MEGRAHI, BRITAIN SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY?

Britain placed its commercial interest above a long existing friendship with the United States of America when it released a known and convicted terrorist, who blew away so many Americans out of the sky over Lockerbie Scotland; and caused ever-lasting pain and suffering in many American house-holds. Icheoku says, Britain has no excuse whatsoever for the thoughtless act of releasing Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the 57-year-old former Libyan intelligence agent, responsible for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing which killed 270 people including 220 Americans aboard Pam Am Flight 103.

It does not matter whether it was on grounds of compassion or business-deals, it should not have taken place in view of the heinousness of the act for which he was convicted. Moreso Megrahi is not the only prisoner in Britain with a compassionate case as there are several thousands of prisoners wasting away in British prison system, whose story are as pathetic, if not worst than Megrahi's and they have not been set free or allowed to go home to die with their families? Had Megrahi died in British/Scottish prison, he would not have made the Guinness Book of World records as the first prisoner to die in prison in Britain, so why the hogwash balderdash? Did Megrahi allow those American kids, returning home on Christmas vacation to their families to get home and at least die with their families? No, but here is compassionate Britain, stabbing Americans at the back, setting free a man whose hands are dripping with several American lives? Icheoku says, no amount of explanation or any of it is good enough and the American government should strongly send a message of disdain to 10 Downing Street that this release is simply inexplicable and unacceptable, period!

Ironically, this terrorist-criminal is wearing American Nike, the product of the ingenuity of the same people who he hated so much, that he blew many of them up over Lockerbie-Scotland? Why would the terminally ill Megrahi be allowed to return home to die with his family when he denied others their right to return home to their own families? It is our firm position, all things considered and all excludables excluded, that Britain considered her commercial interest in the oil fields of Libya more important than the several hundreds of Americans who lost their lives in the tragedy of December 1988 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The British officials' insistence that the decision was "solely the Scottish" is a lie through the teeth as the foreign affairs of Britain is conducted by Downing Street and not Edinburgh or Glasgow. This criminality of Megrahi's mass murder, blowing up an American plane with Americans onboard, over British territory of Lockerbie rises to such 'foreign affairs', so British government should save the world their faceless denial of complicity, denying that they did not have a hand in Megrahi's free passage out of prison to Libya? Icheoku asks, if those 270 victims that perished were British, would Megrahi have been released?

It is our position that the British and the Libyan government sat down and bartered over the freedom of Megrahi and made it a condition precedent to a continuing business relationship/deals! As far as British business is concerned, it does not matter for 10 Downing Street that Megrahi murdered 270 innocent people; for them, it is not wrong, it is completely plausible and actually inoffensive? Their attempt to explain otherwise does not matter as no one is buying into such crap of trying to explain an inexplicable blunder which questions everything that had held together the friendship across the pond? What would Winston Churchill or even Tony Blair do; but for Gordon Brown, access to Libyan oil triumphs over whatever existing interest between London and Washington DC, including America's dead? This thoughtless and reckless act is condemnable and should be condemned; not only by the victims families but by all men and women of good morals? Why should a terrorist master-mind be shown compassion when he never gave anybody any chance at live nor compassion to reach home to spend Christmas with their loved ones?

At Britain positing that Scotland acted solely in releasing Megrahi, Icheoku asks, since when has such an international incident bordering on criminality become the local affairs of Scotland; and this is a Britain which did not even express any scintilla of objection to the decision to free Megrahi? Or is Scotland now an independent country with such an over-reaching and over-whelming powers to conduct its own foreign affairs including poking fingers into the eyes of United States of America, with Britain watching and not objecting? Why didn't Britain offer to transfer Megrahi to the United States, assuming their feeble hearts can't take it any longer to continue to keep a dying terrorist in their prison? If the Brits were afraid of Ghaddaffi, America is not as President Regan once proved to Tripoli by sending a missile right into his bedroom. Icheoku says, not only did Megrahi's ill-advised release gave comfort to terrorists around the world, it also shows that terrorists now have a new partner in Britain; which has by this very act, provided a shoulder for them to lean on in their time of need? What a buffoonery of a decision for a man who spilled so much American young blood to be turned loose a free man? Maybe Megrahi should equally be knighted by their Queen or receive somewhat medal for killing so many innocent Americans over Lockerbie? Icheoku agrees completely, totally and into-to that this release of Megrahi, indeed, makes mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own loved ones on December 21, 1988.

