PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YAR'ADUA, THE FINAL EPILOGUE!

A life eclipsed, the sun sets, the birds chirped their final goodbyes, the swan song played; and so it is that Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is no more! Snatched by the cold hands of death which has foreshadowed him for quite sometime now; sending him from one Germany hospital to Saudi Arabia's another and to some other hospitals in the world in search of a possible cure for his cocktail of illnesses? Doctors finally gave up all hopes and last November 2009, sent him home to die amongst his people. Icheoku notes that ironically, it is a thing of pride that the late Nigerian president did not die in a foreign hospital bed; like so many other Nigerian high-ups and officials who take pride in dying among 'not-so-caring' strangers in foreign hospitals in foreign lands. For this patriotic act, Icheoku commends him and his family for not suffering Nigeria the shame that their president died in a foreign hospital surrounded by strangers speaking strange tongues and acting funny?

Upon his return last November 2009, a blanket of secrecy was thrown over him by his ever domineering, overbearing and protective wife, Hadjiya Turai, who shrouded him from everyone including his mother and his former vice president; people who did not see him to even bid their final goodbyes? This enveloping secrecy web made it impossible for Nigerians to actually appreciate how long gone and debilitated their president was; until late Wednesday May 5, 2010 night, at about 9.00pm Nigeria local time, when he yielded his ghost and the vultures of death took it away to a land and place so far far away, never to return. Icheoku prays that President Umaru Yar'Adua will now finally gets the rest which has eluded him for quite sometime now; chiefly caused by the cabal which held him hostage as a pawn in their game of chess and used him, his name and his office to feather their nests. Icheoku did not know Mr. President very well; but suffice it to say he exuded some humility and meekness; admitted we strongly objected to his imposition on the people of Nigeria by the Otta deity, Olusegun Obasanjo. Like all mortals, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has now completed his own 360 degrees of the cosmic journey called life, and as he is interred and mourned by his family, friends and the Nigeria state, Icheoku says, lucky are those who die and their body were properly disposed, and mourned in death. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua falls within this lucky class of the departed and may his soul rest in peace, Amen!

But who is President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua; the man noted for absconding from his duties in Aso Rock office of the presidency of Nigeria and for over 100 long days, without handing power over to anyone including his vice president. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was hitherto, an unknown quantity in Nigeria national political terrain; and a very much discreet governor of Islamic Sharia Northern Nigeria State of Katsina, before Olusegun Obasanjo foisted him on Nigeria as president in May 29, 2007. But shortly after his inauguration his recurring ailments of emblematic kidney and enlarged heart returned with some what vengeance and kept him debilitated until yesterday, when all the life-support gadgets keeping him alive for several months now, suddenly had no life to support anymore as the president breathed his last. President Umaru Yar'Adua was 59 years old; a son of a former minister and brother to late Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, President Umaru Yar'Adua was born in Katsina in 1951. A major in chemistry with a master's degree in analytical chemistry, he taught class at the university before joining politics. He was elected governor of Katsina State in 1999 and for a second term in 2003; before his nomination by the ruling party PDP for the presidency and subsequent imposition on Nigerians, as Nigeria's president? President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was married to wife, Turai, with whom he had six children; he also had two children from a previous marriage or rather, a former paramour?

For the records, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was the first university-educated executive president of Nigeria since independence; discountenancing Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Nigeria's first ceremonial president, a Lincoln USA University graduand? It is also instructive to note that late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the fifth Nigeria President/Head of State to die in office;Tafawa Balewa was killed in a 1966 army putsch, Aguiyi Ironsi was killed in counter-coup of July 1966, Muritala Mohammed was killed in 1976 Buka Suka Dimka led coup attempt, the midget of Kano Sani Abacha was poisoned in 1998 and now President Umaru Yar'Adua; the only one to die of natural causes of Churg Strauss Syndrome, by kidney problems, heart problems and acute pericarditis which was accelerated by an overbearing wife's selfish power intoxication, which made her keep him away from his other family members, friends, government officials as well as the Nigerian people. Turai maintained this false imprisonment of the president for more than 150 days until the cold steely hands of death plucked him away from her, his family and the Nigerian people. President Umaru Yar'Adua was also the first and the only president of Nigeria to ever publicly declare his assets.

Hopefully, one of his most memorable remarks, "Our collective goal is to deliver for our children a Nigeria better, stronger, more peaceful, more secure and more prosperous than we met it," will now serve as his hopeful and enduring legacy which Icheoku hopes, shall be lived out in those succeeding him in office? The intention is commendable and its implementation, a laudable cause. President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will be remembered by different people for so many different reasons:- to his wife, as a loving and caring husband; to his children, a doting father who rose to become president; to his people of Katsina State, a former governor and kinsman; to Islamic Sharia Northern Nigeria, a devout Islamic zealot who ushered in and laid the ground work for sharia laws in northern Nigeria; to his government officials, the get-along president that never barked out orders; and to the Nigerian people, an imposed president who earned the acronym, Mr. Go-Slow or Baba Slow for the very slow paced with which he approached governance. To Icheoku, we shall remember him as that collaborator who conspired or agreed to be used by Olusegun Obasanjo to effect the worst election outcome or 'selection' ever in Nigeria. The late president admitted this much after his swearing in when he opined that his election was flawed? We thought he would go a step further in calling for fresh elections, but he never did and his government was hounded by this credibility gap until he expired late Wednesday. Luckily death is a universal debt which every living thing owes and now, President Umaru Yar'Adua is debt-free. Icheoku wishes him glorious transition into eternity; and to his family, friends and Nigerians in general, the fortitude to bear the loss. May his Allah accept his soul in their paradise, adieu President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua!

ICHEOKU, PRESIDENT UMARU YAR'ADUA IS DEAD FINALLY?

At last, the secret Hadjia Turai Yar'Adua could not keep, the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua. The Nigeria President, who couldn't take the torture of Turai's house arrest anymore, kicked the bucket a few hours ago. Icheoku says, rest in peace Umaru; and like the preacher said, all is vanity - a lesson for all men and women of power the world over

THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA vs. BABANGIDA, A 9 COUNTS CRIMINAL INDICTMENT?

What drives our fierce opposition to the planned run for the presidency of Nigeria by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 2011, one may ask? It is because of our moral, legal and political obligation to speak up and stand up against any and all evil; and Babangida is an embodiment of everything evil, satanic and demonic. Icheoku cannot in good conscience just sit aside and do nothing, and watch this beast of Minna assume power once again over the destiny of Nigerians as well as their commonwealth funds and resources.

Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is politically, totally and completely, damaged in perpetuity by his brutish antecedents and zero-tolerance for democratic opposition, that his present adventure is for lack of a better word, an affront and a foolery. The once maximum and absolute ruler of Nigeria and for eight long and ardious years, tortured, maimed and killed so many Nigerians that only moronic vampires from out of space and some deranged Nigerian retards, would wish for his second coming back to power.

Icheoku feels so offended by this Babangida's confrontational gesture and frontal attack on our general sensibilities that we wish him a sudden cardiac arrest and/or painful slow death. If we had our way, it would have been his late wife long ago who is mourning him and not the other way round? How dare this animal think that Nigeria is his for the asking; and that after the painful ordeal Nigerians went through under his draconian hand, especially the agonizing June 12th nightmare from which Nigeria has yet to fully recover, that he will be heralded into Aso Rock with pomp and pageantry? This really shows how contemptible Babangida holds Nigerians, indeed; to think that it is now ok to disturb our psyche once again, and that his mortal sins has since been forgiven, and so easily, one may say? It is either Babangida's brain is firing counter-clock wise or he has completely lost the control of his faculties; and has become so brain-damaged and permanently deranged that he thinks he can get away with the criminality of his eight years gestapo regime? Not this time, Nigerians are wiser and braver to tolerate or squeamishly turn tails not at his name's mention and not at his unsightly sightings?

For a little over-view, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida as a serving army man, actively participated in the coup that overthrew Nigeria's second republic democratically elected civilian government of President Alhaji Shehu Shagari in December 1983. Two years later in 1985, Babangida again overthrew the military government of Muhammadu Buhari which he had earlier helped to bring to power through the military coup de tat that overthrew Shagari. In 1993 Babangida again assaulted democracy and the people of Nigeria when he wickedly annulled the freest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria which saw MKO Abiola as president-elect of Nigeria; but for Babangida's unbridled capacity to do evil. Babangida was subsequently forced to flee the seat of power by unceasing and seething political protests; and hurriedly and shamelessly stepped aside from power in 1993. Now, 17 years later, he drunkenly desires to come back to power to continue his reign of terror, from where he had stopped in 1993? But if he thinks Nigerians will tolerate him this time, then he has another thing coming!

Icheoku says, an intention is one thing and then the actualization of such intention is another. Nigerians are vigilant and will be held responsible should Babangida ever find his way back to power again, inclusive 2011; whether by crook or otherwise by design and manipulation. Babangida's presidency in 2011 must not happen and cannot happen and will not happen; not under our watch and within the polity of a one united Nigeria. If he is the only candidate the entire north could find, then they must be prepared for a Nigeria without the south; otherwise they should retire from their head, the idea of a President Babangida ever governing a one united Nigeria again, never! Ordinarily, if not for the type of country Nigeria is, where corruption is the name of the game; with notoriously corrupt men and women holding sway in practically every turn and corner of Nigeria, a person with Babangida's awful past records, would not be still walking with swagger throughout the land a freeman; talk-less of adding insult to injury by now declaring his intention to run for president and to rule Nigerians again? Icheoku condemns this imprudent arrogance of his as very shameful and haranguing; and very damaging to the psyche of every rational Nigerian and says, it must be stopped by all and every means necessary. Babangida does not deserve the seat of power but the seat of an electric chair; or be tied down at the stake and shot by firing squad for all the atrocious ills he visited on Nigerians. This man has no brains and if he has any, it must be made of jello with no iota of grey matter inside it otherwise who is advising this latest bullcrap of a presidency?

It is in a step to stop Babangida from his fantastical dream of utopia and since the Nigeria government has so far refused and/or neglected to arrest Babangida and try him for all his crimes against the humanity in Nigeria; that Icheoku has taken it upon itself to indict Babangida in the court of public opinion, with a 9 counts felony criminal charges! Upon his conviction, which is assured, Babangida will be rendered unfit for the office of Nigeria's president since convicts cannot be president. Now, Icheoku says to Babangida, before you leap and throw your hat fully into the ring for the presidency, how do you plead to the following charges:-

COUNT 1. - That you, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, while sitting as Nigeria's military head of state, surreptitiously took Nigeria into the membership of an Islamic organisation, Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC); fully aware that Nigeria is a secular republic and without consulting the then Supreme Military Council or Nigeria's council of heads of states or other opinion leaders to know what they think about Nigeria's membership of such a religious organisation. And without any care or regard about its ramifications; and that such unilateral and arbitrary decision was capable of igniting religious war among the different religiosity and organisations in Nigeria; and thus capable of ending the entity known as Nigeria? Babangida how do you plead to count 1, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 2. - That you Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, while in the same office as above, authorized and sponsored the coup of Blaire Campore that killed Captain Thomas Sankara of Upper Volta and supported this your fellow coupist, Blaire Campore, to take power and he is still sitting in the president's office till today. Babangida how do you plead to count 2, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 3. - That you Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, as Nigeria's military head of state, amassed inexplicably stupendous wealth, which source you are yet to explain to Nigerians; thereby transforming yourself from an ordinary army man with an almajiri background to today's multi-billionaire crook in dollars and pounds Sterling. Babangida how do you plead, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 4. - That you, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida institutionalized corruption in Nigeria and allowed 419 operators to thrive; with some notorious Surulere Lagos based kingpins moving about in your government approved mobile-police convoys; one of who reputedly barked orders to Inspector General of police and his deputies and underlings? Further that you boisterously touted your (settlement) ability to corrupt Nigerians, when you declared that but for late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, every other Nigerian has a price? Babangida how do you plead, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 5. - That you, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida flagrantly disrespected the Nigerian constitution and laws by ignoring and/or refusing to honor a judicial invitation to appear before a duly constituted Justice Oputa judicial panel of inquiry to testify. By this you undeservedly placed yourself above the law and diminished the notion that the law is supreme and supersedes every body within its jurisdictional reach. Babangida how do you plead to count 5, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 6. - That you, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, failed and/or refused to retire Sani Abacha when you stepped aside and hence vicariously and negligently, responsible for all the misadventure in government of the midget of Kano Sani Abacha; including his murders of Pa Rewane, Kudirat Abiola, Ken Saro-Wiwa, etc and his blatant looting of the nation's treasury. That you Babangida went to Abacha's grave-site in Kano and poured encomiums on him as your idea of a "good" leader, will serve as aggravating circumstance upon your conviction. Babangida how do you plead to count 6, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 7. - That you Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida failed and/or refused to account for the $12 billion dollars Iraq war oil windfall which accrued to Nigeria; and till today had stonewalled every inquiry therein to. This your action, lays credence to the suspicion that you appropriated and embezzled same; which in a way explains the source of your untold wealth, being a poor wretched almajiri-background army man, neither a trust-fund child nor a lottery winner. Babangida how do you plead to count 7, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 8. - That you Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida or agents acting with your express authorization and/or tacit approval, murdered Dele Giwa, Mamma Vasta, Gloria Okon, Gideon Orkar and co, 132 military officers at the Ejigbo engineered plane crash, and all those students/protesters that your security goons killed under your watch; including the hundreds of thousands who perished during June 12th crisis. Babangida how do you plead to count 8, guilty or not guilty?

