EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN ENUGU STATE NIGERIA, VERY ATROCIOUS!

To Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, Icheoku says, please tell the Nigerian police force to back-off and stop murdering your people and residents of Enugu State! They must cease and desist from perpetrating further acts of violence on an unarmed civilians, citizens who are usually made scape-goats in situations leading up to their mass killings. If the police have provable cases against these suspects, why not establish same at the law courts? Say no to police vigilantism in Enugu State, Governor! Please say to the police, E N O U G H !

The situation becomes more pathetic when one is minded of the fact that the Nigeria Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo is also from Enugu State; and is allowing this bloodletting to go on unabated, tarnishing the image of both his police force and his state of origin? When all these people are killed and for whatever reason or transgression, who shall then remain as to be governed? As the chief law officer of Enugu State, your number one job assignment is to protect every resident of the state, no matter how lowly placed in the ladder of society he or she might be on? At least let these "suspect" have their day in court after which justice could be meted out to them, one way or the other; but not before they are convicted of a known death-offense crime! This is the 21st century and Nigeria already have enough black-eyes to add an additional one! A black-eye coming from a continuing, systematic and endemic police killing of innocent youths of Enugu State and surreptitiously burying them in mass, unmarked graves for cover-up? At least one Canon of criminal law is that everyone is innocent until proved guilty, so why this vigilantism by the Nigerian police?

We do not belong to the school of thought doubting or questioning the veracity of the report by Amnesty International or British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), as we are fully seized of police practices in Nigeria. All we are saying is for you, Governor Chime, to put a stop to this barbaric disregard of your peoples' human rights and violation of their right to live. If they must be killed for whatever offense they might allegedly have committed, please let such criminality of guilt be established before a court of law and thereafter, let the tree fall wherever it pleases. It is indeed regrettable that what would not happen in other states or regions of Nigeria is being allowed and tolerated in Enugu State with impunity, and without the chief executive of the state standing up to defend the people he swore an oath to defend. Enugu state has had its fair share of massacre during Biafra and nobody, including the Hausa Police Commissioner Mohamed Zarewa, should be allowed to continue a systematic annihilation of a people, where the then Hausa-Fulani led Nigerian army stopped in 1970.

There is no justification whatsoever for the ongoing mass murder and attempt at cover-up in Enugu State by the Nigeria Police, and this must stop forthwith! It is indeed laughable, the pathetic Nigeria Police spokesman DCP Ojukwu Emmanuel Ojukwu, trying to deny what is widely of general knowledge, that Nigeria Police engages in extra-judicial killings? Spokesman Ojukwu flatly and contemptuously denied that what BBC reported ever happened; and stating it was 'false?' What a baloney! In his response to the story, Spokesman Ojukwu said, “the fact that the report is from a foreign media does not make it the gospel truth. These people just come up with names that do not exist and raise gross allegations, but I can assure you that this will be adequately investigated.” Now Icheoku asks, why investigate something you already concluded was false? Is it a case of the message or the messenger that is at stake here? Isn't it obvious that the report is coming from foreign media simply because the local media would not do it? They are in bed with what is going wrong with and in Nigeria, and lack the guts to challenge the police or publish the story, because the journalists do not want to become part of the statistics. No, none of them wants to be killed like their late colleagues Dele Giwa and Bayo Ojo; two journalists who were killed because of some incubating investigative stories!

Icheoku asks spokesman Ojukwu, was 'Apo-Six' a hoax too? What about Jos crisis? What about Boko Haram and the cases and victims are endless? The problem with Nigeria is that they are always sly with the truth and instead of addressing any observed problems headlong; always try to skirt around it, looking for an explanation or reason why the problem exist instead of a solution thereto. Would this Ojukwu explain to the listening world, what crime in Nigeria, his police force has ever conclusively investigated till date? Not Bola Ige's murder, not Boko Haram's Muhammad Yusuf, not Dele Giwa, not Bayo Ojo, not Apo-Six, not Halliburton and not Siemens? So what is the world's confidence that this time, this mass murder in Enugu State shall be an exception? To Ojukwu and his police, Icheoku says, we have heard such bluster of investigation before; and we would rather you just call off your uniformed merchants of death from ploughing the streets of Enugu; and desist from further shedding of Innocent blood. That will be more plausible line of action; admitted it is too much to ask of a Nigerian police notorious for its brutality and corruption; but hey, you never know!

Icheoku totally and fully backs the British Broadcasting Corporation report on the extra-judicial, indiscriminate mass killings by the Nigerian Police, of "suspects" in Enugu State; and their bodies are deposited at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu mortuary; with mass burial conducted periodically, with many more bodies waiting for the same fate! That over seventy bodies were stock-piled atop each other in two rooms at the mortuary is also an understandable possibility of a police force that frequently engages in extra-judicial policing? It is symptomatic of the Nigerian police whose "kill and go" tendencies is of general knowledge. According to the report, lots of young Enugu men and boys are frequently being murdered by the Nigerian police and their corpses dumped in the University mortuary; without any record of prosecution and on several occasion ordered the hospital official to give them mass burials in order to de-congest an overwhelmed morgue facilities; and as a cover-up to their illegality?

Imagine a police commissioner, in answer to the atrocities of his uniformed killers, said, "You are asking about the young men, why are you not asking about the policemen who died? We people, we lose our lives too.” Icheoku says, so this commissioner of police is justifying his pseudo-vengeance mission in Enugu State; instead of dutifully policing of the state for which he was sent to Enugu State, he is busy killing his suspects? Don't this police commissioner know that it is a necessary part of being a policeman that certain risks attach, including the risks of being probably killed in a shoot-out? And admitted for the sake of argument, that because some of his men died in a shoot-out, therefore these suspects will be killed; Icheoku asks, why not let the court determine their guilt and pass sentences accordingly? Icheoku congratulates Erwin van der Borght, the Director of Amnesty International’s Africa Programme, for stepping up to the plate and exposing this dark-side of the Nigerian Police, which local journalists will not do for fear of their lives; admitted with a probable cause though!

Icheoku concurs that Nigeria police don’t only kill people by shooting them; they also torture them to death, often while they are in detention. Majority of the cases also go un-investigated and likewise do the police officers responsible go unpunished. The families of the victims usually get no justice or redress; and most never even find out what happened to their loved ones or are ever handed their bodies for proper burial. The Nigeria Police frequently claim that their victims were “armed robbers” killed in “shoot-outs” with the police or while trying to escape custody? Claims which to every body's knowledge are false and very improbable! Killings which aged-practice has now made somewhat an acceptable practice within the Nigerian police service. As a panacea, the National Assembly should consider repealing or amending the “Nigeria Police Force Order 237”, which permits police officers to shoot suspects and detainees who attempt to escape or avoid arrest – whether or not they pose a threat to life?