British feeble attempt at denying complicity and involvement in rubbishing American-dead, have been put to rest with the Libyan leader Moummar Gadhafi singling out for thanks, Brown, Queen Elizabeth of Britain and Prince Andrew, for in his own words, "encouraging the Scottish government to take this historic and courageous decision, despite the obstacles." So who is now the lying chicken if not Britain, trying to deny the obvious? To make matters worse, Britain is bare-facedly lying that 'London and Tripoli did not reach any deal'? This is incredulous and incredulity fused in one! And assuming for the sake of argument that we yield to Britain that they were not involved in the release of Megrahi, as they are desperately trying to pull a wool over the eyes of the world to believe, Icheoku asks, under what authority then did Prime Minister Gordon Brown write to Moummar Gaddafi, instructing him to 'treat Megrahi's return as a purely private domestic family affairs and not to celebrate it? So now, you know the Brits are not coming through in their explanation, possibly once again lying through their teeth? If according to the Brits, a high-profile return in Tripoli would cause pain and suffering to the families of the victims, Icheoku asks, how about the hellish agony which the release by itself caused, especially coming from Britain, our supposed staunchest ally? Why didn't Britain nip whatever 'high-profile return' by not releasing this criminal-terrorist in the first place; instead of now purportedly addressing the symptoms and not the cause of the disease? And these Libyans, with the tacit support and approval of the British, are now celebrating an evil man who took away the lives of so many innocents?

In summation, Icheoku says, it is a 'pay to play' deal that made Britain to stab America's interest at the back with the release of Megrahi; as their $900 million dollars oil exploration deal between their BP PLC and Libya's National Oil Co were at stake; and they considered such a paltry $900 million dollars sufficient enough to sell-out on the American Lockerbie-dead? Is this a Judas Iscariot's move or what? E tu Britain! And Gadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, confirmed as much when he said that 'Megrahi's release was a constant point of discussion during trade talks with Britain.' Therefore, the case of complicity of Britain in the release of Megrahi is conclusively proved beyond any reasonable doubt; and Britain stands convicted in the courts of American public opinion. They are guilty as charged! Guilty! Guilty!

TOM RIDGE CONFESSES, TERROR ALERTS WERE MANIPULATED!

Icheoku says, his confession is simply a ploy to hype and sell his upcoming book; so, do not fall for it. Instead, just boycott the book, do not buy it! Protest the frequent rides of the American people by politicians and government officials, particularly this unwarranted 'terror-alert level, code yo-yo', which drastically jeopardized our security and health. FYI:- The book comes out on September 1, 2009 and is titled, "The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege ... And How We Can Be Safe Again"?

He is not credible because when he was supposed to stand up and be counted, he capitulated and kept silent through elections 2004 to 2008 until now? The question is why did he not speak up and/or resign when it mattered most, when it would have made an impact; only to come now after the fact, to yak about events which he was a potential corroborator, whether tacitly or necessary implication? His options then were clear, either sign in with the plot or fall out in the cold, and he chose to stay in, a made-brother? When can't real men go to their graves with some privileged information rather than rat on confidences once shared?

Icheoku asks, to whom did Tom Ridge swear an oath of office to serve, - President George W. Bush or the American people? What about the inconveniences suffered by the American people, fearful of imminent danger to their lives and properties? What about the grandmas and grandpas who died just because their hearts could no longer withstand the frequent color-coded torture of impending "doom" to America? How about the inconveniences suffered going through airports as a result of added scrutiny of travelling passengers, many of who were nearly strip-searched because of heightened security alerts? How about economic activities that were affected because many people chose to remain indoors and not go to the malls to shop, afraid of possible terrorist attacks? What about cancelled flights and other travel plans? What about the psychological trauma suffered by the American people, who were hoodwinked by Tom Ridge and his inner-circle raising the security alert level unnecessarily and just for mundane things other the its intended objective?

