OJUKWU OR UWECHUE, WHO IS THE BIAFRAN-WAR VILLAIN?

It is not quite very often that Nigerians hear such 'frank' assessment of what transpired in Nigeria, especially coming from one of the poker-players of Nigeria; a man who should know? Just recently, Mobolaji Johnson fired a salvo at Ojukwu accusing him of causing the Nigerian civil war; now shortly after, Chief Raphael Uwechue has thrown another below-the-belt punch at Ojukwu, blaming him for losing the war? What a double whamy, bilateral attack on a man who is widely regarded by many Igbo folks for stepping in when every other person was no where to be found, in defense of the Igbo nation? According to the Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State high chief, former Nigeria ambassador to Mali and President General of Oha-n-eze Ndigbo, 'Ojukwu's over-bearing attitude botched the attempted secession of Biafra from Nigeria!' In other words, Chief Raphael Uwechue said, 'but for Ojukwu Biafra would have succeeded;' or better still, 'blame Ojukwu for the failure of the Biafran struggle?'

Icheoku says, for Chief Uwechue to make such disparaging remarks about and concerning the person of Generalissimo Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and in such a public way, chronicled in a published book and questioning his war efforts leaves so much to be desired; as it could exacerbate the disunity among the Igbo nation. Ojukwu to so many Igbo sons and daughters is a war hero, who when duty called, showed up and answered the call to stop an orchestrated extermination of Igbo people in Nigeria. They revere him as the man who stood between them and an assured annihiliation; telling them to their face, ENOUGH! It is Ojukwu who said to Igbo sons and daughters throughout Nigeria, come home and I will guarrantee you safety! To so many Igbo sons and daughters, Chief Raph Uwechue is the President General of Oha-n-eze Ndigbo; prior which his fame or acclaim is limited to only the many who are knowledgeable in the politics of Nigeria and may be his local community of Ogwashi-Ukwu and environs? Now the million dollar question is, who will the Igbos believe in this war tales or who would they follow into battle, assuming duty called again? Icheoku asks, who between Ojukwu and Uwechue is the villain here; and whose effort or lack thereof caused Biafra to capitulate?

Should Chief Ralph Uwuche be forced to recant his written statement or resign the office of Oha-n-eze Ndigbo President General, which he holds in sacred trust for the Igbos, now that he has denigrated an Igbo idol, a war-hero? What is the best way out of this woods which Chief Uwechue's suppposedly letting the cat of the box, had placed the Igbo unity? Icheoku does not fully know the logistics of the Bafran war or the other subterranean reasons why it was 'the only war of survival to fail' in recent recorded history? Who did what and how did it impact the effort so negatively that it compromised an otherwise worthy cause? Should the Igbos or other participants in that war of survival now regurgitate what transpired over forty years ago and not just leave it for history to judge? But should the story be told now, then it requires accounts from both sides of the divide - that is the only way for the Igbo nation to truly know and understand what sabotaged the Biafran war efforts. The chief protagonists of the war and its alter-ego, Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu should therefore shed more light on the war effort and tell the listening world how such an oportunity was let go; so that the Igbos could know how their war of survival was really managed and what or who caused their defeat therein which ripples they stilll suffer from in today's Nigeria? Added that the three Rs of reconcilliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction were never fully implemented after the war which continues till today?

If what Ralph Uwechue has started, being himself a solid Igbo son is not checkmated forthwith, it may give rise to other vicious attacks, especially from the other side of the war-divide; which will now feel empowered and licensed to start piling-down on Ikemba Nnewi and who knows how it will end? Only Ojukwu's forceful rebuttal of the vituperation of Uwechue, is capable of putting the fire out, otherwise the present skirmish may linger for so on without a foreseeable resolution? But will Ojukwu accept the gauntlet from Uwechue for a fight of the century, who knows? According to Chief Uwechue, "ego and quest for absolute control by Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu ruined Biafra." It was his assesment that Ojukwu assumed the cloak of a maximum ruler and no one else mattered to him and before him. In the words of the high chief, “By keeping Ojukwu constantly enveloped in an atmosphere of superiority, it made him, as a matter of habit, distrustful and disdainful of other people’s judgment, impatient with their opinions and finally simply authoritarian.” Continuing, the President General of the Pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Oha-n-eze Ndigbo said, “It is a sad but instructive irony that Lt. Col Odumegwu Ojukwu, one of Africa’s one-time most brilliant political promises, was the man that led his own people with such a lack of ingenuity into what was clearly a foreseeable disaster.”

Some of the other charges Chief Uwechue levelled against Ojukwu include, alienating so many talented Igbo, using iron hand to establish his authority; missing out on numerous opportunities to use diplomatic front to market the cause of Biafra, shunned so many wise counsel and advice on the way forward especially on the need for a compromise? Also that Ojukwu shunned the second best option to a total seccession, confederacy; which was earlier agreed upon at Ghana's Aburi accord; and which arrangement is more agreeable to majority of other African states! Instead Ojukwu demanded the resignation of the Igbo think-tank who had counselled such action. For him, 'Ojukwu lacked tact, never took advice, suffered what could pass for inferiority complex and was simply power drunk.' His verdict, "Biafra could have survived if only Ojukwu were smart enough to understand the politics of alliances in the country?" But who had the magical crystal ball to know what would have happened in any event? Not Icheoku and sure not this Ogwashi-Ukwu high chief, who took over forty years to now tell the world how Ojukwu dropped the ball on Biafra? But is anyone listening and should we believe what he is saying concerning Ojukwu's handling the Biafran war?

Icheoku says, whether Ojukwu would have gone for a more tactical route of settling for what is available or most likely to succeed, a confederation; is now irrelevant as the cause of Biafra is stagnated and in a suspended abeyance. Who knows whether the same parties with interest who strafed Biafra-land and killed millions of women and children with their MIGs, F-14s, including Britain, Russia, Egypt etc would have allowed even a confederating Biafra to stand? We understand the politics of the war was as religious as it was economics; so not even Chief Raphael Uwechue was in a position to read the minds of these soldiers of fortune to know what was motivating them? Mercenaries who waged a war of attrition against the people of Biafra, causing them the humiliating defeat which they suffered and which psychologically still affect them still today, in a Nigeria, still smarting from their so called war-victory against the Biafrans? Our position is that Chief Uwechue should tread cautiously as his present trajectory might only succeed in widening the gap of mistrust amongst the Igbos of west River Niger and those on the eastern side. Let the house of Igbo not be divided to forestall a collapse, as disunity among the Igbo has already deprived them a lot so far, of what they were ordinarily entitled as a matter of right, being part of the entity called Nigeria.

