ACTING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK, SOUTH SOUTH MUST ALLOW HIM TO GOVERN!

The people of the South-South must avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of the north, which has unduly polarised them against the entire south and which has politically, pitched the north against everyone else in Nigeria. Nepotism, tribalism, regionalism, religionism and sectionalism; these are some of the not-so-good nor palatable words still populating Nigerian lexicon today. A country that wants to remain as one definitely does not need any of these divisive words currently and prevalently pervading its vocabularly space!

A one-Nigeria as envisaged by the Great Zik of Africa is what should be preached by each groups within Nigeria in order to build out of Nigeria a nation that could be great. Therefore, the people of South South must understand that the Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, acts on behalf of Nigeria and not parochially only for the Niger Delta or South-South of Nigeria?

Further, they should remember that they did not make Jonathan an Acting President and that it was the National Assembly that empowered him to so act. Even some reports out of the South South and concerning the people therein from, has it on good authority that they tried but failed to sabotage Jonathan's succession to Acting Presidency, a bid which they woefully lost in the ensuing battle for the hearts and minds of Nigerians regarding the way out of a medically indisposed President Yar'Adua's woods; and what to do in his over-extended absence without leave. Also they should that the whole Nigerians will be watching them meticulously, to see what the South-South makes out of this God given opportunity to preside over Nigeria; and that posterity will not forgive them should they bungle it or force the pundits to equate them to the power-drunk northerners - who craves power; who holds power and yet do ot seem to know what to do with power to better the peoples lot? Why this, Icheoku, on may ask?

In answer, Icheoku says, barely less than 72 hours after the miracle of the National Assembly surmounting all pressure to do otherwise, and summoned the courage to empower Jonathan Goodluck to act on behalf of the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, the leaders of the South-South so called, are now beginning to mount unecessary pressure on the Acting President to bare his fangs, dissolve the cabinet and consolidate his hold on power? By saying this, they forgot so soon, the reason why the north was at first very reluctant and too afraid to acquiesce to Jonathan's ascendancy? They also forgot that Jonathan Goodluck is merely holding the presidency in trust for the ailing President Yar'Adua who could miraculously be healed tomorrow, only to come back to Nigeria and reclaim his mandate; with a call for the rendering of account. The people of the South South also forgot that it was this type of crass-pressure on holders of public offices in Nigeria that primarily alienated the north from the rest of Nigerians, who perceive them as being too greedy with power that they never want to let go of it.

What is Icheoku saying in essence; that the leaders of the South-South should back-off and allow Jonathan to govern without added undue pressure of office from his people of the South-South. Icheoku believes that Jonathan will not forget his people of the South-South and at the same token, the people of the South South should realise that Jonathan is not theirs alone but is acting President of Nigeria and will take other Nigerians' interest at heart. Just in the few months Jonathan will serve to complete Umaru Yar'Adua's first term in office and this amount of pressure is already being brought by the people of South South on his day three in office? Such avarice for power is capable of scaring Nigerians into resisting any Jonathan's attempt at continuing and completing their tickets' second term, thence 2011. The people of the South-South should therefore be very pragmatic with fanatically identifying with Jonathan's acting presidency, and instead put pressure on their militants who are terrorising the oil companies into full surrender. This will serve as a welcome gesture to their son, Jonathan Goodluck being empowered as acting president of Nigeria; by a duly constituted National Assembly comprised of Nigerians from all over the map, from north east, north central, north west, south west, south east and south-south.

Please Icheoku begs of you, in the name of Adaka Boro, Ken Saro-Wiwa and other respectable men and women, both living and dead, who mean anything to you to please tread softly and let Jonathan function uninhibited by parochial concerns induced pressures. A good starting point would have been for the people to pay him a solidarity visit? Then reconcile him with Peter Odili, James Ibori, DSP Alameseigha, Lucky Igbinedion, Atta and such other former governors and political power-brokers from the South-South and let the kubaya begin. Thereafter, they should reach out to Olusegun Obasanjo and thank him for not only facilitating Jonathan's rise to power but for particularly triggering the tornado that finally blew President Umaru Yar'Adua's government off the reservation. It was Obasanjo's admonition that 'a man of some honor who could not work as his employment, selection or appointment demands ought to throw in the towel.' What followed is better left for historians; but that bullet once it left his barrel was irretrievably dispatched and only the end result threw up Jonathan to the exulted seat of power. At least President Umaru Yar'Adua was humble enough to send his mother to Otta to thank Obasanjo for making her son president!

In the offensive statement, the people of the South-South, through its leader Chief Edwin Clark, asked "Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately dissolve the Federal Executive Council in order to stamp his authority on the government?" Icheoku says such a statement is capable of igniting some trouble in Nigeria as his consolidation of power was not one of the envisaged reasons for the clamour for Jonathan's stepping up to an acting president position. The primary reason is to enable Jonathan hold steady, the hitherto drifting Nigeria's national ship, until President Umaru Yar'Adua recovers and returns from his hospitalisation in Saudi Arabia. Using such words as "stamp his authority on the government" is capable of scaring the north, whose "turn" it is now to be president of Nigeria into thinking that it was a coup that Jonathan staged and not a mere filling in for their sick Umaru Yar'Adua. As always, most wars are started by careless choice of words or wilful words of mouth geared to produce the hostility result or an intention which was lost in translation for being not properly communicated; and therefore Icheoku expects Chief Edwin Clark to clarify his statement further or otherwise deny it.

It is simply not productive to start at this infant stage of Jonathan Goodluck's acting presidency to make the people of Nigeria, especially the northern stock, feel so jittery that they have lost out in the power structure that they may engineer a coup de`tat to reclaim what they presume is rightfully theirs at this time. Nigeria's leaders should fan less the embers of discord, of division, of dichotomy, of sectionalism and of regionalism so that Nigeria can move on to greater things. Enough of these tribal chiefs pontificating a vision of their parochial Nigeria which has since expired and no longer tenable in a so much integrated Nigeria that the idea of regional and different Nigeria is so yesterday. From Sokoto to Calabar, from Maiduguri to Lagos are Nigerians who have become so mixed up through inter-marriages and other cultural exchanges and domicile that even if Nigeria were to separate today, it will be a near impossible task to set them apart? This is despite the intermittent loss of minds of those northern Nigerians domestic terrorists who wantonly spill the blood of innnocents.

The South-South's denouncing or demeaning Olusegun Obasanjo's role in bringing about an Acting President Jonathan Goodluck is also very nonsensical. It lacks in truth and veracity; and is contrary to what is of generally wide knowledge that Obasanjo made Jonathan politically. Otherwise, who imposed Jonathan as Bayelsa deputy governor? Who removed Governor DSP Alamaseigha to make way for Jonathan? Who single-handedly imposed Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan on Nigeria as president and vice president respectively? Who threw the comatose President Umaru Yar'Adua under the bus, by telling-on his near permanent incapacitation; before the dogs of war went in to finish off whatever had remained of his beleagured presidency? Who did the leg works, organised nocturnal meetings and made phone calls, nudging, ordering and cajoling the people that matter in Nigeria that it is game-over and time for Yar'Adua to go? Who is presently counselling Jonathan on how to be presidential and effectively preside? Icheoku says, Obasanjo! Obasanjo! Obasanjo. So Chief Clark, now tell Icheoku why the sudden re-write of a history which many Nigerians watched unfold; or do you plan to now take credit for what you definitely did not do?