Icheoku says, Tom Ridge committed 'treasonable felony' and should be arrested immediately and tried for jeopardizing the American people's life; and also for conspiracy to torment American people through frequent and unreasonable raising of the color-code, just because his Republican party wants to remain in power? Does this Tom Ridge know that what he 'conspired' to do created panic, tension and high-blood pressure in so many Americans, fearful that the terrorists are gonna get them? Does this guy, Tom Ridge, understand that what he just confessed to reduced him in the eyes of many Americans and that a true patriot will not be found dead around such devastating conspiracy? Does he know that by raising the security alert unreasonably, that he played into the hands of the terrorist whose primary objective is to keep Americans fearful? Where was this guy's loyalty?

Icheoku condemns Tom Ridge's action and calls on the American people not to support such a fraud by buying his book; they should reject same as the product of a fraudulent conspiracy, a made-up tales of unprovable dimension. Who is there to corroborate his account of what allegedly transpired between him, John Ashcroft and Donald Rumsfeld? Possibly it is a figment of his imagination, a tale by the moonlight, concocted to boost sales of his upcoming book? Why should this guy be rewarded with the purchase of his book when he was then advising Americans to stockpile on duct-tapes and plastics-sheets to seal their windows in case of a dirty-bomb attack? Who pays for the expenses incurred duct-taping our windows? Someone employed by tax-payers money to protect them, turned around to cause untoward panic and fear on his employers, just for a fickle reason to win an election for his boss? Why didn't this guy resign his office immediately or put up a seasoned protest; and because he did none of this, that makes him a traitor, a corroborator, an American hater and a political jobber who danced to any tune simply to keep his tab at the seat of power? Where was Tom's backbone to resist evil and call it for what it is? This will make American people to be more distraught with their government as the trust relationship was further tarnished with this confession; the chasm between the government and the governed further widens, and a cynical people are a less motivated people.

If according to his confessional, 'top aides to then-president George W. Bush pressured him to raise the "terror alert" level to sway the November 2004 US election', Icheoku asks, why did he not resign rather than become a corroborator in such a scheme to frighten the American people into running to President George W. Bush for cover and protection from the imaginary terrorist-wolves? It is our position that Tom Ridge waited too long to make this confession, which is now too little too late as the consequential damage caused were unquantifiable and cannot be fully repaired. Tom Ridge is simply put, a turn-coat who sold his war heroics for the office of the Home Land Security and did not stand up for the American people? Tom Ridge for the records, is a former governor of Pennsylvania and the first secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, created in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and other places.

Reacting to the bombshell dropped by Tom Ridge, one observer said, "Just like they did in Iraq, the Bush Administration manipulated intelligence to cause fear in the public to further its political goals". The allegation that such a top-dog of the Homeland Security department as Tom Ridge "was often blindsided during daily morning briefings with President George W. Bush as he was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings", we find quite absurd! Who then will be sitting in a meeting to discuss 'national security' matters without the head of the homeland security department? Icheoku says, whatever happens, please maintain your dignity, do not buy that book, do not be fooled twice as fool me once shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me. Ask yourself, how much is really too much to take that these people will continue to take the nation on a jolly-ride just for their personal and political aggrandisement?

In conclusion, Icheoku says, Tom Ridge's allegation that "they tried to make me do it" does not fly in the face of what is known by everyone as government's 'wag the dog' syndrome? It is our position that the elicitation never took place and if it did, it was with Tom's full acquiescence and cooperation and that he willingly acted on it. Those numerous, frivolous security color-coded alerts he declared during his tenure at the Homeland Security department bears this position out. He very much admitted same when on one occasion, he owned up to using a three-year old stale intelligence to cause an alert level to be raised; otherwise how else does one explain such randomness? Further, what did he do when he was allegedly prospected? Did he shout, raise an alarm, put a protest or even resign his office on grounds of irreconcilable differences or lack of free-hand to perform and discharge the duties of his office?

