benchmark of 2013? It would appear that certain variables have since changed necessitating the shortened date. Icheoku says, knowing fully well that this new estimate will once agian be criticised by Nigerian leaders as they did in 2005, why won't Nigerian leaders work to fix what is broken that is accelerating the demise rather than mouthing-off against a percieved ill-will?

Also another man who should know, having been in the seat of power before and somewhat well connected, the Islamist Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has alerted Nigerians that their country is on the very verge of a total unraveling and that post 2011 seems to be its infamous date with history? He called Nigeria, a Somalia in the making? Icheoku says, since this appears to a fait accompli in the eyes of Buhari, does he also know the kind of Somalia, Nigeria will become? Who will be shooting at who in a "Somaliazed" Nigeria? How will the battle be pitched in Nigeria's Somalia; a north against the south or the Islamists against the Christians and/or the Animists? Or will it be the minorities of the Niger Delta and Benue-Plateau against the majorities of Hausa-Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba? What is the dimension of this Buhari's prediction or will it be a wild wild west eliciting each to his own type of survival resistance? In Somalia, Islamist fundamentalists are shooting normal, regular and rational people; so Buhari, Icheoku will like to know, when the time comes, whether you will lead your band of Jihadists to charge against all "alunas" infidels of the country or what? In Buhari's own words, Nigeria could become lawless and ungovernable, post 2011. Icheoku says, since Buhari's post 2011 date seems to tally with the 2013 and 2015 being projected by other plausible sources, some credibility exists in these estimates. Nigerians should be wary and indeed very frantic in finding a solution to its problems in order to prevent the impending tragic end of a country, which had so much promise in 1960, but which the Hausa-Fulani of Nigeria ineptitude had decimated into a beggarly nation of criminals and very corrupt officials?

Peradventure, it may not take until 2011 plus to determine the faith of Nigeria since the sickman of Katsina may yield to his debilitating disease anytime and the war for his succession will trigger the end. Whether the war will be pitched North-west against the South- south or more broadly, the North against the South it will not be palatable as the end may see a Nigeia that is no more? A North which will insist on having its full eight years in office served out and a South whose vice president automatically should step into a presidential vacancy in such a happenstance, insisting on the letters of a democratic succession? Only time will tell?

But could the general malaise in Nigeria have been prevented, certainly; but when a group of very arrogant and selfish mullahs obtrusively decide to hold the country hostage, despite their proven gross incompetence, then the natural consequence of their ineptitude and stupidity is the fast approaching cataclysmic end of what was once Nigeria? Call it a prophecy of doom if you like, but the signs are simply not good but portends of grave danger and a threat to the existence of Nigeria? Why would a people without the necessary know-how, forcibly foist themselves on a country with so much manpower that would make South Korea and the rest of the other Asian Tigers green with envy; and would have given them a run for their money, were reasonably competent people to be at the helms of affairs therein? No, a bunch of vermins with almajiris-backgrounds, who were brought up thinking that governance is their birthright, irrespective of whether or not they know what it takes to govern well, are in charge and are simply too lazy to think outside the box to fix what is broken of and in Nigeria?

What aspect of Nigeria's life is in order, none? And the North is in charge of practically everything therein:- the presidency, the senate, justice, judiciary, agriculture, finance, customs, fededral capital territory, petroleum, science and technology, petroleum training development fund, power holding gompany of Nigeria (formerly NEPA), national inland waterways authority, federal roads maintenance agency, national planning, nnpc, central bank, women affairs, sports and culture, tourism etc? Nigeria which hitherto was known as a footballing nation no longer even qualifies out of regional competitions, because some mallams who never kicked the round leather are incharge of the NFA? Even the telephony being bandied today as an achievement was made possible because the North yielded way for some more ingenious people to prove that telephone is not and should not be the exclusive preserve of the rich only? So when someday, soon and very soon, you wake up and Nigeria is no more, look up north to see the reason why the experiment called Nigeria went belly up! A grossly incompetent bunch who forced themselves on Nigeria and ran it under. Icheoku says, just blame the north for the eventual inevitable requiem of Nigeria.

KIM DAE-JUNG, FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, IS DEAD

The man who was once described as the 'Nelson Mandela of Asia', Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung is dead. He died at Severance hospital, Seoul-South Korea, aged 83, of heart attack as he was being treated of pneumonia!

Elected president in December 1997 on his fourth attempt, and the first peaceful transfer of power ever in South Korea from a ruling party to an opposition party since the founding of the country in 1948; Kim remained president of South Korea until he voluntarily stepped down from power in 2003.

Icheoku says, President Kim Dae-jung will chiefly be remembered for his "Sunshine" policy efforts, aimed at improving ties with its neighbor, North Korea.

