BUHARI AND ATIKU, GIMMICKRY OF A NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT?

Nigerians, Icheoku urge you not to believe the hype that these two despicable and desperate men are what the doctor ordered for Nigeria at this particular time. Whatever you do, please do not fall into their trap, do not buy the fake goods they are selling because both are spent corrupt people who can only do more harm than good to Nigeria! Their souls are restless and a restless mind cannot direct a restless Nigerian society; therefore they must be stopped by any means necessary before or at the gates of Aso Rock.

According to Governor Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, it is an Islamic tenet, perspective and guidance on the selection of leaders, that those who desperately seek leadership should not be considered for leadership positions!” Icheoku says, Governor Babangida spoke very well for Nigerians and Nigerians must hearken to him and reject this duo as too desperate for any leadership position again! We categorically state that 'never in the history of Nigeria has anybody been this desperate for power as is the case with Muhammadu Buhari and his fellow traveller, Atiku Abubakar? Regrettably, both are supposedly Muslims but chose to ignore the injunction on leadership desperation. The crucial question is why the desperation, especially of Muhammadu Buhari whose 'terroristic-tenure' at Dodan Barracks left so much to be desired and the memory is still sore. What about Atiku Abubakar, who was described by a person who should know and a former boss as "too corrupt to be allowed to preside over the affairs of Nigeria?" What a damning referral indeed. As for Atahiru Bafawara, Icheoku will not waste precious time discussing such a localised politician of Sokoto State without any tangible or reasonable national stature and/or presence. We shall therefore, confine our discussion here on Buhari and Atiku; and their mad quest to wrestle power once again. The premise being that they were once there but did not render any worthy account of their stewardship.

So we ask, what is the hullabaloo that these two conniving and contriving despicable men are once again scheming to weasel their way back to power. Should Nigerians allow them to again get hold of the levers of power? The answer is a resounding big NO, except of course they want to do it at a great peril to whatever holds and keeps them together as one state? The duo of Buhari and Atiku are not what any moderate Nigerian should wish for the country and particularly not this time when there is a continuing seismic movement on the tetronic plates of the Nigeria state. Icheoku warns Nigerians to be very wary of these strangely odd bed-fellas who are both as deceitful as they are conceited! They tried in 2007 to ride on the back of the South East into power but failed and they were advised against the futility of over-challenging the charade that put President Umaru Yar'Adua in office but they will not listen to any counselling until the resulting disgrace at the Supreme court. Atiku Abubakar is the worse of the two regarding the election challenge because he is himself a master-rigger who twice rigged himself with Obasanjo into power in 1999 and 2003; and you wonder why his complaint in 2007? Now that the election of 2011 is around the corner, both men have made a u-turn to the South West seeking their 2011 bride in the waiting. Where were both men when one of them, the midget of Kano, Sani Abacha was methodically exterminating the people of Yoruba of the South West? But for these men to now go back to the same land of Oduduwa seeking their hands in political marriage towards 2011 smacks of a desperate desire from Hell to step into Nigeria's White House or Black House aka Aso Rock, This should raise every Nigerian's sixth-sense and we shout from the roof-top of our existence, it is very ominous!

What Buhari could not do while he had all the dictatorial, unquestionable powers of a military maximum ruler, he now wants to attempt to do as a civilian president? A dispensation which must defer to the wishes of Nigerians, by listening to their representatives at the National Assemblies? Olusegun Obasanjo proved to Nigerians that once a dictator always a dictator, and that a soldier is always a soldier; which by implication, means that a Buhari will not be any different.

Which Nigerian wants to go once again, through the experience of the hellish eight years witnessed under Olusegun Obasanjo infamy? Definitely not those ones we know and we bet you are thinking the same. A man who would kill Barthlomew Owo and two others for an offence which they committed before it was made a death penalty offence? This highly emaciated-looking angry army man from Daura Katsina State, promulgated a death decree after Batholomew and co had already been arrested for illegal drugs dealing and retroactively applied same to their case; and executed them despite deafening outcry against the injustice of such retroactive death-decree? But like the trait he displayed when his political party ANPP counselled against going to court to challenge the election of President Umaru Yar'Adua, and went ahead anyway, he did not listen then. A typical Islamist fundamentalist, Buhari does not accommodate differing viewpoints since he believes he is directly wired to his Allah who talks directly to him and directs his actions. Nigerians you are warned, be very scared and wary of Muhammadu Buhari because he is not a civilian nor a democrat and desperation to get back to power tells a lot about his intention. He may not only embark on Islamisation of Nigeria but may re-introduce his signature draconian actions such that every Nigerian would desperately wish and pray for the "good-old" days of Olusegun Obasanjo to come back?