That Jonathan might not be an easy push-over or a robotic puppet in the hands of Obasanjo is a possibility; afterall Yar'Adua who benefited more by being made the president later turned against his political godfather and mentor Obasanjo and took refuge inside the Katsina good old boys network? But he forgot that Ngige did it in Anambra State and was kidnapped; that Fashola tried it in Lagos State and today his days as governor is numbered since the attempt at reconcilliation has failed and his impeachment assured, which may come before the year ends. So Umaru Yar'Adua possibly suffered the same fate as all men who renege on their promised loyalty and decided to bite the finger that fed them. Also regarding the pledge by Jonathan to fight corruption to a standstill, Icheoku asks Chief Clark if he will guarantee that EFCC going after James Onanefe Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion etc will not splinter the South South Niger Delta solidarity and whatever remains of their militant terrorists? Will the high chief assure Jonathan of his South South people's full cooperation and support, instead of fueling the militancy which the chief recently admitted is approved and being financed by many Niger Delta henchmen and political authorities?

Icheoku equally, categorically denies the assertion by Chief Clark that "Obasanjo actually wanted the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili for the job of the veepee"! This is because no one in Nigeria ever understands Obasanjo enough to know exactly what he is thinking or actually wants. Being such a draconian ruler, he had his way with easy and did whatever he wanted including removing three senate presidents, five PDP chairmen as well as abducting governors and forcing one to flee the governor's house in Bayelsa. Obasanjo also massacred Odi and Zaki Ibiam people; as well as other unsolved political murders that happened under his watch, including that of his Attorney General Bola Ige. Therefore, a man with such bone-shocking resume` as Obasanjo is beyond Chief Clark to understand enough, to know who he actually wanted for veepee? Obasanjo afterall hand-picked Umaru Yar'Adua and who is Umaru then, to challenge Obasanjo's choice for his his vice, afraid that Obasanjo can change his mind on his own presidential candidacy. Why does Chief Clark want to bequeath Yar'Adua with such a mighty honor of choosing Jonathan? Maybe Yar'Adua chose Jonathan from his then hospital bed in Germany, from where he told Obasanjo on a speaker-phone that he is not yet dead when Obasanjo was ceremoniously campaigning for the absent candidate.

Anyway, enough of this never-retiring politicians who have been occupying Nigeria political scene since the sixties. This high chief should consider stopping his speaking on behalf of the Niger Delta South South people, to avoid some unintended consequences of speaking before thinking. What is it with the "traditional resource control cap" that Goodluck must put it on during his visit to Aso Rock Presidential Villa. Why must Jonathan always adorn Niger Delta garb when he is not theirs exclusive; - why not mix it up a little with some Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa etc outfits; that way other ethnicities and tribal groupings i Nigeria will stop seeing him as a Niger Delta acting president and really identify with him as one of their own. The same dress code applies to all of them in Abuja; and not just Jonathan; but his "resource control cap" was implicated in Chief Clark's speech hence the address. Icheoku asks, who was occupying Aso Rock and calling the shots and marching orders then before May 2007? Obasanjo! Obasanjo! Obasanjo!

Lastly, the people of South South should back off from their fixation on former Attorney General Micheal Kasse Aondoakaa; he has already been punished enough with his demotion to Special Duties Minister. Please do not push Jonathan too hard that he appears vindictive and thus turn him an enemy with the Tivs, Benue State and the greater Middle Belt North Central of Nigeria. Icheoku says, a person with some honor being so demoted would have instead resigned, except that in Nigeria, the word honor has since taken an out-bound flight, never to return. It is possible the use of 'vice president' to address the Acting President by Mike Aondoakaa is a slip of the tongue; moreso that has been Jonathan's designation until just the last few days requiring time for it to fully register and settle in so many minds. Imagine the stressed mind of 'an Attorney General who was a field marshal in the rusticated President Umaru Yar'Adua's inner circle, now on limbo about what his antagonised former Veepee will do to him now that he has become the acting president? Who will not be filled with contempt at a supposed 'enemy "usurper" of his boss's former presidential powers and an apparent nemesis of the old guard? So people of the south-south, instead of throwing feat at Aondoakaa, please forget his language of "insubordination and contempt for constituted authority” and concentrate on how to make the south-south a lesser headache for Jonathan and let Jonathan govern.

THIS IS CRAZY, AN EVIDENCE THAT SOME AMERICANS ARE REALLY NUTS?

But hey, that is why we are the land of the free and home of the brave, a land where freedom of speech reigns; otherwise what is there to miss? But not when you are the one who put the 'Miss Me Yet?' former President George Walker Bush's billboard, overlooking Interstate 35 in Wyoming, Minnesota or an admirer thereof? It looks like a job Glen Beck would pay for and possibly paid for, otherwise why keep the identity of the people or person/s who paid for it secret? A hatchet-job, may be, by the Obama-will-destroy-America-crowd; who have no capacity to logically think for themselves before following their "guiding-lights" talk-radio hosts to Armageddon!

Obviously the nay-sayers, the no-to-everything-Obama-crowd who will never find anything positive from "that one", the colored boy who is occupying their White-House, cannot stop at nothing to show their disapproval of him and this is amplified with such subliminal message as appeared on this billboard. Now they are longing for and feeling nostalgic about the infamous Bush administration and you wonder why someone as dumb as Sarah Palin had a shot at the presidency, being a vice presidential candidate to a septuagenarian! It is a particular mindset which only attracts and sees color of the skin, erroneously believing in the superiority of a particular color, period! Icheoku says, as far as this band of people are concerned, the presidency is tainted by the color of the skin of the occupant; and so it does not matter whether he is a saint or trying as hard as he could humanly try to reposition our great country and solve the economic problem, as well as keeping us safe from terrorists, while fighting two wars and respecting the rule of law; he is black and therefore an aberration, period!

It is equally instructive that President Obama did not cause the economic melt-down nor did he start any of those wars or in any other way, contributed to where we found ourselves today. But these band of 'Mayflower pilgrims', "who owns America," cannot tire nor despair until they wrestle back and reclaim their White House from the 'negro, and it does not matter the degree of the derogation since to them, the end justifies the means.

Icheoku has long since concluded that with regards to President Barack Obama's administration and these band of nay-sayers, the problem is not in the message, but the messenger himself in whom they see an irregularity and a perversion of the occupant of "their White House". Former President Jimmy Carter was right when he shone the light on racism as fuelling the mounting opposition to President Barack Obama's governance; but political correctness did not allow that angle of explanation to be explored further. Anyway, except you have dementia or you are suffering from selective amnesia to have forgotten so soon the experiences of the previous eight years of former President GW , please just tell Icheoku what it is about the previous administration that is now worth missing or a cause celebre` to fuel such nostalgic longing for that government. Oh well?

ACTING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN OF NIGERIA, WELCOME!

A president is a president irrespective of the manner in which he came to office or the capacity in which he exercises the office? He remains a president whether acting, deputising or standing in for the real president who is currently unavailable and intubated in King Faisal hospital intensive care unit, in the Kingdom of Saud. Icheoku appreciates the fact that Acting President Jonathan Goodluck is pseudo, albeit only holding fort, since he was not elected or voted for as one. He will only hold the office in trust for and pending the arrival of the main custodian of the office, President Umaru Yar'Adua, and when he recovers fully enough to resume his office.

Now that the politics of succession or who takes over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria following the long hospitalization of President Umaru Yar'Adua is seemingly finally over, President Jonathan Goodluck should start presiding over the affairs of Nigeria immediately since there is no more time to waste in their presidency which is nearly 3/4 over! First he must tweak the cabinet to re-position it to suit his idea of an effective governance machinery; fire some old hands that are inhibiting his government's program and hire some fresh ones to re-invigorate the team and effectively see through his government's agenda. Icheoku says, the first order of business is to fire Attorney General Micheal Kassie Aondonakaa for giving the government a wrong advise that 'President Umaru Yar'Adua can rule Nigeria from any where of his choosing in the world?' May be by remote control or the Internet, wrong; except that such 'misleading theory of governance' was coming from a notoriously very corrupt Attorney General of Nigeria, whose middle name would safely pass for a bribe-taker? Disposing Aondoakaa is the right to do and it will be popular among Nigerians who have been clamouring for his removal from office. Moreso the Chief Justice of Nigeria is also a Tiv man from Benue State and Nigeria cannot afford to have the two chief law officers of the country coming from just one tribe out of the over 250 tribes there is in Nigeria! It neither just nor fair to concentrate both offices within one tribal grouping; so Aondoakaa should go.