COUNT 9. - That you Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the freest and fairest election in Nigeria and till date, has not explained to Nigerians why annulling June 12th was necessary or publicly apologized for that infamy by saying you are sorry for that shameless and sinful act of infamy. Babangida how do you plead to count 9, guilty or not guilty?

Icheoku just realized that Babangida is not even in court to take his plea; as the scofflaw he is, who had in the past ignored a duly constituted Justice Oputa panel of inquiry; he has once again skipped court? Therefore, since these charges require no further and additional proof because they were perpetrated before millions of Nigerians who bear silent witnesses to these crimes; we shall proceed to try him in his absence. Babangida is hereby convicted on all charges. Icheoku's verdict, BABANGIDA IS GUILTY AS CHARGED!

Babangida, who is wanted by the people of Nigeria to answer for all his crimes against them, but who is being protected by the government of Nigeria, which have so far refused to prosecute him for all the crimes he committed while in power, is now a convicted felon. A convicted felon cannot be president since he is so disqualified. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is also not a democrat and still cavorts with military men who brought about unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa; his most recent hailing of Captain of Guinea's coup that toppled an elected and still existing government considered?

If the Sharia Islamic northern Nigeria wants Babangida as their president, so be it, they can have him as president of Sharia Islamic Arewa (Northern Nigeria) Republic? If the South-East with their conquered-people's mentality caves in and would accept his leadership of them, they too can have their president Babangida of the South-East? But these blocs alone does not constitute the entire Nigeria, as the South-West Yoruba, the home of the sons and daughters of Oduduwa, shall not have Babangida as president and will not watch it come to pass once they are still part of Nigeria. So it is either a Babangida's presidency will not happen or he will settle for a presidency of a fractured Nigeria and certainly without the Yoruba South-West.

Having indicted Babangida on behalf of the hundreds of millions of hapless Nigerians, his trial and conviction presumed; a guilty verdict on all counts is returned. This automatically disqualifies him and makes him ineligible to contest for any election; an unfit and improper person cannot seek the office of the president of Nigeria. If Babangida contests our verdict, let him appeal or ask for a de-novo trial and take a fresh plea and watch himself convicted again. If he is found guilty again, a prison sentence can be waived provided he publicly apologises to Nigerians for his transgressions; and say he is contrite and totally sorry for the path to nowhere in which he led Nigerians for eight agonizing years. Babangida is such a callous beast that were Icheoku to have its way, will be given a lethal dose of some potassium chloride cocktail; and this remains our position with regard to the Babangida saga in Nigeria until formal charges are brought against him by the government and prosecuted for his past offences. Babangida committed mortal sins against Nigerians, Nigeria, Africa and the entire black race! Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is evil and evil thrives when good men fail to do something; therefore we have risen to disqualified him from running for the office of the president or any other office in Nigeria, being a convicted felon, and for the remainder of his natural miserable life! Away with Babangida, there is no chance for him in 2011 or any other time until Hell freezes over!

NY TIMES SQUARE TERRORIST, GOT SO CLOSE BUT FOR PROVIDENCE?

Once again mother luck intervened and saved America from another terrorist induced disaster, from a likely home-grown domestic terrorist, whose bomb laden truck packed in Times Square New York, was timely found and diffused before it could wreck havoc in the Big Apple's foremost landscape. Icheoku condemns unequivocally this brazen act of terror on American soil, New York, and pray that the animal that thought and executed this madness will be caught and very soon to face the full weight of the law?

It was only last December 25, 2009 as Americans prepared to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ that the other scraggy-arsed Nigerian diaper-bomber, made a futile attempt to ignite his underwear-laden bomb to blow away a Delta Airline plane with many American vacationing citizens. The Nigerian terrorist diaper-bomber had consummated his terrorist act when he completed his terrorist-training in Yemen, planned the bombing run, wore his diaper-bomb and boarded an American bound plane and was descending into an American City of Detroit when he ignited his payload. As luck would have it, a passenger caught him and subdued him before he could cause further damage. The rest as they say is now history.

Now less than four months into that Christmas day attempted nightmare over Detroit, another terrorist has breached our security and planted a bomb-laden Nissan Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle in New York's Times Square? As with the Christmas day diaper-bomber, this Times Square SUV bomber had completed the terrorist act, planned it, built his bomb and drove the bomb-laden truck from wherever warehouse he/they put their contraption together (Jack Bauer's 24 highly instructive) and into Time-Square. He triggered the timing detonation mechanism and abandoned the truck before a New York City police-officer was alerted of some smoke coming from a packed truck and the bomb was diffused. The rest is now also history as his manhunt begins in all earnesty; mother-luck again was once again on the side of the good guys and saved us from another calamitous terrorist mayhem in New York City. What a double tragedy it would have been had this lunatic terrorist killer succeeded in unleashing his terror on New York, coming less than a decade after the September 11, 2000 World Trade Center, just four miles away.

Icheoku asks, what happened to all the much touted security condone and networks which supposedly envelope our country's big cities, when such a sinister SUV could be sneaked under our noses into Times Square; admitted that many of such attempts, both the announced and the unannounced, were probably thwarted in the past? But like they say within security circles, we have to always get it right all the time and there is no chance for error or to be wrong, not for once, not anytime? Regrettably, this animal choose to sneak his deadly cargo into Times Square while the country and the White House was grappling with the oil spill in the gulf of Mexico?