What an impermissible broad-blank cheque for murder; which Nigerian police frequently cashes and uses to commit, justify and cover up illegal killings of innocent civilians and citizens! According to this blood-thirsty mad commissioner of police Zarewa, "any criminal can get a lawyer and make up a story" and therefore he would not let them hire a lawyer and would rather kill them extra-judicially before such opportunity ever avails them? What a lawless banana republic! What an unjustifiable police vigilantism by a Nigeria police force which is notoriously very corrupt and brutal. In one commentator's words, "The east of Nigeria, in terms of policing, is crazy!" Icheoku says, Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime should please coral forthwith, this crazed-out police commissioner Zarewa and his men before they do irreparable damage to Enugu State's image and her human resources! Please try these suspects before a law court and do not let these arbitrary extra-judicial 'police sentences of executions!' Such a pivot will keep the lawyers busy while also maintaining human rights records as well as sustaining Enugu peoples' right to live!

NASIR EL-RUFAI, RETURNS HOME TO NIGERIA?

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS BEFORE......I AM NOW RETURNING TO NIGERIA ON 27TH DECEMBER, 2009......NASIR EL-RUFAI.....

Greetings,

I write to inform you of my intention to return home to Nigeria in December, after a period of academic studies and rest. As you are aware, I left Nigeria last year to take up a Mason Fellowship and enroll in the Public Policy Program at Harvard. Well before my departure, the Yar’Adua administration began and sustained a campaign of calumny against my person and my record as a public servant. The government has orchestrated and reinforced such falsehoods as the alleged disappearance of N32 billion from the proceeds of the Sale of Federal Government Houses. In addition, it has contrived to declare me wanted and has filed criminal charges against me in court. Its agents have repeatedly fed the media with tales of an international arrest warrant and extradition. As an aside, I want to clear the air on this issue and state that there is no truth to such reports as I have travelled widely to all corners of the globe and continue to do so even as I write you.

Not content with efforts to damage my reputation, the government has also attempted to restrict my citizenship and my freedom of movement by denying me a passport, a move that fortunately back fired after secret memos were made public and had to be reversed. You may note the duplicity of a government that sought to sell the dummy that I was a wanted international fugitive fleeing his country while at the same time taking steps to ensure I am unable to return to the country when it got wind of my plans to return by denying me consular services.

All these desperate moves by the Yar’Adua administration have their roots in its paranoia; that its incompetence may provoke its rejection by the Nigerian people who could look the way of more viable democratic alternatives - looking up to reformers that actually got programs executed in the past instead of endless sloganeering of the present!.Since June 2007, the government has been implementing an agenda to destroy me, and my colleagues in the Economic Team. Through all these, I have stated repeatedly that no machinations can keep me out of my beloved country. Despite the deployment of its awesome powers, this administration will not procure surrender or a retreat into impotent resignation from me. A government cannot be permitted to abuse its power in resolving political differences. As such I have chosen to return home, and contribute my quota to restoring Nigeria to a path of sustainable change and reform.

I have been warned that returning home would be as dangerous to my personal health and safety as it would be hazardous to my liberty. While I fully understand the significance of these perils, I am persuaded that there is a duty to ensure that no government flouts the guarantees and protections offered by our Constitution and laws of the land as well as the customs of our people. It is my belief that the effort to make ours a truly law abiding society will not be advanced if I put my personal safety above principles, and stay away.

The majority of my friends, family and loved ones have urged me to remain abroad, for it is best to be safe than to be sorry. I therefore seek their understanding and continued support even if I am unable to accept their counsel. Instead, my head and heart believe it is the right thing to do, and connect strongly to the timeless words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:

Cowardice asks the question – is it safe? Expediency asks the question is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right. But I have no illusions that constitutional protections just kick in on their own or that this can be undertaken as one man’s battle. It is the clearly expressed determination of the cream of any society to stand up for what is right that has throughout history safeguarded respect for the rights of all.

In returning home, I intend to continue the pursuit of the raft of cases I have instituted in the courts against the government. I also stand ready to pursue my defense in the one case the government has instituted against me . I call upon you to lend your voice to the insistence that government, its agents and all public institutions respect the constitution, and refrain from illegal acts and obstructions against my person. I do not ask for anything more than the protections our laws afford every citizen of Nigeria.

While I resolve justiciable issues through the legal system, I intend upon my return home to continue my contribution to the democratic process and progress of Nigeria. It is my goal to work with like-minded Nigerians to organize and empower our youths to participate in politics and public service. I believe that such an effort would build the momentum necessary to improve the quality of life and the life expectancy of our people by promoting accountable democracy that turns Nigerians from onlookers to stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Our people have had to endure too many false starts, with every brief dawn swiftly replaced by a long, dark night of incompetence and mismanagement.

As the first decade of the 21 st Century draws to a close, the challenge is to ensure that the next decade actually delivers on the potentials that our resources and endowments as a people have always suggested. If we give it our best endeavours, ours could well be the generation that delivers to those behind us a legacy they will find worthy of emulating. My commitment to such an outcome is total and unflinching. I am convinced that Nigeria needs to be tied to her potential not her past.

When the return schedule is finalized, I will publicly announce the date of my arrival into Abuja. And I shall return, in sha Allah, trusting in the benevolence of Allah and the goodwill and prayers of the people of Nigeria that we shall once again overcome tyranny as we seek to entrench democracy and results-oriented governance.

I thank you for your patience in reading my message.
Yours sincerely,
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, OFR

Facilitator's note:- Icheoku advises Nasir not to return to Nigeria at this fork on the road, that is Nigeria in a very apprehesive mode. A brave general is that general who lives to fight another day. There is also no brave-man in the grave. Waiting out this government would have been his best bet and a preferred option; but since he is bent on steppping on a minefield, we can only wish him the best! So mallam Nasir el-Rufai, may whatever you believe in and worship, guide and protect you as you make your way back to Nigeria; but please be assured that your move is not bravery nor would your staying back be cowardice. Goodluck!

MICHELLE DUGGAR, THE RABBIT MOM OF ARKANSAS IS PREGNANT AGAIN?

For the 19th time, that is! Icheoku asks, when will the abuse of a woman's body going on in Arkansas stop? A woman made pregnant by her horny-bee husband eighteen times with eighteen surviving children is once again put in a family way and expecting her nineteenth child?

Incredulous! Stop this madness, spare or castrate this human he-goat of a husband who is responsible for this madness! What manner of biological-procreation experimentation is going on in the household of Mr and Mrs Duggar of Arkansas? May be to find out whether a human-being is capable of being more prolific than a rabbit? Please where are the feminist of America that they would stand by and do nothing; while watching their fellow woman sexed to death or possibly die, breeding babies in the hands of a male chauvinistic pig? What kind of domination is this or somewhat kind of a child-breeding sexual slave, this Mrs Michelle Duggar has been turned into?

This is our second time commenting on the tragedy called the Duggars and probably may be our last; but what this mad couple is doing in their private time is rather deplorable, unreasonable and is adversely adding to the problems of mankind in general. Why are they belaboring humanity by bringing extra-mouths to feed from dwindling resources, an added problem to a burgeoning national care crisis?