Icheoku extends our sympathy to the people of South Korea on the loss of their former president; and to his family, on the loss of their scion. May his gentle fighting soul now rest in peace! Adieu Mr. Sunshine!

USAIN BOLT, SMASHES HIS OWN BEIJING WORLD RECORD?

Not content with the 9.69 seconds he set during the last Beijing Olympics games, Jamaican thunderbolt, Usain Bolt, has set a new world record of 9.58 seconds dashing through the 100 meters?

What a near superhuman performance he put up at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, tonight August 16, 2009? There is something really in a name, a Bolt performing like one, a thunderbolt?

The 22-year-old Jamaican, by this stellar performance, succeeded in shaving off 0.11 seconds from the mark he set last year to win the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Icheoku says, congratulations Usain 'Dashing' Bolt and we hope the next time, you can make it under 9.00 seconds?

MADONNA, THE MATERIAL GIRL IS 51!

She is a material girl and sure, do live up to the acronym? World rock-star, Madonna is no longer a spring chicken; she just turned a half century plus one years old? But she still holds her grits which she has since crowned with a 25 year old boy-pal? She gets what she wants and knows how to go about it? Former NBA poster-boy for badness, Dennis Rodman testified as much, when he rattled about his romantic flick with the "Who is that girl" star?

Born 'Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone' in July 15, 1958 at Bay City Michigan, she was once married to Guy Ritchie but is now divorced? She was recently rumoured to be romantically involved with Yankees' A-Rod, but is presently messing around with a Brazilian boy, young enough to call her granny! But does she care, no, not when her acronym is a material girl?

Currently on her 'Sticky & Sweet' tour, the lady of vanity is still smoking hot and still attracting several thousands of fans to her concerts; over three decades since her debut in the eighties.

Icheoku says, 'Madonna gets it', and this is the principal reason why she has had such a domineering presence on the world stage and for this long. So in one thunderous ovation, Icheoku says, give it up for the loving mother who went to Malawi to increase the size of her family! Lady Madonna is 51 years old and may God grant her many more meritorious years here on earth, so that she may continue to entertain the world as only Madonna knows best! Happy birthday, Donna!

KIMANI NGANGA MARUGE, WORLD OLDEST PUPIL IS DEAD!

He proved that age is no barrier to education when he enrolled as a primary school student, at age 84! Thus became the world oldest pupil and a holder of Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school. He was from Nairobi, Kenya in Africa. Kimani Nganga Maruge has died, aged 90; a fulfilled man who went back to school despite his very advanced old age to fulfill a life-long dream of being able to read and write, especially his own name.

Regrettably though, he passed on two years short of his graduation; but was able to understand the basics of education? Icheoku says, Pa Maruge really proved that nothing is impossible for any willing mind and affirmed former President GH Bush Sr., who once said, "Just because you're an old guy, you don't have to sit around drooling in the corner. Get out and do something"! Pa Maruge got out and did something; for which he will be remembered mostly - the oldest pupil ever to enroll in primary school?

A veteran of the Mau Mau independence movement of Kenya who never had the opportunity to go to school as a young person; Pa Maruge enrolled at Kapkenduywa primary school, in Eldoret Nairobi in 2004; alongside two of his thirty grandchildren. What a dream deferred which was on course of being fulfilled, before death called. He was diagnosed with cancer in February this year, which in conjunction with his advanced age, possibly caused his death?

Icheoku says, what a man of courage Kiman Nganga Maruge was, who braved primary school at 84 years old? According to one commentator, Kimani Nganga Maruge will be remembered by many people as 'an inspirational figure who brought new meaning to the phrase, "it's never too late". So long student!

MICHEAL VICK WILL SHINE AGAIN!

Once the highest paid NFL player and a Falconer, but they got him and jailed him for financing dog-fights? This is when more dangerous criminals, who committed more heinous crimes, are turned loose by the judiciary system with some of them still running wild and free? He did his time and is now a free man. The best of the good news is that Micheal Vick will play again, thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles, who signed him up for a two year contract. With a short terse sentence, “He signed with the Eagles,” agent Joel Segal informed the waiting and whistling world that it is back to business for the adorable MV.

Icheoku commends their magnanimity and understanding, that what Micheal Vick did time for was not so egregious as would bar him forever from doing what he does best; admitted it was morally reprehensible. Even human-beings are made public spectacles, when people pay to watch two boxers beat themselves silly; but dogs, they should not be made to fight irrespective that they ordinarily fight themselves all the time? Anyway, that is the law and MV broke it and has served his time! Let everybody now move on!

You will recall that Micheal Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback was convicted in August 2007 of two counts criminal charge of conspiracy and running a dogfighting operation? He was sentenced to about two years imprisonment and served one and half years of the sentence, before his release from his federal prison confinement. He also was also, under pressure from some animal activists, suspended indefinitely by the NFL; but Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted the suspension on July 27, with a promise to review same for possible full reinstatement by October 18-19, this year. We pray he follows through with his promise that MV be allowed to do his thing.

