ATIKU'S RETURN TO PDP, A BAD OMEN?

The anticipated return of the Turakin Adamawa back to the fold of his old party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is ominous and portends a great danger both to the party and its faithfuls? His return if it goes through will fracture the party along his followers and those of other competing forces in that unholy alliance called PDP? It signals an impending cataclysmic upheaval that will see the demise of the self-acclaimed largest party in Africa?

His return will unnecessarily over-heat the internal polity and cohesiveness of the ruling party and should have been avoided by the party honchos; assuming they have the wherewithal to so do? But the spineless Ogbulafor led executive are not a match to the Adamawa political bulldozer who could readily deploy his PDM political machinery to get them out of the way? Icheoku says, the planned return of former Vice President Alhaji Abubakar Atiku back to the PDP is sincerely speaking, a thing which that party does not need at this time it is trying to put its house finally in order and with the 2011 elections so close by the corner? Instead of strategising for the 2011 elections and nurturing the remaining last one year of their Yar'Adua-Jonathan administration, the PDP will now be forced to start making rooms available for the accommodation of the Atiku Abubakar led political-harlots returnees.

But does the PDP need these people that much as to allow them back and unconditionally? How about those other dissatisfied members who never took a hike but remained behind to help fix what was broken? Why unnecessarily reward this prodigal son who could not successfully start out on his own with his new Mega Party only to now run back to the crib, called PDP? Afterall the party have proved that they can do without Atiku's band of charlatans, having successfully stolen the elections in 2007 without their help? The fact that Atiku Abubakar left the party when he did and under the circumstances in which he did, went over to the Action Congress, lost his Adamawa State in the 2007 elections, paid that infamous visit to Obasanjo at Otta Farm, tried forming the so called Mega Party but could not bring it to fruition; and suddenly is now making a b-line back to the PDP shows that the man has no real core or moral value; and is not a leader anyone could follow into battle? He should have been discarded for what he is - a political piece of garbage!

Icheoku queries how Atiku plans to explain his political harlotry to his many followers, admirers and party faithfuls; some of who missed out on several juicy opportunities just because they were branded Atiku's people and left in the cold of the Nigerian winner-takes-it-all political bonanza? Now their effort will be rubbished and wasted on the account of the greed of a man, singularly driven by his inordinate ambition to rule Nigeria at all cost and by any means necessary? That Abubakar Atiku is eminently corrupt is also well established, - one of his accomplice, former United States Congressman William Jefferson, is currently doing time in a United States penitentiary for his corrupt practices allegedly in conjunction with Abubakar Atiku of Nigeria? Atiku was also fingered in so many other cases of bribery involving several senior government officials such as the Siemens $12 million dollars and the Halliburton's $180 million dollars bribery; admitted that none of the cases have been conclusively prosecuted? It is also on record that Atiku allegedly brought into America the sum of $40 million dollars from questionable sources during the time he was vice president of Nigeria? But why is Nigeria cursed with abundance of such men with big itchy-fingers as their leaders?

Anyway, as 2011 approaches, it is becoming very obvious that Nigerians will be forced to choose between the devil IBB and the deep sea Atiku; and as always they will choose the lesser of the two evils! Like the biblical Jonah, a whale might be sent to rescue them in the deep sea Atiku but the devil IBB will certainly get them screwed up the more. Icheoku therefore says, if Atiku is being readied as a challenger to Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 2011, then some of us might be persuaded to forgive his shortcomings as anybody will be better than the bloody evil-genius and prevent him from returning back to Aso Rock?

In a way, our mantra is, 'anybody but Babangida in 2011' and Atiku might as well be that person? If Atiku is the secret stop Babangida 2011 joker, then on that ground alone, Icheoku is on board and will throw our support his way! Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is evil and rightly enough he describes himself as the evil-genius. Icheoku calls on every sane Nigerian to work tirelessly to stop "Project IBB 2011". It is a national security matter and for the interest of one Nigeria, it is a call that must be heed by all true Nigerians to deny this murderer what he twice sabotaged and denied others:- first in his 1983's coup against President Shehu Shagari and 1993 his June 12th MKO Abiola election annulment? Still in doubt, ask where is Dele Giwa, Mamman Vasta, Gideon Orkar, Gloria Okon etc and ask yourself if you want to rehabilitate this kind of animal whose hands is dripping with Nigerians blood? So, if Atiku is what it takes to actualize stopping IBB, Icheoku says he is the lesser evil and a more tolerable option, admitted it is not so savory? Icheoku says, if Atiku is the answer to the question of what to do with 'Babangida 2011', then our portal is available to help make Abubakar Atiku's 2011 presidency possible!

JONATHAN'S RECONSTITUTED CABINET, NOTHING REVOLUTIONARY?

Many Nigerians are somewhat disappointed with some of the ministerial match-ups Acting President Jonathan Goodluck made of his ministers designate? Principal among this is his retention of Professor Dora Akunyili in the Ministry of Information; a lady whose can-do-spirit and proven track record would have been more beneficiary used in a more essential ministry to the benefit of Nigerians. Icheoku had advocated for Dora to be sent to the Ministry of Power to give Nigeria the power (light) that have eluded them for so long. But the acting president knows best why she had to be kept in her old ministry, but no reason cuts it for Icheoku as she would have been better utilized where her impact could be felt more?

Also the Justice Ministry remained with a Benue State indigene which makes it highly improbable that the atrocities of Micheal Aondonkaa will ever see the light of the day; protected by a kinsman new Attorney General and another Benue stork in the person of the Chief Justice? Needless to add that the head of the EFCC is also from Benue State? Also Icheoku had thought that the joker of a female foreign minister would have been thrown up by Jonathan, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, to hob-nob with America's Hillary Clinton, Mexico's own female foreign minster and other countries that have elevated women amongst their society? But that opportunity was lost with the appointment of a male foreign minister with a jaw-breaking last name that no foreign press would be interested in attempting to pronounce, cover or interview? What a paradox that the hope and change Nigerians thought that Jonathan represented was afterall a ruse, as he has once again proved himself to be the company-man he has always been known as with these ministerial assignments?