The 42-year-old TLC’s “18 Kids and Counting” reality mom, Michelle Duggar is pregnant again with her 19th child; and hospitalized due to gallbladder problem. It was generating some contractions leading to fear of a premature delivery? Reports reaching Icheoku.com says the rabbit-mom and her yet to arrive baby are doing just fine; and that it was just the gallbladder stone that was causing her some discomfiture. Icheoku says, would the Oby-gm please tie this woman's tubes once this baby is delivered to prevent her from having the twentieth; it is ridiculous indeed that any woman should be allowed to have this many kids in a world where starvation and water scarcity is becoming a serious problem that have seen many nations going to war because of them.

It will be recalled that this highly sexed and over-pregnant mother is also a grandmother, as her son Joshua has a daughter named Mackynzie Renee Duggar. Icheoku is not a fan of the Duggars and asks that anybody who can, should help this woman get her senses back and stop her husband from the further abuse of her uterus and body, it is not just right; it is highly condemnable! Enough of this littering!

TIME TO GO, A FRONT PAGE COMMENT BY LEADERSHIP!

Icheoku is running this front page commentary of the Leadership newspaper for its in-dept analysis and uptake on the current situation of the sick President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria. We believe that the president should not allow his selfish interest for power and the pressure of those beneficiaries of his office to affect that of Nigerians in general. What Nigeria needs now is a strong, healthy and focused leader to man the tiller of the ship of state and steer it effectively. Since it is obvious that the president is now not fully disposed to continue to so do by reason of sickness, Icheoku says, the president should consider seriously, the question of relinquishing the office.

As a former president, he will still continue to enjoy the perks, privileges and protection of the office in his retired form; and his sickness-induced retirement will elicit the sympathy of whoever his successor is, as well as the general Nigerian public. President Umaru Yar'Adua will be magnanimous in doing so and being so patriotic, will certainly become a larger person than he currently is. Icheoku also believes that a living former president is better than a dead incumbent; and hence urge the president and his handlers to make up their mind fast and free Umaru Yar'Adua of the presidency so that he can face his health-fight squarely. Anyway, be that as it may, please cherish the product of the thoughtful brains at Leadership Newspapers that gave us this piece captioned 'FRONT PAGE COMMENT: Mr President, It’s Time To Go' of Sunday, 06 December 2009; happy trails!

"President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's current hospitalisation in Saudi Arabia is one too many for a nation facing a mountain of challenges. Since all indicators point to the fact that he will not get fit enough to do his job any time soon, this must be a moment of decision for the President. It calls for statesmanship - and patriotism. For the sake of 150 million Nigerians - who are not senators, governors, ministers, directors, contractors or special advisers that have access to public funds - and the tension his perennial ailment has caused in the past three years, President Yar'Adua should step aside immediately and let Nigeria move on. Understanding that he will be freer to manage his health if he gives up the job, his family should never mind the shenanigans of those whose interests will best be served as long as the label "president" is not removed from him. They love neither Yar'Adua nor Nigeria.

Ever since Olusegun Obasanjo imposed him on Nigeria, in 2007, the country has not been governed effectively primarily because of the President's sickness. In a saner country where Presidential aspirants are screened properly, Yar'Adua obviously would have been estopped from running for president on grounds of ill-health. But this is Nigeria - an otherwise great nation that has been turned into a banana republic by an evil-minded tyrant named Obasanjo and his collaborators. Like many others, the do-or-die president knew the health status of the then governor of Katsina State long before 2007. He desired to punish Nigerians for denying him an illegal third term: with an ailing president, he thought, Nigeria would remain ungoverned. Almost certainly, Obasanjo expected the worst when, in spite of all the atrocities he committed while in power, he predicted that Nigerians would miss him.

Nobody misses Obasanjo, however. An ailing president is far better than an evil one. At least, the nation has enjoyed some measure of peace under Yar'Adua. Unlike during the Obasanjo presidency, there have not been assassinations of political foes, genocide in Odi and Zaki-Biam, forgery of the Electoral Act and other perfidies. Under Yar'Adua, we have not had a president that steals the country blind while pretending to be leading a fight against corruption. Admittedly, there are thieves around Yar'Adua, but we believe they owe their success in stealing chiefly to the limitations imposed on the President by ill-health.

We are at a crossroads. Unlike those who wish him well only on the pages of newspapers, we sincerely pray for the President's good health. May he become fit today and return to lead the nation out of the massive morass created by our past leaders. If, however, the Creator decides that he needs more time to attend to his health, then, the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has to be taken by another. In fact, if he had received signs that he would not be back soon, before he was flown out two weeks ago, he should have handed over to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. For the business of the state cannot wait.

When it comes to the health of President Yar'Adua, full disclosure is not expected from members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), governors, some elder statesmen, government contractors and fronts for treasury looters. That is why Nigerians, long used to living in denial, have been falling over themselves (even without citing a doctor's report or vital information) to declare that he is still capable of discharging his duties as president from a hospital bed. After its meeting last Wednesday, the FEC noted that all organs of government were fully functional. Nigeria is a lie! And those that are supposed to be our leaders are among the worst Nigerians. Progress is impossible in such a nation. Twenty-six years after one of Chinua Achebe's famous books was first published, the trouble with Nigeria has remained "simply and squarely a failure of leadership".

The country has been drifting because thieves and liars have been running its affairs. Suddenly, we are hearing from "patriots" that it is best to have a country without a president. Ministers, legislators, governors, ambassadors and contractors have all been condemning any suggestion of declaring his office vacant. But hardly any of them is sincere. The true intentions of these sycophants - these selfish liars and crooks who have no love of their nation or the President at heart - are buried deep in their hearts. Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed and ministers who have assured us that the job of the President is being done in his absence deserve to be prosecuted. Is the office of the President now dispensable, or shall we let SGF Ahmed and the ministers hold the fort for as long as they deem fit? How long shall the nation wait?

Nigerians deserve to know the President's state of health. Is he currently on life support as the rumour mill has it? Will he be capable of discharging his duties as president after leaving the Saudi hospital? The President may be fit enough to watch football, as Nigeria's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Garba Aminchi stated some days ago, but he was not elected to watch football. In this defining moment for our country, therefore, nothing should be left in the hands of those who have continued to ruin Nigeria since 1960. And nobody should listen to them. Where were the emergent well-wishers and prayer warriors when Obasanjo was single-handedly selecting our leaders and making a mockery of democracy? Of course, even after the fraudulent polls organised by Obasanjo's lackeys in INEC, we were asked to leave everything in the hands of God. And the courts failed to get convinced "beyond reasonable doubts" that the 2007 general elections were a fraud. Now, the sycophants want us to keep praying - and waiting - for our president forever. President Yar'Adua would be playing the statesman by disappointing them."

As Nigerians await the making up of mind of President Umaru Yar'Adua over his continuation in office as president, amidst a debilitating sickness, Icheoku would otherwise he recovers and completes his term? This will be the most desirable option and the easiest way out of the present woods of uncertainty which is enveloping Nigeria like a San Francisco summer fog? But like any other wishful thinking, it may be simply Utopia to expect the president to recover enough to continue to carry on the duties of a president of Nigeria. However, the inability of the Yar'Adua's people to make up their mind on what they intend to do regarding his presidency is very ominous and portends a clear danger for the Nigeria polity. It does not bode well for Nigeria, especially in view of the mounting sentiments which has principally been expressed along tribal lines; which once again, shows that Nigeria is not really one country?