Buhari's co-traveller in this self-effacing journey of no convictions, Atiku Abubakar is another Nigerian, who were Nigeria a functional country, would have since been locked away and forgotten in a prison cell somewhere in Nigeria desert north. His friend in the United States, former Louisiana congressman William Jefferson is awaiting sentencing and possibly could go away for a very very long time for alleged business deals with Atiku Abubakar? Whether he has paid back his overdue bank debt to Nigeria banks, Icheoku does not know; but suffice it to say that any man who would use his privileged position to take out loans he did not intend to pay back until forced by the public odium that unearthed his indebtedness, might as well not be good for a Nigeria leadership.

Atiku helped rig Olusegun Obasanjo and himself to power twice in 1999 and 2003 respectively; and now he is preaching democracy and ganging up to steal power if need be? Icheoku says, if only President Umaru Yar'Adua had guts, he would have since arrested and tried these two men for breach of public peace or even treasonable felony for unnecessarily creating public tension in the land? Both men have severally increased apprehension in Nigeria by categorically stating publicly that Nigeria is a failed state which may soon cease existing? If this is not enough to cause apprehension and panic amongst Nigerian citizens, then nothing known to Icheoku has such capabilities. These two men's sordid past say a lot about the kind of bleak future they will bequeath on Nigeria if allowed or given the opportunity; therefore, they must and should not be allowed to venture back near the presidency! Both men have ulterior motive for so desperately seeking and coveting the office of the presidency of Nigeria and must be stopped forthwith.

While addressing his NDI, Muhammadu Buhari said, "The leaders of the new movement are propelled by the need to urgently salvage the Nigerian nation from collapse and are left with no option than to answer the call of duty “and accept the burden of history” and initiate and give leadership to a process of extensive consultation on the way forward. The emerging coalition is hinged on the principles of federalism and multi-party liberal social democracy and “we believe in and will always promote laissez-fair economic policy that is fully grounded in state welfarism.” Like the South Carolina hillbilly, Icheoku screams, You Lie!

First of all, you are not a known democrat but an unrepentant mean dictator who killed innocent people based on a retroactive decree. You also recently would not listen or accommodate a different opinion on your former party's way forward. You also allowed your then ADC Major Jokolo to bring into Nigeria 53 suitcases which content nobody knows; while you were pontificating and prosecuting your then war against indiscipline (WAI). Buhari, Icheoku says, may be you can start your democracy initiative and movement by first apologising to Nigerians for your coup against democracy in 1983? Thereafter, apologise for the affront on rule of law for killing three innocent Nigerians based on a retroactive decree? Following which you then pay compensation to the families of Bartholomew Owo and co; and finally explain to Nigerians the content of those 53 suitcases. Do this for your absolution, and then may be, Nigerians will be prepared to hear what you want to tell them.

The consolation for Nigerians however is that none of these 'conspirators' ganging up under the National Democratic Movement (NDM) has any serious followership in Nigeria anymore; as would be a cause for serious concern? They are all marooned politicians trying desperately to find some degree of relevance in today's Nigerian polity and invent one if need be? Luckily enough, Nigerians have severally in the past told these two men, thanks but no, thanks! But like an old penny nobody wants they keep recycling themselves back into national discuss each time.

But just for the heck of it, lets sift through the pile of spent Nigerian politicians in this movement:- who is Atahiru Bafarawa, Olorunnimbe Mamora, Prince Tony Momoh, Tonye Princewill, Ben Obi, Olu Falae, Duben Onyia, Mike Ahamba, Great Ogboru, Usman Bugaje, Buba Galadima, Tom Ikimi, Lawal Keita and Supo Soyibare among the others to cause sleeplessness in Aso Rock? Our answer is none, as they all appear to be nomadic political leftovers seeking for some fodder and shelter? Of all the poeple in Western Nigeria, only old man Olu Falae of the the SAP notoriety could they mobilize? From the Niger Delta South-South, of all the people there only the man whose government killed Ken Saro Wiwa, while he was serviving as then foreign minister, Tom Ikimi and a coup plotter Great Ogboru are all they could mobilize? And when you check the people with some followership from the north, only Bugaje and Bafawara were their best options? From the South East, Dubem Onyia; and you ask yourself which followership does this Dubem of a man command in his Enugu State or even village, talkless of the entire South-East? And same goes with Senator Ben Obi and Lawyer Mike Ahamba too? The NDM conveners are really very serious indeed, except they only allowed 'yes people' who will not constitute a barrier to their selfish ambition to rule Nigeria at any and all cost payable? Echoing the PDP, Icheoku agrees that "these participants are adventurers and an assembly of bad loosers with unstable agenda and futility of ambitions."