Whether Biafran war effort fell victim to youthful exuberance or lack of a clear vision and a determinate war-campaign strategy, which questions the rational of the campagin west of river Niger to Ore and the rest of the Midwest; will be a matter for another day's discussion? Why didn't Biafra saturate the Biafran nation with their troops and not dissipate their energy adventuring into the Midwest; were they trying to conquer Nigeria rather than securing their territory? What was the objective, both short and long term of the incursion into Midwest? There are simply too many 'whys', 'if' and 'buts'; but now is time to look forward and not be yoked down in what has since become an un-salvageable part of the Igbo man's history. Icheoku says, the way forward is how to manage the Igbo nation's unity, preparatory to their full re-intergration back into Nigeria with a Nigerian presidency of Igbo extraction come 2016.

The Hausa-Fulani north as well as the Yoruba west are more deft in politics as they reconcile divisions to achieve a common objective or interest more easily than the Igbos. This saw the Yorubas supporting one of their most derisive sons, Olusegun Obasanjo throughout his eight ignominous years in office? The Hausa-Fulani have also since forgotten that Buhari's coup was against their Shagari; that Babangida moved against one of their own Buhari; even the slaughters of the Middle Belters during the failed coup against Muritala and again during Orkar's failed coup seem to have been put in the back burner? Therefore, if these other disparate groups could understand the permanency of interest and not necessarily who did what, in politics, Icheoku asks, why not the Igbos? Also the names dropped by Chief Uwechue including Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Dr, Kenneth Dike and Dr. Mike Opara are all dead with no one to either collaborate or rebut the assertion that Ojukwu bungled Biafra; this begs the question, why now, Ralph?

The only plausible explanation may be just to join issues with the peoples' Ikemba Nnewi Odumegwu Ojukwu and instigate another tussle for supremacy among the Igbos of the west and the east of the Niger! Our opinion is that Chief Raph Uwechue would have let the sleeping dog lie and let matters concerning who did or did not do what in Biafra rest; in order to allow the Igbo nation to galvanize, move forward and strategize for their emerging political rebirth in Nigeria. Only a united Igbo can get into Aso Rock in 2016 and this divisive allocation of fault about a defunct Biafra will not cut it. Such is what the detractors and antagonists of the Igbo nation crave for, so that they can find a crack through which to come in and botch the seeming unity coming back to Igboland. Our dear Ojukwu, please ignore joining issues over this matter so that it might die a natural death in the interest of the greater Igbo unity. The Igbo's pre-occupation now should be how to support one of their own march into Aso Rock come 2016 and any other thing should be seen for what it is - a DISTRACTION!

FYI:- For more 'earth-shattering', 'unbelievable' and somewhat 'outlandish' claims and assertions, please read Chief Ralph Uwechue's book titled "Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War – Facing the Future."

EDWARD HINDS, THE MURDER OF A CATHOLIC REVEREND FATHER!

When the news broke that the pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey, United States of America was dead, many observers wondered what went awry? Icheoku speculated whether Reverend Father Edward Hinds was a gay-man, killed for a gay-love gone wrong; or a pedophilia priest whose past eventually caught up with him?

However, now that the janitor of the same St. Patrick's church has been nabbed for his murder, Icheoku waits to see whether 64-year-old murder suspect, Jose Feliciano is a scorned lover of the priest or an abused parishioner or a former molested alter-boy who decided to take his revenge on the priest? Was he possibly just a cuckoo-nest inmate who just lost it and decided to take it out on the priest in a random act of violence?

The murdered priest was last seen alive around 11 p.m. on Thursday night, October 22, 2009; and when he failed to show up for his usual morning mass on Friday, it became a cause for great concern, owing to his reputation for punctuality. A search party found his bloodied body around 8.00 a.m., still wearing his black clerical robes, black garb and white collar, in the rectory kitchen of his northern New Jersey parish house. According to the investigation, there was a significant amount of trauma and injury to the body; Edward Hinds was killed with a knife following an argument, he was stabbed 32 times! Icheoku says, what a rage killing to stab a person for 32 times and queries what were the two men arguing about? Forensic analysis could only point at one direction, a love gone awry and a scorned gay lover who would not take it any longer or be just dished like that? It is possibly a lover's rage that made Janitor Jose stab Reverend Hinds repeatedly for 32 times; an over-kill meant to send a message?

Late Reverend Hinds, 61, was born in Morristown, New Jersey; was ordained priest in 1974 and had been at Patrick's parish since 2003. He was the vice chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson and secretary to the bishop from 1978 to 1985. According to one parishioner, "Everybody loved him;" but Icheoku retorts, except for the killer?

According to one Monsignor Kenneth Lasch, Hinds had left instructions for that he deliver the eulogy in the event of his death? Icheoku asks did Reverend Hinds have a premonition of his impending death, or had reason to suspect that somebody was going to whack him so soon; that he implored an older retired monsignor; who by age, ordinarily, supposed to pre-decease him, to deliver his eulogy? If so, what did he do to become a marked man with a bulls-eye put on his back? What infractions earned him the cross-hairs? These are some of the questions facing the homicide team as they try to unravel the motive behind this gruesome killing by Jose Feliciano? It will be recalled that this murder was the first violent death in Chatham, a ten thousand people of/from New York community west of Newark, since 1990? A safe community it has been for so long, until Jose spilled the blood of the holy man of God, Edward Hinds.

Like everything else in life which abhors a vacuum, the Diocese of Paterson has already appointed another Reverend Father Owen B. Moran, to take over from where death stopped Reverend Hinds. Icheoku wishes the St. Patrick parish God's guidance as they seek courage and strength during this sad and difficult time, and solace to bear the loss! We also pray for the repose of the soul of the departed man of God; may the soul of Reverend Father Ed Hinds now rest in peace.

For additional information on late Reverend Father Hinds, you please visit the church's website st-pats.org/

THE OBAMA FAMILY PORTRAIT, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

They sure look good, the First Family, that is! The kids, especially Shasha looks very smashing in her pose. First Lady Michelle looks resplendent too. Malia appears happy and President Barack Obama looks well settled in. Icheoku says, photographer and portrait taker, Ann Liebowitz once again proved why she is simply the best; - one of a kind.

CHINYELU SUSAN ONWURAH, A FEMALE OBAMA OF THE UK?

Icheoku says, the wind of change which blew over the United States of America last November 4, 2008; seem to have gone off-shores; and now blowing the world over? From Russia to Italy and now to the United Kingdom, people of African descent are becoming more audacious and proactive in participatory politics in their "white" countries, despite all racial obstacles strewn in their paths. Thanks to the miracle of President Barack Obama last November 4, 2008 in the United States of America. In a loud shrill voice, another feline has hollered, "Yes I Can" as she threw her hat into the race to become a British member of Parliament (MP), representing Newcastle central district!

A Nigerian descent and British citizen, Ms. Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, is running for the House of Commons, to become the first black female member of parliament from Newcastle! The Labour Party (LP) has selected her as their candidate, to represent Newcastle Central district; in the 2010 parliamentary elections. Icheoku says congratulations CSO; and hopefully this Amazonian will win and add extra impetus to the raging wildfire of the new order, the "YES WE CAN" battle-cry which is infecting the world like epidermal virus; at a rate never imagined nor forseen? Happily enough the world is believing with them. Possibly, another Margret Thatcher in the making?