So many of the people canvassing for the unconstitutional succession to the office of the presidency, in event of a vacancy, are largely from certain quarters of the country. Their selfish idiotic quest, a flagrant disregard to constitutional provisions, shows that these breed of people do not necessarily have regard to the entity called Nigeria and its sustainability. They are just there for their parochial interest and nobody in Nigeria ever questioned these same mallams when they successively held forth in Nigeria from 1983 to 1999; but now they are quick to remind the whole world that the north's eight years is in jeopardy by reason of Yar'Adua's sickness and the potential succession to the office by a southerner who happens to be his vice president? This nincompoop argument shows that Nigeria is but a motley of tribes and fiefdoms, wherein people have more sectional allegiance than a national one; a country in which strange bed-fellows were unequally forcibly yoked as one by the amalgamating colonial powers in 1914.

Ninety-five long years after the unfortunate forced unification, the disparities and differences between these tribes and regions are still as stark as a starry summer night. Icheoku says, please Mr. Slowman, save Nigeria the impending doom, recover now or make up your mind on your presidency; or is it going to take you another millennium just to do that, while the affairs of the state of Nigeria remains comatose and suffering untold lack of care by a sick president, on an extended sick leave, in a foreign hospital bed, in far away Jeddah Saudi Arabia! ENOUGH OF THE SUSPENSE UMARU!

WWE UMAGA, DIES OF HEART-ATTACK!

Any avid watcher of the Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will like the swagger of Umaga, the Samoan Bulldozer! Unfortunately, the heavily tattooed 6'4, 350-lb. giant from Samoa is no more, he died of massive coronary embolism aka heart attack at Northwest Medical Center, a Houston Texas hospital on Friday, December 4, 2009. 'Umaga' whose real name is Eki Eddie Fatu was 36 years old.

'Umaga' was a member of the large Anoa’i and Fatu wrestling family of Samoa, who have influenced the business for several generations; a family which includes his cousin, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who later left wrestling for Hollywood fame and has several movies to his credit.

Umaga was released from his WWE contract on June 8 2009 after he refused to go into rehabilitation following a second violation of the WWE’s no-drugs policy; in other words, he was a user which could have precipitated his heart condition leading his eventual death. His last known engagement was in Australia where he had gone as part of the “Hulkamania Tour” in Australia; an independent wrestling tour; only to return and suffer a heart attack and died as a result. His wife found him on Thursday night not breathing, with blood coming out of his nose and rushed him to the hospital but never made it out alive.

His death adds impetus to carry through President Barack Obama's health care reform so that many Americans and residents alike can have access to medical care. Umaga was part of the 33 million people in America without a health insurance which he can afford; and as a result only got to see a doctor when it was already too late! If only he had been to check-ups, may be he will still be alive to continue to provide the world of wrestling lovers some entertainment. Umaga now joins other recently departed WWE wrestlers including Canadian pro-wrestler Andrew Test Martin, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. Icheoku prays his massive soul rest in peace!

TIGER WOODS, SIMPLY DUMB AND STUPID?

Eldrick Tont 'Tiger' Woods does not deserve any sympathy or understanding in his present predicament, since he foolishly thought he could get away with what Bill Clinton couldn't? He thought he could succeed where Bill Clinton failed? He thought he had this special magic wand called 'a billion-dollar estate' which Bill Clinton never had and hence is invincible and cannot be nailed down? FALSE! FALSE! FALSE!

Icheoku says, for thinking that he is smarter than Bill Clinton and that he can tee himself out of a messy situation where Bill Clinton got stuck in, makes Tiger Woods the dumb, dumber and dumbest person of the year 2009. Possibly the best adviser he should seek out now, as a matter of utmost immediacy, is Bill Clinton, the master philanderer in chief! Let TW ask Bill for his wise counsel on how best to navigate his way out of the present quagmire he is trapped in. Monicagate was huge but Bill still survived it; and such invaluable experience could readily come very handy now and be brought to bear on the unfolding Tigergate scandal! Philanderer TW made a fatal mistake when he tried to throw a curve-ball to the world by not initially coming out straight and square, to explain his 'faked' accident? Now his guilty-behavior has attracted so much attention that every prying eyes in the world are fixated on him, tyring to hear what other lie he will tell in addition to the one already told; since one lie usually begets another lie? So Tiger, Icheoku asks you to confirm whether you were beaten up by a furious woman, who felt betrayed by your lust for other skirts and could not control herself? Is your Elin a wild feline?

Icheoku says, any man, post-Monicagate, who still thinks that he could stonewall his philandering escapades out of the investigative and inquisitive press, just has another thing coming. Simply put, such a buffoon could easily qualify as the village idiot of the century. So the next time Tiger Wood, please just be a man, timely own up and apologise; or better still, blame it on the devil and shed a crocodile tear. You can also damn the whole world by bravely freeing yourself from the shackles of a bitter, sad marriage; so that you can become free to once again roam and romp all you want, without being answerable to anyone!

We have looked through so many of your pictures and reached one conclusion:- you do not look happy in your marriage and the earlier you call it quit the better and the healthier; - enough of the facade and putting up of appearances just for the show and heck of it. Forget about the possible halving of your billions, just come out unscathed and you can always make some more greenbacks; after-all you were not born with any. It is an established fact that most people who cheat on their spouse are lonely and alone in their marriage, they are not happy and always fall easy prey to the sympathetic ear and understanding of someone somewhere who they wish they had or would rather have. They internally wish they are not trapped in the unhappy marriage of convenience they are in, which they might as well not have and hence start acting out by cheating on the annoying spouse. So enough of dying in silence, GET A DIVORCE TIGER and free your soul to make way for a real soul-mate!

If the beauty-queen, model, nanny, airhead tigress of a 'wife' could inflict this much damage to a man for whom image is everything, keeping him imprisoned in his mansion for over a week now and without the faintest care or regards; Icheoku admonishes that Tiger Woods needs to find himself a real wife! Maybe if Tiger had married his real wife, his soul-mate, may be she would have been more circumspect with his double-dipping and may have spared him the trauma of today's inquisition? Maybe an Asian girl would have seen or heard such way of men from her mother concerning her father; or a black lady would have held him in such high esteem, adoring and worshipping him to think of letting everything go out of the window in a fit of jealousy. But no, Tiger Woods also suffers from the same 'black-athletes syndrome' which in their warped mind, could only be cured with the company of a dashing, blonde, blue-eyed bimbo of a mistress or wife or hooker?