Of all the six political zones, the South-East seemed short-changed most as they did not get any key ministry except Internal Affairs? External Affairs, Defence, Justice, Finance, Federal Capital Territory, Petroleum, Agriculture and Works & Housing all went to the other five zones? The entire South East zone got a combined total of four ministers only, which begs the question when shall the entrenched marginalization of the zone ever end? Icheoku hopes the Acting President Jonathan Goodluck will redress this imbalance when he fills the Ministry of Power, Health and Water Resources; otherwise the South East should know that they have no inheritance in the house of Jonathan.

However, Icheoku is impressed with the redistribution of power out of the Katsina-Kano axis; and also for decentralizing the oil/gas apparatus of control between the north and the south, with a Southern Minister of Petroleum and a northern Group Managing Director of NNPC. It is called fairness and inclusiveness, as the northern Hausa-Fulani alone do not own Nigeria and everything in it. The high profile Minister of Finance comes into office highly regarded in the international financial circle; Icheoku wishes him well and pray that the local bureaucracy will not sabotage his vision for a Nigeria finally on course.

Be that as it may, Icheoku is, over-all, satisfied with the caliber of men and women chosen to serve in this reconstituted cabinet. We hope that he will tweak it a little bit to fix noted glitches particularly his wrong choice of ministry for Professor Dora Akunyili? Icheoku had thought that Acting President Jonathan Goodluck would have used this opportunity to correct the anomaly of a Ministry of Information posted Dora Akunyili, but no; instead he sustained the status-quo and re-posted her thereto, in a strange case of continuing her under-utilization and thereby not unleashing her potential ability - a case of a square peg forced into a round hole? Otherwise in the future, Icheoku would rather cabinet-nominees are attached to their designated portfolios respectively, before they go to the senate for confirmation. That way, the wider body will determine whether or not any minister-nominee is a good fit for his/her designated ministry and cause changes to be made where needed, as obtains in more civilized and better functioning countries of the world. Anyway, we wish Jonathan well and hope he can make some positive impact with this cabinet and within the very short period of time left of his Yar'Adua-Goodluck administration! Goodluck to you Mr Goodluck!

MULLAH HAMID KARZAI, NOT A GOOD AND TRUSTED PARTNER FOR VICTORY?

Icheoku would not have bothered or even believed this story except that the man in Kabul has lately been behaving badly; albeit in a treacherous manner and thumbing his nose at the West? The West whose blood and treasure made it possible in the first place for him to be enjoying office as president of Afghanistan; he is now obtrusively disparaging?

Now he has refused to remain presidential and diplomatic in discussing matters of disagreement with the world including the United Nations and America? Instead, he is running his mouth like a street urchin discussing disagreements he felt he have with the past elections in his country on the pages of newspapers and other media; accusing the West of rigging the elections? And raving the tempo of his political disputation with the West one decibel further, President Hamid Karzai have threatened to join the Taliban? Were today April 1st, Icheoku would have waved it off as an April Fool's joke; but hey today is April 6th, and this is not such a joke or any other; and like in the Mayor of Casterbridge, this otherwise sick joke is now too often that someone needs to call it off and immediately.

According to the narrative, President Hamid Karzai does not want to combat corruption, reform the electoral laws or seriously reach out to Taliban insurgents towards obtaining a lasting peace in Afghanistan; and would rather join the Taliban than do this if pushed any further? Icheoku says, now the international community knows where the heart of President Hamid Karzai really lies, - with the people who oppose girls' education, beat up women for the simplest reason of leaving their houses without a male chaperon, object to women's participation in any public affairs including politics, and whose very strict interpretation of conservative Islamic and tribal laws highly short-changes women of Afghanistan. This is the man running Afghanistan and on whose behalf America and the world have invested so much in blood and treasure only to get this treachery in return? For the fact that he even mouthed the abominable words is by itself sufficient to withdraw every and all support he is directly getting from the West and have him removed from office or at worst, encourage the return of the Talibans to power?

How dare President Hamid Karzai even entertain this idea of joining the Taliban, whether as a rude joke or direct empty threat to have his way? How can a president of a country threaten to join the enemy of the country for which so much have been lost trying to over-run? Icheoku says, such a statement of intent by President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan is dangerous and capable of demoralizing the brave men and women daily putting their lives on the line to protect and save Afghanistan from a catastrophic ruin! Such statement is capable of forcing them to question the essence of their mission and to ask, what then is the use since the man they are helping to sustain in office have no scruples sleeping with the enemy and in a heart-beat?

Is it possible that President Hamid Karzai have been bought over by Ahmanejad's Tehran and is now acting a script of Tehran in showing disrespect to America? Does the West still have a strong and reliable partner in a man who would have Ahmadejad come into his country to harangue the United States, accusing it of a sundry list of things while the same United States is sweating to give Afghans a country where they can live freely? President Hamid Karzai's utterance is unacceptable and he should be made to recant same and unconditionally; failing which his government should be allowed to just fall and make way for a more effective partner to emerge. If it means getting rid of him, so be it; but it does not make sense that this disguised 'Mullah' should be allowed to continue running his mouth in this way, disparaging the world and rubbishing all our effort at sustaining his government and helping his country to survive. His threat to join forces with the enemy Taliban is simply put, treasonable; and he should be made to pay a prize? He is no longer a reliable partner for victory or the long term mission-objective in Afghanistan and should therefore be let go!

It is instructive to note that America and its allies hand-picked this previously unknown quantum, nervous, erratic and unpredictable president, to lead Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban nearly nine years ago and he just began his election-fraud tainted second five-year term only four months ago. Icheoku says, away with Mullah Hamid Karzai!

NIGERIAN POLICE, NOT CULPABLE IN ABUBAKAR RIMI'S DEATH?

Icheoku says Nigerians especially the northern stock should not unnecessarily blame the police for the death of Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi? Admitted his convoy ran into an armed robbery blockade en-route Kano from Nassarawa; but it is on record that they did not attack him and upon the discovery of his identity, waved him on? So why blame the police for the armed robbers who did not directly cause the death of Rimi? A 70 year old former governor Rimi, who is both diabetic and hypertensive, for all intent and purpose, died of natural causes? 70 years is a very long age in a Nigerian society where the average life expectancy is barely 55 years?Now add his very sick-health and you get a mixed bag of life-threatening condition; which the fear for his life confronted by armed robbers possibly brought immediately to a head.

Icheoku would rather the police is held responsible for incidents where their direct act or failure to intervene would have made any difference; but in this case, Abubakar Rimi was not directly harmed by the armed robbers, so blaming the police is excessive dumping on them and it is not right. Whether the late Rimi would have lived or still died if he did not "insist on making the night journey to enable him meet some commitments in Kano," despite entreaties by the Emir Hassan Ahmad of Nassarawa not to do so, is anybody's guess? But nothing is so unusual with the death of a diabetic and hypertensive, 70 year old Nigerian, who possibly is not adequately and properly medicated; and not on a regime of life-prolonging cocktails for his ailments? So Nigerians should pray for his Allah to receive him in their own paradise and allow his family to mourn their loss in peace; without unfounded blame game going the way of the police?

JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN, CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE HIS TRIUMPH OVER DEATH!

When the women arrived at the tomb, they were surprised to find that the tomb had already been opened; and looked inside the tomb to find it empty? Then suddenly an angel appeared, sitting beside the tomb; his robe was snow-dazzling. The angel said to them do not be afraid and why were they looking for Jesus among the dead? That Jesus has been raised from the dead as was promised; which they later confirmed upon a closer inspection of the empty tomb. The angel them commanded them to go tell it to the disciples that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, Alleluia!

Icheoku joins the billions of Christians all over the world in celebrating the triumph over death of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ; whose victory over death is the reason we proudly call ourselves 'Christ-like' in order to partake of his salvation. He conquered death and by extension all sufferings and challenges; so on this Easter, what are you, as a Christian, doing to overcome your own life's obstacles? Jesus did not conquer death because it was easy or without a fight; no, he worked very hard to make it happen and by the special grace of his Father who sent him to die for our sins. It was hard enough that he nearly gave up midway, but for the comfort in the bidding of his father, our God; whom he said, 'may your will be done!' So as you dine, drink and dance on this Easter day, please let not the essence and cardinal point of what we celebrate be lost on you as the risen Christ did not want his victory over the obstacle of death to be treated with levity or in any way, minimal/trifle understanding? He want us to get the real fact behind it - overcoming of our life's challenges; and that we should never give up or avoid the course simply because of its very difficult challenges; as winners do not quit and quitters do not win.

On this Easter day let us not forget the 'Garden of Gethsemane' of the Catholic Church, especially the Pope who has been called severally to resign from office on grounds of alleged sexual molestation cover-up? Icheoku does not ascribe to or associate itself with this school of thought which believe that all the catholic church sexual scandals will suddenly develop wings and fly into oblivion with the never-before done papal's resignation? It will not happen because such resignation will not solve anything; and moreso the pope is infallible and cannot and should not be stampeded out of office or into doing something unimaginable or harangued for being the head honcho of the Catholic church, some of whose priests have rather been busy, tending to their libidinous desires instead of their flock?

No one knows how far or for how long it will take to fix what is broken in the catholic church? But Icheoku advocates as first-line measure, for reverend fathers to start marrying? This is a thing whose time have since come and we do not necessarily see the correlation of celibacy to married life; and so neither makes a priest a better priest and therefore should not be a controlling factor here? Instead of all these traumatised alter-boys, let the priests elect for themselves and individually how they want to deal with their sexuality? Regrettably, molestation in the Catholic church has been an age-long, hot-button issue; which continues till today and which affects the church negatively. Some pundits even claim that sexual abuse by the clergy is a global problem; which requires a global solution to combat the catastrophe? Simply put, catholic priests are fellow human-beings too; and desires some recreational facilities; if you get my drift? Icheoku says to the Catholic law makers, allow your catholic priests to marry and have this problem solved? LET CATHOLIC PRIESTS MARRY! Anyway, happy Easter from our family of Icheoku to yours; have a blessed day believing that Jesus have conquered all your difficulties, by his defeat of death!

SCOTT ROEDER, ANTI-ABORTION DOMESTIC TERRORIST WALKS AT 102?

Yes he will walk again, a free man, but after 50 years at age 102 years? He is 52 years old now and will spend the next 50 years behind bars without the possibility of parole until the term is fully served. Quoting the sentencing judge, Judge Warren Wilbert, "if Roeder lives past 102, then he gets parole; and will also face a lifetime supervision after release? Icheoku says, what a way to send a message that crass intolerance resulting in the death of another, will not be tolerated and will be punished severely!

Scott Roeder, the Wichita Kansas anti-abortion domestic terrorist, who killed abortion provider, Dr George Tiller, for according to him, being 'babies-killer', was given a sentence of life with possibility of parole only after 50 years! This wily-eyed extremist would readily kill an adult human-being to prevent the evacuation/expulsion of unwanted fetuses from the wombs of women? Icheoku asks, what manner of logic on its head drives these anti-abortion lunatics who have no scruples taking the lives of other human-beings, including a medical doctor but have a strange infatuation to the unborn's life that they are prepared to kill to protect it? If really these people are concerned about the preservation and protection of life, why not the life of everyone and not just fetus-specific? Does it mean then, that to this people, the life of an abortion provider as in this case, is not a life worthy of similar preservation? Icheoku does not get it and would like anyone with a better understanding of the churning of the minds of the Scott Roeders of this world to please come to the rescue and throw some additional light on this? It is akin to the thinking in some Muslim sects that killing unbelievers to sanctify the earth of their unworthy earthly presence is an Allah-pleasing work of mercy?

Gladly enough though, the law is not afraid of nor is it intimidated by the Scott Roeders of this world, as it visits them with the toughest sentences allowable, whenever they are brought before it in chains and orange jump-suits or even undeserving two piece suits? In this case, the book was thrown at Scott Roeder as he got life with the 'Hard 50' sentence, in the first-degree murder of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller! Hurray! Most likely murderer Scott Roeder will never walk again a freeman and will come out of prison, dead as a door-nub; unless some miracle of longevity happens to make him see the magical age of 102 years? But this scenario is very unlikely and highly very improbable for a man with his quantum of rage and aversion to another fellow man? Icheoku is convinced that Scott Roeder will die a caged animal behind prison walls of a self-inflicted injury or a heart-attack, but will never live out his term of 50 years?

Extremism of any kind is dangerous and it does not matter who or for what it is being manifested. Moderation is the key and if you do not like another person or what that other does, use all the foul language you can to curse the person out if you must, but surely nothing warrants or is worth the taking of another's life including that of an abortion provider? Dr. George Tiller never forced any woman under gunpoint to procure an abortion; but was merely providing services to women in need of his medical intervention expertise, including those women who were raped and impregnated by their fathers, armed robbers, and other rapists? Could somebody ask Scott Roeder if he will like his daughter, if he has any, to give birth to a child conceived by through a rapist armed robber molestation or by himself, if he were an incestuous father? Sometimes, medical intervention on pregnancy could be for medical reasons including the health of the mother fetus-carrier, that sometimes makes it imperative that such fetus must be expelled in order to save the life of the host? Moreso, what does this Scott Roeder have against a woman's right to choose or decide what to do with her body and what to carry in it? His is a case of a self-serving closed-minded vermin who wanted to play God and decides for everyone what is allowable or what is not; but in this case bit more than he can chew by taking the life of another human-being! Scott Roeder claimed he is a Christian yet ignored the injunction of 'thou shall not kill' encapsulated in the ten commandment that was handed down to Moses? Yet we blame the Taliban for being so close-minded bigots?

The sentencing phase of the case in Wichita Kansas was very interesting and had its camera moments:- To the prosecutor, Scott Roeder yelled "The blood of babies is on your hands!" The prosecutor later described what Scott Roeder did in the following terms:- ''This was an act of terrorism, an act of brutality. It was abundantly clear this was an individual who chose to follow a path of lawlessness.'' And added, "Scott Roeder has no regrets and neither do I." Icheoku gives it up to this district attorney for bringing it down as it is and telling Scott Roeder to his face, to literally, go to hell? It will be recall that a jury of his peers found Scott Roeder guilty of first-degree murder after only 37 minutes of deliberations on January 29 2010 in the May 2009 killing of Dr. George Tiller in the foyer of a Wichita Kansas Lutheran church. The sentencing judge describing the heinous nature of the crime said, "The shooting in the church is heinous. He didn't kill him in the parking lot, he didn't go early enough to get him going into the church. Scott Roeder choose to kill Tiller in the very place that abhors violence." The rest is now history as barring a successful appeal, Scott Roeder will soon be forgotten in the zoo of prison inmates, somewhere in Kansas, where he will certainly spend the rest of his natural life, kept company by a guilty conscience which will keep asking him, WHY?

ABDULWAHEED OMAR, ANOTHER JOKER IN THE HAND OF THE CABAL?

The leader of Nigeria Labor Congress, Mallam Abdulwaheed Omar, is suddenly now proactive in the Nigeria protest scene? A man who disappeared when Nigeria needed him most, when President Umaru Yar'Adua's cabal held the country hostage and for over 100 days, has now emerged from his hide-out and threatening a nation-wide strike to frustrate the coming elections of 2011, under the guise of patriotically asking for regime change at INEC? By this eleventh hour activism, Omar has demanded that the horse be changed mid-stream, with scheduled elections so close that it does not make sense to bring in a new boss to start de-novo with preparations and conduct of the 2011 elections?

Icheoku says, any Nigerian who is serious with a good outcome in 2011 would not be advocating change of batons at this stage; but rather how to make elections work for Nigerians and not just the few Nigerian power-brokers and stake-holders? Such a person would know that Iwu is not the problem but a polity that is not disciplined, where winner takes all; hence the fierce urge to win at all cost, and by all means necessary since the end justifies the means in Nigeria? What about asking for the immediate implementation of the Justice Uwais electoral reforms recommendations? What about asking that election malpractice be made a serious felony attracting not only prison term but a ban from any and all subsequent future elections in Nigeria? What about protesting against undue influence or the means of choosing leaders by selection and not election, which encourages mediocre candidates being put in offices through 'god-fatherism' instead of meritocracy and ability? What about protesting Olusegun Obasanjo who arm-twisted and strong-armed the results of the two previous elections under advisement; which does not show Professor Maurice Iwu in good colors?

Anyway, Icheoku's position is that it is too late now to bring on a new man to organize and conduct elections scheduled for early 2011. Moreover Professor Maurice Iwu is battle-tested and supposedly now more ready than in 2003 and 2007 to deliver a more convincing outcome? He also have garnered necessary on-the-job experience from conducting two elections and some by-elections in between so far! Maurice Iwu also is no longer new to the intrigues of Nigerian politicians and their cunning ways to win elections by any means necessary? He has seen influence peddlers and their tempting offers, so would not be easily swayed? Maurice Iwu should be allowed to conduct this coming election and thereafter he can be fired but to do it now, prior to the so close elections will be crisis-ridden. Icheoku is no friend to Maurice Iwu and could care less if he is even thrown into jail; but let the truth be told, he is the best prepared and equipped presently to conduct the coming elections? Moreso, he will probably use the opportunity of the next elections, to redeem his name; which has somewhat been damaged as a result of the two elections he conducted under the 'duress' of Olusegun Obasanjo? Whatever happens with his term, it is our position that Abdulwaheed Omar lacks the moral authority to now desire to protest Iwu out of the INEC; a feat which he shied away from when his voice was needed most over Yar'Adua's debacle; when he scurried and hid in an undisclosed location, only to emerge after Jonathan has been empowered as acting president to give his lame excuse that he went into hiding in order not to over-heat the situation and give the military reason to stage a coup?' Really Omar; what changed since then, one may ask?