Icheoku calls on the 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals', to let Vicks be; he has paid for what he allegedly did and life should now go on for everyone involved here. We reiterate that PETA spokesman Dan Shannon's statement that "PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Eagles decided to sign a guy who hung dogs from trees" is not helpful here. We like to remind Mr. Dan Shannon not to forget that black-people were once hung from trees too, and heavens did not fall? But in any other event, it is our candid position that once MV is fully back to his game, and starts giving the fans the type of football they admire and want to see, that all the brouhaha of PETA and other similarly minded organisations will quietly peter away.

Further, that there is no message being sent to young fans with Vick's re-signing as Bill O'Reilly was once involved in a sexual harassment of his assistant and he still anchors for Fox Television? Another guy, Marv Albert, once bite his wife on the butt, and he has since been brought back to do his football commentary on Television? Icheoku asks, so, why can't Micheal Vick be given a second chance in life, or do you guys want to force him to prematurely retire at 29? Once again, we say thank you, thank you to Philadelphia Eagles for braving this Micheal Vick's signing, and hopefully their investment will be handsomely rewarded. They did the right thing by giving MV another chance in life, in the spirit of condemn the act but not the man; moreso he has served his time and is too young to be jobless!

END TIMES, AS CHURCH TURNS TO GAMBLING?

And Jesus Christ said in Mark 11:17, "My house shall be called of all nations, the house of prayer"!

The instruction is very clear, my house shall not be turned into a den of thieves, gamblers, moneychangers or otherwise, including lottery-stakers which the Covenant Life Worship Center now qualifies as. Icheoku asks, was the Covenant Life Worship Center in Haslett Michigan doing God's will when their membership converted to gamblers? Does the fact that they were handsomely rewarded with a $70,000 dollar win make their transgression, less sinful? We do not know the answer and nobody out there knows; but one fact is clear, they violated one cannon of spirituality - thou shall not gamble! It is a vice according to the teachings of both Jesus Christ and the Bible, so what over-took these Christians if not lust for earthly, material things, MONEY? The love of which is the root of all evil?

Call it what you like, a Divine intervention? A plain luck? A Demonic intervention, may be; after-all, all things material belong to Satan (recall the last temptation of Christ, if you will fall down and worship me)? But nomenclatures aside, when did the church turn away from its principal function of winning and keeping souls for Jesus and become a band of gamblers, who stake lotteries and possibly blackjacks etc? Who knows if their gambling enterprise includes horse-race betting, bookkeeping and funding casino trips by their gambling-members? Who knows how much they have lost over the years, trying to hook the proverbial whopper? No matter the explanation, Icheoku says, $70,000 lottery win by 'The Covenant Life Worship Center' Haslett, Michigan cannot and will not wash away the sins committed by these congregation for engaging in acts considered immoral by the church of which they are a signatory, being a church.

Further, Icheoku says, it does not matter whether Pastor Marilyn Parmelee's church will spend the prize money toward the church building fund, setting up a missionary fund and supporting local community service projects etc? Simply put, it just ain't right for a church to engage in gambling activities. It runs contrary to their preaching and counter to all that Christianity teaches and represents. Our recommended solution is for the church to donate the entire $70,000 proceeds to a charity as they should not have engaged in such activity in the first place. It is highly immoral and sinful for them to do so.

According to our findings, the Covenant Life Worship Center exists to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, equip and empower the believer to do the work of ministry, while aiming to better the total man all to the glory of God. It is clear from their mission statement, that gambling is not part of what they do or stand for or represent; which begs the question, through which member did Satan enter the church to tempt them with his earthly things? Also why did they forget to command as Jesus did, "go behind us, Satan"?

Finally, Icheoku asks, 'what would Jesus Christ do to these gals and guys of 'The Covenant Life Worship Center' Haslet Michigan, who have turned his church into a den of gamblers?

CHEVY VOLT, AT 230 MILES PER GALLON WHAT WOULD OPEC DO?

Exactly what doctor alternative energy ordered; a new machine that gets 230 miles on a gallon of gasoline? Say it ain't so, otherwise OPEC will throw a feat and grumble so loud that it quakes, on what fate awaits them in the future?

Who says, American ingenuity cannot solve this protracted problem of OPEC toying with and doing yo-yo with world energy demands at their whims and caprices? Icheoku says, what a marvelous scientific breakthrough and the world cannot wait to see this car in the showrooms?

American General Motors Corporation has just announced the birth of its Chevrolet Volt electric car, pictured above left; an answer to high cost of gasoline and a guard against global warming, as fewer gasoline will be burnt and thus a reduced environmental pollution? Icheoku says, provided oil cartels does not hijack the invention to stifle it; an electric car that debut in the 80s similarly met its Waterloo as well as an invention that allegedly gets 90 miles per gallon, which patent, was bought and killed by the oil companies? If this project succeeds, then it is one heck of a good thing to happen to mankind as well as the environment.