No, none of that happened and who is available to confirm his present allegation; except for the mentioned individuals who will at a future time, rightly deny it ever took place? It will then be his word against theirs; and every one of us will be back to square one, in our perplexity of the complexity and betrayals of what was once the Bush administration's inner circle? Icheoku says, he who keeps silence in matters where common sense dictates that he should have spoken up, raised some protest or alarm is ordinarily defined as a corroborator, and Tom Ridge aptly fits the template! So, please do not buy that book, it sucks and contains so many untruths!

SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI AND HIS 'NAME AND SHAME' POLICY?

ICHEOKU.COM declares and unequivocally states that the ongoing action of Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (SLS), towards sanitizing the Nigerian banking industry, has our total, full, complete and unalloyed support!

It is about time the big fishes in Nigeria get fried too; at least to help bring some real sanity into a country, where none existed prior? Some of these people are the reason why Nigeria's growth has stunted all these years because they get away with everything including murders, as they think, behave and act as if they are above the law. Icheoku calls it the "untouchables' syndrome" of Nigeria'?

What is happening in the banking industry today, reminds us of the statement made by Col Umar Murkta, sitting at an investigative probe panel in Benin during the corruption trials of post Buhari-idiagbon coup of December 1983. According to Murkta, while addressing one of the accused persons, ' ...you saw tinsels and mistook them for gold and in the process, you forgot that one day, a King who does not know Joseph will come to power and ask for the rendering of accounts'; and so it is that SLS has ascended to power as governor of the Nigeria's Central bank and today, all the high and mighty debtors have been asked to pay up or be jailed?

Who ever knew that a time will ever come in Nigeria, when a heavy weight and such a matron of a politically connected Ibru family, Cecilia Ibru or the northern mogul Aliyu Dangote or the Igbo woman at the Nigerian Stock Exchange Ndidi Okereke Onyiuke will be called to render account? By publicly disclosing these chronic debtor-billionaires, Sanusi has 9/10th solved the problem as public shame is one heck of an effective deterrent? These people's ego are so out of this world and because they cherish their status dearly, the collection's register will be ringing within the given five day grace period. Icheoku says, this is change Nigerians can believe in!

But surprisingly the name of Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo is missing in the debtors' list since he once claimed that his moribund Otta farms was resurrected with bank loans? So Icheoku asks, which of these 'failed' banks lent Olusegun Obasanjo his loan or has he since amortised it; if yes, how did he source the money with which he paid off such a huge amount of loan as would resuscitate his Otta Farms, and so soon? The other mouth-dropping name in the debtor-list is the name of former governor of Rivers State Peter Odili - which could be somewhat more positively interpreted to mean that he did not corruptly enrich himself while in office; otherwise what did he need a bank loan for? Or are we being naive here, since some may argue that such loans are meant to cover their tracks and money laundering; but we shall see what the five days automatum given to them to pay the loans back, will provide?

This present n&s action once again shows that all hope is not lost for Nigeria, as one day a person of integrity will rise to preside over affairs in Nigeria and fix the broken? When the late midget of Kano, Sani Abacha dethroned the Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki and jailed him, Nigerians thought that the heavens will fall, but several decades later, the heavens are still hanging up there intact and Dasuki remained banished from Sokoto Caliphate? Again when Tunde Idiagbon emerged in the scene and tried to instill discipline, through WAI, into the lives of Nigerians; no Nigerian ever believed that Nigerians are capable of queuing up to wait for their turns? Then enter Nuhu Ribadu who came and touched some previous untouchables and Icheoku called it, progress, progress? Icheoku is not delving into this narrative simply because they have resolved Nigeria's intractable problems; no, but to show an emerging pattern of directed trajectories aimed at the eventual destination where Nigeria should be; - a progressive corruption-free, disciplined and functioning country! Nigeria, a country that could be very great if not for frivolous nepotism, crass cronyism, corruption, indiscipline and the worship of men and women of means who think they are gods and above the law?