Icheoku reiterates the alert of PDP "on the “instability of character of the principal conveners of this charade who have consistently displayed a lack of principle, discipline and patriotism by their nomadic political nature." Instead of trying to reinvent and rebuild their already formed and existing political parties the Action Congress (AC) with two states and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) with five states, these charlatans, Muhmmadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar are busy trying to create a private fiefdom where their words are the command and where they will not have any strong voice to question their dictates? Nigerians should first find out why these despicable men abandoned the ship of their respective parties AC and ANPP and are now venturing out again to form a new political party? What went wrong with where they were previously making the need for a new one suddenly imperative? Could someone out-there please help Icheoku tell these guys that democracy is about dissenting opinions!

Icheoku predicts that the NDM if it makes it into a full fledged party will eventually split into two groups, along the fault-lines of Buhari and Atiku? Like 'the moribund Mega Party idea that found itself embroiled in mega confusion,' the NDM will soon find itself being tugged apart by the irreconcillable conflicting interests of Buhari and Atiku? In the words of PDP national chairman Vincent Ogbulafor, “surely they shall gather, but surely they shall scatter because they are strange bed mates.” Icheoku says, the PDP chairman spoke wisely and correctly articulated both men as the strangest of all strange bedfellows ever to seek to forge a common alliance in Nigeria? Both Buhari and Atiku have different character, personality, temperament and political background; such are the glaring disparities that Icheoku queries, how can oil and water easily mix and very well?

Icheoku asks, what does these two men know which the rest of Nigerians does not about the "imminent or impending total collapse of Nigeria into a failed state?" May be the SSS and other security agencies of the government should invite them or take them in for questioning? If the country did not collapse during Biafra or when the infamous midget of Kano, Sani Abacha, attempt to kill off Nigerians of the South-West, Icheoku says, never again and not a million man army of Buhari and Atiku combined can accomplish that now. Their needless fear mongering is just to make Nigerians capitulate and in their fear call for their knight in shinning armour to come and rescue save them? What a weapon of fear-mongering being deployed by these men to force a concepted situation into play and for their benefit.

Icheoku says, the present shenanigan of the duo is not borne out of any patrotic zeal or sincere attempt to forestal a possible collapse of Nigeria; no, it is out of their selfish feeling of self-importance, which both men have arrogated to themselves, that they cannot be ignored or permanently consigned into the dustbin of political irrelevance in Nigeria. So, they have to scream lungful that Nigeria is on the verge of collapse; but does anyone in today's Nigeria really care if Nigeria goes to hell in a hand's basket?

Now listen to Atiku Abubakar addressing his NDM gathering, “That is why a number of us Nigerian leaders have come together to try to build a broad mass-based movement of committed democrats and patriots to save this country from imminent collapse. We must leave behind a country that our children would be proud of; a country whose best and brightest do not have to run to other countries in order to find good education and well-paying and professionally and personally fulfilling jobs; a country where citizens will be free to move about without the fear of being kidnapped; a country whose leaders understand the centrality of electrical power, education and health in economic development and job and wealth creation; a country whose citizens do not have to take up arms in order to secure justice and equity; a country whose leaders would be found in the company of other world leaders as they try to deal with the key challenges facing the contemporary world.” Icheoku says, easier said than done; this is the same Atiku Abubakar who with Olusegun Obasanjo sent Nigeria adrift for eight long hellish years, now trying to cash in on the very short memory Nigerians are notorious for? When was his epiphany, that he now preaches democracy that Nigerians can believe in? Icheoku says, do not believe the hype of a marooned politician still seeking relevance in his enstranged island of political oblivion! What a gimmickry of the highest order!

The irony of this gang up is that it is just Katsina, Sokoto and Adamawa that are represented in this "Operation Save Nigeria National Democratic Movement?" If indeed it is national in outlook as its name seem to suggest, why the geographical restriction of the major stake-holders to just north east and north west; with the remaining four geographical belts in Nigeria sitting in the lurch? Icheoku surmises that it is just another vanguard of divergent northerners desperately scheming for relevance and playing their usual political chess game against the rest of Nigerians? They are so infatuated with power that whatever gets it for any of them, is oh well and dandy and including the devil? If it is a national opposition to the seating PDP, what happened to the rest of the opposition? Why did they not invite Ikemba Ojukwu's APGA or Orji Uzor-Kalu's PPA or even the Labour Party to give them that sense of a Nigeria that is more inclusive? No, they are just looking for 'yes men and women' to dominate and ride their backs back to power. But they shall be disappointed as Nigerians have known what this two men, Buhari and Atiku represent and their gang-up shall not be allowed to prosper but shall woefully fail. Our advise is for this two men, Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, to just quit politics and disappear from the Nigerian political scene for good; they now constitute avoidable nightmarish eyesores just like Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida!

OASIS OF THE SEAS, A BEHEMOTH OF A CRUISE SHIP!

Icheoku welcomes the mother of all cruise boats, The Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise boat ever made as it makes its maiden voyage to sea, en-route Florida. Just when you thought that it cannot get any bigger, science and technology says, not just yet!