At $40,000, the four-door sedan which hits showrooms late next year, will be somewhat expensive but in the long run will be cost effective? The Chevy Volt which does not have regular internal combustion engine, will be four times more fuel efficient than the popular Toyota Prius hybrid. The Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range; after which a small internal combustion engine kicks in, generating electricity for a total range of 300 miles? Its batteries can be recharged from a standard electric outlet just like any other electric appliances; - just plug it!

Tesla Roadster, another electric car from America's innovativeness, gets 224 miles per charge but at $100,000 price tag per unit, is only the rich-friendly? In the battle for alternative energy driven vehicles, Toyota, GM and Nissan Motor are presently leading the innovation with their Prius, Volt and Leaf cars, respectively.

According to GM profile, the Volt will cost about 40 cents a day, at 5 cents per kilowatt hour to operate and its new lithium-ion batteries pack will have an estimated life span of ten years? In due course, charging stations will be set up by a third-party investors to meet demand of charging the batteries en-route, just like there are gas stations. Icheoku says, at 230 miles per a gallon, the Chevy Volt is a nightmare come through for OPEC as it will impact their bottom-line adversely; and unfortunately, most of the countries of OPEC have a monolithic oil-based economy which will eventually turn belly-up? Congratulations GM for accepting and proving the challenge of alternative energy possible.

WIDOWS OF NEPAL FOR SALE?

In Nepal, being a widow is a curse and such bereaved women are now being converted into chattels to be auctioned off to willing men, who are paid to accept them?

When Icheoku thought that the rest of the world are making progress, somewhere at the foot of the Himalayas mountain, a community is denigrating their women and robbing them of their humanity with brazen impudence? What an absurdity in the Himalaya, indeed, that men are paid to take in extra warmth, sex, help, companion and possible offspring?

Icheoku asks, who will then marry "worthless" single girls, who are not 'viable commodity' as a source of income and lack the added advantage of widowship; the new preffered status which yields income for men whose responsibility is just to say 'yes'? The government of Nepal will pay men to take in widows; but could a still married man take such widow as a second or third wife? The plans has drawn the ire of the women of Nepal whose interest is infringed by the new government's scheme to pay cash incentives to men for marrying widows? The single women have a dog in the matter as their prospective husbands most likely will now settle for the cash-cows widows with a price-tag; while the widows protest their being converted into disposable property, while the fortunate women whose husbands are still alive are protesting a likely future fate? $650 USD, the amount paid on the head os each widow is a lot of money to entice a man to for just say 'I do". Moreso, some men could see that as a means of an easy money and there is no requirement that they must stay married to such a widow or provide conjugal necessities to her?

Icheoku says, these women of Nepal possibly misspoke when they shouted, "You can't sell your mother," because the widows are not even being sold; but are rather being given away for free with an extra inducement of cash for the men to agree to accept them? Bribery 101? In other words, the wome of Nepal are mere worthless 'garbage', good only for the dumps which the men are being incentivize to have them? Can you imagine what fate then awaits such handed-off widows in the house of their cajoled new husbands? Icheoku says, if domestic abuse and enslavement has a base in this world, then such a women subjugating country as Nepal is that place!

Admitted the government possibly meant well as it try to humanize widows and once again, make them more socially acceptable. But as one activist pointed out, it would only add to their woes as men would marry widows for money and later abandon them? A possibility, since there is no mechanism in place to prevent the unravelling of the bonds of marriage so soon after the forced marriage? These women would have been better empowered in a different way such as giving them jobs, better health care and education! If the Hindu religion truly humiliates bereaved women in this manner, then Icheoku holds the religion in contempt for violating women's human rights. With 50,000 Nepali rupees ($641) for every widow in Nepal, that is more than enough to start some actual empowerment either through education or vocational training. It is instructive also that revolving violence and HIV-AIDS have decimated the male population of Nepal resulting in a by-product of very high number of widows.

Another unfortunate thing with this Nepalese society is that "as soon as a woman becomes a widow, she loses her status within the home and society. She is not allowed to participate in religious ceremonies and can no longer wear red clothing - which is considered auspicious - and jewellery". Their place in Nepalese society is so deplorable that according to one commentator, "If you see a widow walking on the street on your way to do some kind of special job, you have to return immediately because it's considered bad luck to see her". Icheoku says, really? But how about the widow's children or relatives? Widows for sale as practised in Nepal is a culture whose time has come to change it. Are there any Diaspora Nepalese around, or don't you cringe reading such a bad testimonial of your motherland?

EUNICE KENNEDY-SHRIVER, ANOTHER KENNEDY SAYS BYE-BYE!