The current effort of Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi led Central Bank of Nigeria is an effort in the right direction and we appreciate it dearly. Understandably, many southerners in power in Nigeria are usually not with the 'real power', as they must defer to the whims of their appointing Northern over-lords before taking any decision? So they try so hard to maintain buoyancy in the government, and as a result even some well thought-out, goal-directed initiative must get clearance from the above, which in most cases are rejected? Because of this position of weakness, an otherwise would be great and endearing decisions impacting society are always sacrificed to appease mentors and in order not to step on some sacred toes? But now a prince and a scion of the Kano emirate, the fourteenth in line to become the emir, is at the helm of affairs at the Central Bank; and hence these foundational changes taking place! Icheoku celebrates them as a gift to the Nigerian economy in general, particularly their banking industry. Icheoku wishes Governor SLS Godspeed in the current battle against the high and mighty Nigerian billionaires, who it would now appear made their riches leeching on Nigerian peoples' money? We pray that those implicated billionaire-debtors and their corroborators, very corrupt Nigerian government officials will not gang up against SLS and cause him to suffer similar fate as did the former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu? Icheoku says, Bravo SLS and emphasises that the new 'name and shame' policy being implemented at the Sanusi-led Central Bank is very appropriate; as those billionaires living on borrowed money, have now been unmasked and possibly downgraded or even axed by Forbes 'fortune' magazine; which will compel them to pay up.

Lastly, Icheoku urges that by the same token, the present 'name and shame policy' should be extended to the 36 governors in Nigeria? Let the people know how much their states periodically receive as their share of federation account; so that they can compare it with alleged infrastructural development and then by reconciling expenses with receipts they will be able to unravel the level of corruption in their respective states. Idiagbon was doing it while his administration lasted - disclosing to Nigerians, periodically, the receipts and expenses of the government. Once this is done, it will be bye-bye to corruption as the states' chief executives will be careful when they are embezzling states' money; as accounts reconciliation will easily serve as a check and balance on their excesses. Also the ever restive Niger Delta will specially be served by this as the militants will now clearly know who their real enemies are; - whether a federal government which is not giving them their 'fair share' of resource allocations or their governors who are embezzling untoward amounts of money, meant for the development of their region? As we congratulate Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, let the 'name and shame' policy of the Central bank snowball in Nigeria as it will mark the end of corruption as we know it.

DON HEWITT, SUCCUMBS TO MORTALITY!

As yet another television personality waves the world goodbye, Icheoku says, the season of death appears to here; and it is harvesting bountifully men of the fifth estate, - journalism?

Less than 24hours after Bob Novak gave up the ghost and one month after fellow CBS heavy-hitter, Walter Crankite expired, another heavy-weight television personality has died. Don Hewitt, the man who created CBS' 60 Minutes,' died of pancreatic cancer at his Bridgehampton home in New York on Wednesday, August 19, 2009. He was 86 years old!

Don Hewitt, in September 24, 1968, created the popular one-hour broadcast of mixed hard news and feature stories known as "60 Minutes" news-magazine and produced same for 36 years! He was also credited with producing the first televised United States of America presidential debate in 1960 between Democratic John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard Nixon . It is to his astuteness that "60 Minutes" won 73 Emmys, 13 DuPont/Columbia University Awards and nine Peabody Awards during his years chaperoning the news-magazine, which ended in 2004. '60 Minutes' also finished among Nielsen's top 10 for 23 straight years and was television's top-rated show four times, most recently in 1992-93.

Don Hewitt was the central character in the 1999 movie "The Insider," in which he was portrayed as a whip who caved to pressure from CBS lawyers and as a result failed to air a whistle-blowing story about the tobacco industry.