The 44-year-old Chiyelu Onwurah was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, of a Nigerian father from Awka Anambra State and a second generation Irish mother. She is running for the seat being vacated by retiring veteran MP Jim Cousins; who is leaving after 22 years in parliament representing Newcastle central district. The engineer-turned politician, studied Electrical Engineering at the Imperial College of Science and Technology and also holds an MBA from Manchester Business School. Icheoku does not know much about her private life; but it would appear she is a UK version of America's Condolezza Rice, to whom career meant everything; and men and family can wait? And like President Barack Obama of America, Chinyelu Susan Onwurah has an African father and an white mother. Obama's father is Kenyan who married Barack's American white mother while Chinyelu's father is from Nigeria and married Chinyelu's Irish descent white mother.

Chinyelu is among the over 80 blacks and other minority ethnic candidates from the main political parties who are running for office in various constituencies throughout UK in the next election. Icheoku prays that the good Lord who swept President Barack Obama into America's White House will also provide Chinyelu Susan Onwurah the much needed tail-wind to get her into the chambers of the British House of Commons! Admitted that she hardly knows Nigeria, but Icheoku like many other Diaspora Nigerians and people with some connection with Nigeria, are rooting for her success in the forthcoming election. It is one heck of a "can do" spirit in display and she will surely do it! When she wins, it will be a strong message, loud and clear, that the genie let out by President Barack Obama in the most audacious manner, can no longer be put back into the bottle. Once again, congratulations and God's speed, Chinyelu Susan Onwurah! Chinyelu can do it, YES SHE CAN! So vote for Chinyelu Susan Onwurah for parliament!

BENUE STATE, THE BAN OF OGOGORO?

Russia and majority of Eastern Europe is known for their vodka? Scotland is known for their whisky? France is known for their cognac-brandy and bubbly drinks including champagne? California is known for their wines? England is known for their gin? Jamaica is known for their rum? Now therefore, could any government officials of Benue State, Nigeria tell Icheoku what is wrong with Nigeria being known for Benue State's local gin, OGOGORO?

Icheoku says, instead of the prohibition on ogogoro, the government of Benue State should regulate their production, distribution and consumption; and tax the activities as may be deemed appropriate for revenue for the state. Also they can start an out-reach program to educate the locals on the dangers of over-consumption or advise them to dilute the 'pure' alcohol with water before quaffinf them down? There is nothing wrong with any alcoholic beaverage including ogogoro, provided it is consumed as expected; and its prevalence does not in any way result to social disharmony! As was proved in America during the days of prohibition, whenever government seeks or attempts to legislate out such activity, they usually succeed only in driving it underground, thereby creating a source of untold wealth, for men with heart who will then embark on the underworld trade in the product; and like the mafia, will then become ruthlessly wealthy from such racketeering? The solution therefore is to let the sleeeping dog lie, at most regulate and tax it.

According to reports coming out of Benue State, Ogogoro activists in the state have gone to court to challenge the "Local/Illicit Gin (Ogogoro) Prohibition Law 2009" which purports to make illegal, the production, distribution, transportation, possession and consumption of the clear-liquid, the vodka of Nigeria, Ogogoro! Icheoku condemns this thoughtless government's excessive intrusiveness into a purely private affair/sector of the people of Benue state; which activity has been with the people as long as memory could recall, preceeding the state's creation and will sure outlive these present government trying to outlaw it? It is our position that the state should have encouraged rather its present acts of chastisement and indignation of an activity which means a lot for the people. But whether Governor Suswan has signed the legislation into law and what pushed his hands is not yet within our knowledge?

Why disturb this small scale industry which employs quite a handful of Benue State people and saves them so much money as well as foreign exchange which would have ordinarily been spent on imported foreign counterparts? What happened to Nigeria made goods, including drinks and Ogogoro? Did this confused government officials in Benue state think through their action, regarding employment opportunities, and the attendant consequences of the current prohitbition, including the millions engaged in production, distribution, transportation, sales and consumption of the clear-liquid? Where would they now go; and do what? Ogogoro, also known as ethanol, dry gin, moonshine, homebrew, akpeteshe, Sapele water, jembele, Kparaga, kai-kai, push-me-I-push-you, crim-kena, kin-n-kana, Sonsé should just be left alone and not be prohibited. It is highly beneficial for its extensive use and could be another source of revenue generation for the state! With 60% alcohol content, who says this Nigerian homebrew could not be made an export-market product to help generate needed foreign exchange? Also what about the spirits of the land that drink only ogogoro during offerings and brides, whom it is used for their wedding/marriage libation? What will happen to these group of disproportionatly affected people now that ogogoro is prohibited? It is simply not a good law and should be reversed or not signed into law by the governor, if not yet signed! There is no palliative remedy which this law seeks to urgently achieve.

If some people over-dosed on the alcohol and died as a result, so what; after-all it is not the first thing to have ever killed people? People die in airplane accidents yet planes are being manufactured and still flown in? Guns kill people yet gun-manufacturers have not ceased doing business? Food poisoning also kills, so why the fuss about ogogoro killing four alcholics? What needed to be done is to regulate its production to ensure compliance with quality controlled chemical compositions; and dilute and water it down to a tolerable and acceptable percentage may be to about 40%. Just treat it like any other alcoholic beverages from anywhere in the world and there will be peace in the land of ogogoro. That four people died as a result of alcohol poisoning is not enough reason for the wholesale ban of the product; people die everyday and even from motor accidents and yet motor manufacturers are still doing business. To ban ogogoro in this way is not the solution to avoid future poisoning, as it is akin to throwing the baby away with the bath water. It is too broad and so over-reaching; since because of just four deaths, several millions of other ogogoro-loving peoples' happiness is now being mortgaged. The law is just another colonial mentality legislation, which brands everything Nigerian inferior while anything foreign is superior? What is the difference between ogogoro, gin or vodka; but in labelling and their country of origin? Even the process of fermentation and distillation are practically the same; especially with America's moonshine? Pour three of them in a glass cup and you wont know the difference?

But to win the present case, the plaintiffs need to prove more than just 'challenging the powers of the House of Assembly to pass such an unfriendly law?' They will not succeed on this ground since the legislature reserve the right to pass any law which they may deem fit as geared towards maintainingg law and order; and which may generate revenue for the state? The grounds for the action would have been undue economic hardship which would adversely affect their means of livelihood. They could also raise the issue of deprivation of revenue to the state in form of taxes which hey pay on income from their engagement in the ogogoro business? That there is no over-riding public interest for the law; or social disorder the new law is meant to curb or protect against? Further they could generally plead 'unconstitutional and over-reaching as it violated their right to life as it jeopardises their means of livelihood since a hungry man is guarranteed to die of hunger; and such other fanciful forensic grounds as may weigh favorably on their side and persuade the trial judge to see with them.