Next to go or be redeployed is the Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe because he does not seem to have a real grasp of what is required of a person in his office. He seems to have a very old mindset about today's diplomacy and has never been an effective communicator of Nigeria's foreign policy directives? Nigeria needs someone that could at least force or drive a conversation about Nigeria and for this, Icheoku mentions Professor Dora Akunyili as a good fit for the position. In addition to her other admirable attributes, she is also very passionate about what she does and Nigeria requires a proactive 'nationalist' to project her image abroad and market Nigeria from mountain tops, as would a good commodity? That Ojo Maduekwe's office spent over $2 billion naira last year alone without any derivative beneficial returns for Nigeria leaves much to be desired of a Nigerian foreign affairs minister. Such profligacy is mind-bogling and he should get out of the foreign affairs ministry immediately, even only on account of this. Dora comes highly recommended because she is one of the few ministers who is so excitable about Nigeria that she took it upon herself to give Nigeria a better image by single-handedly trying to re-branding it? It is worth mentioning too that Dora Akunyili is the only one in Nigeria who seriously believes that Nigeria still have a chance to be better and great; and such a person will be a good saleswoman for Nigeria and hence has all the potentials to be a great foreign affairs minister for Nigeria. Alternatively, deploy her to the Power ministry or Petroleum Ministry to fix whatever is broken therein. As a challenge, if anyone including Acting President Jonathan Goodluck thinks that providing power to Nigeria is an impossible task, Icheoku asks, have you given Dora Akunyili the task? It is all about a can-do spirit and Nigeria will enjoy uninterrupted power supply forever!

Further President Umaru Yar'Adua's man-Friday, Agricultural and water resources minister Sayaad Abba Ruma should be redeployed or fired immediately to safeguard Jonathan's presidency and/or lessen his power, influence and hold on the presidency. So also should Special adviser Tanimu Kurfi be asked to proceed on indefinite leave of absence pending his master's return back to office. However in going after these two men, Jonathan Goodluck should be mindful that the ailing president might not find it a comfortable decision and will see it as a kick in the gut and a foundational challenge to his position. The better suggestion is to keep them at bay while consolidating a power base to ensure smooth governance. Last but not the least is to try to reduce the influence of Kano people in the government by revisiting those appointments that were made only to their benefit, not taking into account that the north is not just north west or Kano and Katsina alone? Just re-distribute those appointments among the whole northern Nigeria to give every person a sense of participation and not concentrated in just Kastina/Kano axis? Finally, Nigeria cannot afford another 'Slow-man' President Jonathan, so Goodluck must start immediately to do his job as president.

To refresh, the Nigeria National Assembly by resolution, and taking general notice of the widely available information that President Umaru Yar'Adua has now become indisposed, gave the all-clear for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to fully assume the office of president, albeit in acting capacity. In an interview granted to BBC by the sickly President Umaru Yar'Auda on January 12, 2010; the president admitted that he is sick and hospitalised; and that he would return back to work when his doctors say so or give him a clear bill of health? It has now been 78 days since Nigeria waited for this clearance but nothing was coming from the said doctors; leading everyone across the polity to complain and agitate that the vice president should act for the ailing president pending his recovery. It was an all inclusive agitation which cut across Nigeria, from the ordinary Nigerians on the streets to the clergy, civil society, leaders of industries, opinion makers, politicians, trade unions etc. But Section 145 of the constitution requiring the president to intimate the senate on a transfer of power to the vice president held up everything since the president was too sick to write as required. It would appear that the president is in such a debilitated vegetative state to even lift a pen talk-less of being in the necessary right frame of mind to author a cohesive letter of absence? However he was not too sick to grant an interview to BBC, a decision which on hindsight he may be regretting today as it was based on that interview that the national assembly have now acted.

In waiving the issue of notice as required by Section 145 of the constitution, the Senate President David Mark, said, the essence of the said section is to affix notice of the president's indisposition to the national assembly. Under the circumstances of inability to write as required, the Senate will adopt and so adopts the president's BBC interview as providing the necessary notice of his incapacity as required under the said Section 145. In the words of the Senate President, 'The BBC interview granted by the president is as good as the letter envisaged in the constitution"; therefore it shall be adopted as a tacit transmission of notice in satisfaction of Section 145 of the constitution that he is on medical vacation.' In the resolution making him acting president declared, "Goodluck Jonathan shall henceforth discharge the functions of the office of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Acting President. Jonathan would cease to discharge the functions of the office of the President when Yar’Adua “transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in writing that he has returned from his medical vacation?” Icheoku asks, why not dispense entirely with the requirement of giving a notice in writing, and in its place institute a panel of three eminent persons to sit over such happenstance when a president becomes so incapacitated that he could no longer function as one. What if the president returns tomorrow in a life-support ambulatory service or is forcibly brought back by Turai and the Cabals just to frustrate Jonathan's acting capacity? What if the president being so brought back still cannot articulate his thoughts or is incapable of similarly writing or giving a notice as required? Anarchy or double presidency or co-presidency or what; that will descend upon the land? Icheoku would rather this writing requirement is completely done away with to provide for a situation where a president is too incapacitated to write or is held hostage by some interest groups which would not allow or prevent him from doing the right thing!

Icheoku concurs with one observer that empowering President Jonathan Goodluck is a “triumph for the Constitution as well as a triumph for the rule of law. It equally shows that Nigeria has untapped capacity and potential to grow out of the petty smallness holding it down; and shall one day rise up to the occasion to start seriously its nation-building; provided all those tribalists, religious-zealots and sectionalists who milk the current north and south divide completely die off and exit the stage. Just like the MKO Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe two Muslims ticket once attested to, as well as the current southern christain Jonathan succession of a northern muslim, Nigerians really do not care about what anyone worships or the section of the country that produced i'ts leader. All the average-Joe-Nigerian wants is the provision of basic infrastructure to enable him go about his daily business of providing for his family without molestation, in peace and in secured environment. Icheoku commends Senate President David Mark's statement that “The fact that we have resolved the logjam democratically is a measure of the depth that democracy has attained in our polity. This is not the time for winners and losers, but the time to remain united as a people because as a nation, our voyage is on the same tide and we cannot afford a drift.” However we beg to disagree that Nigeria's democracy has attained or will attain any meaningful depth, until elections begin to matter, cast-ballots counted at the polling centers; and real democracy enthroned starting with the PDP which needs to institute an internal democracy within its own political establishment. May be the recent Anambra State election which the PDP failed or were unable or refused to or did not hijack shows that something good is afoot in Nigeria's political clime; admitted the jury remains sequestrated until the almighty 2011 elections are decided.

Icheoku agrees that this political solution of “doctrine of necessity,” should be given a chance in order to move Nigeria forward; as the alternative of an outright invocation of Section 143 impeachment clause will rather be too strong, unkind and unfeeling for a president who did not cause or bring sickness upon himself. Let Nigerians not stir the polity or unnecessarily stoke it any further since 2011 is already around the corner and new elections will usher in a fresh team to carry on, carrying on. As we have always maintained and now as being reinstated by some legal minds, "Jonathan does not require anybody's authorisation or a Senate resolution to act as President, he was duly elected alongside the ailing president as the vice president or president in the waiting and should immediately upon his indisposition step in as acting president". Yet it does not hurt for the Nigerian population as represented by the national assembly to add impetus to this by their resolution; so it is still a welcome idea.

Icheoku agrees with Acting President Jonathan that there should be no more excuses for failures and adds, this zero-some tolerance for failure should not be exclusive the Nigerian police; but must transcend the entire gamut of government:- executive arm in its entirety, the legislature, the judiciary and the man on the street. Like the creed of MAMSER, if you are a tailor, tailor well; if you are a teacher, teach well, if you are a farmer, farm well; if you are a politician, politic well, if you are a governor, govern well and so on and so on. Also Icheoku agrees that the war against corruption should be prosecuted more firmly, more resolutely and more robustly. It needs reinvigorating and if it means breaking some bones to get the job done, so be it. To satisfactorily do this, Acting President Jonathan Goodluck should consider rehiring Nuhu Ribadu to continue with the good work he was doing before the corrupt powerful men of Nigeria swept him out of office and hounded him into exile. Let the free hand to be given to the anti-corruption agencies to prosecute the anti corruption war include allowing them to go after know corrupt Obasanjo's men as well as former governors James Onanefe Ibori and co. As of the many infrastructures mentioned, only two are most important to help jump start Nigeria's economy which is sputtering into comatose:- power and roads! Finally what is in a name one may ask, as a man named Goodluck Jonathan became a deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and God knows what next; all within what many will consider very short political pupilage/apprenticeship? But only fools question the gods or controvert their destiny! Congratulations Acting President Jonathan Goodluck and let the policy directive flow!

A NEED FOR A SHADOW GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA - an article by Chinedu Akuta.

Damn our “leaders” if they like it, damn them if they don’t, the people have spoken. Enough of power vacuum, near constitutional crisis, and over heating of the polity all due to the fact that the ruling party (PDP) does not trust the Vice President (Jonathan Goodluck) to formally act as President until President Yar’Adua recovers from his illness. There is no choice other than to respect the wishes of the Nigerian people, power belongs to the people. Cracks have clearly emerged with the Executive Council of the Federation and the National Assembly due to the pressure from the people. Shadow government will be such that should coordinate massive public pressure (people’s power) to counter bad governance.

This was an idea I recommended in my Christmas message to Nigerians. It simply means forming a government in waiting by the opposition parties. But in the Nigerian case, the shadow government should be formed by opposition parties and representatives from the following; Political Groups, Non Governmental Organization, Civil Groups, Community Groups, Faith Organizations (churches, mosques, etc), Retired Civil Servants, Opinion Leaders, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Labour Unions/Leaders, Students Union Leaders, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, Nigerian Medical Association, Bankers, Nigerian Bar Association, Members of the Nigerian Press, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Cultural Groups and any other groups, corporate groups or individuals that might wish to join.

Shadow government/cabinet is in operation in the United Kingdom where opposition parties have shadow cabinet members in all the existing ministries, For example Secretary of Defense (Minister of Defense) by the ruling party (Labour Party) has a shadow Secretary of Defense by the opposition parties (Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats etc). The British opposition parties are alive and strong, they provide tough checks and balances on the ruling party (Labour Party).

There will be nothing wrong to domesticate this method (shadow government) and apply it to the presidential system of government that we are practicing in Nigeria . It can be our own home grown democratic system. I have heard past Nigerian leaders talk about home grown democracy. This can be one of it. However, political theories of previous centuries (presidential system, unitary system, federal system, feudal system, theocratic system etc) can be adjusted, amended or combined together to fit in the Nigeria of 21st century, so long as it enhances good governance.

The essence of shadow government in Nigeria is to create a formidable opposition to the government in power. Opposition parties/groups are an important part of every democracy. In nearby Ghana , the opposition party (National Democratic Congress of Ghana) won the ruling party. In both Zimbabwe and Kenya , power is being shared between the opposition parties and the ruling parties. During the Babangida and Abacha era, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) formed a credible opposition to the military. They fought gallantly till the country was returned to civil rule. Presently our opposition parties/groups need a shadow government/cabinet structure hence my suggestion.

My other reason for recommending so many groups to join the shadow government is because, I agree totally with what former French President Charles de Gaulle said, “Politics is too serious a business to be left for politicians alone”. Shadow government will be able to critically examine every government policy and come up a better alternative for the Nigerian people. Where money is to be spent on projects, the shadow government should be able highlight how and who can do such projects better and at a lesser cost to the Nigerian tax payers. Shadow government will provide a training ground for future leaders. The benefits will be enormous to the Nigerian public.

My suggestion of a shadow system of government is such that, we will have shadow president, shadow vice president, shadow cabinet members, comprising of shadow minister of education, shadow minister of health, shadow external affairs minister, shadow minister of agriculture, shadow minister of finance etc. The same method (shadow government/cabinet) should be created or formed in 36 states of the federation and the 774 local government areas in Nigeria . In the case of states, there should be shadow governors, shadow deputy governors, shadow commissioners. Whereas, in the case of local government councils, there should be shadow supervisory councilors in all departments.

Since we have a bi-cameral legislature (The Senate and House of Representatives) at the federal level, it will be in order, to have one shadow senator from each senatorial zone and a shadow House of Representative member from each federal constituency of the federation. Same should apply to the states and local government areas.

Appointment or Selection Processes: Appointments or selection methods should be strictly by merit and through transparent processes. There will be no issue of putting round pegs in square holes, like what the past and present governments have been doing. I will suggest Option A4 system for selection process. I will also suggest that professional groups should be allocated to relevant shadow ministries, for example if medical personnel’s decides to join the shadow government, they should be assigned to the shadow ministry of health under a shadow minister of health.

Shadow government can commence now and terminate by May 2011 when the tenure of this present government will end. However there should be a transition plan for the shadow government that will start from May 2011. Politicians and people interested in this project can start working out the remaining modalities. Campaigning for different positions should also start. Nigerians in Diaspora can participate actively in the appointment, selection, and the shadow government itself. They can take part from wherever they might be. I will also use this medium to urge the various pro Nigerian groups in Diaspora to come together irrespective of their organizational differences. There are a lot they can achieve by coming together. Joining or co-starting a shadow government will be a good starting point.

The shadow government can start online or partially base online. President Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain relied heavily in online strategies during their campaign. During the last French presidential election, the two top contenders (Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal) generated the highest level of net activism. In Australia , their Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) has continued to use online presence to keep electorates aware of his government’s activities.

Finally, I wish also to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria .

Chinedu Vincent Akuta is an activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK.

CONGRESSMAN JOHN MURTHA OF PENNSLYVANIA, DEAD AT 77!

John Murtha, democrat and representative from Pennsylvania has died following complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77 years old and was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the United States Congress.

He was implicated in the 'Abscam Corruption Probe' but was never charged. He once said of the Iraqi war, "The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion!"

John Murtha was survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Joyce and their three children. Icheoku says, may his soul rest in peace! What a loss to the Democrats and the Obama agenda!

ANAMBRA PEOPLE HONORS OJUKWU, RETURNS GOVERNOR PETER OBI!

In the battle for Anambra State governorship, Governor Peter Obi of the APGA has won! Riding the co-tail of Ikemba Nnewi Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a former warlord who is still revered by the Igbo for his role during Biafran war, Governor Peter Obi broke the jinx of a time long begun, which have prevented any incumbent governor from returning to office in Anambra State. All People Grand Alliance Party gubernatorial candidate and incumbent governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi has been declared the winner of the governorship elections in Anambra state. According to available result, Governor Peter Obi won by a total of 97843 votes, followed by the Action Congress's candidate, Chris Ngige with 60240 votes while PDP party flag bearer, Chukwuma Soludo came third with 59365 votes. Governor Obi has officially been declared winner of the election by the state's resident electoral commissioner. What a poor turn-out with less than 20% of the population and speaking of a mandate?

Icheoku says, congratulations to Peter Obi and his APGA for the feat of a second term in office in Anambra State. We pray that Peter Obi will repay the people of Anambra State with good measured dividends of democracy; remembering that it is their goodwill for Ojukwu that he immensely benefited from in getting re-elected and really go to work for them, this time around. Now that the campaign is over and he has won the election, he must settle down immediately and prove to the people of Anambra State that he deserved and earned their trust; that he will work for them with greater fervor such that his work will begin to speak for themselves and without the people asking, what has Peter Obi done for Anambra State lately? That his re-election was not exclusively just because of Ojukwu's influence, but because he earned the right to be their governor through his good-works with promise to do more. Also he must endeavor to be his own man and not be seen as an appendage of Ojukwu or his puppet; and that he can stand up for himself and for the people of Anambra State!

Admitted that Peter Obi may not be the most qualified or the best out of the 25 candidates who threw their hats in the ring for the contest, but his election is better than allowing the brigands in the PDP to once again hijack another state in Nigeria. A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is bereft of any internal democracy and which forcibly foist Professor Chukwuma Soludo on the party in Anambra State, despite his lack of any grass-root support therein and not being a foundation member of the party in the state. The party hierarchy in Abuja led by Tony Anenih and Alex Ekwueme discarded the niceties of democracy, which would have allowed the 58 PDP candidates to vie for who would fly their flag in Anambra State governorship election and despite several courts' pronouncements rejecting their anti-democracy activities, still managed to sneak in Soludo as the governorship candidate? However, Anambra people knew better, being wiser than the honchos of PDP in Abuja; and today, the rest like they say, is now history. As a result, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has been perpetually and permanently damaged politically, being an accomplice to the perversion of democracy with his imposition as a candidate and the attempt to extend the infra-dig, with him as the governor?

Icheoku commends the people of Anambra State for making a bold and loud statement to the PDP that their planned 60 years in office is but a wishful thinking of a drunken sailor, and that Nigeria will collectively reject them come 2011. Further what went down in Anambra State is a testament that the days of rigging by the party in Abuja is over and/or that the people who owns the land will out-rig them? Also that the people are now ready, willing, able and prepared to defend their mandate and not a gazillion PDP thugs will be able to pervert the will of the electorate anymore.

Once again, congratulations Peter Obi; while we wait to see if the recent ruling of a court in Lagos State, disqualifying INEC from conducting any election in Nigeria, will have any adverse effect on his election or be invoked by a court petitioned by an aggrieved to nullify it? Until the other aspirants concede the election and congratulate Obi, it remains a waiting game; especially for Soludo and his henchmen who had earlier sworn to win Anambra State by all means possible and coronate him the governor; notwithstanding that he neither stood nor won any party's primaries or has any serious grass-root mobilization/structure or campaign strategy; and despite the true outcome of the election! For them in PDP, election or functional democracy is just a ruse to remain in power for 60 years; and they do not care if it is given its rightful place in the Nigerian society. But the good news however, is that the Igbos of Anambra State were vigilant as they waited for this perversion to take place and would have vented their pent-up anger against those detractors who do not mean well for Nigeria. Way to go Anambraians! Also, please see this as a victory over Soludo and his power-drunk PDP!

ANAMBRA STATE ELECTION UPDATE, PDP IS LOSING BIG TIME!

Results trickling in from Anambra State Nigeria shows that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is losing big time, as their governorship candidate, Professor Chukwuma Soludo is trailing in the so far released result. He has barely won in only two out of the 23 local governments areas of the state; with incumbent governor Peter Obi, riding on Ojukwu's name, leading the rest of the 25 candidates with wins in 9 local government areas.

At least it shows that the PDP did not rig the election or the other parties out-rigged them; but whatever the case, may be it is a blessing that Nigeria does not have a president to unreasonably influence a different outcome for his party, the PDP. Below are some of the results as we, together with our media partners, await the final result. Happy trails:-

APGA's Peter Obi has won in 8 local governments, Dr. Chris Ngige of AC won 3 local governments, the PDP candidate, Charles Soludo has won in 2 local governments and Andy Uba of the Labor Party has won in one local government area. Result in six more local government are being awaited.

1. Orumba South-Peter Obi (APGA) -Winner
2. Nnewi North-Dr. Chris Ngige (AC)-Winner
3. Awka South-Peter Obi (APGA)-Winner
4. Dunukofia-Dr. Chris Ngige(AC)-Winner
5. Onitsha North-Peter Obi (APGA) –Winner
6. Onitsha South- Peter Obi (APGA)-Winner
7. Ogbaru-Peter Obi (APGA) –Winner
8. Anambra East- Charles Soludo (PDP) –Winner
9. Anambra West-
10. Oyi- Charles Soludo (PDP)-Winner
11. Aguata- Peter Obi (APGA)-Winner
12. Idemili North- Dr. Chris Ngige (AC)-Winner

HAITI MISFIRED, ARREST OF THOSE AMERICAN BAPTISTS IS ILL ADVISED!

If it were any other time, may be the "kidnapping" charges could be appropriate; but not this particular time of utmost want and need in Haiti, when every assistance of any form, type, manner and/or kind should be warmly welcomed. Icheoku would even approve the "kidnapping" of those children if that is what it will take to save them and provide them with a better future somewhere, somehow! But they were never kidnapped as some of the mothers have already publicly acknowledged that they voluntarily and freely gave their children away because the situation is overwhelming. We believe it is the politics of the rescue that is now being recklessly exploited and propagated; not minding the possible backlash that might follow as a result with some people becoming so mad that some of their predecessor-in-rescue were wrongly accused, arrested and detained of a phantom child-running that they turn away from Haiti? This is in a country which some white American men led by Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh have condemned as suffering the consequences of their evil voodoo and idol worshipping; and here are some other white people who do not share in this warped racist ideology, trying to help out and then this fate? Now, what do they get for all their benevolence and trouble but a trumped up charge of children-racketeering and trafficking? Icheoku says, unbelievable!

It does not matter whether or not those children were being taken out of Haiti illegally, without proper authorisation, papers, documentations and/or approval of the necessary authority; under the circumstance of a very daunting times in Haiti, any help is a good help and should be appreciated rather than condemned. It is also not a proper and beneficial public relations for the authorities in Port-au-Prince to have arrested those American baptists who were simply trying to take some orphaned children of Haiti to some place where they can still hope and have a life! A country which is laying on its back following the most devastating earthquake disaster of all times, which lost over 200,000 of its citizens already, with another one million plus homeless and hungry, should accept without any complains, all manner of help, irrespective of the guise or form. At least that is 33 less mouths to feed; 33 less bodies to cloth; 33 less heads to rest under a shelter and 33 less persons to take care of. So why, Haiti? Such anticipated help includes a wholesale exportation of her orphans and children to any country where they can have some semblance of sanity and somewhat normal life, after the trauma of the recent earthquake. So it is with hellish-fury that Icheoku frowns at the action of the authorities in Port-au-Prince in arresting those American baptist church people, who attempted to take some orphaned children of Haiti out of the desolate country; thereby denying some orphaned children of Haiti an opportunity of a lifetime to start life anew. Icheoku asks, don't these people at the helm of affairs in Haiti not have enough problem to contend with already to worry about 33 kids being rescued, that they should abort a help from abroad?

What is going on in Haiti with regards to the present American-baptists' tango with some deprived orphans, is akin to what transpired in Malawi with the last Madonna's adoption of the little girl named Blessing. Icheoku then wrote a comment condemning the excesses of the immigration judge in trying to deny the adoption, all the circumstances considered. However, it ended on a happy note when a more reasonable superior court, on appeal, saw the wisdom in the adoption and gave green light to the little orphaned Malawi girl to go with Madonna; who today is enjoying the parenting of Madonna. It was our position then as it is now, that the little girl had better and brighter future with Madonna than remain behind as one of the countless orphans in Malawi without any hope for the future. Hence our similar sentiment with the Haitian 33. We also contended then as we do today with the Haitians deprived orphans that the Malawi authorities have a plate-full of orphans to take care of and can afford to do without the one mouth removed from their care by reason of the adoption. So with Haiti, the count is 33!

Now therefore, what does these guys at the helm of affairs in Port-au-Prince not get; amidst the countless number of people needing their attention in Haiti to worry about these Haitian 33 - from food, water, shelter, health care and possible rebuilding of their completely lost life? If these 33 Haitian kids were allowed to leave Haiti and possibly and eventually migrate to America, Icheoku believe that they will not become too Americanized as to forget their ancestry! America has a lot of Haitian population and communities including the popular musician Wyclef Jean who has neither forgotten his root or his people and has spent a fortune trying to help out. These Haitian 33 can always return back to Haiti whenever circumstances improve to help other Haitian families and by extension the country of Haiti; which will continue to have one form of need or another and possibly for next several tens of years. Icheoku says, chasing off any help including by the arrest of these ten American baptists, whose mission for all intent and purpose is simply humanitarian, is a very dumb and thoughtless action of whoever is in charge of Haitian immigration. We here therefore call on President Rene Prevual to pressure his minister to rescind this decision, free those detained Americans and allow those children to migrate to Dominican Republic enroute America? That is the wise and better thing to do, as a better fate await them there more than in a Haiti in ruins.

Let this not be another bungled opportunity, evidence of the curse of the blackman, who does not smell an opportunity and cash in on it for the greater good of some Haitian children, the country of Haiti and the United Nations who will have less 33 children to worry about? Please President Rene Prevual, Icheoku begs of you to let those 'sprung' children go, set them free so that they can keep a date with their destiny which made them members of this bunch amongst thousands of possible others who are similarly situated. Posterity will not forgive you and your government, nor will it judge you kindly should you let this opportunity be fleeted away. Moreso, many other would-be-helpers will be scared away from Haiti, spooked by this stupid children-trafficking allegation levelled against some innocent baptists? Please intervene to stop this madness and set those American baptist free. Do it for your name! Do it for Haiti! Do it for those children! Do it for the black race! This is a golden opportunity which must not be allowed to dissipate and an anticipatory thank you for looking out for the people of Haiti and their future.

It will be recalled that Haiti suffered a very devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake on January 7, 2010; and that these ten American baptists went to Haiti in answer of plea for help. They were taking 33 Haitian kids to their orphanage in Cabarate, the Dominican Republic when they were arrested and accused of children-racketeering? According to the Haitian Social Affairs Minister Yves Christallin, they did not have valid paperwork to effect their immigration out of the country, describing their effort as "an abduction and not an adoption"? Icheoku decries the action of the government of Haiti and says, the minister's statement is a complete baloney, a hogwash and balderdash! In an emergency situation the niceties of a bureaucratic paper-work and documentation should be set aside, and needy children rescued; thereafter the adopting orphanage can come back to formalise whatever papers that Port-au-Prince may require. Like in a fire emergency, the first order of business is first put out the fire and then take stock of what was lost/necessary documentation.

It is not smart politics to deny these children a God given opportunity through this Idaho based Baptist Church and their New Life Children's Refuge to migrate out of Haiti, albeit temporarily. In a time of acute need any help is a good help and so the Haitian authorities would have allowed this "adoption" to take place and not in anyway embarrass these American Baptists, who voluntarily offered to help, by accusing them of child-trafficking. Such antagonistic posture has a way of jinxing other would be helpers from setting their foot on Haiti, talk-less of trying to help out or assist those hapless children now orphaned by the earthquake find a meaning in life. Icheoku really does not care if those children's parents are alive or not; whether they were kidnapped or not; what is important is that an opportunity called for their rescue and they should have been allowed to leave for a better life, elsewhere outside the Haiti presently in comatose. Assuming for the sake of argument that some of those children still have parents living, is it possible that those parents needed some relief and will not mind their children being gone with those Baptist people?

Icheoku disagrees with the position taken by Amanda Weisbaum, of Save the Children Organization that "the Haitian government was quite right to halt these people at the border if they felt they didn't have the right paperwork; as experience has shown it is better to keep the children in the place, and with the people they know.” What an utter rubbish? Which people does Amanda know that are still alive after the earthquake for these children to be left with? Moreso, Amanda seem to have forgotten that children adapt very easily to any environment and would have adjusted eventually? It becomes more pathetic the reason behind the veil of this useless accusatory posture of the Haitian government, in view of the public acknowledgement by some of these children' mothers that 'they voluntarily gave up their children for a better life elsewhere'! According to their explanation, they are already stretched-thin and overwhelmed, trying to find a way in the jungle of the lost-world created by the earthquake, that they can use any help from anywhere and any form including relieving them the burden of taking care of these 33 children. It is the same wrongful mindset designed to keep Africans down, no matter their location, including in Haiti that this Amanda represents; otherwise who ever offered similar opinion that "those Africans conscripted into slavery four hundred years ago would have been better "left with the people they known back in Africa?" But to accuse these group of baptist humanitarians of child-trafficking is rather a dangerous stretch for which a certain backlash is inevitable; they should therefore be set free, apologised to and possibly allow to carry on with their work of mercy with the Haitian 33.

AL QUEIDA OFFERS DIRECT SUPPORT TO NORTHERN NIGERIAN TERRORISTS?

It is now official, those incessant religious riots in Northern Nigeria are but a precursor to an impending Islamic upheaval to attempt, once and for all, to end religious secularism in Nigeria. They want to fully and completely impose their religion on Nigeria and thus islamize Nigeria. Yes, they want to force every person in Nigeria from Sokoto to Calabar and from Maiduguri to Lagos to start knocking their heads on the ground in the name of worship. This is their stated agenda and their Sarduana Ahmadu Bello once mouthed this, which effort continues till today, masked as religious riots? It is also important to mention that the dress code and way of life in Nigeria will forcibly be changed, as men will be forced to wear diapers on their heads with long grown beards; while women will go about, covered up from head to toe, in drabs like masquerades?

Why did we say that; because such idea has been broached in the past and attempts made thereto, including during Biafran/Nigerian civil war and continuing till date with such Nigeria's surreptitious membership of OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) etc. It is the northern Nigeria's leadership deference to Riyadh Saudi Arabia that is fueling sectarian conflicts in Nigeria; a zealotry pursuit of Saudi Arabia's agenda to spread their brand of Wahhabism throughout Nigeria? The bane of Nigeria's supposed secularism and which provides the bedrock of the current political impasse in Nigeria; - exhibited by the refusal and reluctance of the sickly President Umaru Yar'Adua to throw in the towel for a real true Christian, Jonathan Goodluck, to take over the mantle of leadership. Icheoku strongly believes that the impasse is more religious than sectional or tribal; and that Saudi Arabia knows more than they are acknowledging, otherwise why are they accommodating the indefinite hospital-stay of President Umaru Yar'Adua in their kingdom? Olusegun Obasanjo was principally tolerated because he is not really a good Christian; he is a very hypocritical Christian by mouth only, the Pharisee-type. Obasanjo is a polygamist with over three wives and several concubines; and was very mean while in office. Good Christians are monogamous and never as vicious and ruthless as Obasanjo exhibited during his eight years presidency in Nigeria.

Now al-Queida has formally offered its assistance to train, arm and supply fighting mujaheddin/manpower to their Northern Nigerian Islamic terrorists brothers, so that they can continue waging their atrocious religious (wars) riots on infidel Christians, their enemies in Southern Nigeria? In a statement released by their African central command in north Africa, al-Queida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it is now ready to defend their people in Nigeria; in essence acknowledging what the world has since known that al-Queida has followers in Nigeria. So which Nigerian government official still says that there are no terrorists in Nigeria when al-Queida have now publicly owned up to these incessant religious riots as well as the tragedy called Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as their products? Moreso the role which the House of Saud plays in who rules or governs Nigeria is enormous, such that since independence, all but two out of eleven heads state of Nigeria are known Muslim zealots? This also explains the current medical asylum being enjoyed by the deathly sick Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua in Jeddah Saudi Arabia for the past 71 days? What the Saudis want, they get from the Islamic leaderships of Nigeria, and Icheoku says, it is about time the west help the Christian south liberate themselves from the hostage-situation in which they presently find themselves in Nigeria.

The statement quoting the leader of AQIM, Abu Mus‘ab Abdel-Wadoud, said “we are ready to train your people in weapons, and give you whatever support we can in men, arms and munitions to enable you to defend our people in Nigeria. You are not alone in this test. The hearts of Mujahideen are in pain over your troubles and desire to help you as much as possible; and we are prepared to replicate what we have done in Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Chechnya in Nigeria?" Icheoku says, any curious observer who knows what these afore-mentioned countries have recently been turned into by terrorist actions of al-Queida, will definitely acknowledge that the al Queida's threat and offer to help northern Nigerian terrorists is rather too serious to be ignored. The authorities in Nigeria must therefore as a matter of utmost priority, prepare to confront ruthlessly and without mercy, what al-Queida is preparing to unleash on Nigeria, the recent Jos killings being just a mere test-run. Commendably, the security agencies in Nigeria proved themselves both during Boko Haram as well as Jos mayhem that they are equal to the task, when they gave al-Queida in northern Nigeria a bloody nose; so their next come-back will probably be more vicious?

It will also be recalled that the face of terror and CEO of al-Queida incorporated world-wide, Osama bin Laden, had in 2002 described Northern Nigerian Muslims as his brothers in Islamic-terror; and just recently on January 24, 2010 called the northern Nigerian international terrorist Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, a hero? Still someone in Aso Rock thinks that branding Nigerians terrorists or Nigeria as a 'terrorist country of interest' was rather too stretched and not well-deserved? The same people also pontificated that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was just one out of 150 million Nigerians; but forgot that Malaysia recently added two more Nigerians to the terrorist list, upon their arrest in Kuala Lumpur for terrorism acts? Also majority of Northern Nigerian Muslims see Osama Bin Laden as an "admirable hero" and supports suicide bombings of everything western, and the dastardly subjugation of women and the strict enforcement of brutish sharia Islamic laws. So?

With the known al-Queida's sworn goal of establishing a pan-Islamic Caliphate in the world, by overthrowing all non-Islamic regimes and expelling westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries, including "Nigeria", Icheoku says, what an easy way to finally severe the unholy ties of the 1914 amalgamation? Let the contraption known as Nigeria yield so that the north can have their own Islamic Republic to do whatever they like there, just like Pakistan did when they separated from India? Then they can maintain their almajiris dominated docile life-style, while the south can now move on to make up for the lost years of forcibly being yoked in Nigeria with the north. What an easy way out of the stranglehold that is northern Nigeria controlled Nigeria, only that we pray it will not be too bloody!

SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS BETRAYAL, A FAILED LESSON ON OMERTA LAW?

The good-old wise men of Palermo Sicily have a tenet of existence which served and believably still serves them very well till date. It is a prerequisite life-canon of survival in whatever "business"they do in their peculiar style and way of life. According to this rule of existence, two people can only keep a secret when one person is dead; leading to so many people "sleeping with the fishes" and freeways bursting up in combustible manner to consume some snitch driving across them? Sometimes it could be underneath the car, timed to go off as soon as the ignition is engaged. Their ways and means are legion that sometimes it is better and safer not to be privy to anything lest they make you pay when that rat in you rattles! Boy were they right as the case of the lying former former Senator from North Carolina and a previously, paternity denier, John Edwards, has just proved beyond every reasonable doubt. A bitter lesson indeed for this hair-freak, whose wife of 31 years has put her boot in his you know what, and out went the girlie-man who spends $400 on a haircut, from their multi-million dollars mansion in North Carolina. But did John Edwards do anything far and beyond what any other "Successful Joe(s) have done; no, as history is replete with such sexual escapades, moreso among politicians.

However Icheoku is not here to sermonise on Senator John Edwards not being a faithful husband, no, our foray here is to shine some light on the human scumbag, rat, traitor and betrayer of confidence, who could not man up and keep a friend's secret/private matters as is? We are talking about the Judas Iscariot named Andrew Young, a snitch, who were it in the underground world would have had his tongue, knee-cap, finger-nails or even his cranium visited, for not being a nice "wise guy?' A consiglari of some sort, now a turn-coat and authored a tell-all-tale book on confidential privileged information he became privy to as a result of the position of trust which he hitherto enjoyed with Senator John Edward. He sacrificed this personal and very important relationship just for a pot of porridge - the expected returns on sales of that book. Icheoku calls on America and the world not to encourage such bad behavior of betraying trusted confidences and boycott the said book, "The Politician"!

Andrew Young is a callous man, lacking in integrity and cannot be trusted; and he is a shame to all the Andrew Young(s) of America who happen to share his name, including the former mayor of Atlanta. A man whose mad thirst for money made him forgo the hellish consequences of the hatchet-job, which his book will do on John Edwards, his career, reputation and family; especially his cancer stricken wife of 31 years Elizabeth, who could not believe that she has been living with a philandering liar for 31 years? A former husband now proven pathological liar who dubbed once the exposing "The National Inquiry" article as a "tabloid trash." Now, several months after denying that the child was his, has come around to acknowledge that he committed adultery with Ms. Reille Hunter and that the child she gave birth to is a product of his illicit liaison with the impetuous home-wrecker, now turned baby-mommy.

Icheoku asks why must people continue to encourage such low-lifers as Andrew Young, to always 'kiss and tell' or rat about some confidential information for some profit, by continuously patronising their so called books? We urge a total boycott of this book as a way to discourage people from disclosing confidential information which they otherwise would not have had were it not for the special relationship which they enjoyed with the confider. Lets send a message to these ilks that it is not just not ok, but it makes everyone suspicious of one another; since no one knows when a confidential story of a blue dress told would be ratted on, leading to a president's impeachment? That is the irony and tragedy of it all that yesterday it was the blue dress, today a telephone voice message and an insider who should otherwise know better not to betray such trust. Like his restaurant failed, Icheoku hopes this work of malice will also bomb out. A disgruntled man who wants to make it by all means possible, even by maligning his former "patron saint?" A man who who claim paternity of someone else child just for monetary rewards have no integrity; since he could do anything for money, having done it once!

As for the home-wrecker who went out on her way to seduce Senator John Edwards, fully aware of what led to the fall of man and man's inability to just say no and walk away; Icheoku asks, did you ever think about your fellow woman Elizabeth Edwards, the then wife of John? If places were traded and you find yourself in her shoes, would you not wish such a nasty little whore who is messing around with your man, a terrible death? The good thin in this world is that what goes around comes around and Icheoku cannot wait to see how long this bitch will survive before she also becomes a dejected, forlorn and dishevelled ex of Senator John Edwards. Knowing fully well that he was married, she should not have seduced him or if he approached her to have said no; or better still use protection? But none of that happened, instead she spread your legs wide apart investing heavily that she gives birth to an Edwards child as a means of financial security? Therefore it will not be out of place to tag her behavior whorish, what a little home-breaker from hell she is?

For the other woman in this dramatic saga, which if a book were to be written about it, could be aptly titled, "The Broken Hearted", Elizabeth Edwards, Icheoku asks what is the logic behind throwing away your 31 years of marital investment? Extra-marital sex is not enough reason to dump a husband, neither is fathering a child out of wedlock, so please have a re-think and reconsider your decision to kick John out. You don't want the Hunters of this world to win and destroy all you toiled for 31 years to build? It is unAmerican to quit and turn tail? Do it to prove a point not necessarily that you still care and love him; just to let reille Hunter that she cannot reap where she did not sow by snatching your man? Most women would as punishment convert their husband into a glorified 'house-boy' or better still consign him in the dog-house and for a long time? Or even demand a therapy? Why didn't you consult Hillary Clinton to empower you and advise you on some coping mechanism and how to stay heads-high amidst a philandering husband's sex-escapades? It is our opinion that turning Edwards loose will only help his insatiable sex-appetite, since there is now no more minders around for him to be watchful of. He now have a licence to romp. You would have toughed it out and pray he repents soon.

The once "loyal" husband nursing his cancer-stricken wife, has now completely and totally mortgaged his career and marriage; and have become irreparably damaged forever. The man once dotted as the "young, energetic, well-spoken and good-looking Southerner," is today hibernating in his shadows with a load of shame, not necessarily for his sin of adultery but for lying about it and denying his child. As far as Icheoku is concerned, sex between two consenting adults is nobody's business but their private business; and if they happen to be cheating on their spouses, then let the victim-spouse decide her next line of action. But to lie about it with your pants down and to deny paternity of a child who did not ask to come to this world is the most cowardly of all acts. This is the sin of Senator John Edwards for which he has now paid some hefty fines including a lost presidential campaign, reputation and credibility, and now a marriage that has gone kaput! If only men would learn and be a little more discreet about it; or take some very important survival lessons from the wise guys of Italy and not have confidants; especially the singing-canary Andrew Young types, who have diarrhea of the mouth and will kill their "master" to find some relevance in life. What a boring life this Andrew Young must have, to tell on a former mentor in this way, culminating in the tragedy of John and Elizabeth Edwards marital breakdown after 31 years of soldiering on together. It shall not be well with this Andrew Young and like Judas Iscariot, suicide should be a good option!

''I FORGOT HE WAS BLACK", A MINDSET OF MANY GOOD OLE WHITE-BOYS?

Whether it is Senator John McCain or former President Bill Clinton or Senate Leader Harry Reid or even the anti-America's full and complete integration, racist megaphone Rush Limbaugh and regrettably now, Chris Matthews, the thinking among the 'good ole white-boys' of America is the same. Always pondering whether 'the other ones' are as intelligent, capable, competent and well qualified as them?

Unfortunately, most times, they are delusional that between 'we and them', we are the superior species? White supremacy aka KKK, may be? Even when you attend the same ivy league school like Harvard with them and excelled, they will still convince themselves that there is a reason or an explanation for your success other than your ability. To them it must be because of some form of patronage and not necessarily meritorious? Also take a look at both cable and network television and show Icheoku how many black or colored pundits or presenters there is who are given shows or even invited on one, simply because "they are not as intelligent as us" to read teleprompters or shout questions to guests without allowing them time to answer them?" It is just a mindset set in stone which will take some time to wipe off, maybe with next generation?

However, while some of them cleverly mask their doubts very well, others periodically have had their tongues betraying their hearts, while the Rush Limbaughs amongst them could care less what the 'other ones' think and feel, and their sensibilities might as well go to blazes? But for Hardball Chris Matthews, Icheoku, having followed and watched him for some years now, is wont to vouchsafe that he spoke without malice and would rather he did not phrase his take in that inarticulate way, knowing what a hot-button issue race-relations still is in America. What Chris uttered could be explained as an excited baby-boomer who was so mesmerised by President Barack Obama's eloquence, charisma and intelligent speak that he let down his guard? A State of the Union address which he described as "profound" and "so in tune with so many problems and aspects of American life" must have had an exhilarating effect on him that he just let go? In law what Chris Matthew said could possibly qualify as an excited utterance made under the influence of President Barack Obama scholarly, very intoxicating State of the Union address delivery? For many people proficient with and who have mastery of the letters and words of the English Language, who tuned into President Barack Obama's first state of the Union address, thrilled, was an apt description of what they felt at the end of the 1.05 hours stellar performance. Icheoku watched it.

So, Chris Matthews' antecedents excused his present guffaw and Americans especially black Americans should move on and not participate in the Fox-Network's current attempt to do a hit-man's job on Chris Matthews as a result of his misspeak. When during the presidential campaigns, the same Chris got so enamored by the intelligence displayed by then candidate Senator Barack Obama while answering some 'gotcha ya' trip/trap questions; blushingly uttered that he "felt this thrill going up my leg", many people called him out for expressing "tingling-feeling" for Obama. In a way, Chris might have become so infatuated with Obama's candidacy and performances that he has fallen in love, literally speaking, with the President? But hey, love is still better than hate and for this reason, Chris Matthews is free to express his passion for the "first ever articulate black-man in America who happens to be occupying their White House?" Admitted that his statement has several connotations and implications, but Icheoku is excusing it based on his past records. However, it goes to show how people of color are viewed and treated in America - not allowed equal playing field just because they are black or colored, and hence "inferior", but fortunately today, President Barack Obama is proving them wrong and conceited; and telling them to their face to have a re-thinking of this warped assumption!

In the said 'offensive' statement, Chris Matthew said, "I was trying to think about who he was tonight. It's interesting: he is post-racial, by all appearances. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and passed so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about. I was watching, I said, wait a minute, he's an African-American guy in front of a bunch of other white people. And here he is president of the United States and we've completely forgotten that tonight — completely forgotten it. I think it was in the scope of his discussion. It was so broad-ranging, so in tune with so many problems, of aspects, and aspects of American life that you don't think in terms of the old tribalism, the old ethnicity. It was astounding in that regard. A very subtle fact. It's so hard to talk about. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it, but I am. I thought it was profound that way." Icheoku asks Matthews, who else was he thinking the president is other than an American? Why must he remember that the president is a black-man instead of an American? Why see the president as 'an African-American guy' instead of an American? It is the same type of stereotyping which have led Rush Limbaugh to 'create' in the minds of some of his dumb listeners the notion that there is "an Obama America" and then their own White America which Obama is holding in trust for them, albeit temporary? Icheoku agrees with one commentator's observation that possibly, "Chris Matthews was primarily focused on the fact that he was listening to a black man who is occupying their White House and not necessarily to an American president?"

Chris Matthews statement shows that America still have a long way to go in the bridging of the gap between racial divides and that the vocalised opposition President Barack Obama administration is getting is an indirect attack at his audacity for occupying their White House? How else can one explain the virulent attacks on an administration that is barely one year old, which have just completed only 12 months out of its forty-eight months mandate of office; and being expected to fix what took President GW Bush 8 years to break into several pieces and drive under the ground? President Barack Obama is not Jesus who elected to rebuild a temple that took the Jewish several decades to erect in just three days, if demolished? It takes time and the sins of the past eight years will take some years to atone for; so America, please give President Barack Obama time to deliver, since he never claimed to be a magician with some wand to just will every problem away and at one go! GET IT!