Dead at 88 and she was a Kennedy; hurray! Gladly enough, it was good old-age related causes and not the fabled 'Curse of the Kennedy' that facilitated her exit.

The fifth among nine of the original Kennedy siblings born to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy of Brookline, Massachusetts. A family clan of Massachusetts that produced an American President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy; two US Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy; an in-law who is a governor of the State of California Arnold Schwarzenegger; several others including legislators, humanitarians and activists!

She was married to a former vice presidential candidate R. Sargent Shriver. She founded the Special Olympics in 1968 to demonstrate that the mentally challenged can be competitive as well; and have the capacity to lead rich and productive lives without necessarily being limited by the walls of their confining institutions? To her credit, mentally challenged people were made inclusive and America's view of them was forced to change from the institutionalized patients, to families, friends, neighbors and athletes? Her name was Eunice Kennedy Shriver and she died today at a Cape Cod hospital, surrounded by her husband, five children and 19 grandchildren to cheer her on to eternity? What a fruitful life on the limelight, Eunice lived!

A third generation Irish-American Kennedy, her grandparents were Patrick J. Kennedy(1858) and Mary Augusta Hickey; her parents were businessman and American Ambassador to the United Kingdom Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (1888) and Rose Fitzgerald (1890); her brothers and sisters include, in order of seniority:- Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr. (1915), President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917), Rosemary Kennedy (1918), Kathleen Agnes Kennedy (1920), Patricia Kennedy (1924), Senator Robert Francis Kennedy (1925), Jean Ann Kennedy (1928) and Senator Edward Moore Kennedy (1932)!

With her death, sister Jean Kennedy Smith and brother Edward Kennedy are now all that is left of the original Kennedy Mahicans? Eunice is survived directly by her husband, Sargent, a daughter Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger, sons Robert, Timothy; Mark and Anthony. Brother Edward Kennedy and sister Jean Kennedy-Smith, 19 grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews with Kennedy blood running in their veins. Icheoku says, as you now join other gone Kennedys in heaven, so long Madam Special Olympics!

JEENIFER HUDSON, A MOTHER!

There is a new mother and baby-mama in America! She is a Grammy-winning singer as well as an Oscar winning actress! She was discovered and made by 'American Idol'. Her name is Jennifer Hudson.

Jennifer Hudson, 27, gave birth to a 7 pounds, 14 ounces healthy baby boy. His name, David Daniel Otunga Jr.!

The new arrival is named after the baby-daddy, David Daniel Otunga; who is yet to tie the nuptial nut with Jennifer? Icheoku rejoices with Jennifer and David on their new bundle of joy; and wish little master DDO a happy sojourn on earth. Congratulations Jenny+Dave!

SEXUAL PERVERSION, GOAT DELIVERS A HUMANOID?

When we heard about the South Carolina man who fell in love with his neighbors' horse and was sleeping with it until he got caught; we thought we have heard it all? But no, as out of Nigeria comes a story of a goat that gave birth to a humanoid-goat, a result of a possible liaison with its owner?

Possible? Anything is possible when human-being in their experimentation, unnecessarily and unreasonably messes up with the order of nature. Simple biology explains that when two chromosomes fuses into a cyst, that traits or resemblances of such mating couple are transferred to the resulting offspring? Right? Stories also abound in this world, of herdsmen who relieve themselves in their flocks; especially the nomadic ones who are sometimes so long gone away from their partners, that any available becomes the desirable? Human nature, as when nature calls, it has to be satisfied somehow, somewhat; and in their depraved logic, if it is an animal that is the only immediately available orifice, so be it?

And so it is that on August 6, 2009, in Dakata area of Kano Northern-Nigeria, a nanny-goat gave birth to a baby-goat with some unique human features? According to the report, this particular human-like kid, out of three that were delivered, had what could be termed an 'out of the ordinary, bizarre human-look:- a face, nose, eye cavity and female genitalia similar to humans? True to human reaction, the weird goat was immediately taken to the town's police station to incident it. The owner of the goat, Mallam Aminua of Sauna Village, Dakata-Kano would ordinarily have been a prime suspect in this man's very 'intimate contact' with a beast, were the MANN Act operative in northern Nigeria. Like all such tall-tales, no investigation was carried out further to really determine the aberration, nor were pictures taken of the strange-looking animal; thereby deepening the mystery animal which was reported dead so soon after its delivery?

However, local veterinarian Salisu Atiku and senior livestock superintendent, Abbas Ibrahim helped take away the tail-wind of the story, when they stated that "it will be wrong to link the abnormal goat with a human sexual contact"? Icheoku says, how else could this be possible except for some sexual perversion of an insane goat-herder who was so horny it did not matter where he emptied his load?