What a double whammy it would have been for our President Barack Obama who is yet to take a real break from work for quite some time now, due to so many issue converging at the same time and urgently pleading for his attention. The fact that the Republican Party of "NO" is unappreciative of his effort and not helping matters with their partisan zealotry and criticism of the president must be giving the president some hiccups too? Being a tourist season and in one of the tourists mecca of the world, Times Square, compounded the matter much more as probable causalities and destruction would have damped the spirit of New Yorkers and forced many people to stay away; similar to the experience the city had immediately after 9/11. But as God would have it, the hateful beast is an uneducated amateur who thought every fertilizer is a bomb grade fertilizer; and lacking in proficiency with electronics, his contraption instead of gradually timing itself out to detonation, started exhuming smoke? Who says God has forsaken America, the God's only own country, considering that there is no other better place on earth for God to call home?

Gladly we have some of the finest forensic experts in the world and Icheoku strongly believes it will be a matter of days before this Timothy McVeigh of Times Square is ensnared and brought to justice. Most likely he left a lot of clues and tale-tail signs including finger prints and trails; from the vehicle which did not "completely obliterate" as he had expected, to chemical signature of the fertilizer, receipts of purchase of those gas tanks, timing devices etc which would all assist lead investigators to the suspect? The vehicle in particular has paper works through the DMV and a chain of custody of its ownership and possession could easily be traced back to whoever drove that SUV into Times Square. Possibly this domestic terrorist would be found dead of suicide with a gunshot wound to his head; but find him, the agents would and within a very short time.

Who is not tired of these urchins who think their problem is such that the whole world has to stand still until they are solved; blowing and attempting to blow up people and things? Icheoku definitely is; likewise many other decent people of the world, and we urge us all to remain vigilance as these marauders are not taking any break from seeking out ways to harm us all. Please does anyone really know what it is that drives such hate in these spineless cowards that fuels their disdain for humanity and modernity that they would rather blow them to pieces? Blowing up Times Square is not a crime against only America as it serves as a convergence for all the peoples of the world that someone from the perpetrator's city or country of origin was possibly milling around Times Square at the time he abandoned his deadly cargo within that vicinity and could have been hurt or even killed?

Anyone who is tired of living, should just go jump off; but please spare the rest of the fun-loving world their transferred misery by trying to take lives which they did not create. No justification whatseover is enough to cause such grand-scale destruction and these repeated attempts to taint President Obama's security credentials will not work. These imbeciles are trying in vain to bring about a circumstance which will appear as if those securing our safety under the Obama administration are not up to their game. Enough terrorists, domestic, Middle Eastern and others, whatever be your grievances; just give President Barack Obama time to sought things out and resolve whatever it is that fuels such your hatred for a peaceful and happy humanity! Until then, Icheoku says, maybe parking in and around the vicinities of Times Square should be outlawed to deny such murderous urchin and his likes the real estate to plant their terror SUVs in the future.

NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT IS VERY DANGEROUS, SAYS EL RUFAI?

The former minister of the Federal Capital territory Abuja under Olusegun Obasanjo's regime, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has told the BBC that Nigeria governments injects opponents with HIV and Hepatitis C virus?

When prodded further, El-Rufai affirmed that it has happened before! Icheoku is not in a position to emphatically deny, dispute, dismiss or confirm this allegation; but El-Rufai having been in the corridors of power may have spoken with an insider's experience.

However, Icheoku expects the Nigerian government to sue El-Rufai for him to either substantiate and prove his claim or for libeling it. Failure to do either will amount to a tacit admission and what a feather to add to its already soiled and not so clement repertoire?

THE SACK OF IWU, A CAPITULATION BY ACTING PRESIDENT JONATHAN?

Icheoku regrets that Nigeria's Acting President Jonathan Goodluck went against all grains of his thought to still fire INEC's Professor Maurice Iwu, despite expressing confidences in him and stating publicly that the ex-chairman is capable of conducting credible elections in Nigeria; and that he was not the problem militating against elections in Nigeria?

Just for the records, Icheoku is not holding fort for Maurice Iwu nor are we on his retainer-ship, but in order to hold Jonathan's feet to the fire regarding a commitment which he earlier made to himself and in front of world cameras. Query, if Professor Maurice Iwu was not the problem and is capable of conducting free and fair elections, why then did the acting president go along with those crusaders calling for the head of the ex-chairman of INEC and had it axed? The answer seems to be to placate the United States of America which desired that singular outcome, since what America wants America gets? Meanwhile the electoral officer/s that gave America Gore v. Bush 2000 is still in office and so also is the American Supreme Court that validated such anomaly?

Yet a man who did his best under the most excruciating of circumstances, successfully wresting power from an unyielding and power-drunk Olusegun Obasanjo; and effectively transferred political baton from one democratic government to another, the first time it was ever achieved in Nigeria has been axed? Icheoku asks, has anyone in America called for the trial of the deity of Otta, Olusegun Obasanjo for the mayhem that was his eight years in office? Has anyone in America or elsewhere castigated Obasanjo for micro-managing the subject-matter INEC's election result, that has now completely destroyed Iwu's career and profile? It is Obasanjo who wielded the big stick behind Iwu's head and forced him to produce or rather read out an already collated election results, which were arrived at ever before the first ballot was cast into the ballot box? But no, Maurice Iwu is a sacrificial lamb and under the bus was he thrown; now to be known as the worst election-umpire Nigeria has ever had.

Icheoku's beef with Jonathan over the sack of Maurice Iwu is not with regard to his inherent authority to so do; but that there is no basis or grounds to sack him after the same Jonathan had earlier acknowledged that Iwu was not the problem and is capable of conducting free and fair elections. The question remains, why punish an innocent man; who is still qualified to lead INEC according to Jonathan's own estimation and under the circumstances? If Maurice Iwu was a partial election umpire and was fired for this malfeasance, what should then become the fate of all those beneficiaries of his manipulated election, including Jonathan Goodluck? It is just not fair to hate a thief and at the same time cavort his loot. If one hates a thief so much as to despise him, common logic and fairness demands that such a person should not appreciate the pillage of the thief's brigandage. But here is Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, a product of Maurice Iwu's alleged electoral malfeasance, pretending to be holier than thou in firing the same man whose warped election produced his government. Icheoku asks, if Jonathan Goodluck was so disturbed by the election conducted by Iwu, why did he not decline the then vice presidency or insisted that a fresh election be conducted after Obasanjo had handed over to them? If Iwu must be sacked for the election he conducted, what happens to the wise men of the Supreme Court who later held the elections valid? What also become the fate of Jonathan Goodluck and his fellow political beneficiaries or are they going to resign and apologize to Nigerians for being collaborators in an alleged Maurice Iwu's orchestrated election fraud?

Icheoku says, it is a cruel irony to hate the hen for laying eggs and yet, savoring such eggs? If one does not like something, let him/her please completely reject it and whatever it represents or brings to the table. But it does not make sense to hate something so much and still like some other thing about it or its product? It is akin to a stone-throwing protesting Middle-Eastern boy shouting "I hate America" and is wearing a Nike cap, a Jordan's tennis shoes, a Gap T-shirt and drinking Coca-Cola to quench his thirst? It is the same logic on its head wherein a woman is condemned for having adulterous affair while the married man she had it with is exonerated; and you ask yourself wherein was the consummation or completion of the illicit affair without a culpable party?

The sacking of Professor Maurice Iwu is done and there is no amount of brooding that will make undone what is already done, so Nigeria's elections must move on without him. However, Icheoku rejects this cherry-picking of culpability and the scape-goating of only Maurice Iwu, in a motley crowd of election riggers and manipulators including Acting President Jonathan Goodluck who was installed a vice president on the orders of Olusegun Obasanjo to Maurice Iwu's INEC. Maurice Iwu was not the only participant in the election malpractice and fairness would have seen everyone who benefited from such election fraud suffer some consequence or reprimand for their roles, including Olusegun Obasanjo himself, the master-mind of the outcome and who was pulling the strings of puppet Iwu. Like earlier noted, Icheoku does not hold the brief of Iwu, but that justice would have been had in what was an apparent capitulation of Nigeria's Acting President Jonathan Goodluck to an over-bearing American influence. Hopefully this Washington's arm-twisting will end with this firing of Iwu; but Icheoku is afraid that as we reported earlier this year, the Obama administration is going full-stream and head-on to make the second coming of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida a fait-accompli. But that is where the cookie will crumble as Nigerians will resist such selfish imposition with all they got, including protests, riots, work-stoppages and demonstrations.

Finally, the only good thing out of this Maurice Iwu's humiliating dismissal is that it sends a message to so many other would-be willing collaborators on how not to be shriveling servants of these brute politicians and army men who usually use and dump them after realising their objective. Professor Humphery Nwosu was similarly used by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, but unlike Maurice Iwu, he produced a credible election result of MKO Abiola's June 12th, despite the dark-wish of Babangida for him not to carry through with the election and declare its results? This makes Professor Nwosu a more respectable election conductor within the Nigeria political forum.

It is with a heart filled with sympathy that Icheoku renders its verdict on Professor Maurice Iwu, whose reputation has permanently been damaged as an election manipulator; and the man who facilitated the emergence of rogue elements, a sick president, a senate populated by 419 operators and pedophiles, a house full of fraudsters, illiterates and marauders and questionable human-beings occupying governorship offices and other elected offices in Nigeria. This is a cross he will have to carry for the rest of his natural life and which Icheoku does not begrudge or envy him about. As we anxiously wait for the 'messiah' who will finally deliver Nigeria's elections from itself, and hand to Nigerians a gift of a Ghana-type election; we pray that IBB does not or is not allowed to run in 2011; and if he runs, is not voted for; and if voted for, is not elected; and if elected, is not allowed to serve!

BABANGIDA CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO LEAD NIGERIA AGAIN - an article by Hasfat Abiola.

I first heard about IBB‘s declaration of intent to run for the position of President of Nigeria while in Jakarta attending the World Movement for Democracy‘s 6th Assembly. Since then, many people on social networks like Facebook have been asking me to join one or other campaign opposing IBB‘s bid to run. So far, I haven‘t done so. Principally because I think all citizens in a democratic country have a right to seek any office in the land. Indeed, this principle was precisely what both my parents gave their lives to defend.

However, as a concerned Nigerian, I would like to register my reservations about his declaration. Nigeria is a long story of stalled potential. So rich in human and other resources, it should be the jewel on the continent‘s crown. Yet, here we are, divided across ethnic nations, religion and class, poorer now than we were at independence. The challenge of moving the country forward is daunting, indeed, and the single leadership currency that stands between failure and success is not past experience, nor capacity, but trust. Nigerian people must trust whoever steps forward to lead them. Unfortunately, trust is an elusive quality even in the best of times, emanating from an individual‘s ability to do what he or she says.

Considered in this manner, no other public figure suffers from a greater deficit of trust than IBB. We could speak about so many reasons for this deficit, but let us focus on one: June 12, 1993. On that day, millions of people lined up to cast their vote because they trusted their head of state who had organised the elections, who had promised to step aside for a democratic government based on the results. These millions saw the elections annulled, their votes set aside. Till today, IBB has given no credible explanation for failing to do what he said, for letting Nigerians down.

In 2011, Nigeria‘s next president will promise to meet the country‘s challenges. So much of his or her success will depend on the people believing what is said. After all, it is the people that must carry out the policies designed to realise his objectives. If they do not believe, they will subvert even the best of plans. Who believes someone who has a record of not doing what he says? Who believes someone who does not take responsibility for his own actions? Who will sacrifice current gratification because this same leader now promises that the future would be better, if we only wait? However much IBB may wish things to be different, under the shadow of his past actions, he will only be seen as a continuation of all that is wrong.

Should IBB wish to be taken seriously, before even conceiving a campaign, he should seek to close his credibility gap. ‘Maradona,‘ ‘evil genius,‘ and all these other epithets point to qualities of a liar, a dupe, a fraud. That persona may have been an asset in the context of a military dictatorship but in the quest for a leader that can move Nigeria forward, it is a liability. Whatever his camp may say, until this credibility gap is closed, average Nigerians listening to IBB will do so with a smirk, understanding that as he has not cleaned his hands, he need not be taken seriously. Ultimately, as the country marks its 50th anniversary, the next election gives Nigeria a chance to turn the corner. Since independence, our country and its peoples have endured one failed promise, one experience of inadequate leadership after another. Perhaps it is time that out of love for our one and only country we vote for a leader we can trust. This will not guarantee success. But without such a leader, failure is assured.

Hasfat Abiola is the daughter of murdered Chief MKO Abiola and the also slain Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

PERSONALIZED WAR ON CORRUPTION, JAMES IBORI UNFAIRLY SINGLED OUT?

It is a cannon of legal jurisprudence of fairness that 'justice must not only be done but must be seen to be manifestly done'; and necessarily following as a sine qua non is the expectation that prosecution of suspects must not be a cover to persecute them, including perceived political enemies? Therefore in his declared renewed fight against corruption in Nigeria, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan must not be seen to be specifically directing the fangs of the EFCC at only James Ibori, since James is but one sliver of hair in the cacophony of corruption and corrupt persons in Nigeria. This apparent rage of vindictiveness at James Ibori is uncalled for; admitted that James Ibori took a wrong bet in the last struggle for power, but real statesmen don't hold grudges? Moreso, no one knows tomorrow as it may be a James Ibori's presidency of tomorrow that might call for the head of Jonathan Goodluck on a platter? Afterall, it was not too long ago that the acting president himself was relegated to the background by the cabal which had Ibori in its membership. But lo and behold, today as the good Lord Almighty will have it, things turned and the first became the last and vice versa.

Now should Jonathan Goodluck grimace at his good fortune and then misuse it in a manner that will not be pleasing to the Lord by abusing it? Icheoku says no wise man would so do; and hence calls on the acting president to retreat from his apparent "Get Ibori at all cost trajectory." So taking a heed from the popular saying among soldiers, 'soldier go soldier come barracks no dey close," the acting president must understand that power is transitional and very ephemeral and avoid its abuse. He must also avoid being seen as using his good office to haunt and hound his perceived political enemies; and being such a vendetta-seeking and vindictive person automatically turns people off. If the acting president is ever in doubt, he should ask Obasanjo why Nigerians hate him the most and with passion. Today it is Jonathan Goodluck's to bestride power, yesterday it was Obasanjo/Yar'adua and tomorrow it might be James Ibori who is calling the shots and directing the states armed enforcers; and the vicious circle continuously churns without ceasing.

Acting President Jonathan Goodluck should show some maturity and magnanimity by letting James Ibori go through normal channels of prosecution as enshrined in the constitution; but not forced to go through a special vice, different from the rest of the other thirty-three former governors who were similarly, previously investigated and were said to be indictable? Icheoku queries why only Ibori out of the 33 former governors that were determined to have dipped their filthy hands in the pots of their states commonwealth funds, is being so hounded by the EFCC? Icheoku have nothing against the EFCC's enforcing the law on corruption and prosecuting whoever investigation turns up a being corrupt; or personally against the acting president, but all is fair that seems fair and just; hence we say that James Ibori is currently being persecuted with the manner he is being hounded by the EFCC on a direct orders from Aso Rock. It is not fair and hence unjust for James Ibori to be the only one being hounded just because he lost out in the power tussle at Aso Rock. But should acting President Jonathan Goodluck cash in on that to humiliate and possible jail Ibori; it is not a good course and the Lord Almighty will not take kindly to Jonathan to use oppression to glorify his name for the miracle of his present day position in Nigeria.

According to the narrative, James Ibori is suspected of corrupt enrichment of self from the coffers of Delta State; but is he the only one of such former governors who couldn't resist the pile of carrots? Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is similarly accused of embezzling $12 billion dollars Iraqi war oil windfall but no one in EFCC has ever considered inviting him for questioning, talk less of declaring him wanted? Yet Babangida has declared his intention to run for president in 2011 weighted down by the allegation as well as the most recent one of partaking in the $180 million dollars Halliburton bribery of some Nigerian leaders? Where is Madam Farida Waziri on this or is she telling the world that Babangida is untouchable or licensed to loot; while Ibori is not so privileged; and would be crushed being from the minority south-south? How about the other 32 former governors who the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu accused of abusing their office by misusing their states financial resources? And please do not get us wrong as we do not carry water for James Ibori or any of the corrupt Nigerian politicians and their oil bunkering military counterparts who are holding Nigeria captive since independence. No, our interest is that James Ibori be prosecuted using due process and alongside others and not just singled out for who he is and because Acting President Jonathan Goodluck said so? The presidency or it acting capacity should not be used as instrument of vendetta or an avenue to cut pounds of flesh for whatever anyone including James Ibori may have done against the acting president when he was out of power as vice president?

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and some day, Jonathan Goodluck will himself be out of power and may expect a soft landing if he extend same to others currently in need of it. The south-south is capable of being torn apart as a result of the fallout from this face-off between two of their illustrious sons with the masses on either sides seeing it as an affront on their own "illustrious" son by the other side's acting president? Could someone just tell Icheoku that the "wanted dead or alive" on James Ibori not personal and why should Mr. Acting President Jonathan Goodluck make the hunt for James Ibori a priority issue over the so many troubles facing the nation particularly energy? What is so urgent, affecting the national security that James Ibori should be declared wanted dead or alive as if he is Osama Bin Laden in President GW's tunnel vision? What is so terribly important in an alleged crime committed over three years ago that the acting president has to call up the Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo and bark such orders; and allegedly banging the phone before reasonable response could be proffered by the IGP. The trouble with Nigeria is that supposed leaders are very fond of micro-managing every aspect of the society; otherwise what is Jonathan Goodluck's business pushing for James Ibori's arrest and "prosecution" when the Attorney General and the EFCC are there to do their jobs whenever crimes are committed? Mr Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, Icheoku calls on you to butt out of the present James Ibori's legal pursuit and let the law take its course; but as the leader of the nation you must not been seen to be victimising a citizen just because you have an axe to grind with him. If James Ibori committed a crime, let the law be the one determining that and calling out the hounds on him. We learn from history and you must not allow yourself to fall into the trap which had ensnared Olusegun Obasanjo and damaging him forever. Be a statesman and keep off.

Be that as it may, Icheoku calls on James Ibori to surrender to the law and stop being fugitive on the run from justice? He should just turn up and hand himself in and let Nigerians bear witness to his persecution if that is what all these is all about. As a democrat who has benefited immensely from democracy, James Ibori should not be afraid of suffering some inconvenience of prosecution because of democracy that gave a Jonathan power over James; hoping that the innocent fears no accusation? Bode George is almost completing his prison sentence at Kirikiri and so James Ibori should not be afraid of being locked up if it boils down to that but lawyers are there to say wait a minute, what offenses were committed? But should James Ibori chose to continue skipping "justice," then many Nigerians will condemn his action as the guilt being afraid.

As a solution to this constant abuse of powers by the executive, Icheoku would like to urge the national assembly to enact a legislation to water down executive powers of the president; just like they recently did in Pakistan. Such pruning of power will checkmate such an executive from such pettiness of getting personal at a person just in an attempt to settle old scores or force them to capitulate and become subservient. Icheoku takes a strong exception that Acting Jonathan Goodluck is not any different from the rest of other discredited past leaders who use the instrumentality of the state to go after their rivals in his going after James Ibori? With such a feud working itself to implosion, what becomes of the south-south alliance and their agitation for resource control since a house divided is bound to fall? The victors here as always will remain the Hausa-Fulani north, who must now be salivating that at last, the strong opposition of the oil producing Niger Delta is being weakened by the Jonathan/Ibori feud. Acting President Jonathan Goodluck should stop driving the mechanics of Madam Farida Waziri and cease instigating any actions of the EFCC regarding James Ibori; and if he must, then extend it to all those 33 other former governors who were investigated and implicated as corrupt.

Also the Halliburton scandal which have unearthed some high-level Nigerians who are neck-deep in the bribery saga, but who nobody have touched or invited or declared wanted dead or alive is a sore sticking point for Jonathan to occupy himself? Then the Jubril Aminu implicated Siemens' $12 million dollars scandal which seems to have assumed room temperature; as well as other numerous scandals awashed in the land are still begging for attention; yet it is only James Ibori's alleged corruption that is in the burners as he is being hounded by the dogs of the state, led by the EFCC. Icheoku says, it is not just right; it is not just fair, it is totally unjust and does not paint the Acting President Jonathan Goodluck in a good light to be seen as a very vindictive and mean fella? But while running from justice may not be the best approach, Ibori's fear in going under the mattress may possibly be well founded in view of the acidic vituperation of his traducers who went to unimaginable steps in declaring him "wanted dead or alive?" What if James Ibori is murdered by the agents of the states acting on direct orders or a subliminal instruction that his death will not be investigated; agents who in turn will accuse him of resisting arrest or allegedly engaged in a shoot-out with the police? In Nigeria all things are possible and a former governor running for his life may know more than the ordinary Joe-Nigerian knows and sure that his life is really in danger, since we do not want to believe it is out of fear of some bodily inconvenience that he will be running away from? Icheoku advises James Ibori to turn himself in through a powerful lawyer in the mold of Femi Falana; or any of such ranked attorney and then take his chances that he will get a fair disposal of his case. In any event, Jonathan Goodluck will not remain in office forever and a person with some sympathetic ears may someday come in and release a detained James Ibori? So James Ibori, turn yourself in now and quit being a scofflaw; and as for Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, please do not abuse your office by hounding your rivals out of circulation.

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN, THE FATHER OF ARIZONA WACK-JOB STATE SENATORS?

Worried about the wacky-doodle crazed-out Arizona racists legislators, who just passed a legislation demanding that all non Caucasian, non blond hair and non blue eyes Americans take a hike from their state, Icheoku says, worry no further as the Federal government will certainly intervene to check Arizona State's excesses and encroachment into an otherwise purely federal matter, and within its exclusive list. The last time we checked, all immigration matters in America are still vested within the authority of the federal government, who holds same on behalf of all the fifty states of the union; and Arizona State alone cannot unilaterally act to take away what was given to the federal government by it alongside 49 other states?

But just in case you have forgotten, it was Arizona Senator John Sidney McCain that started all these anti minority gang-ups which have now ballooned into the 'Birther Movement' which is still questioning the nationality and loyalty of our President Barack Obama almost two years since he was duly elected and sworn in as president of America? Even a McCain's copy-cat Arizona state senator Cecil Ash publicly on CNN AC-360, stated that President Obama may have dual loyalty - one to America and the other to some imaginary foreign country somewhere in his racist's head? Senator John McCain, the sore loser of the last American Presidential election, planted the seed of doubt that is rapidly taking roots inside America's fringed extreme right wingers heads about President Barack Obama's nationality? During his last presidential debate with then Democratic presidential candidate and now President Barack Obama, Senator John McCain overtaken by rage refused to acknowledge Obama as a person known to law with a legal name; instead he simply referred to him, without even looking at his direction, as "that one!" Icheoku says, without mincing words that thus begun the questioning of Obama's American-ess and which persists till today. Yet Senator John McCain has not withdrawn or repudiate the two-word statement or in some way apologise for it. But is there still any honor and candor left in this septuagenarian US Senator from Arizona; who now denies ever being a maverick? You ask yourself, if a US Senator who should know better, had such suspicion about the other party's presidential candidate nationality and his former colleague at the senate; and goes on to voice his suspicion publicly on a national television; subliminally sent a coded message that Obama is not one of us but an outsider, how then does anyone expect the dregs of the society, the bottom feeders, tethering at the lowest end of the ladder of the American far right extremists society, aka the 'Tea Partiers' to be well informed? A people who can see Russia from Alaska?

The matter is further compounded because these American-Talibans would not research anything for themselves, but would rather rely and be herded by their so called leaders (blind leading blind), reciting after them whatever rubbish that filters down to them from their filthy mouths? Such falsehood is so repeated and with such frequency that these knuckle-heads begin swearing by it as nothing but the truth; thus talking points turns these zombies into some fringed lunatics. No one gave that African a chance, not even the democratic party; and the republicans thought that 'good-ole-boys' and their ladies are still in control until an over one million votes differential left John McCain in the dust in that race fir the White house. President Barack Obama has since been sworn in and for over one year now; yet these rednecks of America now led by their latest poster-boy for hate, Arizona State, still doubt the president's nationality with many of them strongly believing that President Obama is a foreign agent, the anti-Christ?

But what these scoundrels do not understand is that it is a new day in America; and according to the census bureau projections, within the next 50 years, white Caucasian will be the new minority in America! Icheoku prays the day never comes when white Americans will be forced to pick lettuce in the farms at $50 per day; or forced by economic circumstances to operate street pharmacies to dispense cracks just to buy milk for their babies. Now the government is merely plugging up some of the loopholes through which they hitherto distributed amongst themselves only, unmerited $40 million dollars a year bonuses, and they are crying holy murder? They are complaining that they are now left with only a misery $12 million dollars a year salary, and that they can no longer throw a $4 million dollars birthday bash for their wives or buy an umbrella stand costing $10,000 dollars? Icheoku says, until the census projection gets here and they will begin to see what today's janitor feels; or what it means to be confined only in the mail-room in an office; despite one's educational qualifications and earned degrees? Icheoku hopes that the day will not come when the Indians will be able to demand with a loud voice, that their experiences under the Mayflower early arrivees and their descendants be qualified a genocide of the Indian nation? Let us hope too that the day shall not come when a white minority boy is beaten up by six racists black cops on the streets of Los Angeles ( and captured on video-camera) only to be acquitted by a jury of their peers - an all black or Latino jury? Let us pray also and hope that the day will not come when the new white minority of America will become the last to be hired and the first to be fired; regardless of there being a family to feed, a mortgage to pay as well as car notes, gasoline and groceries etc?