At a cost of $1.5 billion and standing about 20 stories high, the ship is five times larger than the world famous ill-fated Titanic. It is nearly 40 percent larger than any present day biggest cruise ship still sailing the seas of the world.

Oasis of the Sea which was built by STX Finland for Royal Caribbean International Florida USA; has seven neighborhoods, an ice rink, boutiques, restaurants, bars, four swimming pools, a golf course, a 750-seat outdoor amphitheater, a 1,300 guests indoor theater, volleyball and basketball courts, a youth zone with theme parks and nurseries for children. It also has 2,700 cabins and can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew members.

Icheoku says, what a behemoth floating city on the seas, brought to fruition through the ingenuity of the human brain. Safe sailing Oasis of the Sea!

GAVIN NEWSOM, SIMPLY TOO LIBERAL FOR CALIFORNIA?

It is with sadness that Icheoku received the news of the sudden withdrawal of the Democrat governorship candidate wanna-be and mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, from the race. We say with sadness because on the surface, Gavin looked like the ideal candidate for a California governor, both in his looks and progressive brand of politics; but it would appear that California may not really be what it appears to be and hence Gavin's bid could not take flight. Gavin Newsom, a man who I have personally met, shook his hand and had a conversation with; appeared and sounded like a man with the right type of vision for California. But like all tides of men, he possibly came ahead of his time as California is not yet liberal enough to give a safe passage to their governor's lodge, a man who thinks and acts like Gavin Newsom. This unreceptive crowd of Californians forced Gavin's hands and he jumped-out; what a sudden exit!

To many uninformed observers, California is a very liberal state? But to those who know better, California is not just the Bay Area of Northern California, the home of unapologetic liberal politics. To the informed mind, California is geographically, politically and religiously three states lumped into one, technically speaking? There is the liberal San Francisco Bay Area Northern California and some parts of Los Angeles 'state'; there is the conservative San Diego area of Southern California including some outer areas of Los Angeles 'state'; and then the Modesto to Sacramento hinterland valley-axis of ultra right wing conservatism 'state!' That is the nature of a state which has been intra-fighting itself to death over practically every issue; and goes both ways in its electioneering politics. Republican and Democrats alike, can win elections into California's governorship lodge anytime one of them out-mobilizes the other. The same State that produced Nixon, Reagan, Djukemejian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the father and son Brown duo, Gray Davis as governors, a mixed-bag of both parties. California is notorious for always dragging issues out as disparate people who populate the various parts of the state always have different things they would rather is done with the state's money. So now you know why the squabbles and sometimes shutting down of government that constantly goes on in Sacramento? That is the nature of the state that Gavin Newsom tried to woe for her governorship, but which gave him a cold shoulder, forcing his sudden exit from the endeavour.

His campaign ran out of steam so early that to continue in the face of what was obvious would have been foolhardy; - no cash and no favorable opinion polls, the two most import must-haves in American electioneering politics. He has the looks and the gait, I have met him, but that alone was not sufficient as was proved in the past with the defunct pretty face and good haired Senator John Edward's presidential campaign? To be successful, one must in addition have the needed 'mojo' which cash-money and high favorable ratings provide, which supplies the needed air beneath the wing of politics. Icheoku asks, but why did Gavin Newsom's campaign flop-out so early in the game since we refuse to buy into the political-speak, in which he tried to explain away why he aborted and called off the effort as family and city hall issues-related?

In Gavin Newsom's own words, "With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to - and should be - done?" Icheoku says, what a typical politician not forthcoming with the truth and real reason why he hurriedly threw in the towel? He met and married Ms. Jennifer Siebel, got her pregnant and now have a daughter with her; so he had always known that he has a 'young family' before he stepped forward to offer himself to serve. He is also the elected 2nd term mayor of San Francisco and so fully aware of the 'responsibilities of the City Hall' long before he threw his hat into the ring? It is also not for 'lack of time' that Gavin pulled out, no, as he was fully aware and possibly anticipated the rigorous time-consuming effort a governorship run would be in California before he said, please send me to Sacramento! He is not a political neophyte, after-all he was a former supervisor and now in his second term as a Mayor, so he had a good insight on what demand on his time the governorship run will entail? Somebody is not telling all here. Icheoku postulates, it was because Gavin Newsom found out that he is not marketable in a state-wide election in California; and that no investor was willing to part with his cash and burn it in an un-winnable candidate, that forced him to abruptly end his sputtering campaign!