Among his many firsts:- Hewitt directed the first network television newscast on May 3, 1948; he originated the use of cue cards for news readers which today is done by electronic machines; he was the first to "superimpose" words on the TV screen for a news show. According to one commentator, Don was such a colossal television personality that "There isn't a news show on television that doesn't have Don Hewitt's DNA in it." Icheoku says, what a resounding tribute for a man who did television so much good! His last known production was the 2007 televised version of the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular," for NBC.

Don Hewitt is survived by his third wife of 30 years, Marilyn Berger; two sons from his first marriage and two daughters from his second marriage. Icheoku says, death please go away as you have already killed enough within this past period. To the Hewitt family, your man's life should be celebrated for what it meant and accomplished! To the departed, so long Mr. Sixty-Minutes!

MAULVI OMAR, A LESSON IN NONE EXTRA-JUDICIAL EXECUTIONS?

Nigeria should learn from the example of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on how not to summarily execute captured terrorists or enemies of state, but to extract valuable intelligence from them? It is called 'intelligence-mining', and this is lost when such captives are hurridely executed, without getting valuable and actionable human intelligence from them; which defeats the purpose of their capture in the first place.

Our commentary herein is focused on yesterday's capture of Pakistani Taliban's spokesman Maulvi Omar; in contrast with the last month's capture and lynching by Nigerian officials of Nigeria's pain in the arse, Boko Haram leader, Yusuf Mohmmed?

Icheoku being pro-capital punishment, however frowns at the sometimes dizzying speed to carry out such punishments; especially without exhaustive trial of the accused with all available options of appeal fully expended. This is the only reason we took offense with the madness in Nigeria of several weeks ago; otherwise, we could care less whether thousands of Mohammed Yusufs died in battle; or were later executed after a court of competent jurisdiction hands them a sentence of death after first finding them guilty of crimes of murder and mayhem? Admitted that privately, we are convinced that the Boko Haram sect meant no good, they were evil-deviants whose declared purpose of being, is to forcibly make every person in Nigeria to knock their heads on the ground by way of worship? Their guilt was never in doubt or dispute, nor was it ever equivocated in our minds; but we insist that justice must take its course and do its solemn duty, - declare them guilty as charged and we will volunteer to be their executioners, if need be.

Be that as it may, Pakistan proved their maturity as a state today, when they arrested their enemy number-one and were able to hold their passion in check? Unlike Nigeria and Mohammed Yusuf, Pakistani officials painstakingly avoided pumping gazillion number of bullets into him, only to later allege that he died while trying to escape? it takes a sure big heart to express such magnanimity! With the netting of this big fish, what Pakistan have is an inexhaustible intelligence-trove which will be exploited to the fullest in the interest of Pakistan, United States, Afghanistan, India and all those peoples of the world who will become safer as a result of the actionable intelligence which nabbed in as well as those now, proceeding from this spokesman's debriefing?

The captured spokesman for the Taliban insurgents in Pakistan, Maulvi Omar, have now finally confirmed what was merely being speculated this past two weeks, that a U.S drone missile strike successfully killed their top commander in Pakistani, Baitullah Mehsud? Maulvi Omar was captured in the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, 2009 in the village of Khawazeo, in the Mohmand tribal area of Northwestern Pakistan while travelling to South Waziristan, near the Afghan border. Maulvi Omar according to sources will be made to tell his interrogators much about Taliban plans and strategy in Pakistan and possibly elsewhere.

A native of Badan in Tehsil Mamond, Bajaur, a tribal area in the North West area, Omar was the official spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organisation of regional and tribal-based Pakistani militant groups, and a senior aide to Baitullah Mehsud? Real name, Syed Mohammad, son of Alaf Khan, Omar was going to Bajaur from Orakzai through Mohmand when he was nabbed.

Lastly, Icheoku implores the Nigerian authorities to never again, carry out extra-judicial killings of her captured disruptive individuals, but to emulate Pakistan and their captured Maulvi Omar!

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!