They can also specifically plead that they are being specifically targeted due to different political viewpoints which they hold against the PDP government of the state? Better still, a political dimension wherein they pursue the matter through the electorates and constituencies might be a better approach? But as far as we know, "the Benue State House of Assembly has the legislative power and competence under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make the law banning the brewing, consumption and trading in Ogogoro or any other alcoholic or intoxicating drink." So, these ogogoro dealers must find another convincing evidence to persuade the court to do their bidding. Admitted that if the new law conflicts with an existing federal legislative list already covered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act 2004, and other relevant laws regulating alcoholic drinks; then maybe, they may have very good ground to canvass untra-vires; provided of course there is no lacunae in the federal law that accommodated the states action?

That ogogoro is cheap, inexpensive and readily available may be a strong point weighing against the drink in the eyes of the Nigerian oppressors, Benue State chapter; who derive joy in seeing the common man suffer and languish in pains? Also may be some foreign alcoholic beaverages manufacturers, smugglers and importers lobbied the legisalture for the ban in order to take over the market, being vacated by the ogogoro dealers? If anything calls for civil disobedience, Icheoku says, this prohibition sure looks like one and the people of Benue State must not allow their government to unduly restrict their use of the only thing that still makes them happy in these days of so much want in motherland. Statistics shows that ogogoro has not killed any more people than any other drinks taken in excess; or even the hardship or road accidents in Nigeria; so why single that out for prohibition? Further, ogogoro has other beneficial use being an anti-cholesterol agent, used in washing pig meat (pork) to reduce the cholesterol level and to prevent arteriosclerosis. It is also used in washing snail and dog meat to remove their slim; Ogogoro is a choice-drink for both the old and the young people of Benue State and a 'good source of energy' to farmers who use it as energy-booster during their farming season? Icheoku says, ogogoro being an 'energy-drink' is somewhat debatable; but hey, we have "Redbull", "Monster-drink", etc; so why not?

According to one commentator, "once the liquor is banned in Benue State, then the sale and consumption will go underground!" Icheoku collaborates this with reference to the moonshine nightmare in the United States of America's Appalachian belt? The good old redneck hillbillies just went further away from civilization, into the caves, taking their moonshine distillery with them? The solution is just regulate the activities, with chemists appointed as inspectors to ensure compliance to quality control and alcohol content of the brew? Organize the indusrty, the state can build cottage industries to harmonize the process of ogogoro distilling with a view to branding it formally, as a sort of gin for both export and local market? Call it "Naija Gin" or "Nigeria Dry Gin" or even "Tiv Gin" if you like; but let Ogogoro be! Leave the 'energy-drink and poor man's viagra' alone!

CATHOLIC CHURCH, WILL THEIR PRIESTS NOW MARRY?

Icheoku asks what happened to our Lord's instruction, "to carry your cross and follow me?" Did the Vatican think through its most recent decision or were they just selfishly being moved by what is in it for their faith? If they want to swallow up the Anglican faith, why must they make such grave concession to permit the inbound flocks to come back with their bags and baggage? Why must they grant the Anglicans' cache-blanc re-admission back into the catholic church; including their priests right to marry?

If Icheoku recalls very well, the Anglican church used to be part of the Roman Catholic Church before monetary matters, St. Peter's pence, drove them out of the fold? It is equally instructive to note that marital preferences and differences, played a major part too in the split between both churches. In 1534 the then King of England, King Henry VIII was refused a marriage annulment, which riled him so much that he bolted away with his subjects to form the English(Anglo)-Catholic church aka Anglican, permanently splitting from the Rome(Roman)-Catholic aka Catholic church. Now the Pope Benedict XVI, desirous of a bigger congregation, is giving them a free passage with all their baggage back to the catholic church?

Icheoku says, if the objective of Vatican is to entice back the Anglican traditionalists, who loathe gays and lesbians and women ordination, how then does the church plan to reconcile the likely priestly-marital friction that will ensue with the celibate catholic priests; who may find such condescension objectionable and unacceptable? According to the Vatican plan, the anticipated change will allow conservative Anglicans from around the world to join the Catholic Church while retaining aspects of their Anglican liturgy and identity, including married priests! So the question remains, what will the celibate catholic priests now do or will they fight for equalisation of the priesthood along a level playing field, sort of?

With an already 1.1-billion strong membership, what the Catholic Church is doing is tantamount to a hostile take-over of the Anglican Communion, coveting the just 77-million-strong Anglican Communion! In the words of one of the protagonists of this marriage of convenience, "this is a moment of grace, perhaps even a moment of history, not because the past is undone but because the past is transformed!" So Icheoku asks, will the catholic priests' compelled celibacy be equally transformed, so that they can now openly keep dates, girlfriends or boyfriends and marry if they choose to. This and only this will complete this current transformation of the past which the church has just embarked on with this unconditional re-admission of the strayed Anglican flock! It is to be noted that Anglicans in United States of America are known as Episcopalians.

Icheoku says, this very Pope Benedict XVI is really up to something earth-shattering! It was just recently that he made a daring move to rehabilitate four formerly ex-communicated ultra-conservative bishops, including one Holocaust-denier; in a bid to bring them back to the catholic fold? Now he is allowing married priests of the Anglican order back to the catholic church, unconditionally and still married? Who knows what next is up his sleeves? But will this new Papal vision, which will allow married Anglican priests and their seminarians to become ordained as Catholic priests while still remaining married, now become a source of friction with those celibate catholic priests who will feel betrayed by the easy accomodation? Could it be a case of the biblical parable of the prodigal son, now come back to life in 2009; with wayward Anglicans now being rewarded to the chagrin of the good old Catholic faithfuls?

However, the proviso that married Anglicans cannot become Catholic bishops seems to be discriminatory, as the bar has no reasonable justification or basis whatsoever; after-all it is those same priests who eventually rose to become bishops. In one heck of grammatical enunciation, the Vatican said, "the new model doesn't create a new rite, but rather an Anglicanized liturgy within the Latin rite?" Icheoku says, what a wonderful syntax and synchronization of words, but will that make it acceptable? Anyway, Icheoku, alongside a dumbfound and doubtful world is watching to see how this marriage of two polar-opposites plays out; but we do not find this latest papal adventure amusing, to say the least. Our verdict is that it might lead to an unmanageable upheaval in the catholic family, especially on the issue of priestly celibacy!

BALLOON OVER COLORADO, A HOAXY JOYRIDE?

He is a Harry Porter look-alike who with his family, conspired to keep the world gasping in prayers for his safety, as a helium filled UFO-like balloon floated over the skies of Colorado; supposedly with him trapped inside?

The cat was somehow let out of the bag when the innocent little boy blurted out on CNN Larry King Live, that they did it for show! In Falcon Heene's very own words, retorting to his dad, he said, "you had said we did this for a show?" His flabbergasted parents were shocked to hear their dark concocted story laid bare and every effort at putting the genie back into the bottle was rather too late; and now the authorities in Colorado are planning a felony charge indictment for the 'gone with the balloon' hoax of the year!

Icheoku says, what would people not do just for their 15 minutes fame and few thousands of dollars from a prospective reality television show?

Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents of the six year old-boy, Falcon Heene are known for their lust for fame and money having appeared in Wife Swap and were allegedly marketing a reality TV show with some studios in Los Angeles? They came up with an elaborate hoax to attract the most airtime free publicity by alarming that their boy had become airborne in a helium filled balloon contraption?

Icheoku says, the bad thing about such hoax as this is that someday, a more serious situation might arise with disillusioned populace and media saying it might just be another hoax thereby loosing some valuable time before help could be summoned.

Now it is being said that the boy may not have even been hiding in the attics as claimed, during the intense five-hour search for him on Thursday, October 16, 2009? Falcon Heene may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park when the whole safety and emergency team Colorado could muster were pursuing a passenger-less balloon, floating high in the skies of Colorado?

The scam temporarily shut down Denver International Airport and caused the National Guard to scramble two helicopters in an attempt to rescue a boy, believed to be trapped inside the flying-saucer like homemade balloon; that coasted more than 50 miles across two counties before finally deflating for a touchdown; but did not produce the object of the find and rescue effort? When the boy was not found, he was thought to have fallen out somewhere along the 50 miles ride and hence began the grim search for his body. The hoax played out on live television to millions of viewers worldwide.

The parents are facing charges including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant. Federal charges were also possible since aviation was implicated leading to the scrambling of two National Guards helicopters to join the find and rescue effort. If convicted, the parents face up to six years in prison and a fine of $500,000.00? Icheoku asks, was it worth it, Mr Richard and Mayumi Heene?

What a way to raise children, teaching their three young boys how to be trained liars and lying to authorities at ages 10, 8 and six? According to reports, the three Heene's sons knew of the hoax and one of them had told authorities that he saw his brother get inside the balloon's undercarriage shortly before it launched into air. However their very young age precludes any charges from being brought against them, being minors.

What a dysfunctional family who craved to live in the limelight so much that they would cause such a global pandemonium just for their selfish interest? All just for lights, camera and action! A crazed-out parents who would readily co-opt their very young children into a scheme of lying to the authorities, in their futile attempt at pulling off the biggest hoax of the century? Icheoku says, shame on you Mr. Richard and Mrs Mayumi Heene!

DELE GIWA, 23 YEARS LATER STILL NO ARREST?

Nigeria we hail thee! Is there really any hope for the future for a country which is still investigating the murder of Dele Giwa, 23 years after his gruesome parcel-bomb killing?

It was October 19, 1986 in Ikeja, Lagos, while taking his breakfast that a parcel bomb, believed to have been sent by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida dispatched him to eternity! Now October 19, 2009; 23 odd years later, his killers have not been found nor any conclusive investigation carried out to unravel his killers and bring them to justice. Dele Giwa was the former founding Editor-in-Chief of NewsWatch magazine!

Regrettably, his colleagues at NewsWatch, the early team of Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohamed sold out on him; and have since moved on; consigning the memory of this their former colleague to the heap of ancient history. Icheoku asks, where is the courage that journalists are known for, and which they are supposed to display at times like this? What happened to the cause for which their former colleague gave up his life, pursuing? Was the alleged Gloria Okon's story that brought IBB's hit-men to town, not meant as a scoop for the then trail-blazing NewsWatch Magazine for which they all stood to benefit from? But good men are often interred with their bones and so was Dele Giwa's, who is now but a blimp in the radar of Nigerians killed, just another Nigerian that once lived. Icheoku says, NewsWatch did not do right by and for Dele Giwa; and because of this, they should be very ashamed of themselves as a bunch of castrated pigs, who joined forces with the killers of Dele Giwa to subvert investigation into his murder!

Nigerian Union of Journalists allowed their colleague's death to go unsung; their colleague was killed and they just turned tails? The judiciary or whatever resembles or represents it in Nigeria today, what are they doing to force proceedings in this gruesome death of a journalist who was just doing his work, trying to unravel the biggest drug-running by a Nigerian army general who was then sitting at Dodan Barracks as a ruling despotic military junta? A self styled evil genius, who has not taken responsibility for this murder, by parcel bomb of Dele Giwa, 23 years after? To Nigeria's Attorney General Micheal Kassie Aodonkaa, Icheoku says, Nigerians have since lost hope in your efficiency and ability to discharge the duties of your office; we have earlier called for your resignation or firing from the job which you have taken down to its lowest ebb ever. Since your inception as the AG, nothing notable or tangible could be attributed to your years in office; not even the death of Bola Ige have you investigated? It is a known fact that you are neck-deep in the corrupt power-play that is Nigerian politics, and would shield the party responsible for Dele Giwa's death at any cost necessary. Therefore there is no need for us to implore you to do something about Dele Giwa's death and investigation since we already know you will not? To the greater Nigerian civil society, another toothless bulldogs, victims of the oppressors of Nigeria state, it would appear that Dele Giwa's death has come to an inconclusive shameful end; as investigation thereto have stalled and deliberately so, just to protect the bloody self-styled prince of Minna!

Icheoku says, shame on these collaborators of Nigeria state, whose hands are dripping with the blood of so many innocent victims of the Nigeria state, including that of Dele Giwa. It shall not be well with you; as every innocent blood shed, like the biblical Cain's brother Abel's, cries to the Lord for redress; and so is Nigeria in turmoil, being punished for the shed blood of all innocent Nigerians. To the octogenarian, aged mother of Dele Giwa, Elekhia Giwa and family, Icheoku says take heart; the Almighty Lord is the rewarder who shall reward each according to his deeds. If IBB is not, cannot and would not be held accountable in Nigeria because he is an untouchable monster, someday he shall and possibly in hellfire! Our dear Dele Giwa, as we remember you today October 19, 2009, on the occasion of your 23 years memorial/remembrance anniversary, we say may your soul remain restless until the bloody murderer is held accountable! Adieu Dele Giwa!

MALDIVES, GOVERNING FROM DOWN UNDER WATER?

A government that will go under water to conduct the affairs of governance just to prove a point, should and must be taken seriously; as what they are crying for touches their very existential soul. Icheoku says, President Mohammed Nasheed of Maldives and his cabinet were exceptionally proactive in graphically and symbolically drawing the attention of the world to their plight, - the possibility that they may soon someday be submerged under water due to effects of global warming phenomenon?

Adorned in scuba diving gears and using hand signals, the government of Maldives held their first underwater executive meeting seating at a conference table on the sea floor, to highlight the threat of global warming to the their country, the lowest-lying nation on earth. The venue for this aquatic government meeting was in a lagoon, off the island of Girifushi, usually reserved for military training; where they were submerged under about 20 feet of water! Icheoku says what an incredible feat to pull off and a logistical nightmare overcame, which took more than just planning to accomplish.

If the objective of this meeting was to draw attention to their fears that rising sea levels caused by the melting of polar ice caps could swamp their Indian Ocean archipelago within a century, Icheoku says, it definitely achieved its objective as the whole world tuned in, watched and listened to the one of a kind first meeting under water surrounded by coral reefs.

The Maldives is a front-line state in the battle against the effects of global warming; which could result in many ocean surges. With some of the islands on the archipelago barely 7 feet above water, Icheoku says, their fears is probably well founded as it will only take a fair surge of tsunami-like water current to wash the island off?In the president's words, "we have to get the message across by being more imaginative, more creative and so this is what we are doing!" Icheoku says, it was as creative as it was well imagined, Mr. President!

As bubbles floated up from their face masks, the president, vice president, Cabinet secretary and 11 ministers signed a document calling on all countries to cut their carbon dioxide emissions. Icheoku says, this is major in view of the upcoming United Nations climate change conference in December 2009 in Copenhagen Denmark. Particpating countries will negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol with aims to cutting the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, that scientists blame for causing global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere?

Pursuant to further securing the future survival of his islands nation, President Nasheed announced plans for a fund to buy a new homeland for his people should the 1,192 low-lying coral islands ever submerge. He also promised to make the Maldives, with a population of 350,000, the world's first carbon-neutral nation within a decade! Icheoku says, taking governance under water is a remarkable feat and hopefully the message has been received by the parties whose actions affect climatic changes! Kudos to President Nasheed of Maldives and his cabinet.

IT IS DEJA VU IN LOUISIANA, NO MIXED MARRIAGES?

Rewind to pre-1967 anti-miscegenation South, when it was 'treasonable felony', punishable by death by public lynching and hanging on a tree branch for some macabre display, for any "nigger" seen messing around with any white girl? That South, with such a dark mindset, still exists today? Albeit without the vagrant exhibitionism of lynched, life-drained bodies dangling from tree branches. That South under advisement appears to remain true in today's 2009 Louisiana!

Anyone in doubt about the continuous existence of that kind of south or generally, racism in America, never visited the deep southern part of America? Better still, that person should continue reading this story; of a Justice of the Peace who would not wed a couple because they are of mixed race? America's deep south, the bastion of racism, which plunged the country into a civil war that claimed the lives of more than 600, 000 Americans because they wanted to retain slavery? Who says that racism is dead in America; no, not really and not even with President Barack Obama election as president?

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way!" With those words, a Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward Louisiana justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell pictured below right in cap and wearing a t-shirt with "got love" written on it; refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple Beth Humphrey, 30, and Terence McKay, 32, pictured here below left, both of Hammond Louisiana. In his attempted insane of an explanation, JP Bardwell said, 'it is my experience that most interracial marriages do not last long; which forces Icheoku to retort, is it mono-racial marriages that lasts long? This is simply a holier-than-thou attitude which has been proved wrong severally in the past. It is the same warped theory which preaches against gay couple raising children, but yet do not find anything wrong with a woman marrying severally and sometimes up to five times, forcing her children to tag along into several step-fathers' homes in the process; and same goes with some men. Further, Mr. Bardwell claimed his refusal to marry the couple was out of concern for their children's place in America?

Continuing, Mr. Bardwell said that he came to the conclusion that 'most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does the white society!' Icheoku yields to this point, since such children are usually accused of either not being black enough or too tanned for comfort?' Recall that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had racially referenced the Obamas as "tanned"?

This is the truth about America and anyone pretending otherwise is being very economical with the truth. Admitted that President Barack Obama is a living example of a successful bi-racial child, and an ambassador of racially mixed marriages; but that alone does not completely wipe out the attached 'stigma' as neither race accepts the 'product-child' as a bona-fide member of their group. Actress Hale Berry has done well for herself too, but how many Hallie Berrys are there in the American society? Admitted that there are mixed marriages and mixed couples practically everywhere, but society still stares down at them as an aberration. Like Rush Limbaugh, JP Keith Bardwell has now also braved a thorny issue, although politically incorrect, but is the real situation in today's America where the color of the skin still matters a lot and makes most, if not all the difference.

The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson was so frustrated with what was going on with race relations in America that he sarcastically tried to find motivation in it with his song "black or white"? The singer had sang "it does not matter if you are black or white;" but Icheoku says, sure it does really matter and greatly too! Now the Justice of Peace in Tangapahoa parish Louisiana, Keith Bardwell, right, has once again proved according to his fellow travelers in days of yore, that "slavery had its merits?"

Continuing, Mr Bardwell said, "there is a problem with both groups (black and white) accepting a child from such a marriage; I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it." In other words, Mr. Bardwell refused to be an instrument used in bringing children to be touted, discriminated against and rejected by a society of color, which is still heavily prejudiced, admitted it is now mainly subterranean. Icheoku says, anyone claiming ignorance of the fact of racism or pretending that "it is so unbelievable" or that "it's not something you expect in this day and age;" is simply speaking with a forked tongue and in denial of the obvious truth prevalent in our society till date.

It is also rather regrettable that this 'no-mixed marriage' decision is happening in America's 2009; forty-two years since the Supreme Court ruling in the 1967 case of Loving vs Virginia, which held "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry?" In the courts own ruling, it said, "Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the state." Icheoku says, it is and will not be the first time people have circumvented a valid subsisting ruling of the Supreme Court in one way or another; as Board of Education vs. Brown has been subverted by private and public schools systems - one for the affluent white majority and the other for blacks and minorities living in the hood?

Mr. Bardwell, who has been a Justice of the Peace for 34 years, concluded "I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it." Sounds logical, it depends on who is judging the judge! "I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves. I feel the children will later suffer." Icheoku queries, could this JP's expressed concerns be genuine, in an American society which is still color phobic? May be, but we find it contradictory, the assertion of Mr. Bardwell that he 'treats everyone as equal.' If this is the case, why not simply marry the "equal" black and white couple or was he saying they were unequally yoked in love? It will be recalled that Tangipahoa Parish is as white and monolithic in racial distribution as you can get with over 70 percent white and 30 percent black and other minorities. But does these facts give Mr Bardwell the right to dictate who one marries? Icheoku says, we don't think so; but he correctly argued his position that he merely declined a service but never barred the couple from marrying!

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, A PRE-EMINENT BANK-DEBTOR?

It is not surprising that Alhaji Abubakar Atiku was among the leeches of Nigeria, who are seating on billions of Naira, unpaid Nigerian banks assets. According to a Central Bank of Nigeria's released report, the former vice-president and now, turned political charlatan, Atiku Abubakar is among those Nigerians who took out various bank loans which they did not intend or planned to pay back? Bank-debtor, Atiku Abubakar owes the sum of 111 million Naira ($730,000 or £450,000) to the banks; and until he pays back this outstanding debt with its accrued interest in full, to the creditor banks, Atiku remains a debtor extra-ordinaire! For trying to hold up a Nigerian bank and refusing to pay back his loan obligation, Icheoku hereby declares Atiku Abubakar a 'debit-daddy emeritus' of Nigerian banks!

It is not surprising at all that Atiku made the bank-debtor list; what is indeed surprising is the name missing on the final published list of politicians and businessmen, behaving badly and using Nigeria's money to feed their gluttonous greed. They have the access and the connection and the power, and they corruptly took advantage of it; enriched themselves by pressuring bank executives into making-out loans they did not intend or plan to pay back; and without properly securing it with adequate collateral. The ways and means of Nigerian men of power; which, were it a civilized, functioning society would have found them wanting, rounded up and put on trial for corruption and abuse of office?

Top on the list of missing person on the bank-debtor list is former Atiku's boss, Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo! He had previously admitted obtaining various bank loans with which he turned around his hitherto moribund 'Obasanjo's Farms'; from a near-bankrupt company with net worth of just about 20,000 Naira in 1999 into the multi billion Naira conglomerate it is today? Icheoku will like to know whether Olusegun Obasanjo has amortised the various debts he owes to some banks; and if yes, how he sourced the money within such a short period of leaving office? Except of course they were proceeds of corruption, which his government, reputedly took to a dizzying heights, becoming 'corruption-incarnate' in the process. So, the news would have been that Olusegun Obasanjo owes banks 100 billion Naira and not that Atiku Abubakar is owing a "misery" 111 million Naira?

Atiku Abubakar was a very corrupt vice president serving alongside an also, very corrupt then president Olusegun Obasanjo. When Gbenga Obasanjo tried to warn Nigerians that Atiku was pawning off Nigerian assets to himself for a pittance, nobody believed he was telling the truth due to the problem existing between his father, the then president Olusegun Obasanjo and his then vice president Abubakar Atiku. Icheoku is not particularly shocked at the amount being owed and outstanding, and by the same man who wanted to rule Nigeria at any and all cost possible? Thanks to the dogged stubbornness and determination of Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo who insisted that 'the Atiku he know cannot, must not and should not be allowed to rule Nigeria because he is very corrupt and might appropriate the entire nation to himself, given the opportunity?' Icheoku usually do not agree with Olusegun Obasanjo, but in this case, says, may be the medicine man of Otta was right in stopping Atiku at the door to Aso Rock!

Therefore Icheoku demands that CBN and EFCC come clean on this man, Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo; and let Nigerians know what kind of person he really is that would visit such magnitude of mayhem on the people of Nigeria? Whether he is also a bank debtor or so corruptly enriched himself that he had no need of any bank loans would have made a better headlines? Icheoku says, if according to reports, this marks the end of the forensic audit of Nigeria's 24 banks and financial institutions; then that would imply that Olusegun Obasanjo is debt-free? It must then be a magic or the end has not been conclusively and thoroughly reached; except President Umaru Yar'Adua is protecting his benefactor! The good news however and which will keep hope alive that possibly Olusegun basanjo will be held accoutable is that the debts to WemaBank, have not been revealed. May be then and only then will Icheoku comment again on this ugly episode of the mess called 'Nigeria financial scandal of the century.'

It is our position that if ever Olusegun Obasanjo comes out of this Nigerian banks scandalous saga, clean like a wind-driven snow, then something must definitely be wrong somewhere; and we shall stand bemused and so will even his most lenient critic. Given that behind every stupendous wealth, there is always a crime; Icheoku says, these billionaires feeding fat on bank money should not be allowed to continue to enjoy the proceeds of their "bank-fraud!" They should pony it up or be locked up; and their assets confiscated and auctioned off, to pay for whatever balance they may still owe with accrued interest, where they fail to pay up as demanded. As a last resort, they should be made to face arrest and trial for their activities? This is the proper thing to do and now is the time to do it; with the fearless prince of Kano still at the helm at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Icheoku appreciates your bravery, taking on these greedy vultures of Nigeria who have been feasting and leeching-off a drowsy sleepy Nigeria and for too long! Kudos to SLS!

FYI:- President Umaru Yar'Adua should consider firing his Culture Minister, Adetokunbo Kayode, for bringing odium to his government; being one of these defaulting debtors implicated; and who refused to meet up and pay back their outstanding loan obligations to these banks.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, AXED!

Hunkered down behind 'the EIB golden microphone with half his brain tied to his back,' KKK poster-man and spokesman extra-ordinaire, Rush Limbaugh, operates as the most divisive and incendiary figure in today's America! He is an epitome of pre-civil rights America Jim Crow and as racists as you can get!

So it was no surprise when NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell said, 'he would not tolerate "divisive" comments from an NFL owner," like the one Rush Limbaugh made about Donovan McNabb in 2003? Denigrating the abilities of McNabb as 'equal opportunity', Rush said, "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well." Icheoku says, possibly Commissioner Goodell has not been listening to the talk-show host-from-hell, otherwise he would have known that Rush Limbaugh is the reservoir of hate speech in America; and has said far more worst things, including against President Barack Obama? With Rush Limbaugh, slavery would have continued till date, since according to his warped deranged thinking, "slavery had its merits?" Icheoku says, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs are the unrepentant and unapologetic faces of racism in today's America; and they sure look like over-riped pumpkins or better still, over-fed pigs for the slaughter!

I plead guilty to listening to Rush Limbaugh over the years now; admitted he has a mastery of the language and have passion for what he does best; but his hatred or aversion for minorities especially blacks is rather too confrontational. Sometimes, one wonders if Rush Limbaugh forgot that before Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the new world that Indians were inhabiting this land; and that the crew and passengers of Mayflower did not obtain any visas or entry permits from the native Indians before their landing. But now he would like to exclude everybody not Anglo-Saxon from the United States of America; and as far as he is concerned, any none European and/or not so paled-skinned person could be shipped back to Africa and wherever nook and crannies of the world that produced them? That is Rush for you! This is a man who would not have none of the good efforts at racially integrating America fully and completely that he once praised slavery as having some merits? And if there is one thing sports was meant to do, it is to help smoothen relations amongst the divergent races involved therein through their constant interactions; but here comes 'Mr. Divisiveness' desiring to buy an NFL team? Icheoku asks, was he planning to fire every person of color involved with the St. Louis Rams or deal with them through proxies of less hating white surrogates?

However Icheoku would have loved to see how this hateful-relationship worked out; with Rush Limbaugh forking out his money to pay the same 'niggers' he constantly derided as thugs, gangsters and druggies? Could he have possibly accepted a bear-hug from any of the 'nigger-player' following a win or worst case scenario, assuming the Rams were to miraculously pull off a championship win and on a victory visit to the White House, would Rush have excused himself from meeting his number one foe, the person he hates most in America, President Barack Obama?