It was the same virus that killed-off opposition to Prop 8 that also fatally afflicted his campaign effort - his advocacy for an unfettered right for gay men and women to freely marry! Gavin Newsom instantly became a polarising political figure in California the day, the hour, the minute and the second he declared 'whether you like it or not, gay marriage is here to stay' and threw the gates of San Francisco City Hall open for the flood of marriage of homosexuals witnessed in 2004. The conservatives and christian right wings Californians saw him as drawing a line on the sand and immediately marked him for elimination, politically. Having earned the title of their 'Enemy Number 1,' all their resources and battle tanks were trained on him ever since, waiting for any opportunity to exact their vengeance; including his now failed governorship-run. First they pushed Proposition 8 through; and have fought off every attempt to overturn it ever since up to the states Supreme court and the legislature. They have the money and political muscle to do a duel with Gavin Newsom and now that he has quit his governorship bid, is it a fair assessment to say the christian right wing Californians have extracted their pound of flesh? But where were the GBLT with their money and why did they not fiercely back a Gavin Newsom, trying to become governor of California and most likely would have signed into law their right to marry? Why did the gays, bisexuals, lesbians and trans-genders of California not reciprocate a well earned favor to a guy who placed all his future political aspirations on the line just to help them gain the right to marry whoever they chose and love. Where was the quid-pro-quo? Why did they fail to rally around his effort at the governorship? Why did they abandon Gavin Newsom in his greatest hour of need, forcing him to jump ship mid stream with his quest for California's governorship?

Further, former President Bill Clinton's recent endorsement may have done-in Gavin Newsom's governorship aspiration. That blessing of Clinton may have served to remind many California's Obama supporters that this Gavin Newsom went rogue and pitched his tent with the Democrat old brigades during the last Democrat presidential primaries when he sided with Hillary Clinton instead of his fellow youthful and ebullient Barrack Obama. Could this endorsement have proved lethal to his now botched campaign by provoking a people still seething at Gavin Newsom for then taking the wrong side, who now decided to pay him back by maintaining a deaf ear to his message and not opening their wallets for his campaign effort? Icheoku believes that Gavin Newsom, a youth, erred in not supporting a fellow youth, then aspirant Barack Obama and that it played a major role in his campaign loosing traction, derailing and finally ending in its today's moribund state. Californians could not have technically rejected him because they considered him too young or over-ambitious since youth is now in, and they overwhelmingly voted for President Barack Obama!

The only consolation is that he is still young and may be appointed into a position in the future or wait long enough for Dianne Feinstein to quit politics and Nancy Pelosi upgraded to the senate, so that he may try his hands in an opened house of representative seat. His political territory now, for all intent and purpose, appears restricted and confined only to the Bay Area of Northern California where his views, vision and brand of liberal progressive politics are shared by the majority. But his chances at a state-wide office seems diminished; but at least he still have a job, being the mayor of San Francisco which will subsist till January 2012.

Whatever he chose to do thereafter, Icheoku wishes him good-luck; but the two decisions he made which made him a polarising political figure in California will haunt him for a long time if not forever. His unabashed support for gay marriage and not supporting President Barack Obama during the primaries are two errors of judgment which any clever politician would rather wish he never made. In politics, every action has its consequences and although they may seem forgiven but are never forgotten. His attempt to suddenly portray himself as a candidate of change and largely targeting his appeal to young voters with a heavy Internet presence and online fundraising failed because when the youths were pushing through the brick-wall of the establishment Democrats trying to get Obama through during the last primaries, he abandoned the bloc and went with the old hacks - the then Hillary Clinton squad. Now he wanted to reap where he did not sow, invoking a bloc of the Democratic party he never identified with during the primaries and he got a resounding rejection! With a Field Poll showing him 20-points below his prospective rival, who has not even declared his intentions; and a war chest also suffering 7 to 1 disadvantage; he had no option but to throw in the towel and quit. Icheoku believes that he did the right thing by deciding not to spend the next seven months in a primary contest he couldn't win. It is our well considered position that anybody thinking that Gavin would have done otherwise, is not a calculating person and must be living in the land of wishful thinkers. At least the smarts in him correctly read the political landscape and he decided to cut his losses and run away, which is the only meaningful thing to do under the circumstances and he just did that. We wish him the best of luck.

One of the lessons of the now defunct Gavin Newsom's attempted run for the governorship of California is that California is not as liberal as it appears to be; and also that San Francisco and Los Angeles areas do not correctly reflect California. Any attempt to try to read California using data collated from these two geographical areas would most likely result to a faulty statistical sampling as they do not correctly represent the entire California landscape. Gavin's rejection also shows that hot-button issues like gay marriage should not constitute any politicians mantra, but should be merely caressed by such politician who still have plans for future state-wide office. Finally it marks the end of the political gravitas of former President Bill Clinton, a man who could not even put his wife Hillary into the White House; and now his endorsement of Gavin Newsom could not provide the shot in the arm needed to avoid the end which was just witnessed. But whether Gavin Newsom was simply too liberal or too radicalised for governorship of the state of California, Icheoku cannot categorically state, but his rejection does not sure look good for obtrusively liberal progressive politics in a motley, diverse, varied and multi-cultured state like California. Once again, good-luck Gavin with all your future endeavors!

AS BODE GEORGE REPORTS TO KIRIKIRI, ANY LESSONS LEARNED?

Icheoku have for so long, resisted the temptation to join the lynch-mob, calling for the head of Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George over his 'dereliction of duty' while overseeing the affairs of the Nigerian Ports Authority as its chairman from 2001 to 2003? Total tab involved is said to be about 85 billion naira? He was not accused of stealing the sum or misappropriate it for himself; no, his crime was 'by-passing the Hausa-Fulani man in charge of the Ministry of Transportation to award such a huge contract?' Really? So their thinking was, 'how dare you develop such an independent-streak and audacity not to get a clearance from us, the Hausa-Fulani overlords of Nigeria before discharging the duties of your office? Chief Bode George is a southerner, from Yoruba west; so what gave him the impetus to act without first checking with the feudalistic north, before awarding contracts of such amount? This is the crux of the matter, the big deal for which he was indicted and now sentenced?

Icheoku does not carry water for Chief Bode George and our disdain for his then boss, Olusegun Obasanjo and aversion to corruption is of general knowledge. But what we are against is using someone of his personality as a sacrificial lamb to show a pretended appetite to fight corruption by the north controlled EFCC, Ministry of Justice and the Presidency? The heat is on them after Hillary Clinton's umbrage, to prove that Nuhu Ribadu was not removed simply because of his 'effectiveness and that he was over-reaching into forbidden territory' but that Madam Farida is as well competent? If Bode George had corruptly enriched himself with the 85 billion naira sum in question, Icheoku would have called for his being tied at a stake and with a barrage of lead, dispatched to the world hereafter. So the question is why would Bode George be imprisoned for just 'doing the right thing but following a wrong procedure;' when so many northerners, looters of the national treasury are oppressively holding sway in the country with wealth stolen from the national treasury with impunity and suffered no consequence as a result?

Who have held Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida accountable for all that he took from the Nigerian coffers particularly the $12 billion Gulf war oil windfall? Who has held Abdulsalam Abubakar accountable for the 16 billion naira power supply contract which he failed, refused or neglected to execute after collecting 91.1% of the contract sum as mobilization fees thereto? Who held Muhammadu Buhari accountable for the $2.8 billion missing oil money which he helped himself with when he was NNPC chairman under Olusegun Obasanjo's first missionary journey to Nigeria's seat of power at Dodan Barracks? Who has held Atiku Abubakar accountable for all that he stole while at Nigerian customs and excise and as vice president of Nigeria? Who held Senator Jubril Aminu accountable for the $12 million dollars SIEMENS bribery scandal? What about Olusola Saraki and FESTAC 77 and the unbridled looting that was witnessed then purchasing buses and coaches at hyper-inflated prices? Should we talk about NPN's Umaru Dikko and the scandalous rice contracts he embarked on as Transport Minister during Shehu Shagari's lacklustre government of yore? Barkin Zuwo's bedroom banking of state's money is still fresh in memory? How about the sugar merchant Aliko Dangote and the list of other northerners bilking Nigeria goes on and on ad infinitum! And if that was not already enough pilfering, recall that Nigeria has recieved as income an amount in excess of $700 billion dollars since coming of age in 1960 and that northerners has been in charge for more than 39 of Nigeria's 49 years of existence, so where is the money, Nigerians? So why Chief Bode George?

The gist of the matter is that all Nigerian public officials have sinned and fallen short of glory; so it does not make sense to just single out Chief Bode George under the circumstances just because some uncircumcised northerners said so! Admitted that some apologists will refer Icheoku to the last name of the judge who convicted the NPA6 to say it does not sound northern; but to this group we say, the north have perfected playing southerners against one another. But who the heck are these northerners that preach holier than thou, when their only job or clearly defined business/means of livelihood is fleecing and scheming Nigerian coffers; either as ten per-centers or brazenly dipping their filthy hands inside the coffers of the Nigerian treasury? Chief Bode George is corrupt and so what; at least that was not the charge for which he was tried and now stands convicted? Is he the first or only corrupt person in Nigeria and why not start with the north whose penchant for stealing from the government in Nigeria is widely acknowledged? If really Chief Bode George is corrupt and 'embezzled' 85 billion naira, why only the two years imprisonment slap on the wrist sentence? Where in such pitiable sentence lies the deterrence? Where is the intended statement that corruption is frowned at, being made by such conviction and punishment? What amount was he asked to refund back to the government as restitution? How many of his assets were confiscated or seized or asked to be forfeited? In short, the sentence does not fit well or support a crime 'committed' by Chief Bode George and Icheoku encourages an appeal under the circumstances.