Icheoku asks, do these bigoted extreme white men and women ever wonder how resilient these minorities of America are; and that they have refused to die off despite all things and systems designed to bring about that desired effect and since long time ago? Are these racist white Arizona State senators resilient enough to replace those targeted immigrants on the fields, since they can no longer freely and subserviently go about the farms picking the lettuce for their white farmer's and at a pittance? Can these white Arizona senators who have no empathy for the suffering and challenges of an immigrant in Arizona, take a two to three hours of constant bug biting on farmlands? Anyway, Icheoku calls on Senator John McCain to hurriedly restore some sanity in his Arizona wildebeests; who always see America in the "we and them" prism. If you lose, at least be gracious and not a sore loser who continuously whining about the loss. Behold a new day has come, as it is no longer what it is used to be; a potpourri of humanity now inhabit America. Enough of this exclusionary legislation as the world is turning into a global village where every shade of human beings should be allowed to thrive; admitted that Jerry Falwell once said that the God of the white people is different from the God of the black/minority people? Human sociological interaction and connectivity has become so intertwined and closely bonded that any separatist gospel, such as being preached by the Arizona State senate is so ancient, arcane and cannot stand muster.

But who really owns America anyway; and who gave the Mayflower boaters visas to even come to America? Were the Indians ever consulted or their opinion sought before Colombus set sail to the new found-land? What Arizona State senators did is anti whatever we all stood and have been fighting for in this union; - they are the current shame of the Union. Icheoku urges the governor not to sign the legislation into law and adds, if in any event this anti-colored people legislation becomes law, it should be immediately repealed as it is repugnant to justice, equity and good conscience. It is very divisive, encourages racial profiling and not tourist friendly. Imagine a situation where a Spaniard tourist visiting from Barcelona is embarrassingly stopped and questioned under this law; believing he is a Mexican? That Caribbean countries' immigrants have different treatment upon landing on American soil is also an injustice for some future discussion and redress. But such legislation is inciting and may lead to trouble from people resisting it in the not so distant future! Imagine a situation where a Mexican serving in the US marine who just came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan is stopped and questioned about his immigration status? He is not fit to be an American but is good enough to bleed and die for America in the battle front? Icheoku calls on Senator John McCain to try and fix what he broke; he should start by apologizing for what he said by publicly calling President Obama by his name and acknowledging that he is one of us and not just "that one!' He should then follow it with a campaign to re-educate his uninformed Arizona State senators on how to love but not hate their fellow human-beings! We are all children of God and we are all in it together; and just like President Barack Obama reiterated, we shall all fail or succeed together as one America. So Arizona governor please do not sign this anti-colored people legislation and it should be repealed, if. Those lettuce pickers have loving families they are providing for too!

BABANGIDA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED BACK TO POWER, WARNS THE CLERGY?

Icheoku commends the activism of the bishop of Akure Anglican Diocese, Bishop Michael Ipinmoye, who recently called on the evil one, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, to forget about coming back to rule Nigeria again! Icheoku heretofore, invites the other men and women of God in Nigeria to rise up in unison and follow the lead in speaking against the evil that is threatening to engulf Nigeria with the declared intention of the evil genius for the presidency. We believe that anyone of them who remains silent amidst the confusion created by Babangida's declaration of intent to be president again, serves not the almighty One but a special interest!

Evil thrives in a society when good men keep quiet and fail to do something; so now is the time for all the good men and women of Nigeria to unanimously join the lead of Bishop Ipinmoye in saying big 'NO' to Babangida's attempt at a second coming since the first one was more bloody than beneficial to Nigerians and Nigerians are still to recover from his bombardment? Civil rights groups, civil societies, other groups including market women and traders as well as NLC etc must rise up now to condemn the devilish audacity of Babangida and tell him, enough! Babangida's declared presidential ambition after the wrath of his previous eight years of military interregnum was simply very insensitive of his to think that Nigerians were not hurt during his regime?

Bishop Ipinmoye condemned what he called the recycling of past tired bankrupt self-aggrandising leaders who have nothing new or more to offer to the people and the country of Nigeria; and asked Nigerians to resist them and not allow such bad leaders to continuously occupy positions of authority in the country. Continuing, the bishop said that “Babangida should not have dared to raise his head for any political office in Nigeria, due to his antecedent leadership, which woefully failure of colossal proportion; reminding IBB not to forget how he hurriedly left office in disgrace through the mythical "step-aside' volte face? The bishop cited as most damning Babangida's albatross, the death of Dele Giwa, the annulment of June 12 election, which was the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria, the death of the winner of the election MKO Abiola, the issue of corruption which took flight during his regime and concluding that Nigerians would not forget in a hurry their experience under the infamous toothy fairy of Minna.' The bishop concluded that 'all these old horses should stay away completely from politics so that we can move forward in this country; and that we have been standing on the same spot, all motion and no movement simply because our tired old leaders lack fresh ideas to move the country forward.”

Icheoku says, well spoken bishop; and lets hope the voice of the clergy is the voice of God and that Nigerians will listen this time and stop the evil genius cold at the steps before he makes his way to Aso Rock. The leopard never changes its spots and as Olusegun Obasanjo proved, once a despot always a despot whether or not the cloak of choice is starched khaki or flowing agbada? Icheoku calls on numero-uno conscience of the nation, Wole Soyinka, to lead the stop Babangida express, notwithstanding that Babangida had once compromised him with a 700 million naira Road Safety contract as the first Marshall General of the Federal Road Safety Corp? This is a time when Icheoku wished that the only man Babangida could not compromise, Chief Gani Fawehinmi was still alive to show Babangida pepper; and tell him to his face, how much he is hated by Nigerians, many of who are now cowering in fear and cannot voice out how really they feel about him and disapprove of his devilish ambition? Cardinal Olubumi Okoje allegedly have a sex-tape of his with Babangida and may not be stepping forward in opposition, so we call on Reverend Matthew Kukah and others to lead the effort and compliment Bishop Ipinmoye crusade to stop Babangida cold. Other political leaders and leaders of thought in Nigeria should also start speaking up against the evil that was witnessed under the treacherous regime of Babangida and how that alone disqualifies him from the presidency in 2011? This is not such a time when silence is golden and the man in all Nigerians will certainly die if they remain silent in the face of the tyranny that is Babangida trying to seize power again in Nigeria for the second time. Enough Babangida, Nigerians have suffered enough in your hands and under your watch, so just go away!.