Icheoku warns that Abdulwaheed Omar is on a mission to abort the next 2011 elections? Mallam Abdulwaheed Omar is the latest joker in the hands of the cabal to deal with Nigeria which has shoved aside ailing President Yar'Adua; and has now been deployed to nix the next coming elections; and so must be stopped, pronto! Why did this Mallam Omar not protest President Yar'Adua to resign when Nigerians wanted him so badly to do so? His labor congress looked and searched him out for leadership direction but he was AWOL? There is something definitely fishy with his attitudinal change, which somewhat supports the proposition that this sudden found activism and the planned protest are both cabal agenda-driven! So, Nigeria and the NLC, pay no attention to this mallam!

FACEBOOK, BANNED IN AND BY ISLAMIC SHARIA NORTHERN NIGERIA?

When the world thought they have heard the last of Islamic Sharia Northern Nigeria, out of their Islamic hat, they have pulled the mother of all surprises - they have banned Facebook?

Recall that it is the same place that gave the world the unwanted gift of the last Christmas day would be diaper-bomber, Farouk Abdulmutallab? The same people also were the merchants of death in the recent slaughter in Jos-Nigeria of more than 500 innocent women and children in their sleep? It is the same people that produced the renegade Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua who have remained incommunicado for over 130 days, absconding from his duty post at Aso Rock? It is the same people that prevented the hosting of Miss World beauty pageant in Nigeria both in Abuja and Lagos Nigeria? It is the same Islamic Sharia Northern Nigerian people that protested a cartoon in far away Danish newspaper in Nigeria, destroying so much in their mad zealotry fury? It is then needless to add that it is the same people that have held Nigeria hostage since its independence in 1960 and the cause majore` of a Nigeria in comatose?

Now in order not to be outdone by China with its face-off with Google, the Islamic Sharia Northern Nigeria have imposed an outright ban on the online powerhouse, Facebook? Icheoku asks, would this affront on 21st century global connectivity be allowed to stand in a Nigeria that is looking forward to realizing its 7-point agenda and launch itself into a global power player? Simply propositioned, if these human specimens are bent on taking Nigeria back to the stone-age, why don't they just go alone and unaccompanied; or must they drag everyone before will make that move? They should just secede, move away to make way, and take a hike to the mountains of Tora-Borah to rendezvous with their Taliban brotherhood or better still just pull out of Nigeria and form their own separate Wahhabi Islamic territory as Libyan Moummar Gaddafi has propositioned? Gideon Orkar, it will recalled once nearly granted them this 'everybody's wish,' that they just leave the others alone and in peace?

According to the gist coming out of the reclusive Islamic Sharia Northern Nigeria, Facebook was banned because they allowed their portal to be used by some human rights activists who were sharing their disgust and disbelief that in 21st century Nigeria, a section of its polity could indulge in the act of human mutilation under any guise, be it Islamic law enforcement or any other? These mullahs would have the world know of their human-mutilation business and instead prefers to be hitting somebody while preventing that person from also crying? In other words, they prefer that the story of their inhumanity to a fellow man remain shrouded in secrecy and that no outsider gets a pip into the goings on in their enclave? Icheoku says, what a shame that these kind of ruthless people are still sharing the same geographical entity with the rest of other more civilized and more humane Nigerians?

The story continues that one Mallam Buba Bello Jangebe in March 22, 2000 had his right wrist hacked-off, for petty theft, by the Islamic Sharia Zamfara State government in adherence to their Islamic Sharia prescription for such offence? A group of human rights activists/civil society organisation, Civil Rights Congress (CRC), in commemoration of the 10 year anniversary of the first government-sanctioned human mutilation ever recorded in Nigeria, picked up the story and were analyzing it online via Facebook. But the Sharia court ordered the group to cease and desist from further discussing of the matter and issued an injunction restraining what he termed 'their Facebook activism?' It is also worthy of note that it is the same al-Queida's second in command, Egyptian Ahman al-Zawahiri's group, the Muslim Brotherhood Association, that its Nigerian branch petitioned in this case to stop and/or ban the 'Face-booking' of this human cruelty to another man! They had brought a suit asking for injunction against further online discussion on Facebook of this human mutilation; claiming in their argument that to allow the online activism to continue will amount to "inciting the people against Sharia law and its amputation doctrine?" Explaining why the brotherhood sought the injunction, its Nigeria chapter leader, Mallam Abu Sufyan, said it was in order to protect the sanctity of Islamic Sharia law decisions and to protect the image of Islam which is being threatened by such a debate on Facebook?

Icheoku cries bloody murder; and says, imagine this people speaking of 'image' when their daily actions is their worst nightmare and continually soil their so called image? What a logic on its head this Mallam Sufyan just canvassed? But what do you expect from a group which expects to be rewarded with 70 virgins in a delusional Eldorado after suicide-bombing and killing hundreds of innocent people; but will not flinch at the slaughtering hundreds of innocent women and children in their sleep? Icheoku hopes it will not be out of place to remind us all that it is the same religion that its adherents, flew two planes into the World trade Centers and just last 48 hours blew people up in a Moscow's underground; yet this mullah is talking about image? An image which befits a whore or an armed robber? Anyway the good news however is that no matter the outcome of a planned appeal of the case, luckily enough, the res is beyond the the reach of Islamic Sharia-Northern Nigeria. Also enforcing this retrogressive judgment will be impossible since Facebook is beyond the jurisdictional forum of the Northern Nigeria Islamic Sharia court, also their host-server is not located in Nigeria? However aware of the shortcomings, limitations and possibilities in Nigeria, the court might try and hold personally responsible, anyone that participates in such online discussion who is locally based within the Islamic Northern territory! Nigeria, when will this eye-sore that is Islamic Sharia Northern Nigeria be permanently taken care of?

ENUGU AIRPORT, THE TALE OF A YEAR-LONG TARMAC OVERLAY PROJECT?

Please say it is not true that the resurfacing of a glorified highway for planes to land and take off, aka tarmac, that is less than 8000 feet long will take one full calendar year to complete? According to authorities, the airport which they closed to air-traffic on February 10, 2010 will remain closed for one year? And you ask yourself, if the contractor cannot timely execute the project or lacks the expertise to handle the project and complete same within a more reasonable time, why was the contract awarded to it? And in the interim what are patrons of the airport excepted to do to get around, except to expose themselves further to the hazards of road-travel in Nigeria; including armed robberies, more fatal head-on collisions on accident-prone, narrow and pot-holes filled roads; which are prevalent in Nigeria, especially the south eastern region?