In a more advanced and law-abiding country, where deterrence is always the objective of judicial punishment, a person who messed with 85 billion naira and was convicted on 47 counts out of 63 counts charges, will not just receive a mere two years imprisonment? No, such sentence as was handed down here is apologetically infinitesimal and proves there was more than met the eyes. What about two years each for every billion naira resulting to a total of 170 years? How about two years for each count resulting to 94 years? What about ten years for each one billion resulting to 850 years behind bars? Talk of deterrence and the United States of America proudly comes to mind of a place where criminals often receive 1000 years imprisonment; and politicians alike such as the former Louisiana governor who is serving 400 years imprisonment for embezzling $400,000 dollars? Also remember the imprisoned Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham of Southern California who had everything with his name on it or some semblance of his ownership taken from him and auctioned off; from a Rolls-Royce to floor carpets just to make reparation for his corrupt enrichment? Such is what we are talking about and which Icheoku envisages for a Nigeria that is serious with fighting corruption and punishing corrupt public officials who misuse what is trusted in their care by reason of their office.

If Chief Bode George fretted away 85 billion naira, then justice demands that he at least get one year for each billion which would have put his prison sentence to at least 85 years in addition to an earth-scorching restitution order, with a lien of forfeiture levied on anything bearing his name or any close resemblance. Whatever it takes, just make that statement that Nigeria is tired and cannot continue to aid and abet corruption within the system. May be 85 life sentences or possibly 850 years would have been a preferred sentence to compensate for the 85 billion naira but surely not two sorry years? But is the proverbial half bread better than none true in this case of Chief Bode George, a yesterday's man of power now convicted and gone to prison? Icheoku does not buy into the argument that the gist of the conviction lies in its symbolism and that it far outweighs the severity of any sentence that would have been otherwise imposed under the circumstance? That it says so much for a previously untouchable Nigerian to now forever carry, barring a successful appeal, the toga of a convicted criminal? That Chief Bode George being otherwise denuded and defrocked is worth more psychologically, than his thousand years behind bars? Which ever side of the divide you find yourself, our position is that majority of past and present Nigerian leaders are very corrupt and severally corruptly over-enriched themselves; that a more soul-searching introspective steps ought to be taken to rout out the endemic and entrenched corruption in Nigeria. It has to be total and complete covering all past people in leadership positions especially in Northern Nigeria!

In his judgment convicting Chief Bode George and co, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole said: "When public office is abused, the entire populace is assaulted. This must not be condoned or treated with kid gloves. If the quality of service in our public life is to be altered to the appreciable standard of the civilised world, the right deterrent should be given. For the right deterrent to be served, therefore, sufficient firmness must be demonstrated." Icheoku says, what a complete hogwash that this judge raised his hand like a giant only to flop it like a weakling midget. He was high in pontification and sounding the right tone, only to chicken out in handing out his jelly-sentence of two and half years? Why raise the hopes of millions that finally, a king who does not know Joseph has ascended the throne and called for rendering of account by Chief Bode George and co, only to just slap their wrists with such a baby-sentence? Icheoku asks this Justice Oyewole, where in his two and half years prison sentence was his suggested "not treat this matter with kids gloves" factored in? Was two years the "right deterrent" for a 85 billion Naira scam-contracts? Icheoku concludes that Justice Olubunmi Oyewole did not show any firmness with his two and half years prison sentence for Chief Bode George and co; which we believe is sure to be overturned on appeal for being too light a sentence or better still for not being meritorious?

Continuing the judge said, "The penalty for disobedience to lawful order is a maximum of one year imprisonment. I hereby sentence all the defendants to six months imprisonment ... and to two years for each of the abuse of office convicted counts of contract splitting and inflation." Icheoku queries, why did the judge make his order to run concurrently instead of consecutively, if he is serious about providing deterrence? Who in corrupt Nigeria would not readily head to prison for two and half years after such a 'massive loot', if that is all it takes to keep such spoils of corruption; after-all in Nigerian prison you can buy yourself any amount of freedom including conjugal visits with your spouse or a paid service-provider, once the right amount exchanges hands? Conviction on 47 counts for just two and half years rather sounds as ridiculous as it was too demeaning to the psyche of that Nigerian that strives to be upright and do good? Also why did the judge not make the sentence in addition to payment of fine; after-all the objective is to deter future abuse? If they are being sentenced for abuse of office and fraud, is it not the proper thing to do to at the same token, deny them the spoils of such abuse? So where is the restitution order, Mr. Justice Oyewole?

Conviction on 47 out of 63-count charge of conspiracy, disobedience to lawful order, inflation of contracts and contracts splitting just received two and half years imprisonment? Tell it to the marines! It is also instructive to note that this was one of the fastest trial proceeding ever recorded in a Nigerian court, notorious for its frustrating judicial logjam, which is sometimes perpetrated by conniving lawyers to wilfully and purposely obstruct and delay justice for the opposing side? Just under one year, from October 29, 2008 to October 26, 2009 bearing in mind that the framed suspects in Pa Rewane's 1995 murder, are still languishing in prison ever since, awaiting indictment which seems not to be coming and five of them are known to have so far died in the prison custody? So what happened to accelerate Chief Bode George's trial and conviction; or are the north trying to land the big fish, Olusegun Obasanjo as recently predicted by El-Rufai?