Regrettably some of these women are not there for the love of the man but for the goldmine which these men represent; and sure they know how to mine it to the fullest? Imagine Tiger paying Elin several millions of dollars just to stay and act married to him? What an arrant nonsense; an insult to the institution of matrimony! Pay to play wife, Elin, by necessary implication of her monetary extortion, has now turned into a glorified prostitute whose 'love and affection' is for sale commanding a hefty price-tag! Tiger Woods might as well have gone to Amsterdam's famous red-light district and score himself a cheaper 'wife?' Which true wife would choose to shake-down her husband in this manner and in his greatest hour of need for her affection and understanding; but instead and knowing that she has him by the balls, she decided to milk him dry? These blondes simply see these black athletes as the rainbow that leads to the pot of gold; and being the gold-diggers and mercenaries they are, they see them as black niggers with loads of disposable cash-money for the grab; and hence their jump on their gravy wagon, spending however freely and frivolously as their heart may desire. For them, a nigger is a nigger and always will remain a nigger; and it does not matter how deep the nigger's pocket is; as not all the gold in Fort Knox is capable of diluting their perception or washing same away.

What would the elder Woods have done were he alive today? Icheoku never knew TW is this superficial, that he could marry an ordinary nanny just for her looks? What happens when she gets old and her body wrinkles up or some nasty-looking vericose veins envelopes her body; the blonde hair turns grey; the blue eyes black or those boobs becomes saggy? Why didn't TW marry a PhD or a medical doctor or a lawyer, or such other professional that have something of real value to protect; instead of this bimbo-nanny whose only attribute is that she is smoking hot? TW should know that there is a huge difference between a marriageable wife material and a play-girl bunny! At least Hillary Clinton did not attempt to kill Bill over Monica Lewinsky, so why would this violent bitch use golf club to bludgeon Tiger just because he strayed off his leach? Icheoku wonders why TW did not press charges or was it solely to protect his trophy-wife and an image which he eventually hurt? Why didn't the arriving policemen force their way into the house on suspicion of something wrong and take a cursory look? Anyway, let Tiger open up and detail for the world what transpired that Friday early morning. But every close observer of the Woods knows that TW is not happy in his marriage but fails to figure out his reticence; and why he choose to die in silence, pretending a marriage which for most past no longer exists or exists only in his imagination!

Now he is damaged and may be permanently so; depending on how Elin Nordegren Woods decides to further shake him down on account of his so called transgression. Tiger Woods may for all intent and purpose never recover fully from this incident if at all. He looks fragile, sort of a girlie-man and with his so-dear-to-his-heart image now soiled, the question he is probably pondering now, might be, what else to live for? Could Tiger Woods be headed down the same road of infamy once travelled by OJ Simpson? OJ, the other blond-loving black athlete, who was finally rail-roaded into a 9 year prison term just for 'stealing his property' , an euphemism for messing with the wrong race? Our fear for the most part, is that it is going to be a down-ward spiral from now henceforth; at least he will no longer remain the epitome of a wholesome perfect gentleman, which he had somewhat 'faked' all these years. But will Tiger ever recover from this scandal? Only in the bowel of time lies the answer.

Icheoku is not the best believer in inter-racial marriages; and like the New Orleans Louisiana Justice of Peace, would rather each race stay to itself and never be unequally yoked in marriage across racial lines and divisions. But does TW really belong to any race; after-all he has somewhat denounced being black when he called himself 'CABLINASIAN', which he explained to mean a potpourri of Asia, Dutch, native America and some sprinkling of blackness? Any man who is not proud of his color or race is not worthy of being fought for in defense of by that race; so Tiger should be left to dig himself out of the cesspool he is neck-deep in all by himself. There are certain peculiarities of a culture which no pretenses of love, no matter how long practiced, can imbibe in a person who is not a product therefrom? Also certain cultures tolerates certain things more than the other and reacts differently to certain shocking developments, which makes Icheoku think that the outcome may have been different were it another race?

There is no love between these folks as each traded something for what they want from each other:- Tiger wants a smoking-hot trophy-wife with blond hair and blue eyes; while Elin found a pot of gold in the richest athlete the world has ever known so she settled the nigger question, albeit publicly? May be an Asian woman would have better understood that a man's cheating does not necessarily warrant beating him down so much with a golf club, until he lost his mind and dashed out for survival with no shoes on his feet; and was so confused that he crashed into a huge tree, before which was a fire-hydrant. What if Tiger Woods had not survived the crash, after-all he forgot to buckle up and the sustained damage on the SUV was not little by any calculation? Look at the damage on his SUV and the size of the tree he crashed into; all because he had a liaison with another woman which turned his incensed wife into a murderous maniacal bitch angling for his blood? Is there no longer any difference between love and sex?

A real woman would have consulted her mother to devise the best plan of action against a cheating husband and allowed him to enjoy his 2.30am dead-in-the-night sleep, instead of forcing him to run for his dear life in his bed-clothes and bare feet; only to be stopped by a huge tree! Even a black-woman or Chinese woman or Latina or an Arab woman would have reminisced over a similar story of how her daddy was a rolling stone and decided to give Tiger a break? Or may be, taken it out on the home-breaker herself instead of the husband and behind the husband's back? We are not by any means whatsoever, condoning any philandering by any married man or woman; just get out of the kitchen if it gets too hot and regain your freedom. But at the same token, we condemn pursuing a man outside his bed at that hour of the night, with a golf club just because he did what comes naturally with so many men - expressing their polygamous masochism. Icheoku reiterates that neither Tiger's action nor Eli's reaction is acceptable or condonable.

Be that as it may and surprisingly, Tiger tried in vain to hush the matter, but after foolishly leaving his voice on a woman's voicemail; fully aware of how some human semen left on a blue-dress nearly cost a sitting president his office? He also left about 300 text messages and emails; and you wonder how dumb such a married famous and rich man would have carelessly and recklessly given some woman the rope with which to hang him? But who knows what else Tiger is hiding by not coming out to face down the world as he does golfing opponents; according to sources, his face is so badly bruised that he is ashamed to be seen with several lacerations and bruises, including a swollen lip?

But can this Tiger be caged by this scandal? Icheoku does not think so and would ordinarily not have anything to say about a consensual sex between two adults, but for his trying to be sly about it initially. He now said he is ashamed of what he did, but he should have thought about that before sneaking into those compromising positions with other kiss-n-tell women. Once again it shows that riches is not happiness and that the rich also cry. However, this will be our last commentary on this matter and as we said before, during the 'I did not have sex with that woman' episode, the forgiveness or madness regarding any infidelity lies with the victimized spouse and no one else! So, Icheoku says, Tiger and Eli Nordegren Woods, this is your cross alone to bear; but what a recurring character flaw of many men of substance and Tiger is not of straw!

Tiger Wood's words of contrition should have been privately made to Elin Nordegren Woods, who deserves it but not the world including Icheoku.com! According to him, "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone. I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology". Icheoku says, as shamefully as it is, it is always the same lines for all philandering men of America, who cannot firmly keep their pants on their waists.