Similar-sized projects the world over sometimes take only 12 hours - from sun-set to sun-rise, to complete; but not in Nigeria? A Lufthansa tarmac in Frankfurt Hahn International Airport Germany was just recently resurfaced overnight, from airport shutdown at midnight to the first flight-in by 5.00am? Manila airport Philippines had one of its runways similarly resurfaced overnight and this is the Philippines? From United States of America to Britain to Mexico to Brazil to even South Africa airport runways have regularly been resurfaced and never took such a length of time, not even when a new airport is being built? Tarmacs have been resurfaced within few hours and in so many cases with a 24 hours turn around; yet Nigeria is taking one full year to do a similar work in a local airport? It is needless to say that the said airport will remain closed, completely shutdown, during this one year asphalt replacement project? It is also instructive to note that this Nigerian airport lands less than ten small bodied air-planes every 24 hours while the Frankfurt Hahn airport mentioned earlier lands more than ten wide bodied and jumbo air-planes every 60 seconds? SO what is so special about the work involved in re-paving an airport runway that will take one year to complete, except corruption and a calculated delay tactic to possibly abandon the project midway, after collecting 90% of the cost of the total work as mobilisation fees, upfront, the Nigerian way?

The airport under advisement is located in the Biafra section of Nigeria, in a place called Enugu, the capital of then Biafra and now the unofficial capital of Igboland? It is Akanu Ibiam Local Airport Enugu (ENU)! Still contending with an unfinished war with the Nigeria state, still pending since 1970, the Igbos have been at the receiving end of what the Hausa-Fulani power-hijackers of Nigeria PLC have been dishing out their way since 1970? They are hellbent on starving the Igbo land of any federal presence/infrastructure including a functioning airport, as they have now closed the only viable airport in Igboland which caters to about 90 percent of the regional air-travelers and users alike?

Admitted the shooting aspect of the war has since been over but the psychological war against the Igbo still goes on and continues till date in all manners and forms of discrimination, which led to the closing of this airport under the subterfuge that an asphalt layering takes one year to finish? Icheoku disagrees that it takes that long to resurface a tarmac and queries why this particular tarmac would take one year just to resurface, when so many tarmacs world-wide have been completed within few night hours? Icheoku says that the powers that be in Nigeria are once again waging their atrocious war on the psyche of the Igbo people of Nigeria by depriving them the use of their only functional airport, which principally serves their entire region? It is also instructive to note that the South East Igbo region of Nigeria is the only pre-independence region in Nigeria without any International Airport, whereas the north has over federal built six international airports? Now the only local airport servicing the South East region, built in the 60's, is now put out of commission and for one full long year? How these mallams, desert dwellers of the northern Nigeria expect the Igbos to move about, during this airport closure, is beyond any one's imagination; and this is happening in a country that has a national planning department?

Icheoku asks, how much is simply just too much for the people of Igboland to continue to take or accept as given from their "lords and masters," the Hausa-Fulani Oligarchs of Islamic Northern Nigeria? When will enough of these intimidation and oppressions become really enough for the Igbos to just say, no more shall we continue to take this? Further why are the Igbo elites, including men and women who find themselves in the corridors of power so complacent that they choose to do nothing about the fate which the Igbos found themselves in Nigeria? The current deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu is of the Igbo extraction and except for some feeble speeches on the subject seems to be less passionate with pursuing and realising the cause? And there are so many other Igbo federal legislators and senators who could ordinarily support such a cause but wouldn't? And before this present bunch, were about four Igbo senate presidents and so many other legislators including ministers; yet none of them have spoken out or done something to arrest this Igbo continued marginalization in Nigeria, why must it continue?

Icheoku says such a sell-out by these representatives is abominable, inexplicable and absolutely shameful; yet they pretend to represent the people? How do these guys have the face to parade themselves in Igboland as 'somebody' when they could not attract any meaningful federal presence in their region or make sure that the available ones remain open? How can any of these representatives say that he/she is representing a region without a functioning airport, talk-less of an international airport, making travel to the South East a nightmarish chaotic experience? How do such legislators get back home to their constituencies or do they also travel through those Nigerian notorious death-traps of roads? A person travelling to South East from overseas for example, is compelled to fly into Lagos, Abuja, Kano or Port Harcourt; and then is left at the mercy of armed robbers infested, pot-hole filled Nigerian roads enroute Enugu and the entire South East? Please tell Icheoku who wants such an awful experience of being a seating duck on such horrible roads, waiting for the ever-present armed robbers to cart away what you toiled several years to procure, and we are talking of when these marauding beasts are merciful enough to spare your life?

It is our position therefore that these marginalization and deprivations must stop forthwith, a siege-situation on the entire south east hatched through a well-planned out, deftly orchestrated, deliberative attempt to totally and completely subjugate a people, the remnants of those killed in a genocidal Yakubu Gowon led war against Igbo people, during the Biafran-Nigeria war of attrition? The Igbos are traders and businessmen who are highly mobile travelling from places to places and they need at least a viable functional airport to aid their trips. Unfortunately, just like the Hausa-Fulani and their Yoruba collaborators figured out that 'starvation is the best instrument of warfare;" this time the latest arsenal in their armoury is their discovery that depriving Ndigbo their only functional airport will suffocate their derive or at least slow it down?

One does not need to be an airport expert or air-transportation consultant to understand that what is involved here is a high-stakes games being played by the powers that be in Nigeria against the Igbo nation; having to completely shuttered their one functional airport for one full calendar month? All those concessionaires, taxi-operators as well as other workers and contractors servicing the airport were equally put out of commission for the duration of this one year of asphalt lacing on the tarmac? So economically, socially and politically speaking, the one-year closure of the Akanu Ibiam 'Local' Airport (ENU), in Enugu South East Nigeria is a catastrophic mistake which should not have been allowed by the Igbos or at least loudly protested until something changed? But no, as those Igbo people whose protest should have counted chose to keep quiet, having mortgaged their selfish souls to the devil of petty contracts, crumbs from the masters table with northerners like Theophilus Danjuma making $500 million dollars profit from just one oil-well, which he obtained for free as a gift, from the late midget of Kano, Sani Abacha; and turned around and sold it for $1 billion dollars in one of the quickest deals of all times? Easy and quick money, the bureau du change style of all northern mallams? So like GW hard work is not for them, the messed-up northerners?

Regrettably, the authorities in Nigeria are impervious, dumb, deaf and daft to ameliorating suggestions; so much so that no reasoning makes any sense before them? To them what is right is and should be wrong and what is wrong is right; to them what is logical is illogical and vice versa and so being mindful of this, Icheoku is but trying to have it on record that it was said but not heeded, and not necessarily with the expectation that they will have a change of heart to do good? From the politics of not making the Enugu airport an international airport to now closing it completely for one full year under the guise of resurfacing its tarmac, Icheoku says, the Hausa-Fulani have finally come a full circle in their 'kill them off' approach to anything and everything Igboman. If they get away with this, they will try yet another thing; after-all they said there was no money for a second bridge over the River Niger but have money to drench the same River Niger up to their region, to ensure a water access and solve their problem of being a land-locked territory.

If it were the Yorubas or any other activist group in Nigeria that were affected by this year-long closure of their only airport, they will scream full-lungs until there is a reversal; but not the unorganised Igbos? The Igbos are ready to even trek from Enugu to Abuja and up to Sokoto if that is all that it will take to permit them to continue buying and selling their wares; so provided there is a way to drive from Enugu to Abuja, they do not care if their only airport is closed for however long, hence no one cares to tackle the politics of a one year tarmac resurfacing induced closure of the only airport in South East? The implication is that within this one year period, if any Igboman falls sick for example and requires an urgent overseas medical treatment, such a person will probably die before making it through the pot-holes filled, armed robbers infested roads to catch a flight from Lagos or Abuja? If for instance the Ikemba Nnewi and Biafran warlord Chukwuemeka Ojukwu were to have an emergency need to travel to somewhere in Nigeria or overseas immediately, he must then have to drive by road to the nearest airport in another region before catching his out-bound flight? It is not fair, it is penal and does not in anyway support or encourage commerce or economy of the Igbo nation. What a vindictiveness!

Icheoku's position is that closing an entire airport just for a a layer of asphalt on its 7879 x 148 feet runway (tarmac) does not make any sense whatsoever? Politically, socially and economically it is not profitable; and should not have been permitted or so tailored by the planners of Nigeria that it hurts everything? Also the Igbo governors and leaders of thought in Igboland should have foreseen its ramifications and so vehemently protested the decision until someone in Abuja changes his heart; but no, they lack convictions of a true Igbo patriot and provided they are accommodated within the corridors of power, that is enough for them? Unlike Oliver Twist, they do not want some more as would positively impact the Igbo nation in general? To them being Igbo means "I Go Before Others", so once their stomach is fed, other Igbo interest can suffer for all that they care? A situation symptomatic of the Igbo people and which is the root-cause of the disorganized society that is the Igbo nation, which is militating against their political re-awakening in Nigeria? Icheoku deplores this lackadaisical attitude as stupidity, cowardice and servitude; and urges that it be discontinued in order to enable the Igbos reclaim their rightful place in Nigeria. An airport tarmac does not take one full year to have its asphalt replaced, as such could be done within a much shorter period and without completely shutting down the airport, especially when there is no immediate functional similar-capacity alternative to assume the air-traffic; therefore the Akanu Ibiam 'Local' Airport in Enugu (ENU) should not have been an exception!

SENATE ENCOURAGE TRANSPARENCY, CONFIRM DORA AKUNYILI !

The Nigerian Senate must not thwart Professor Dora Akunyili's cabinet nomination, just because some of its membership, affiliated with the cabal want to punish her for speaking out? Her confirmation should be based on her qualification, competence and performance-ability; but surely not on the petty and mundane that she should not have spoken out to end the President Umaru Yar'Adua imbroglio and hostage-taking of the Nigeria?

Her action was very courageous and patriotic which in a more civilized functional society would have earned her some commendation for bravely taking a stand on a lingering political bad situation. If however she is denied or stopped from this opportunity to serve, such repugnant reprisal will have a permanent catastrophic chilling effect on future public servants and would-be whistle-blowers, which will only damage Nigeria further.Professor Dora Akunyili should be praised, encouraged and rewarded with any choice ministry as she may desire; but not in anyway chastised or punished by not confirming her, for saying what she said; and she said nothing wrong.

As always, the Nigerian senate should know that the world is aware of the intrigues currently taking place and are curiously watching developments therein in Nigeria; including of course whether this one-of-a-kind lady will be unnecessarily punished by not confirming her because she took such a courageous stand to end the hold-out Yar'Adua's direct government. Professor Dora Akunyili as a catalyst which helped force the Jonathan Goodluck's pseudo-presidency into the fore, deserves and should be recognized with her confirmation as a minister designate. To do otherwise therefore shall raise questions of the fairness and dispassionate of the senate, and strongly suggests that Nigerian Senators lacked the backbone to stand up to the Yar'Adua cabal?Therefore, the Nigerian Senate must be above board, rise up to the occasion and re-confirm Dora Akunyili as a minister; and allow her to serve Nigeria - a job which she passionately have discharged for some years now and creditably well, too. So NIGERIAN SENATORS DO NOT BE A CLOG IN THE WHEEL OF TRANSPARENCY, CONFIRM DORA AKUNYILI!

PROFESSOR DORA AKUNYILI, DESERVES A PLACE IN THE UPCOMING CABINET!

She is well qualified, eminently so; very capable and competent; erudite and have a track record of proven abilities aiding her can-do spirit. She is also very brave, patriotic, passionate and so much enthusiastic about Nigeria and her job. She is also conscionable. She has a PhD in Pharmacology. She is the catalyst that quickened Jonathan Goodluck's acting presidency, as she stood up when others were cowering and ganging up, and questioned the conspirators' silence of the Federal Executive Council on President Yar'Adua's continued where-about, his sickness and extended absence?

What other manner of a person would one in office need, if not that person who can deliver on any given assignment and one who is not too timid to let the person in charge know when things go wrong. If Icheoku were Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, Profssor Dora Akunyili would be our first ministerial choice, the first nominee/designate with a right of first refusal to any ministry of her choice. It is the right thing to do, the correct thing to do, and in order to encourage future taking of responsibility by those who serve and to say thank you for all that she has done to jump-start a comatose Nigeria that was cliff-bound? Her intended motion spun the national assembly decision to empower Jonathan as Nigeria's acting president!

So, any reconstituted cabinet without Dora Akunyili will lack necessary credibility as it will be seen and interpreted that Jonathan lacked the back-bone to firm up against all those cabals who called for her head; and that she was finally let go under pressure but not for her lack of competence? But in Nigeria, how many competent people are ever allowed to run affairs anyway; so Dora's brewing predicament for speaking up is atypical of a country where decency has since taken flight of no return? Here is a lady who have proved herself as above board, competent and highly qualified; so why not let her serve and not suffer her for being brave enough to challenge the status-quo! Icheoku says to Acting President Goodluck, LET DORA AKUNYILI SERVE!

INEC'S MAURICE IWU IS NOT THE PROBLEM, A SCREWED UP POLITY IS?

Icheoku wish to align itself with the position of the Alliance for Defence of Democracy that the chairman of Nigeria's Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, should not be sacked, but should be given a second term! The INEC chairman is not the problem to past Nigerian elections malfeasance; glorified elections which appropriately should be referred as selections and impositions; elections which were messed-up and marred by gross irregularities; elections which were hijacked by Olusegun Obasanjo who literally and single handily, cherry-picked only his chosen ones for various offices in the land?

From the presidency, through the National Assembly to governors as well as local government chairman and membership, Obasanjo made sure that only his approved and certified candidate got in? But regrettably, the widely known very short-memory of Nigerians, have made them to transfer their anger at the chairman of INEC instead of the real culprit, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo who should be held responsible and harpooned for the tragedy that he caused within the Nigerian polity? A chairman who smartly played possum, tagged along with a scripted instruction of a mad Otta farmer called Obasanjo, who did not want to leave the comfort of Aso Rock any more and was looking for any reason or excuse to scuttle the transition to another president? Now these professional protesters and hired guns/underlings seem to have forgotten too soon, hence their misplaced agitation on the chairman? First, Olusegun Obasanjo wanted to elongate his term of office to a third term; when he was stopped, he prevented any real elections from taking place and single-handily selected and imposed his 'people' on every office in the land, leading to a detestable party like the PDP winning a re-election with over 67% of the total votes cast? And you ask yourself who cast these ballots and where were they cast?

The purport of this comment is not to strong-arm the Acting President on giving Maurice Iwu a second term in office; no, rather it is to re-echo what many unbiased minds have broached over the period that he, Maurice Iwu is not the problem nor did he cause the political anomie in the country? In 2007, he had only one objective, - lay prostrate if need be in order to wrestle power out of Olusegun Obasanjo's death-grip; and he succeeded. It was one of the rare occasion where the end justified the means; as Obasanjo became a once was president of Nigeria while the duo of Yar'Adua-Goodluck were sworn in; the rest is now history. Experience is the key and is valued highly in other well-behaved societies and Iwu's experience of the last ten years at INEC should not just be thrown away or sacrificed on the alter of a 'plebianistic' agitation to sack Iwu. Nigeria should take a time out and do some introspection on their priorities and the means of getting there. It is equally important to point out that this agitation to remove Iwu is loudest and coming from just one particular section of the country, a section which went into a sleep-mode while their kinsman Olusegun Obasanjo ravaged and pillaged Nigeria? Suddenly now they have awoken to pretend being the soul and conscience as well as the vanguard of the nation, protesting all manners of things from the mundane to the absurd? According to their oath of kindred, whoever and whatever is occupying any office in Nigeria who does not have their like-sounding last name must be brought down; hence their people can do no wrong, the reason they have not protested a former governor in their region who is so envious of the achievement/performance of his successor that he is now trying to effect his impeachment?

Our position is that Nigerians would be better off, if they can exploit Professor Iwu's garnered experiences of the past ten years; and task him with redeeming himself during the next 2011 elections. And if the outcome of the last elections in Ekiti, Edo and Anambra States is anything to go by, then Icheoku welcomes an extension of the term of office of the INEC chairman Maurice Iwu, as he has tasted the water and knows what to do with those desperate thuggish politicians in Nigeria - the Anambra State experiment being very instructive here? From the message sent by these three mentioned elections, that money or notoriety is no longer enough to steal elections; Icheoku agrees that it is possible that these 'Iwu must go' agitators are merely doing so, based on ulterior motive and not love of country in order to get out of the way, a man who has made up his mind to redeem his image by standing firmly in the way of election terrorist-hijackers? Who would it be told that a Tony Anenih backed Chukwuma Soludo with all his billions could lose an election in Anambra State; or that a Tony Anenih's own candidate in one of the local governments elections in Edo State could lose an election? It all shows that Iwu has found his backbone, have firmed up and possibly made some resolution to do better for and by Nigerians; and should be allowed to proved that. Moreover there is practically too little a time now left for a fresh captain to mount the ship of INEC with all the curve-balls, logistics involved with an election in less than 10 months?

But at last, no one is indispensable; but the authorities in Nigeria should seriously consider the quick turnovers of such offices in a bid to allow experienced personnel who have learned on the job to be allowed to draw from such experiences in their future assignments. Therefore, Icheoku reiterates that INEC's chairman Professor Maurice Iwu should be given a second term when his current term expires in June 2010; with a mandate to give Nigerians an election to be proud of in 2011 elections; and hopefully redeem his image in the process. The time is rather too short now for a change of guards; while Nigeria should also consider the issue of decentralisation of the election body so that States bodies can conduct elections instead! But Acting President Jonathan Goodluck knows best what he wants to have happen with the leadership of the INEC; but Icheoku asks that he factors in these issues raised here, when weighing his final options and making up his mind on whether or not Professor Maurice Iwu should be replaced; the short time interval to the next 2011 elections given adequate consideration.