But we may now never know how these different scenarios would have played out; may be the NFL Commissioner did Rush Limbaugh a great deal of favor by forcing his axing now, from the potential buyers of the Rams! Rush, Icheoku says, how about that for science; may be you can celebrate this your firing as a victory, that the world never got the opportunity to see the true racism in you! But if Icheoku had the call, we would have allowed him to buy into the Rams so that he can really feel it - the blackness of American sports! As far as Icheoku is concerned, the worst thing you can do to a hater is to force him or her to share very close quarters or intimate surrounding with his despised. That way you force him to vomit and swallow back his puke; you force him to internally combust and this would have been the best treatment to mete out to Rush Limbaugh.

And so it was that conservative radio talk-show host, Rush Limbaugh was dropped from the group seeking to buy St. Louis Rams. In the words of the chairman of the group leading the effort, St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts, "Limbaugh's participation had complicated the effort; so the group will move forward without him." Icheoku cries holly-macro as Rush Limbaugh has been spared a ton of bricks which his ownership would have landed upon him, by this pronouncement. He would have been allowed into the tigers cage for a feast of red meat! To Rush Limbaugh, Icheoku says, this is not about effort to destroy conservatism or to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative. No it is a rejection of racism, divisiveness, mocking of the sick and infirm, segregation and crass hatred of people of color; as Rush Limbaugh has displayed unabashedly and for so many years now! One wonders how FCC has permitted the venom oozing out of his mouth, over the airwaves and for this long; and continuing? Rush Limbaugh is, simply put, polluting the airwaves and needs to be bottled up and shut off! America is moving forward but the likes of Rush Limbaugh are tugging it back; and this ought and must stop! Yes, Rush Limbaugh's rejection is about the future of the United States of America and the kind of country we're going to have; a country where everyone is treated with respect as full human-beings without regards to skin pigmentation!

Rush Limbaugh had thought he could talk himself out of the tight corner, where his past collided with his present desires to box him in, but not this time! Overwhelming evidence said 'NO'! Trying to pull a hare out of his hat, he said, "I'm not even thinking of caving, I am not a caver. Pioneers take the arrows. We are pioneers. It's a sad thing that our country, over 200 years old now, needs pioneers all over again, but we do."

Rush, Icheoku says you overestimated yourself and underestimated the tenacity and resolve of your opponents, for which you have taken the boot in the rear now! One of the biggest mistakes people with such bloated sense of self make, is being too cocky-sure they are just that good and too good to fail. Rush made that mistake by not taking a fall, apologising for his past intrasigencies as a harmless show-business induced diatribes, which were just for ratings sake; and not a true reflection of himself? He would have sold a dummy that even his assistant Snugly is a black-man, which shows that he does not hate black people that much; but no, instead he tried to justify what is unjustifiable; and in some cases even tried to deny he ever said what are on record as his uncontroverted statements. In the words of one leading face of black-activism in America, Al Sharpton, "it is a moral victory for all Americans — especially the players that have been unfairly castigated by Rush Limbaugh. This decision will also uphold the unifying standards of major sports."

It is gratifying that Rush Limbaugh has once again failed, having failed several times in the past and even very recently. He cost Republicans their mid-term elections in 2002; again in 2004 and the final whammy in 2008, when they lost all three governments outposts of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives which they hitherto held. He also pushed the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney and he failed woefully; he adopted the air-head of Alaska Sarah Palin and she cost John McCain the presidency. So in a way, America have understood the buffoonery of this racist pig and no longer take him seriously, being the hateful clown he is. Now he has become one heck of an ignominious loser! One thing bad with losers is that nobody wants to be associated with them; and very soon Rush Limbaugh's chickens will come home to roost; but may be then it would be too late for him to change course! Icheoku says, what an irony that Rush Limbaugh who just recently called for the segregation of school buses, now wants to buy a desegregated National Football League's Saint Louis Rams? Surely, this is a man at war with himself and who challenges his destiny by pushing the envelope too far!

FYI:- Icheoku thinks Rush Limbaugh looks better in his former exploding 'Michelin-tire man' image. Whoever advised him on this new trim-look does not know what Rush stands for, as his former 'Snowball-piggish' look suits him better for his Klan image. So Rush, go back to chowing down more steaks, chips and potatoes; downing them with beers of all sorts. For Rush Limbaugh, gluttony is better!

MARIA SHRIVER-SCHWARZENEGGER, BREAKING THE LAW?

Her husband is the governor of California, so? She is a Kennedy, and? She broke the law and that is the gist of this moment. A law brought into being, courtesy of her husband's 'governator' signature! Should she be held accountable, you bet; at least as a poster-lady for driving while talking on the cellphone without hands-free set! Yep, that is the malady her husband's signed law was meant to checkmate and look who is not in compliance, the first lady of California, Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger.

Courtesy of the trail-brazing celebrity-watchdog, TMZ, Maria SS was caught with her pants down, holding and probably talking on her cell phone with one hand, while pushing a 3-ton beast, a Cadillac Escalade SUV, with her other spare hand? It is just not right, it does not show a good example; admitted no CHP or other police officer was there to pull her over and ticket her, she should do the right thing, pony up a fine? Icheoku says, in the spirit of the letters of the law signed by her husband, Arnold; and as a role-model for her many fans and admirers, as well as her 'subjects', the people of California and their visitors, who are supposed to obey the law under advisement, Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger should send in her check for a calculated penalty for driving without a hands free-set, to the appropriate agency.

It is the right thing to do and her not being caught, should not provide her an excuse for escaping the penalty. At least TMZ caught her and even on tape. She is California's first lady and a Kennedy, that alone makes her a role model to so many Californians and therefore she should show leadership by example and pay a calculated fine. Icheoku says, Arnold's threatened 'swift action of going to ask his wife not to hold the phone while driving' is not what the law said. The law said do not drive and talk without a hands-free set; and that is exactly what Maria SS just did, so she should be held accountable for breaking the law, period!

According to the law, effective July 2008, California drivers shall use a hands-free device when talking on cell phones when driving. Could it be any more elaborate than this, Icheoku does not think so; and the over 150,000 citations already issued by the CHP and others from local police; the offenders fines of $20, $50 and other additional fees already in the kitty should not be in vain or sacrificed on account of Maria SS. It is also instructive that her Brentwood Los Angeles place of infraction even ups the fines to $93 for the first ticket and $201 for the next one. If as alleged, this is her third time of breaking this law, then she should be owing about $495 to her husband's nearly broke State of California? So as a good citizen and role model, as well as the First lady of California, Maria SS should send her check for $495 or as may be otherwise calculated to the appropriate state agency in fees and charges for her infractions!

Icheoku says, if Maria and Arnold's 16 year old daughter could be threatened that she would hop on buses, were she to ever violate the law; may be Maria SS will equally be a good sight for tourists, perched on one corner of a city transit bus while running her errands? Call it one heck of making a statement, if you like? Further, since Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger is now a 'repeat-offender,' and in view of California's three strikes law, this being the third time she was caught breaking the same law, may be the privileges of her yapping on the cell phone should be suspended, albeit temporarily? Three strikes and you are out, so MARIA SHOULD BE OUT! Alternatively, she should drop the phone or get a driver or take the limo!