Whether it is Jaimee Grubbs, Rachel Uchitel or other faceless women that are spreading their crotch for the crouching Tiger, who cares; except your name is Eli Nordegren! So every person should just back off and let the Woods decide how they want to proceed thenceforth. But with all these men cheating on their wives, Icheoku says, may be it is about time there is a revenge of the ladies? John Edwards, Mark Stanford, Bill Clinton, Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Jude Law, Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod), Michael Jordan, Elliot Spietzer, Gary Condit, Jim McGreevy, Josh Duhamel, Senator Backus, Russel Crowe, David Letterman, John Ensign and the list goes on and on of married men who fell from grace because of the forbidden fruit? Lastly, unlike OJ Simpson who faced down his nagging wife, and even 'killed' her in the process; Tiger Woods turned tail, cowering, begging for mercy, begging forgiveness and for his life, bribing and cajoling, and even fleeing from his enraged wife, who came after him, charging as hard, with a killer golf club? A Tiger and a Tigress in a cruel love-battle, may be? Icheoku concludes, just another tragic case of a blonde, trophy-wife loving black-athlete, a sidekick of a husband with some disposable stash; and who have some complex of an Uncle Tom! SHAME! SHAME! SHAMEFUL INDEED!

JONATHAN GOODLUCK, THE DESTINY (CHILD) MAN OF NIGERIA?

A man of great destiny! His life and meteoric political rise and ascendancy to Nigeria's second highest office was mercurial; a preconceived, predetermined event, and a fixed natural order in the cosmos which made him a king ever before he was born? It is an inevitable and necessary fate to which he is destined to attain and which he has attained without making much more effort than anyone else? It is also beyond any human power or control and there is nothing anyone can do to stop or prevent it, but to just wait and bear witness to its unfolding. Who are we talking about, but the medical doctor turned politician, Jonathan Goodluck, the vice president of Nigeria.

He was a discreet medical doctor with a modest private practice in Port Harcourt before he joined politics. He pitched his tent with the PDP and providence found him emerge as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State under Governor DSP Alamesiagha. His is the proverbial 'never say never?' The medical doctor turned politician was previously an unknown quantum in Nigeria national stage until destiny threw him up like a whirlwind; to first become the deputy governor to DSP Alamasiegbe of Bayelsa State. Before one could say holy-molly DSP fell out with the powers that be in Nigeria and Olusegun Obasanjo hounded him out of power. Who came in to replace him; his deputy governor Jonathan Goodluck. Once again in 2007, propelled by destiny, when Olusegun Obasanjo could not consummate his third term bid, he turned to Jonathan Goodluck to form the ticket with Umaru Yar'Adua as his replacement? A sickly Umaru that is, and as if destiny is working overtime, it appears that soon and very soon, the same Jonathan Goodluck will once again live up to his name - 'GOODLUCK', as he may be soon sworn in as Nigeria's president? President Umaru Yar'Adua is deathly sick and might not recover or recover enough to resume his full duties as president?

What a case of one having fame thrust upon him by circumstances; and regardless of the strength of the opposition or conspiratory gang-up, if Jonathan Goodluck is destined to be the next President of Nigeria, nothing anybody does would avert his keeping a date with his destiny. So Nigerians should start preparing themselves for a possible President Jonathan Goodluck; and who says there is nothing in a name?

In one commentators observation, he wrote, "In the end though, Mr. Jonathan accepted that which was thrust upon him and set out to remain true to the qualities which, according to rumour, made him a good choice. He is apparently very loyal to the point of docility, does not aspire to his boss’ job and has a bland mien that does not rock the boat. Well, it seems destiny is not quite done with Jonathan, as he could yet occupy the number one job as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." The man who presently occupies the number one seat, President Umaru Yar'Adua is very ill; so ill that he may not live and if per chance he lives, may become so incapacitated or vegetated that he becomes unfit to rule? In this case however, the constitutional provision on succession will intervene to swear in Mr. Destiny, Vice President Jonathan Goodluck as Nigeria's president? What an unassuming man whom the heavens had long prepared a place for before he was even born! Icheoku says, may be Mr. Goodluck is once again marching to the tune of his destiny to the presidency of Nigeria with one headquarters at Aso Rock. Hail to the Chief designate Goodluck!

Facilitator's note:- Correction - Our attention has been drawn by one of our visitors to the fact that Vice President Jonathan Goodluck is not a medical doctor but a PhD in Zoology. We have since further confirmed that information and are sorry for the initial misrepresentation. To the visitor who alerted us to this mistake, our gratitude!

SWISS MINARET BAN, A CURB OF ISLAMIC EXPANSIONIST AGENDA?

Icheoku supports the ban by the Swiss of further construction of the overwhelming Islamic symbol, the minarets, in their country! It is a step in the right direction, curbing Islamic expansionist agenda, one ban at a time! However the only plausible exception, eliciting the lifting of the ban, should be when those Islamic countries in the Middle East and elsewhere, as a matter of reciprocity, permit the construction of churches and their bell-towers within their respective domains? Otherwise ban another thing:- the hijab was first to go in France and now goes the minarets in Switzerland!

But we know such a desire is merely a wishful thinking and a hoping of Utopia; since those zealots in charge of such republics will not allow or permit such "heretic practice" anywhere within their territorial jurisdictions. At the same time and token, these theocratic governments, through the proxies of Islamic practitioners in Europe, want to conquer, subjugate and Islamize Europe by way of covering their landscape with their Islamic symbol, the minaret! It is akin to flag-mounting a foreign country's flag in such number and in your-face-like-manner that suggests ownership of the land by such a foreign sovereign? Icheoku considers such blatancy unfair, arrogant and pure zealotry to the Swiss and the general Europe which that must and should be stopped, pronto!

Is it in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Algeria, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt and the rest of other Islamic countries of the world would anyone find symbols of Christianity springing up in every nook and cranny of the country with the same brash audacity as are Islamic symbols over Europe? Icheoku asks, who is really paying and sponsoring these grandiose mosques and minarets if not those Islamic governments from Riyadh to Tehran to Tripoli to Damascus to Cairo to Ankara to Kabul and so on. Their agenda is to capture and conquer Europe without firing a single shot, knowing fully well that they are a no match in firepower with the west; hence they choose to surreptitiously achieve what they cannot do through a direct confrontation. Their mantra, let us Islamize and psychologically conquer them; such that wherever they look there will have symbols of Islam starring them in the face. But unfortunately the rest of Europe are being very puerile in seeing this big picture of what the near future holds in stock for them and their children, when their way of live and believe system will be subjugated if not completely wiped out by a ferocious invading Islamism. What an expedition to behold?

The European Union should wake up when there is still time left and curb Islamic expansion over their land, and before it is too late; with all of them one day, being forced to convert and start knocking their heads to the ground in 'prayers' at the pain of being beheaded. That is the only way known to Islam, either you convert or be damned to a hellish death at the beheader's sword. But who wants to live through this nightmarish future experience; definitely not Icheoku or anyone known to us, hence we applaud the audacity of the Swiss in saying no to political correctness and doing what is right to sustain and preserve their very way of live and belief. Unfortunately France choose to play the devil's advocate when it admonished Switzerland for banning further minarets construction in their country? In the words of France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, 'the vote was "oppressing a religion?" Icheoku says, really; a kettle calling a pot black? It was the French who first braved banning religious symbols in their country when they banned Muslim women from wearing the Hijab in public places. But now the Swiss took a step a little further and see who is complaining, - the French? Another example of the live and lets live French wish-washy, one may say.