The original story was sourced from Leadership Newspaper:- Goat With Human Face Delivered In Kano

NIGER DELTA AMNESTY AND A TRAITOR NAMED BOYLOAF?

Icheoku asks, does this man understand what it was that he allegedly fought for all these years? Does this man, who ordinarily looks like a bandit and a criminal linchpin know exactly the implication of what he just did, by abandoning a cause which all the people of Niger Delta has come to identify with, as their only hope in the despondency of Nigeria? Is this man a patriot of the Niger Delta or an opportunist who was holding out to cash in his notoriety at a future right time? We at Icheoku.com are bamboozled, surprised, perplexed and worried that Boyloaf Ebikabowei Victor Ben has sabotaged the struggle in the Niger Delta; and so has completely and without more, now sealed the fate of the Niger Delta as a defeated and voiceless people!

Like a canary/parrot, he is already singing and calling names; as well as pointing his dirty stump accusatory fingers to some people who he claimed were incohute with the struggle and were tacitly backing the effort clandestinely? Icheoku says, the Hausa-Fulani federal government of Nigeria will maximise the money paid to buy him and turn him into a traitor to the fullest. They will surely exploit intelligence extracted from him to get to the under-belly of whatever remains of the struggle; as well as those "marked enemies of the Nigeria State" still holding out. We warned previously on the divide and conquer tactics of the Hausa-Fulani northern Nigeria, and once again, regrettably though, they have deployed it to a decisive victory over the Niger Delta struggle. We are so livid at the treachery of the bandit named Boyloaf, that none of his explanation makes any acceptable sense; since the release of Henry Okah was not the primary reason founding the struggle to constitute a condition precedent to accepting amnesty? Henry Okah was just a blimp on the radar, an intervening happenstance which added some dimension to the struggle and which now, unfortunately though, appears to be corroding the fabrics of the struggle.

Our fear also, is that the Nigerian security operatives will use intelligence gathered as a result of this treasonable defection to bait the hold-out freedom fighters, and possibly kill them off. Boyloaf, Icheoku asks, why? At least if you were tired of the struggle, you should have quietly disappeared like Tompolo Government Ekpemupolo, instead of foolishly exposing your identity, knowing fully well that you will in no distant time, become history? Just like Mohammed Yusuf of the Boko Haram was summarily dispatched to silence him from implicating certain high and powerful, possibly some people will feel threatened with your diarrhea-mouth and hatch a plan to permanently shut it for you? Remember in Nigeria, anything and everything is possible. It is treachery, it is dangerous for a supposed "general" to crawl on his knees to surrender to his oppressive masters without a fight; and now that you have lost your bargaining powers, no one will take you any serious anymore as your problem have become solved.

The good news however, is that a "Boy and a Loaf" with just 32 other knee-jerk deserters does not constitute the entire Niger Delta struggle; and hopefully logistics will be reconfigured to checkmate and countermand whatever actionable intelligence you may pass to the other side. What amnesty are you accepting when you have not committed a crime or was arrested or tried or convicted? What are you agreeing to be forgiven of? Why did you make it so easy for your oppressors to ensnare you so cheaply? How much was your price that you would forsake your people of the Niger Delta and jump ship too soon, abandoning them to their fate, which cannot improve under the current dispensation and inequities in Nigeria? Honestly speaking, if one were to ask you, what were you able to achieve with all these huffing and puffing of these past years, there is really nothing for you to show for it; - the tension of these years which just went up in flames with this your thoughtless decision to defect. Remember, we are not advocating that you continue with the struggle, assuming that you lost appetite to push on because "others are making money on the back of the struggle"; but at lease you would have gone out in a trail of blaze of glory or just quietly take a walk and disappear never to return and without revealing your identity; that way you would have remained a legend? But now, Boyloaf is a turn-coat of the Niger Delta struggle!

Luckily enough, Boyloaf is not MEND nor does he speak for the group. Hopefully, his position will be effectively filled by a more trustworthy patriotic Niger Deltan, who will continue to push forward the agenda of fairness and justice of and for the people of Niger Delta in relation to their oil? Henry Okah was not the reason for the struggle and it is a misnomer for Boyloaf to try to adumbrate that his MEND "is accepting amnesty following Henry Okah’s release"? Icheoku says, what a complete balderdash and a futile attempt at remaining relevancy in a struggle which he has harmed by his desertion. What about the communities of Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta, Odi in Bayelsa, Elem, Tombia in Rivers that were completely annihilated by the federal army, who will now stand up for them, Boyloaf? It would appear that by this his thoughtless decision, Boyloaf is now cooked, done and out waiting to be devoured by Nigerian hungry hyenas? He has betrayed his people and the other side will hold him off in suspended distrust, as they cannot completely trust a person as scary looking as this angry man from the creeks.

Icheoku says, if Boyloaf and his band of deserters would not fold their hands and see the future of their generations yet unborn crumble before their eyes, or their people hungry and dying, or their infrastructure in a deplorable state, or their communities with no water or light, or oil spillage and gas flaring the order of the day, or their youths unemployed, and their region producing over 90% of Nigeria's national income; then the proper thing to do is to continue the struggle but not to just throw up hands as a surrender monkey? A popular aphorism has it that ''quitters don't win and winners don't quit', so Boyloaf which side of the divide are you on?

Icheoku says, the only reason President Umaru Yar'Adua and his band of northern occupiers are even talking with Niger Delta freedom-fighters is that they have weighed the odds of winning the battle of the creeks, and it is staked up against them! Their only meaningful option to avoid a staggering humiliating defeat is to surreptitiously throw up an amnesty-bait; and unfortunately, so many activists are biting same with some of them, now hooked. Boyloaf Niger Delta cannot win using this present position of weakness as those northern mallams are very obstinate and do not reason. If in doubt, where is Ken Saro-Wiwa who thought reason makes sense? Also where is Adaka Baro? Lately the MIA Niger Delta list has expanded to include Ken Niweigha and the Boma brothers? Reasoning is not a particular forte of northern Nigeria mallams, it never happens with them as their arrogance never allow them to hear the other Nigerians' point of view. Regrettably, Boyloaf and crew will soon find out the hard way, once their debriefing in completed and the crusading North will crush you guys and feed you to the marine animals in the Atlantic waters. Read the hand-writing on the wall!

Finally Icheoku re-affirms that Boyloaf is not a general; that he is just a petty surrender-monkey who is as spineless as he lacks conviction. We thought he was waging a liberation struggle for the people of the Niger Delta; so we ask, what changed so soon now that the struggle was approaching a turning-point that he threw the towel? Niger Delta is still where they were several years ago; the North still has both the Minister of Petroleum and the Managing Director of the NNPC; the JTF is still occupying the territories of the Niger Delta, maiming and killing the people therein; the bombarded Gbaramatu kingdom has not been rebuilt and the list goes on and on? Boyloaf, Icheoku wants to know, what about the people who have already lost their lives following you to fight a cause which they believed was greater than anyone person, including the linguine-spine Boyloaf? Anyway his name says it all – a "boy and a loaf", possibly of bread? Icheoku feels greatly disappointed by the turn of events with the Niger Delta struggle especially the sudden u-turn of some of its freedom-fighters including the Boyloaf 32.

The Hausa-Fulani 'lords of manor' in Nigeria are masterful in infiltrating, dividing and conquering. They have succeeded in destroying the Niger Delta freedom-struggle, using this technique and sure, Boyloaf has a lot of explanation to do on why his group abandoned a people in their greatest hour of need? Unfortunately, in his mad fury, Boyloaf failed to read the sign that says, "victory was very close and knocking on the door"; when he and his band of traitors threw up their hands holding white flags in surrender, and thus sabotaged it? Being the illiterate he is, Boyloaf also failed to understand that the only reason he is still alive today is because of the impermissible creeks, which terrain is not well adaptive to the Nigerian armed forces, trained in desert/dry land warfare, and hence could not easily navigate the creeks to get him. If he is in doubt, he should take a look at Maiduguri and see that no one ever gave any amnesty to Boko Haram's Mohammed Yusuf; they just cornered and shot him dead in cold-blood? We are convinced that a United Niger Delta resistance would have eventually won the battle for the control of the Niger delta oil resources, if only this "boy and a loaf" held out a little longer; and not rashly and cowardly throw out a golden opportunity to enter the history books as one of the liberators who freed Niger Delta from a long continuing repressive and retrogressive occupation by the northern mallams!

According to one commentator's query, if Boyloaf is disarming, does it mean that he has succeeded in emancipating the Niger Delta? Another advised Boyloaf to look around to see that the situation has not changed one bit nor is it any different from what it was from the time preceeding his struggle? Icheoku in signing off, says, whether this fellow, Boyloaf, is a traitor, a saboteur or just a pragmatic personality correctly reading the moment to understand the futility of his adventure or was simply too afraid to suddenly now die in the hands of the northern army, only posterity will judge. But we are emphatic that Boyloaf and crew are a band of deserters who turned their backs on the Niger Delta struggle, when the struggle was approaching its end of the tunnel's destination of light!

WOODS WINS YET AGAIN!

In the proverbial fashion of another one for the gipper, Golf maestro, Tiger Woods, won another World Golf Championship trophy at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Icheoku says, congratulations Tiger!

With today's victory, Woods became the first player in PGA Tour history to win seven times on the same course; his fifth victory this year and 70th of his PGA Tour career which now puts him three behind Jack Nicklaus and 12 victories away from the world record held by Sam Snead.

Once again, Icheoku says, congratulations and may you continue to add to it! You are golf and golf is you, and there is nothing anyone can do about it or try to change what is. The world of golf is better today because of a Tiger who have mastered it beyond any body's comprehension. Good-luck Tiger!

CURATIVE RAPE, HOMOPHOBIC SOUTH AFRICA RAPES LESBIANS!

Rape in South Africa, especially of lesbians, is at all time high, leading to many observers and pundits alike, including Icheoku.com, asking why?

Unfortunately, this criminal behavior is attributed by the miscreants of South Africa who engage in this brutal and immoral acts, to a wrong and mistaken notion that "it is a cure for lesbianism?" Icheoku says, what a heck and a conclusion reached from a faulty premise? Curative rape, my arse, indeed?

What is then a curative rape, one may ask? According to the anarchists' theory, women who engage or dabble in lesbianism do so because they have never experienced real manhood; hence they must be exposed to it and in that way healed of the demonic urge to go astray, sexually? According to their crazed-out deduction, all it takes is for one good man with the right equipment to cure such girl of her lesbian-malady; and you ask yourself, what warped grey matter is contained within this people's cranial walls?

Eudy Simalane, an openly gay South African footballer was recently raped and murdered by a gang of three South African men; becoming another victim in a statistics of thirty-one lesbian women who have been reported raped and murdered in homophobic attacks in South Africa since 1998. Such is the rampancy of this criminality that statistics has it that up to ten new cases of curative or corrective rapes take place every week in South Africa; which is also notorious as one of the places in the world with the highest rates of other sexual violence.

Available data indicates that about 150 "normal and straight" women are raped each day in South Africa with over 54, 000 rape cases reported in 2006 alone, the last available record? Such is the alarming rate of rape in South Africa that it is believed that one in four South African males have raped a woman somewhere, somehow in their lifetime? In other-words, a quarter of all the male population of South Africa are rapists; what an incredible record? Icheoku says, at this rate and in no distant future, virtually all South African ladies/girls would have had their womanhood violated by these perverts who cannot do good for themselves, talk-less of having respect for sisters, mothers, wives and aunties of South Africa.

Rape has become so institutionalised among South African males that it is often joked about and talked about in a rather cavalier manner; such that there are now leaders of rape-packs in South Africa, called "marhasimani"? A"marhasimani" is described as someone who goes to the club, buys a woman with money contributed by his rape-pack, drugs her or makes her drunk on beers and together, severally rape her. These sexual predators take their turns, going in and out of her until the victim is fully exhausted, sometimes passes out or even dies; as a result of the brutality of a instantaneous violent marathon sexual encounter with so many men? According to one source, members of the rape-gang usually hide under the bed until the first man is finished and has left the room, then they will take turns having sex with the woman, pretending to be the first man? Since their crime-scene dungeon is usually a dark place or room, an inebriated girl hardly notices the change of her sexual partners; thinking in her state of stupor that it is the same guy who paid and picked her up that is still tirelessly humping her?

Dumisani Rebombo, a former rapist gang-banger who works for an NGO, Olive Leaf Foundation, now speaks openly and with great remorse about his crime of rape. He is also waging an anti-rape war and works with men on how to prevent or at least curtail rapes in the South African society. Icheoku asks, what is the use of such pertinent criminal as Mr. Rebombo whose transgression possibly led someone to commit suicide? How does this rapist make amends, atone for his sins and make good his way after so violently violating the sanctity of a woman, some of who never recovers from such psychological trauma of their life? South Africa, Icheoku says to you, this is a real black-eye for you and urge you to rise in insurrection against those rapists in your midst, including the "curative" ones. What an irony of misunderstanding that a crime as vile as a rape could be said to be somewhat curative; possibly only in South Africa!

SOTOMAYOR SWEARS IN, A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE!

In a yet another victory for President Barack Obama, his Supreme Court nominee Justice Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in today, August 8, 2009 as an associate judge of that highest court of the land. Icheoku says, what a moment of triumph come through for this immigrant daughter of Puerto Rican parents?

Her mother Celia Sotomayor is seen in the picture above, holding the bible for her daughter's swearing in, with her brother Juan Luis Sotomayor watching, while Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office. Icheoku says, congratulation Sonia as you now begins judging at the highest judicial pedestal of the land, God's guidance!

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 55, you will recall, is the first judge of Hispanic background and only the third woman in the court's 220-year history. Icheoku says, what a White-boys club it was indeed until these persistent attacks at the marble ceiling began paying off dividends as continued in Justice Sotomayor? Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been a federal judge for 17 years before her nomination to the Supreme court last May to take the place of retiring Justice David Souter. She was subsequently confirmed for the position by the Senate last Thursday, August 6, 2009 by a 68-31 votes.

Icheoku says, lets hope that Justice Sonia Sotomayor, as pledged, will "do equal right to the poor and to the rich."