Since the sentence will run concurrently, each man will spend two and a half years in prison instead of at least the more reasonable one hundred and seventeen and a half years, unless an appellate court overturns Justice Oyewole's verdict. Icheoku reiterates that the six convicted men were not accused of making any profit or unjustly enriching themselves by their action at the ports authority; no, they were merely accused of not following bureaucratic orders? Could this probably explain the two and half years sentences given to each of them, which will probably be overturned on appeal for lack of merit?

Icheoku queries, since when has disobedience to ordinary administrative authority or bureaucratic orders, which did not result to any financial crimes, amount to a criminally prosecutable offence? What these convicts allegedly did was simply exceed their authority but they did not flagrantly enrich themselves or profit from whatever it was they did? So where lies the crime except in the wombs of time, when the appellate court will uphold their convictions or just throw the damn thing away as ridiculous and laughable? But until the later happens Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George stands a convicted criminal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CCFRN)! What an award to get in one's golden years! It will be recalled that Chief Bode George was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 2001 to 2003 and also Director-General of the then Yar'Adua-Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2007. He was also the former South West National Deputy Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Now as he sits in Kirirkiri maximum prison in Lagos awaiting the outcome of his appeal, whether the stigma of a convict stays with him will depend on the its outcome, otherwise what a way to finish a career that saw him in charge of a naval command as well as a post retirement good run in politics, including a public office! What a sorry lesson in the ephemeral and fleeting nature of power, that this former governor of Ondo State, former naval commodore, a PDP chieftain and former chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority now sits in prison, a convicted felon?

CHIEF (DR.) AUSTIN CHUKS-ORJI, A TRANSITION!

Bay Area Nigerian community of Northern California, United States of America, with heart filled with sorrow, announces the departure to eternity of one of her founding member!

Chief Dr. Austin Chuks-Orji passed on, following complications from surgery, at Kaiser Hospital, Antioch, California, USA; on Monday October, 26 2009.

Until his death, Austin Chuks-Orji, a businessman, was a prominent member of Nigerian community in Northern California. He was also the Ogbuenyisiogu II (High Chief) of Obe town in Nkanu, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Arrangements for his final and last journey, and rites of passage to join his ancestors in Nigeria; including a USA wake-keeping, will be announced in due course.

Signed: Attorney Dozie Ezeife

Son-in-law

USA

tel:510.706.4741

THE DAUGHTER OF "YOU'RE FIRED", GETS "HIRED!"

As a wife, that is! Her name is Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald and wife number 1, Ivana Trump of New York; and she is beautiful. She came of age as a woman on Sunday October 25, 2009 when she said her 'I do' to Mr. Jared Kushner of the Kushner family, also of New York. Jared is the publisher of New York Observer and also a principal in his father, Charles Kushner's real estate conglomerate.

It was a high society wedding, before five hundred of their nearest-and dearest, carefully chosen guests; made up of family and friends. The vows took place under a large Jewish tent, huppla before the reception at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Jared had popped the question, 'will you marry me' in July this year, after a two year dating of Ivanka.

Ivanka wore a Vera Wang wedding gown, which was inspired by Grace Kelly's wedding gown which she wore during her 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III. She also had on a $265,000 dollars worth of jewelry from her own collection, including a $45,000 hair clip, $130,000 diamond drop earrings and a $90,000 Art Deco-inspired bracelet? What an exhibitionist display of the obsessively super-duper rich and famous! Her wedding outfit was described by one observer as simply "majestic" and "demure." The wedding planner and floral designer is the world famous Preston Bailey.

Jared, a Jew, made Ivanka convert to Judaism as a pre-condition to their marriage; which Icheoku does not find objectionable as it has already proved who is on the driver's seat between this two millionaire kids and children of billionaires. In other words, it showed that Jared Kushner is not a girlie-man; but a man who wants to remain a man, whether or not he is married to the daughter of a man who derives joy in telling his apprentices, "You're fired!" Jared's manhood is still in tact and was not put away in a testicles lock-box; Rush Limbaugh, please accommodate the steal!

At 27 and 28 years respectively, the couple have pretty well come of age. Icheoku wants to believe they thought it real through and were not just two infatuated 'high school' sweet-hearts on a fantastic fairy-tales voyage to find their 'princess and her Knight in shinning armor?' In her Tweeter message, Ivanka had tweeted, ".....everything is simply perfect"; Icheoku prays that her married life stays as perfect! Admitted her father, The Donald, is on his third marital voyage from Ivana to Marla to now Melania; but you never know? Congratulations Mr. and Mrs Kushner.

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.