Icheoku disagrees that the Swiss ban of Islamic minarets is anti-immigration since not all immigrants are Muslims or even religious. Those Islamic migrants among them are running away from their Islamic homelands, because of the way things are run over there and supposedly in search of a saner civility. Let the western countries firmly make it known to these immigrants and in a way and manner they understand that we shall tolerate them to the extent their presence does not eclipse our own civilization, period! If they loved their countries of origin so much, may be they would not have left in the first place; but stay behind to practice their intolerance brand of Wahabism or whatever sect they choose that will be their best vehicle of propagating their religion? It is our believe at Icheoku.com that immigrants should endeavour to adopt the values of their host-countries, and if their religion means so much to them, they should practice it in deference to their host countries' sensibilities; but not as an affront to their way of life and beliefs.

With about 300,000 Muslims in a country of 7.7 million people, the nationwide voter turnout of about 53 percent, with 70% in German section, is quite significant; and shows a forceful repudiation of the attempt to Islamize Europe and Switzerland in particular through religion as manifested by building so many Islamic symbols such as the minarets. Icheoku agrees also that towering minarets are politically motivated constructions which are intended to give the impression of an Islamic country; and not necessarily as a devotion to whatever these Muslims pray to. There is a difference between political and religious Islamism and a clear line must be drawn between the two and firmly maintained and enforced. Once again, Icheoku congratulates the Swiss for not cowering down to pressures of political correctness and standing up to the Islamic expansion in Europe. All the mosques and minarets springing up all over Europe and North America are agenda-driven; but thankfully, the Swiss did not buy into the myth of religious tolerance in banning further Islamization of their Alpine country!

TIGER WOODS ACCIDENT, HE SHOULD SPEAK UP FULLY & TRUTHFULLY NOW!

Icheoku says it is not sufficient for the world's golf greatest to just stone-wall the world on the freak accident which he just had. Tiger Woods should therefore man up and speak up; and let his fans come to terms with what happened on that early hours of Friday's morning.

Tiger Woods probably left his mansion in a mad fury around 2.30am and was in such a frenzied state that he lost the control of his vehicle and careened off the pavement, destroying a fire-hydrant before a giant tree stopped his vehicle cold. There is hence so many questions which remain unanswered and only the Tiger himself and by extension, his wife Elin, who can supply those answers; and the earlier they start talking, the better for everyone.

Was he in a fight with his wife, Elin Woods, that he stormed out of the house, not in full control of his faculties, the gas pedal as well as the steering wheel? Was he so depressed and suicidal that he decided to just end it by crashing head-on unto a tree? Was he under the influence of alcohol or substance or was he just heavily medicated that he lost the complete control of his senses that he blacked-out? Was a breath analyser examination performed by arriving police men to determine if he had had several rounds of cocktails and was drunk; and if yes, where was he headed to under that state and by such hour of the night? Where were his body-guards and handlers? Why did he not call for the limousine driver and what was his wife doing, being up at such a wee-hour of the morning? Icheoku concludes that the Woods are not yet levelling with the world on what transpired that morning, leading to the accident, which ordinarily could have claimed the life of the greatest golfer on planet earth.

If Tiger Woods was returning to his house, then we could have speculated he left a party drunk or under the influence, that he mistook a fire-hydrant for the garage door and the tree for the in-garage traffic breaker; but nay, he just left his house and was still negotiating the driveway when he barraged into a tree after knocking over a fire-hydrant. So Icheoku calls on Mr. Woods to speak up and clear the air, so that his millions of invested fans could let out some sigh of relieve. But in his less-coming attempt at providing an insight at what went down, Mr. Woods coyly issued a statement saying that the crash was his private matter? Icheoku says, Mr. Woods is not getting it, as what is at stake here is not in any way private. It is a public interest accident, involving a public-figure person, which damaged a public owned fire-hydrant, crashed into a tree in a public place and required the attention and intervention of public police and medics? So Tiger Woods, tell Icheoku and the listening world, what part of this accident falls into the realm of your "private matter"? Continuing, Mr, Woods said, “This situation is my fault, and it’s obviously embarrassing to my family and me,” I’m human and I’m not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again.” To this Icheoku says, what is it that you did that made it your fault and why is it embarrassing to your family? Did your wife make you so mad that you rushed out of the house not collected, that you lost control of the vehicle you were driving and crashed? If as we all understand, that you are human and not perfect, then what exactly did you do to elicit this reminder: alcohol, drug, fight or what?

What made you so debilitated as to mistake a fire-hydrant for the driveway or a tree for a traffic stop? So now tell us what you will do to in your own words, "make sure it did not happen again?" Were you buzzing or snorting or what; just clear the air and assuage the curiosity. Mr. Woods statement continues that, “Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible. The only person responsible for the accident is me. My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false.” Icheoku says to Mr. Tiger Woods, we are curious for the right reason; and only you can explain the "many false, unfounded and malicious rumours that are circulating as to the cause of the accident." Just come clean and let the world know exactly what transpired in your household leading up to and precipitated the accident.

To Tiger Woods, we say it is not "irresponsible" of or for anyone to try to figure out what could have transpired that early morning hours since you are refusing to supply the missing links. Why did your wife not immediately call 911 as would anyone witnessing an accident; but instead choose to self-help an "accident victim" whose extent of injury she was not fully aware of? Icheoku concludes that there is a lot the Woods are not letting out and the earlier they open up and may be apologise for whatever domestic mistake, altercation or indulgence that brought about the incident, the better for everyone. And according to his lawyer, Mark NeJame, the golf’s No. 1 player would be unavailable to talk to the police about what happened, which leads Icheoku to ask, what is he then really hiding? Tiger Woods please put aside the shame and ego, do not throw away what you represent and mean to many of us and the world in general, so speak up now!

CHIEF (DR) AUSTIN CHUKS-ORJI, A MAN OF GREAT HUMILITY, A TRIBUTE!

To the many well-wishers and sympathisers who thronged the hall of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Antioch, California, USA to pay him their last respect on November 28, 2009; he was that affable and amiable man who always wore a smile. So many of them gathered did not really know the gravitas and accomplishment of the man lying prostrate and face-up in a beautiful brown casket?

Dressed up in death as he would while alive, impeccable and immaculate, in a well matched two piece suit with a neck-tie and his trade-mark fedora hat lying next to his body. He was as restful in his eternal sleep as he was while alive. The morticians did a perfect job and his body did not in anyway betray his looks while alive. Every mourner was satisfied in the job that was done to preserve his body.

The wake-keeping was well attended with over five hundred people taking up every available seats, some standing and spilling the hallways and even into the outside of a cold wintry Bay Area night. There was a funeral mass, followed by performances of traditional African music and masquerades; funeral orations, eating and dancing, while the gathered celebrated the life and times of a man many people in Bay Area of Northern California affectionately knew as GQ! He was a man of good character and unfathomable humility.

Chief (Dr) Austin Chuks-Orji, the Ogbuenyisiogu 11 of Obe, Nkanu, Enugu, Nigeria obtained a PhD in Finance way back in 1971. But the way and manner he carried himself, mixed and mingled with even the lowly, never betrayed his attainment of the apogee in academic pursuit. He once owned and operated four McDonald's Franchises, a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury car dealership in America; as well as the then Macons Nigeria Limited, which bakery arm made the popular and delicious Macon's Bread in Enugu, Nigeria; (anyone who grew up and lived in Enugu back in the eighties would attest to the popularity and quality of this bread). He was also the national vice chairman of the then Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), - a very high political party office in NPP and second only to Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya - the very chairman! He was also chairman of then Anambra State Housing Development Co-operation. He was an author. He was a member of board of directors of so many companies and government parastatals. He was married and blessed with eight children and some grandchildren. He was a successful man. To Icheoku, GQ was a good man!

Chief (Dr) Austin Chuks-Orji died in the United States of America on October 26, 2009 following complications from surgery. He was born at Aba, in present day Abia State, Nigeria on May 29, 1943. He was highly educated. He was a politician. He was a businessman and entrepreneur. He was a husband, a father and grandfather. He had brothers and sisters including nieces and nephews. He was good dresser and dapper, which earned him the acronym GQ! He was also an African high chief. He was loved by his family and so many friends and admirers. Chief (Dr) Chuks-Orji lived in the Bay Area of Northern California United States of America for quite some time; but in a somewhat humble and meek manner. Icheoku says, but for his eulogy, many would not have known who he really was and/or his actual worth? And so it was that Chief (Dr) Austin Chuks-Orji lived and mingled with all without isolating or segregating himself from the proverbial commoners; some of who did not know or could careless that in their midst was such a great-man of no mean worth and contacts; a reminder of the Igbo aphorism that in a strange land, people usually do not recognise the proverbial "big-man" from another land (mba ama onye ukwu)?

So as Icheoku mourns the passing of a very good-man, fondly called GQ; a man who lived a short fulfilled and fruitful life of 66 years, we pray that his soul rests in peace! May the Almighty God forgive him his sins and reward him accordingly for his fairness; and for lack thereof in the treatment of his fellow human-beings, show him mercy, Amen! We shall all miss his fondness, care and empathy; and above all his mentoring! A man of great humility, which humility masked the worth of the man, whose name was Chief (Dr) Austin Chuks-Orji. So long, GQ!

CHIEF (DR) AUSTIN CHUKS-ORJI, FUNERAL MASS/WAKE-KEEPING!

Late Chief (Dr) Austin Chuks-Orji

(Ogbuenyisiogu 1 of Obe Nkanu Enugu State Nigeria)

Begins his final journey to motherland with a funeral mass/wake keeping:-

Date:- November 28, 2009

Venue:- Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church,

1313 A Street, Antioch, California 94509 USA.

Time:- 5pm; 6pm-12midnight

Signed:-Chief (Dr) Austin Chuks-Orji Funeral Planning Committee

Space donated by:- www.Icheoku.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, AMERICA!

Today is the national 'Thanksgiving Day 2009' in the United States of America; Icheoku says, congratulations! As we savour all the basted golden-brown turkeys, alongside all the stuffing and associated drinks, please let us be grateful for what we have. It may not necessarily be all the gold in Fort Knox but a healthy life is worth celebrating too; it is more important than all the billions owned on a sick, death-bed.

A harvest festival celebrated mainly in Canada and the United States, Thanksgiving Day is a day we give thanks to God for all the bounties of our earth harvest, from his given richly endowed fertile land; and also express our gratitude for all other life's gifts and blessings.

Historically, the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 at Plymouth Plantation, one of the original thirteen colonies that later became the United States of America; and is in today's State of Massachusetts. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and the second Monday of October in Canada; and marked as a gathering of family and friends over dinner table to rejoice, make merry and be thankful for the blessings of the year ending.

The modern Thanksgiving feast began in the 1850s, when poet Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote the poem “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” began a campaign for recognition of a national day of Thanksgiving. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared that the final Thursday in November would be a day of Thanksgiving and later in 1941, at the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Congress declared it a national holiday.

It is also one of the most traveled holiday periods in America as family members travel from all over to be together for the festivities. As a tradition, the president usually pardons a turkey from the butcher's knife to mark the day; and this year, President Barack Obama pardoned a turkey named 'Courage'! Once again, happy 'turkey day' America!'

AGAINST SAME SEX MARRIAGE, TRY THIS FOR OPTION!

How about marrying your dog or cat or even a tree, may be an iroko, eucalyptus or oak tree? But in order not to be outdone in the battle of what constitutes an acceptable marriage partner, a Japanese man has gone entirely outside this world of humans to take a wife!

By his action, he has taken the craziness called marriage to another level; having made up his mind that homo-sapiens are troubled species and that he will not fall a prey therein? He journeyed to space and found a wife there, and married her; - he settled for a virtual wife?

Wonders shall never end; but what is marriage after-all if not a union or a yoke which an unhappy society forces down on its membership so that they will have everybody equally yoked in the stress and sadness of trying to live life through the eyes of another! But who have ever seen a comfortable Siamese twins; talk-less of expecting a utopia of a really happily married couple? Anyway, the mental anguish aside, here now is the real deal. Icheoku loves creative minds and this Japanese is a genius as he married without the concomitant bitching and bickering; and the middle of the night wake up lets talk tantrums?

The Japanese gamer known in the virtual world by his e-acronym, 'Sal9000' has tied the knots with a lady he met in cyber-space; - a fantasy wife! He was playing Nintendo DS dating sim 'Love Plus' game when he met and fell in love with a lady-character therein, Nene Anegasaki. He was love-struck by the virtual lady; and decided immediately that his heart has been struck by her proverbial cupid arrow and hence let the marital bliss begin. He proposed to her and bam, a marriage! The wedding ceremony was performed in front of family, friends, relatives and the media who were all very supportive and not judgmental about who their son and friend choose to fall in love and spend the rest of his life with. Icheoku asks, does this e-addict plan to ever consummate such a marriage or did he just want to extend the realm of marriageable partners? Was he deliberately making a statement to those anti same-sex marriage crusaders that everyone should be left to decide who his object of affection should be and permitted to marry same if he/she chooses to? But do you blame him for making such a daring move, somehow meant to raise wow, provoke conversation and possibly give the anti same-sex marriage theocrats a reason to say, "I told you so"; that once the genie is let out of the bottle and same sex people allowed to marry, that no one knows where the stretch of what someone can marry will reach or end.

Call it end times signs, weirdo or whatever you like; but marriage is marriage and anyone can and should be allowed to marry whoever or whatever he chooses is the best and least painful way to be killed! As either way, the stress of being permanently yoked with someone or a thing will quickly facilitate your ultimate exit from this world, like it or not. Crazy thoughts; can call it whatever you like, but Icheoku shoots from the hip. And to the newly wed Sal9000 and Nene Anegasaki, Icheoku says, happy married life of less bickering! Salut.

Now check out the YouTube video of the event, happy viewing:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsikPswAYUM