THE CLAMOR FOR JONATHAN'S 2011 PRESIDENCY, SHORT-SIGHTED!

Icheoku says the deafening clamor for President Goodluck Ebelechuku Jonathan to run for president in 2011 is myopic and very short-sighted, juxtaposed with the long term benefit of zoning which is meant to periodically spread Nigeria's leadership throughout the six geographical zones of the country. Put in another way, the clamor is not considerate or sincere, but is fueled by greed, avarice and a certain degree of restiveness by a South-South zone which cannot believe the holly molly luck of their zone's president-by-default son; who became president without fighting for it and now wants to stay put. Icheoku therefore calls on these incensed mob of supporters to please temper the clamor with reason and attendant long term considerations. The Igbo people of Nigeria has a saying that 'when the blind man finished licking the apple (udala) which he managed to stumble upon, let him go and get another one;' and so it is that the South-South Niger Delta must respect what is and not because of opportunism, rock the boat for other minorities of Nigeria attaining the presidency.

Good enough the north has agreed to share their long held political power stranglehold with the rest of the peoples of Nigeria and this zoning and rotation therefore be sustained by every means and sacrifice necessary, including a President Jonathan's non participation in the 2011 presidential election. This spread of power will augur well for everyone in the long run and also will make for sustainability and continuity of political power rotation throughout the six zones of Nigeria. It also will give the North no reason to permanently appropriate power back for themselves, when it eventually gets back to them and will prevent them from refusing to let it go, no matter the premise or pretense. The good enough thing is that years run by very fast and before one knows it, four years would have come and gone; but any political damage resulting from the obstinacy of President Jonathan not to relinquish power to the north for them to complete their eight years term will last forever. Who wants such a permanent political damage, not Icheoku and we beleieve not a considerate and thinking President Jonathan.

The ideal thing for President Goodluck Jonathan to do with any 2011 presidential ambition is to suck it up, discipline himself and let it go for the time being; in order to enable the north to complete and serve out their eight years zonal mandate. He can subsequently thereafter in 2015, spring back as the shoe-in candidate from the South-South and then run his full eight years term. But should he insist, prodded by the political jobbers and praise-singers alike, and go against the grain of the existing zoning system under the subterfuge of completing late President Umaru Yar'Adua's term and eventually have his way, he will have himself to blame. Not only would he stay just four years instead of eight years in office, but he would have by his action, irreparably damaged himself politically as a no respecter of gentleman's agreement. He would also create permanent enemies within the northern political bloc which will forever militate against the people of the South-South who will thence be seen as untrustworthy and usurpers of a trusted mandate. Icheoku says, but a deft and adroit political player faced with President Jonathan's near political dilemma would use his northern vice president against the north, as the PDP's Northern candidate for 2011 presidential election. Thereafter, he would have the vice president now president switch back to him in 2015, based on a serious well-constituted agreement; and Vice President Architect Sambo looks like a gentleman who will not renege on such an understanding.

But unfortunately, surrounded and prodded by the likes of Edwin Clark and other political opportunists of the Niger Delta, President Goodluck Jonathan is speeding headfirst into a political moving train to the worst political disaster any South-South politician will ever make, totally and completely alienating the entire north just because of a four year stint in Aso Rock. Olusegun Obasanjo spent complete eight years therein and motivated by greed, wanted to go for yet another four years simply because he was busy hounding his imaginary enemies and did not know when the eight years sped past. While Obasanjo was there, he ministered only to the needs of his Western region while alienating the North and East regions; but unfortunately for his bloated and sordid ego, both regions survived his umbrage but his tarnished eight year term at Aso Rock did not survive the penmanship of historians of his presidency, which adjudged his time in office as the worst Nigerians have ever seen. So President Jonathan, ask yourself, what kind of tenure do you want to have from 2011 or the type of legacy you want to leave post 2011 in Nigeria by refusing now to relinquish what you supposedly hold in trust for the North as a result of the death of their brother and mandate-holder, the late President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Icheoku is not denying the eminent position President Jonathan held when the late President Yar'Adua died, being his running mate; but wants the current president to know that his temporary unelected presidency would not have been possible but for the misfortune which frowned at Yar'Adua and so should be mindful of karma in his decisions including whether to run or not to run in 2011. Please Jonathan, ignore all those selfish advise you are getting from Ijaw and Niger Delta people alike, emergency strongmen of Nigerian politics, who did not elect your presidency or in any way facilitated it; and do what is right and beneficial to all Nigerians especially the minorities of both North and South. These minorities would not be dreaming of a day in the presidency of Nigeria if not for the zoning arrangement of the PDP, which Icheoku considers sacrosanct and sacred and therefore urge you to respect both the letters and the intent for them to realize their presidential dreams. If any person or Nigeria should fight to uphold such all peoples' zonal arrangement, it should be the minorities in Nigeria which include the Ijaw-man as represented by your very self. But should greed and avarice overrun your reason, forcing you to ignore or discard such an iron-clad all accommodating 'zoning arrangement,' you might be the first and last minority person to ever smell the Aso Rock paints again as president of Nigeria and for four short years.

Icheoku says, a four year stint at Aso Rock is not worth the trouble of mortgaging the long term beneficial guarantee of recalling stays, each time it becomes your zones turn to produce a president; and so you should please be smart in whatever decision your supposed consultations finally brings you to. In view of the long term benefit of zoning of political offices in Nigeria against the backdrop of a Jonathan's 2011 presidential ambition, Icheoku strongly kicks against the attempt by the PDP to do violence to the letters of S.7(2) (c) of their party’s constitution which stipulates that elective offices in the country would be on rotation basis. The relevant S. 7 (2)(c) of the PDP's constitution states “In pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels. Icheoku says never a time in the annals of political parties and politicking in Nigeria or elsewhere has the interest of minority ever be so protected and taken care of as in this embodiment of S.7(2)(c) of the PDP's constitution; and we expect the minorities of Nigeria, whose interest has been so protected not to fall for the pittance of a Jonathan's four year term of office in 2011 as opposed to the long vested subsisting terms of office, each time it is their zone's turn to produce a president.

Such auspicious moments will be legion instead of falling for this Jonathan's very tempting 2011 presidency. We are talking about long term benefits instead of this ad-hoc four year taste of the pudding, alongside a fractured polity including an estranged north. If President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is smart and very calculating, this is the time to show it; let him undercut the north by pulling of the rug underneath their feet with his surprise withdrawal from the 2011 presidential run. This will be the biggest political upheaval of this century and then so armed with a supposed lack of ambition, he will proceed to give Nigerians the most coveted free and fair election, with no cloud of an interested incumbent hovering the result of any election. President Jonathan will have nothing to loose, but will emerge a sterling statesman whose voice will always carry more weight as a selfless patriot, who shied away from a golden opportunity to just usurp the presidency of the country but passed it on for love of country. Icheoku says, nothing short of this is a good option; and history will come back to either validate this position or haunt Jonathan forever for being an opportunistic usurper who coveted a Northern mandate as result of death of its custodian.

Were Nigeria a nation or one country, may be this argument would have been mute; but no, Nigeria is a motley of nations, each clamoring for their time and opportunity to aggrandize and appropriate the country's wealth solely for their own region; and the North should be allowed to finish off what their late President Umaru Yar'Adua had started. No other argument holds water as majority of such thuggish apostles for 'Jonathan's 2011 presidency' are all in it for their own selfish economic, financial and political interests. But as with our positions always, Icheoku reiterates that the onus is on President Goodluck Jonathan to wise up and call home his advocacy attack-dogs and hounds, who are trying desperately to push and goad him into committing the worst and most egregious political suicide and sacrilege of all times. Jonathan should not jettison a well reasoned and thought out subsisting PDP's policy of zoning and rotation just because of a piece of porridge of a four year term. It is not worth it. It is selfish. It is self-effacing. It is greedy and it is opportunistic. An intelligent President Jonathan Ebelechuku Goodluck must and should not fall for it.

The nearness of President Jonathan to the 2011 presidential stool is very tempting but it is a trap festooned by sharp tongs which will surely pierce at the heart of Nigeria if not checkmated on time. Between 2011 and 2015 is a short 48 months period and hell will not freeze over if there is no Jonathan's presidency during this time; afterall there was no Jonathan's presidency during the last 48 months prior and Nigeria did not evaporate into thin air. The only thing a current transitional President Jonathan should ensure is that Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida do not in anyway, secure the PDP's mandate; and if he by crook purchases it and wins the election, to have it annulled in order to feed him with the same poisoned venison he force-fed Nigerians through MKO Abiola in 1993. So the strategy is simple, make Vice President Sambo the PDP candidate, get him elected and then turn around and reclaim the mandate in 2015, period. That way President Jonathan would have eaten his cake and had it back; Nigerians will sing his praises to the high heavens as the only man who declined a golden opportunity to become president, conducted a free and fair election and handed over power. So next time when he comes on stage to solicit their votes and support, he will get it one hundred percent having proved himself not to be greedy and hungry for power.

Icheoku urges President Goodluck Ebelechuku Jonathan not to be fooled or stampeded into the 2011 presidential bout by people who do not mean well for either him or Nigeria. Politicians are jobbers and as soon as Jonathan vacates the seat at Aso Rock he will find out the speed with which these current pretenders of love for his office, will readily turn their coats and start praise-singing the next man about town. Is it worth it, no; should Jonathan thwart and destroy the zoning arrangement just because of greed, Icheoku does not think so and hence craves that President Goodluck Ebelchuku Jonathan will do the right thing and let the zoning arrangement stay; and also let the north serve out their term provided it is not through the evil-one, IBB! But peradventure of the conspiracy of the universe, the skinny one, the Islamic fundamentalist Muhammadu Buhari is elected by default of the squabbles in the PDP; and his sole cardinal objective as is being speculated is to put away the quartet of criminals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku Abubakar and Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, so be it. Nigerians will celebrate his resoluteness in going after and tackling these mongrels who single-handily ruined Nigeria as we know it. So in an ironical way, based on this Buhari's intent, Icheoku is secretly wishing that PDP implodes on its own with their presidential zoning squabble, just like they did with their Anambra State governorship which saw another party's candidate 'selected' in office.

Admitted that Icheoku is not a fan of Buhari for murdering Batholomew Owo and the three others based on a retroactive decree; but anybody who can determinedly go after Obasanjo, Babangida and Atiku primarily will get our support regardless of his past antecedents. Buhari together with Idiagbon also tried to instill discipline in Nigeria with their WAI except that he lost Icheoku when his ADC Jokolo smuggled 53 suitcases into the country without question. But hey, there is no angel in Nigeria without any reproach, so we shall be open to the possibility of forgiving Buhari's high-handed orthodoxy and accept his presidency once he can send these three musketeers, common criminals to prison or even execute them, the Jerry Rawlings style. Nigerians will understand meting out the Chinese treatment of corrupt officials on these three human specimens and will gladly approve of such a bloody measure taken to sanitize the polity.

Finally, President Goodluck Ebelchuku Jonathan, Icheoku implores you to do the right thing, do not run for president this 2011; let the north complete the remainder of their eight year zonal term of office, notwithstanding the temptation and the prodding by many 'funeral undertakers' masquerading as favored politicians who are supporting the move to covet north's term at the presidency. It is simply opportunistic, self-serving and does not do service to the memory of the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, who were he alive, would have been the rightful person now running for a second term. In the final analysis, Icheoku concludes that the flood of "Run Jonathan Run advocacy" is an embodiment of sycophancy in over-drive and must be ignored by a rational President Jonathan. It forebodes a doomsday scenario from which no one will come out unscathed; so defeat the evil of a 2011 run by saying no to these town-criers. Resist their baiting temptation! Please in the interest of one united Nigeria, equity, fairness; and for the future protected interest of other minorities of Nigeria whose dreams of ever getting to the presidency of Nigeria will be permanently foreclosed should you, Jonathan, proceed with the 2011 'zoning-defeating' presidential run, let the 2011 presidential ambition just go. 2015 is so much around the corner and would be yours for the asking; but for Jove's sake, JONATHAN please DO NOT RUN IN 2011.

HE IS 'SLEEPING ON DUTY' ONCE AGAIN, OLUSEGUN OBASANJO THAT IS !

The deity of Otta and the man who compounded Nigeria's problems, Olusegun Obasanjo, seems smitten by some form of sleeping disorder recently. He now sleeps without caution, everywhere and anywhere, notwithstanding that it is at a public function. This event in Minna Niger State is the second time in recent past that Obasanjo was captured publicly snoring away what remains of his mean life at a function in a public place. Do the math or is it not about time Baba Alaaye 1 of Otta took the bow and peacefully retired to his Otta Farms and vacate the scene for good. Just asking; or is it excessive indulgence in 'amala/eyon ati ewedu soup' working overtime?

CAROLINE GIULIANI, MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI'S THIEVING DAUGHTER, ARRESTED!

"I'm an actress, yes, I'm his daughter." With those words kleptomaniac Caroline Giuliani admits she is the daughter of cross-dresser former Republican Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani. Caroline, 20, a theater student at Harvard, was caught at Sephora on East 86th Street at Lexington stuffing stolen makeup worth about $100 into her jacket pocket. Icheoku says what a shame that while President Bill Clinton was busy happily giving his daughter Chelsea's hand in marriage, Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be busy trying to extricate his thieving daughter Caroline from the hands of the law. Also it may be it for her stint at Harvard except the separate but equal treatment under the law is applied to her case because of who she is and her skin-color? But hey, these Republicans are all what they are - Pharisaic hypocrites!

CONNECTICUT SHOOTING RAMPAGE AND RACISM IN AMERICA'S WORKPLACE.

Icheoku does not in any way condone or justify the murder of any person and for any reason whatsoever; but to deny that racism exists in workplaces throughout America is to deny the obvious. Any person who has ever held a job and who does not have the "right" skin pigmentation will attest to this unspoken but true story of a racially charged rancid and cantankerous seething work environment prevalent in our society.

Icheoku have in the past worked in a plant where some White colleagues will approach you and tell you to your face that they don't like you; and/or call you names like Camel-jack, nigger, ape and such other unpalatable names; but you feel handicapped to smack them on the face because you want and practically beg to be "accepted?" Icheoku have also worked in a plant where non of the White supervisors wants to see your "kind" around or have you in their team and continuously sent you around the different areas of the plant just to frustrate you; with one of them openly saying one day, that you are like an old penny who no one wants but which kept on recycling itself in peoples pockets. I have worked in a plant where I was denied training in fork-lift operation while my co-hires repeatedly went through the various stages of training which comes with raises, while they make excuses upon excuses; needless to say that you are never paid the same as the right-colored' ones. I have worked in a plant where after experiencing unbearably and very painful series of taunting, I went to the head manager to complain about racists taunts being made at me, only to be told that I should not expect to be loved by all and that I should suck it up? I have worked in a plant where co-workers were organised and instigated by one of them, conspired to set me up by alleging that I made "indecent sexual proposals to some other guy?" Without giving me any chance at hearing my accuser or defending myself, I found my tool box being wheeled out as I reported to my night-shift the next Sunday evening; and was summarily "escorted" out of the building by two security men. I tried to approach a lawyer but it was a small 'controlled' Midwestern town, who advised me to cut down on my losses and not bother going up against the big man of the community?.

So when murder-suicide Omar Thorton lost it and went berserk, alleging racists taunts, Icheoku somewhat understood what probably ticked him off; but we do not in anyway condone what he did. Admitted so many people faced with similar tribulations at their various workplaces, may have contemplated such a similar way-out; only to change their minds and later waived it off, reasoning that such madness is not the answer or solution, and since no one can completely kill a peoples mindset with any amount or degree of violence. The only plausible thing to do in the circumstance is to preach to their better sides, hoping that they will come around and show more understanding, with a possible change of mind as the bargain.

Majority, if not most immigrants and other minorities of America, especially black-Americans, put up daily with a lot of bullshit at their respective workplaces just to be allowed to have a decent and respectable means of putting food on the table and paying their way through life in America. But regrettably instead of understanding the driving force behind these apparent 'condescension' shown by these minority groupings, some of these White people still take full advantage of it, rubbing it in as hard as possible at the slightest opportunity as may present itself. So periodically eruptions are bound to occur, leading to such senseless and meaningless carnage and wastage of human-lives as was witnessed in Hartford Distributors in Manchester Connecticut just recently.

Such otherwise avoidable incident as took place in Connecticut rears its ugly head when the psychological assault becomes palpably so unbearable that the victim just erupts, usually resulting to a very tragic consequences. It is the unpalatable and undesirable end to a continuing racial warfare, the undercurrent of many American workplaces, which the high-ups therein usually are powerless or unwilling to arrests timely due to other considerations. Or put in another way, isn't it ridiculous that a worker would just go ballistic simply because he was fired for 'stealing some beers?" Why is no one asking the tough question as to why the killer came to work that day packing guns and/or was he aware that he was going to be fired that day and came, prepared for a showdown? Is it possible that this guy had those guns (two 9mm handguns) stashed away somewhere in the workplace just waiting for the final straw to break his back before he turns into the murderous raging beast that Connecticut played host to just recently?

Icheoku is not buying the lame explanation that the killer was fired for just 'stealing beers,' even if the place had a zero-tolerance for stealing? What is the value of the stolen article/s that he should be fired just for that or was he a repeat offender? May be it is about time the employers released the surveillance video on U-Tube for the world to see and make their own inferences. Why was he not suspended for few weeks or even made to pay restitution for the value of the "stolen beers?" Why was the theft not reported to the police and demand for his full prosecution made or was he a victim of a set-up conspiracy to get him and fire his arse? Did the killer get his due process and allowed to defend the alleged 'theft of beers' or was he another victim of the "no second chance for the black-American man policy in America? Was the killer a victim of the lynch-him mob mentality of some White Americans whenever a "black-man' is implicated in anything infra-diginitious. Icheoku demands complete answers and hopefully a full police investigation will unravel what actually transpired at this beer distributorship in Connecticut, leading to this needless wastage of so many precious human lives.

But usually they will fire you without blinking their eyelids and to their delight and call your bluff. They will push you to the edge of the cliff and make you jump while pretending a dear friendship; and because you want to continue providing for your family you just have to take it bent over with fake smiles until you cannot take it anymore. In a phone call to his mom before he took his own life, Omar Thorton was emphatic that he was boxed into a tight corner. In his own words, he reportedly said, , "I killed the five racists that were bothering me." Admitted he kept the pain of their bother bottled up until the resulting volcanic explosion.

Like one criminologist postulated, the killer did not just wake up and decided to go out and kill some people; it was a long bottled-up anger as a result of an existing situation or policy which he tried to control but could no longer control. Simply put, Omar Thornton lost it. Video evidence collaborated the girlfriends account that the killer targeted and chased specific victims before taking his own life. It is also on record that Omar passed over several people during the rampage inside and around the distributor; suggesting that he was on a specific mission, according to his mind to avenge his traducers. Even the lawyer for the Teamsters Local 1035 collaborated Omar's good behavior and affirmed that he was not a problem employee and had not had any previous disciplinary issues; and also was not aware of how much beer Thornton was alleged to have stolen. And as a witness unto himself and act, Omar tried before taking his life to explain his motive as follows - "You probably want to know the reason why I shot this place up, this place is a racist place. They're treating me bad over here. And treat all other black employees bad over here, too. So I took it to my own hands and handled the problem. I wish I could have got more of the people." After avenging what he honestly believed was a racist treatment in the workplace, Omar Thorton assured the 911 operator that he was not going to kill anyone else; and kept to his words. Icheoku asks, does this person who was methodical, calm and calculated in executing his embarked mission, sound like a disgruntled 'fired' employee out to just shoot some bunch of people? Otherwise why the choice of word "the people" above and the passing over of some people while targeting others.

Skip to next paragraphIcheoku says that for Hartford DIstributors spokesmen to flatly deny that their "employees harbored no racist views" is pendatic and tells a lot about the insensitivity of the company to racism in their workplace; since it is foolhardy to deny the obvious racial tension any place their is a racial mix at a workplace. Scrawling of racist epithets on bathroom stalls and walls as well as locker-rooms is a common place occurences in many workplaces; and that effigies and dead mouses are placed in peoples lockers. So whoever this spokesman speaking for Hartford Distributors is, Icheoku says, he or she is led through the teeth, denying that their employees do not harbor racist views. Icheoku is wont to ascribe to the killer's girlfriend, Kristi Hannah's recollection that "everyone of the victims was a person I heard Omar mention" and that "He didn't go around randomly shooting people. He knew these were the people who

Skip to next paragraph"People who do these kinds of things don't wake up that morning and decide to do it," he says. "They tend to be grievance collectors who remember every slight and … they tend to externalize blame. Whatever happens is not their fault, and they tend to perceive a profound sense of injustice.Icheoku admonishes Teamster official Christopher Roos that the shooting probably and most likely had everything to do with race (he killed only White people) and that Omar Thornton was not just "a disgruntled employee who shot a bunch of people." Omar was pissed at something, something or somebody made him so mad that life lost its meaning to him that he went out and committed such heinous act of a supposed "vengeance?" It is about time we all stopped pretending that all is well among the various races that populate America the beautiful and start doing something seriously to arrest the situation towards having a better relationship and understanding among everyone.Like so many black minorities of America, Omar was 'sick of being pressured by racism at his workplace to quit his job just because they can't accept his shade of color.' Listen to the 911 call made by the man who triggered this madness when he fired an "innocent" man over the silly reason of "stealing some beers;" and you will hear the smirk on his voice repeatedly mentioning that the shooter is a blackman! According to his recorded 911 call, he said "His name is Omar Thornton. He's a black guy, and get the cops here right away" Then you ask yourself why the emphasis on his race if not for the police to come charging down the distributorship, fully armed to confront and do a battle with the blackman who as usual, was armed and dangerous?Icheoku says that Omar was not an "angry or disgruntled employee" but someone who was pushed over the ledge and couldn't take it anymore. Simply put, he just lost it and set out to avenge the people he felt were responsible for his misfortune. But that said, Icheoku condemns the killings of Connecticut as well as every other irrational act of murder; but would prefer if those underlying triggers of such explosive vengeful behavior is nipped in the bud through a more friendly workplace with high tolerance of everyone especially the minorities by the majority. The majority should know fully well that like themselves those minorities equally have needs, desires and families to take care of; and further desires some modicum of the American dream too. Icheoku condoles the families of the lost ones and rebuke Omar Thorton for the course he choose as not necessarily the right one; and that he should have sought help or just walk away.

How could any reasonable manager anywhere just fire someone who was described as "very hardworking and mellow," who had no prior disciplinary reprimand or issue at all, just for "stealing some beers?" Why not query or write him up for bad behavior of loving Budweiser so much that he commandeered some cans for himself; or even suspend him for a few weeks and later make him pay restitution. Why was the alleged theft not reported to the police for full investigation and prosecution of the misdemeanor, if not for an agenda - the usually zero tolerance no second chance policy for minorities of America at many workplaces? Former Mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani's daughter just stole some makeup at Sephora and she already made bail and possibly no one is going to fire her or prosecute her because she is of the right skin-tone? Anyway, all the ifs and whys cannot undo what was done; but they may help in understanding what was in order to prevent a repeat future occurrence; and so Icheoku will encourage a more acceptable, tolerant and open-discussion working environment in our dear society; which would have prevented this sad outburst. What an avoidable tragedy of Connecticut this bloodletting at Manchester was.

SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA, LEGALIZED?

Overruling California's Proposition 8 which de-legitimized same sex marriage, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said, 'Prop 8 singles out gays and lesbians and legitimates their unequal treatment.'. Icheoku says why does anybody even care a hoot about who or what anyone chooses to go to bed with or marry? As far as Icheokuis concerned, if one wants to marry his donkey, cat, dog, horse, fish, ape, gorilla, goat etc let him/her carry on. A union is a union and it does not matter with what the person is unionized.

It is ironical that American society which is targeting same sex marriage readily turns a blind eye to heterosexual couples marrying and divorcing several times over like CNN's Larry King? Or like the Mormons who engage in polygamy or the Catholic priests who are deprived of marriage and they surreptitiously engage in illicit molestation of alter boys or people pretending to be happily married while they cheat on their spouses like Bill Clinton's Monica Lewinsky episode. Icheoku says, if only these holier than thou people would heed our Lord Jesus Christ's injunction of 'thou shall not judge' or 'first remove the log in your eyes' teaching then everything will be honky-dory in our America!

To all same sex peoples of this world, welcome to the heartache called marriage. Detractors and gay-rights haters argued the judge ruled as he did because "he is one of them" - a gayman; but would they have rather a heterosexual judge did, leading to the same cries of favoritism. But which judge would have ruled otherwise faced with the mountain of adduced evidence and the fact that both chief law enforcers of California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Gerry Brown, were not interested in sustaining an apparent injustice and denial of rights ensconced in Prop 8 and chose not defend it. Also the two most visible constitutional lawyers in the United States Theodore Olsen and Boise teamed up to right the wrong wrought by Prop 8; and for those people who don't know who these lawyers are, they represented Bush and Gore respectively during Bush v. Gore 2000 presidential election disputation. They also accused the judge of liberal judicial activism, but luckily enough Judge Vaughan Walker is a conservative Republican, nominated first by President Ronald Reagan and appointed later by President George Hubert Bush Sr. It is also on record that his appointment was vehemently resisted and opposed by the liberal wing of the Democratic party led then by the current Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Further the gay rights bashers argued that marriage presupposes sex, hence copulation is imperative; to which Icheoku answers, it depends on the type of orifice one prefers for copulation as sex could be oral, anal as well as vaginal. They further argued that God's injunction is to 'go and multiply; to which Icheoku answers that not all heterosexual couples have children. Some of them cannot have children either by choice, medical difficulty or impossibility as when the woman is barren or the man is sterile or probably the woman has passed child-bearing age. Additionally, they talked about the natural loving relationship between man and woman; to which Icheoku responds that late Laci Peterson was hacked to death by her husband Scott Peterson while she was carrying their 7 months old baby-boy. Now is that the kind of loving relationship these anarchists prefer?

Also if they are serious about maintaining social morality and viability, why don't they outlaw divorce and force people like CNN Larry King to stay married to just one woman. What about adulterous married men and women; or don't they destroy society's body fabric? Anyway, hopefully the United States Supreme Court will find no reason to reverse this decision, when it eventually makes its way thereto; and let anyone in any sort of relationship, if it suits him or her, marry whomever they prefer; and if Icheoku may stretch their pets if need be. Why not also make it mandatory that there will no longer be single parents or bachelors and spinsters for life? Why not make it mandatory that every Dick, Tom and Harry as well as Diane, Tessy and Harriet must marry. It is all about selectivity of societal norms when it suits them.

Also the issue of marriage or other unions is rather too personal and private for anyone to butt into such other peoples business. But hey, very soon the same-sexes will realize that marriage is what it is - it sucks! It deprives you of your liberties. It hamstrings your life as you be forced to start dealing with situations you would ordinarily have walked away from or out on previously. It will start forcing you to check with another human-being, each time you want to make a financial expenditure or just buy yourself a new toy like an automobile or a 3D television. What about the needless 'lets talk' moments when you least want to expend your saliva and would rather be left alone? What about I did the cooking, you have to do the dishes? What about fighting for remote control or who decides what program to watch? In short what about having to share you space with someone else? Anyway, California Gays, Lesbians and Transgenders welcome to the jungle! May the wedding 'Hell's' bells toll without ceasing and soon and very soon you will discover what the "m" in marriage stands for - M A D N E S S !

SOUTH AFRICA'S WAR ON CORRUPTION, POLICE CHIEF SELEBI SENT TO PRISON!

Icheoku says, once again South Africa has led the way for other African countries, especially Nigeria, to follow on how to seriously and effectively fight off corruption in the continent. The South African example have confirmed that for the fight against corruption to be effective, it must start from top to down because the top feeders of the corruption are highly placed and well connected elites of the society. These bandits of humanity must first be shaken clean and purged of their gluttony, which fuels their corruption, in order to put the "Fear of God" into the bottom feeders, the lower class and lesser mortals in the circle of the corruption pandemic if it must be broken.

Icheoku therefore calls on Nigeria's EFCC to emulate the good example of South Africa anti-corruption effort in convicting their country's national commissioner of police and set some example themselves with the several thousands of highly placed corrupt Nigeria's 'untouchable' high-ups, who have made the knee-jerk fight against corruption become more laughable.

But it would appear that the powers that be in Nigeria, who feed fat on corruption, will not release EFCC from the leg-chain it is in to really tackle the menace of corruption by going after the real deals top-heavies. If Icheoku remembers correctly, a one time Nigeria's Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun was escorted out of office in handcuffs for diverting police funds; but after the initial hullabaloo of camera. light and action, no one heard anything about the damn thing. Also his successor in office IGP Ehindero carted away in a car trunk the sum of 23 million Naira meant to pay police allowances and till today, he has suffered no repercussion as a result; and so are the numerous politicians and army men and government officials who have helped themselves gluttonously from states resources; yet there was no consequence for their itchy-fingers? South Africa has outperformed our expectation and Icheoku hereby commends South Africa anti-corruption effort for seriously saying to this cancer of corruption eating deep into Africa body fabric, enough; and also for making an example out of a well connected high-up government official, a national police commissioner, that no one is above the law.

The story has it that former South African national police commissioner (chief) and also ex-president of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, was sentenced to 15 years in jail by the High Court in Johannesburg for corruption - he accepted bribes from organized crimes. Convict Selebi was found guilty of receiving bribes totaling more than 1.2 million rand (166,000 dollars, 122,000 euros) in bribes between 2000 and 2005, including payments from convicted drug baron Glenn Agliotti, in return for sharing classified police intelligence on him with him and looking the other way while the kingpin carried on with his shady deals. Selebi was also ordered to forfeit to the state the total sum of 320,722 rand (about $43,800) which was the adjudged amount of proceeds of his criminal activities.

According to sentencing Judge Joffe Meyer, "high-level corruption posed a threat to the nation's hard-won constitutional freedoms." Icheoku says, just look at Nigeria and see how the brazenly corrupt Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is employing the proceeds of his corrupt enrichment while in power to truncate the polity through bribing them to sell their conscience (souls) to the devil. Continuing, Judge Meyer said, "corruption by members of the police force can never be tolerated. It is the very antithesis of what the police force stands for." Icheoku retorts that in Nigeria, police corruption is readily tolerated as constables are known to own properties which their salary and allowances can ill-afford and every person looks the other way while they callously at gun-points, shake down the citizenry to feed their corrupt habits. Nigeria police is standing still on its head, upside down, mired deep in corruption while bandits run amok in Nigeria, kidnapping, maiming and killing innocent folks." It is a trite crime-fighting saying that a compromised police force cannot put up a fight against crime? In Nigeria, that the police is synonymous with corruption and corruption foreshadows effective policing is an acceptable norm?

Judge Meyer further lampooned convict Selebi as "an embarrassment in the witness box; an embarrassment to the police force, an embarrassment to his appointors and employers; an embarrassment to the country and an embarrassment to all right thinking citizens." Icheoku laments that the opposite is the case in Nigeria where such thieving public officials, instead of being shamed and ridiculed by both the government and the society, are handsomely rewarded for being "successful" and given chieftaincy titles, appointed to offices and celebrated as "accomplished?" Some of them who are implicated in the Halliburton and Siemens bribery scandal are still holding elected and appointed public offices in Nigeria today, such as Senator Jubril Aminu from Adamawa State and current PDP chairman Nwodo who still have a multi-million Naira bribery scandal lawsuit pending, while he was appointed the party's chairman? David Mark, the Nigeria senate president also corruptly enriched himself while serving as part of Babangida's military junta at then NITEL but is today presiding over Nigeria's highest legislative body? Babangida is running for president without first revealing the source of his stupendous wealth and how he came about the billions of Naira at his possession with which he is trying to truncate democracy in Nigeria, being a salaried retired army man?

That a 60 year old well connected police chief is sent to prison for 15 long years shows a government that is serious with fighting corruption and not the lip-service of Nigeria's EFCC which to date is yet to land any big gun behind bars; except for the 2 years slap on the wrist of Bode George. And like every thing African, instead of rewarding the Scorpions Elite Unit for snagging corrupt Selebi, President Zuma disbanded the unit to forestall another senior high-up from being nabbed. The president's action is similar to the treatment received by former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu EFCC who was rewarded for all his patriotic effort fighting corruption with his attempted assassination.

The interference by President Zuma in the Scorpion's Elite Unit anti-corruption work in South Africa by disbanding them alongside the then Nigeria's EFCC chairman's experience show that the men of power of Africa are the real reason why corruption thrives in the continent. They corrupt the society to gene up their support base and amass enormous money; and also use the reverse excuse of fighting the monster to hound and hunt down into extinction any possible opposition. Icheoku says this South Africa's example is the way to really fight corruption. It has to be confronted headlong and from head to toe; without respect to who one may know or associate with! What a testamentary and commendable headline to read that, "South Africa's Real War on Corruption lands a big fish, as police chief is sent to prison for 15 long years!" Icheoku prays that President Jacob Zuma should reconsider his position, change his mind and un-ban the anti-corruption Scorpion Elite Group so that they can continue their commendable work to nab more of Jackie Selebis of South Africa, especially within the police force since Selebi cannot be a stand-alone corrupt police chief. Kudos to South African anti-corruption effort and Icheoku hopes Nigeria's Madam Farida Waziri's EFCC is watching and listening on the way to go with the anti-corruption war effort.

KOBE BEEF, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE HYPE?

Inundated by the vaulted high ceiling stories surrounding Kobe beef, Icheoku saved enough and with great courage, spending $100 plus on a piece of hamburger, set out to fact-check the beef ourselves. Our conclusion, it is a nice piece of meat but would Icheoku spend such an extravagant amount of money for a hamburger again; not any time soon. Kobe beef is just like any other well marinated Angus beef out there but nothing to lavish such an outrageous amount of money on.

Our destination-restaurant, a somewhat high-end place which, mindful of possibility of litigation should our article negatively impact their business, we shall not name in this piece. But for the curious minded, once you google 'Kobe-beef' you will find the few select restaurants that serve the delicacy, once you live in a big city, for you to be the judge.

Stories abound of Kobe beef being the best beef in the world? That the cows are fed only organic grains and beers; massaged and sometimes kept in a temperature controlled environment? Simply put, that the cows are pampered and treated with utmost TLC and above all, slaughtered humanely and in accordance with tradition. Yet it is still killed for its beef just like any other heifer around the barn and our question is, is a piece of meat really worth the hefty price charged and paid for Kobe beef; and is the over-hyped attention to the meat worth it? Kobe beef for those of you not conversant with it or who have not had time to google it or Wikipedia it, is a beef from Tajma-ushi Wagyu breed of black cattle raised holistically in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture. The meat is a form of delicacy known for its tenderness and beefy flavor. According to traditional practice, beer is fed to the cattle especially during summer months to stimulate their appetite and make them gobble more feeds; this in turn increases their meaty content. While massaging is done to relieve stress and muscle stiffness in the cattle and in order to keep them calm and content?

However, if money is not a problem for you or you are like some of us very inquisitive minded individuals who like to find it out ourselves and who like adventures, Kobe beef is a good piece of meat to treat your palate with. But Icheoku says, don't believe the associated hype; as in a name-the-type-of-beef contest, Kobe beef prepared alongside Angus or any other beef will be hardly distinguishable by any untrained palate. It is just a piece of meat and nutritionists have not given their verdict on whether it provides more protein to the body than any other average Joe-beef out there in our meat markets or grocery stores. But until you are in a position to try it for the heck of it, spend your Benjamin on some other more meaningful and rewarding things than a piece of meat called Kobe-beef, that will like every other food, become an excreta within the next twenty four hours of their consumption. Simply put, Kobe beef is just another over-hyped piece of meat product being propelled by the marketing machine of corporate America and the rest of the world into our purchasing periphery, period!

BABANGIDA, A FLAWED AND TRAGIC CHARACTER EXTRA-ORDINAIRE!

His admirers and praise-singers alike call him the prince of Minna. Icheoku, because there is no love lost between him and us, call him the toothy-fairy monster of Minna. Icheoku sometimes also refers to him as the devil incarnate of a Nigeria in distress; the architect of Nigeria's festering corruption. An amorphous human specimen whose cancerous impact on Nigeria is still metastasizing and resonating, albeit very negatively, several years since his first forcible incursion into power in 1985.

Babangida is so much loathed by Nigerians including Icheoku that we do not wish him well. If we had our way, he would long since have been cooling off at Kuje or Abakiliki prison for the disaster he visited on Nigeria, assuming he is spared the death penalty. Yet this mongrel unabashedly still desires to once again rule Nigeria; and you ask yourself under what possible scenario could such a human aberration ever find himself back in the saddle of power in a democratic Nigeria, where Nigerians are allowed to chose who would rule them? Except of course Nigerians drank of some hallucinatory cool-aid there is no way in hell that Babangida will ever be allowed to preside over the affairs of Nigeria again through popular votes. Babangida had the opportunity once before when he hijacked governance in Nigeria and it was sorrow, tears and blood of an experience for Nigerians and no sane Nigerian living ever wants to relive that IBB's nightmare again.

Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is a tragic persona who is in perpetual confrontation with his gods; fighting and wrestling with them at every time and place that he is greatly troubled and unguided. His latest pet-project, operation rule Nigeria at any and whatever cost, is one such affront with his destiny and it is not boding well for him; again he is going against the wind of his gods advise. Many Nigerians have also on the graves of their mothers, sworn and declared that never again shall the evil genius of Nigeria rule Nigeria. Icheoku says, provided these crop of Nigerians are steadfast this time and will not jump ship later, lured away by the smell of Babangida's corrupting-cash, in their camp does Icheoku pitch its tent and together, we shall work to stop cold Babangida's inordinate ambition to rule Nigeria again.

Who knows also if the alleged stroke suffered by Babangida recently had affected his brains to the extent that he has been speaking with forked-tongue and does not appear to be articulate anymore. Icheoku have gathered some of Babangida's recent misspeaks and poorly articulated guffaws, which any savvy person especially one running for an elective office should not have made but avoided like leprosy. Here are some of such regrettable moments of damaging gaffes which could very appositely be titled "The Many Contradictions of IBB."

1. IBB said he is a democrat yet he annulled the freest and fairest democratic election ever held in Nigeria. Where therefore is IBB's democratic credentials if he could so viciously and violently stab democracy on the chest and in such vagrant and confrontational manner as he did with June 12 MKO Abiola presidential election?

2. Babangida said he and his family loves journalists, yet he killed Dele Giwa, fully aware that he is a journalist and on top of his game when he murdered him with parcel bomb? If this is how to love journalists, then no journalist should be loved.

3. Babangida said that Muhammadu Buhari is the best man to lead Nigeria, yet he is running in competition with Buhari for the same highest office in the land; after first overthrowing Buhari's government in 1985.

4. Babangida in 2008 said that he was too old to start running around now campaigning for any office in Nigeria including the presidency of course. But here is IBB in 2010 now beating his chest as the man to beat in the 2011 presidential election; and you wonder whether his center of gravity Maryam's departure affected his mind in such a way that he now reversed himself shamelessly?

5. Babangida pleaded for Abacha's hit-man in chief Mustapha to be released from prison on compassionate family grounds; yet he forgot that he, Babangida, killed so many Nigerians who had families and without ever considering that their families will miss them? Dele Giwa had family both in Iru-Ekpen and Lagos; Mamman Vasta had family; Gloria Okon had family and the list goes on.

6. Babangida said he is compassionate yet he did not blink an eye-lid when he sentenced his best friend Mamman Vasta to death, only for his Minister of Defense then Domkat Bali to inform the Nigeria people that Mamman Vasta was executed a few hours ago?

7. Babangida was a poor, impoverished almajiri kid growing up, yet he is reputedly the richest African alive today. Icheoku asks, how did he come about his present great fortune; except as every Dick, Tom and Harry knows, he is the most corrupt former head of state alive?

But how does a man who usually is not given to head-on confrontation or direct action always get away with his numerous atrocities. Babangida could not accept responsibility for annulling June 12th election but blamed it on a fantasy forces which threatened to kill him should he not do as ordered? Babangida could not look Abacha in the eye and retire him when he stepped aside? Babangida could not defy Obasanjo's orders not to run against Yar'Adua and chickened out of a 2007 presidential run? Most recently, intimidated by some students who threatened to disrupt his flagging off of his moribund campaign in Ibadan, Babangida once again turned tail because his safety cannot be guaranteed; leading Icheoku to ponder aloud, does this aging Maradona of Nigeria really have what it takes to deserve all the literature being written about and concerning him? Is he the brave army man he reputedly corners for himself or a child of destiny who providence puts at the right place each time history is to be written that he has assumed the colossal place in Nigeria's analytical history?

How Babangida's true-bravery history will be written depends on whether, faced with the current barrage of mounting opposition to his run, he once again withdraws from the presidential race, this time for President Goodluck Jonathan. Should he under any subterfuge, reason or excuse, shy away again from contesting the presidential election in 2011 contrary to his several boasts that he would not, then Icheoku shall add its voice to the cacophony of voices screaming 'an opportunist coward of the country,' each time the name of Ibrahim Badamosi babangida is ever mentioned again. But irrespective of what happens to Babangida's wishful thinking of a presidential run in 2011, as the national publicity secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said, "Babangida could run in 2011, but it had become obvious that he would ‘run into jail or exile but certainly not into Aso Rock. Jail and exile are the only two places rightfully left for him now to run into." Icheoku also wants to reiterate, aligning itself with Razak Olokooba, that 'if Babangida had annulled the June 12th election based on the opinion of certain individuals against the wish of the Nigerian people, it is very possible that he would hurt the Nigerian masses again through the decision of those few individuals,' if elected and therefore must be rejected as the political leper he is. Once again, Icheoku says, away with Babangida; Nigerians please say no to Project IBB 2011.

IT IS OFFICIAL, CHELSEA BRAVES IT AND MARRIES A JEW-MAN!

Newly minted Mrs Chelsea Clinton-Mezvinsky went ahead with her wedding to Mr. Marc Mezvinsky, a Jewish-man, despite her earlier cold feet and butterflies filled stomach. Coming from a home where dad cheats on mom and going to a home where parents of husband are divorced, Icheoku fully understands Chelsea's fears as reasonable and well founded. Icheoku prays that her Methodist faith will not also clash with her husband's Judaism when it comes to raising any children that might result from the marriage? Anyway, Chelsea looks happy and Icheoku wishes her the best of a married life. Congratulations Chelsea!

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S OTHER WOMAN GETS HOOKED!

Icheoku while wishing the little girl of yesterday a blissful marriage, hopes and prays that she will be as strong as the older woman who had to put up with several dalliances of 'their' man, some of which later turned into a national scandal - 'The Monica Lewinsky scandal,' if you must be reminded. One thing is certain, Chelsea is not marrying a potential president in Marc because his name sounds Eastern European hence 'foreign'. But she may be lucky if he does not turn into a philandering husband just like her daddy? Anyway, happy wedlock Chelsea!

REP. CHARLES RANGEL, WRANGLED BY THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE!

"Sixty years ago I survived a Chinese attack in North Korea and as a result I haven't had a bad day since. But today I have to reassess that statement." With those words Democrat House of Representative member from New York, representing Harlem for nearly forty years now, Charles Rangel finally came to terms with his fate - a corruption tarnished congressional tenure!

Icheoku says it is only a matter of time before the congressman resigns his office or is expelled/fired by his colleagues for being such blemish on the House. What a low note to end a towering political career which spanned four long and meritorious decades. This is another example of the irony of life which no mortal can ever predict, that man majority of the time is his own greatest worst enemy. Oh Charlie, why?

Representative Charles Rangel was accused by House investigators of 13 count violations of congressional ethics standards including failure to report rental income from vacation property in the Dominican Republic, hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional income and assets on his his financial disclosure statements. his use of congressional staff and stationery to raise money for a center in City College of New York named after him; accepting favors and benefits from the donors that may have influenced his congressional actions; use of a subsidized New York apartment as a campaign office instead of a residence; and misuse of the congressional free mail privilege.

At 80 years old, Icheoku asks, what use is putting old Charlie through the grueling mill of a prosecution and trial; instead let the House force his resignation and then rest the matter. Mr. Rangel served his country both as a young military serviceman and also as a congressman for forty years without blemish until this current episode. Icheoku says it is possible that old age associated 'senility' clouded Charlie's rationality to the extent that he did not fully appreciate the gravity of his indulgences which in turn brought about his current travails? No one died in the process; so instead of crushing old man Charlie with a sledge-hammer, let his past records come to his aid and with a reasonable fine, allow Representative Charles Rangel to just 'disappear' into a well deserved, earned and long over-due retirement where he could live out his golden age in peace. We are not condoning his infractions nor advocating a no-guilty acquittal but that justice be tampered with mercy, his well advanced old age and years of service to his country considered.

Icheoku adds that forty years is such a long time for just one person to be occupying a public office; and this should serve as another ground to let old Charlie go. Therefore it is about time that Representative Charles Rangel yielded that Harlem seat to a younger more dynamic person with added stamina and fresh new ideas to move legislations forward. Charlie's longevity in the House of Representatives and its approaching inglorious end helps persuade the argument by some school of thought that it is about time term limits are set for our national assembly just like some states in the union are already doing with the California's example.

Finally Icheoku says, whether or not, as the Republicans who have already smelled blood in the water and plans to use Charlie's mishap as a campaign tool against the Democrats in the upcoming November mid-term elections, insists that 'the plea bargaining phase is now over and that the House is now in the trial phase," only one end-result can be achieved - his conviction. So why proceed with the drama of a circuitous trial if Charles Rangel agrees on his plea bargain to fall on his sword by admitting his culpability. This is a meaningful resolution of his ethical violations and one that will admit Rangel a more respectful exit from a scene which he had bestrode for a very long time. But either way and no matter how the matter is finally resolved, what a pitiful way to end a very long and otherwise would have been a stellar political career; it also adds another impetus to the existing cynicism in the polity that Washington politicians are there for themselves only, and that they are all the same irrespective of the partisan strips they may be wearing. But hey, a belated draining of the swamp promised by Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi?

FYI: Lawyers for indicted Charles Rangel and the House Ethics Committee finally worked out a plea deal, which the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct have to approve in order to give it any efficacy; provided of course that Republicans do not insist on proceeding full steam with the trial.

BABANGIDA ADDS INSULT TO INJURY ON YORUBA NATION, DARES THEM TO STOP HIM!

Not yet done with rubbishing the honor of the Oduduwa nation, Nigeria's evil genius IBB have decided to flag off his campaign on their soil - Ibadan? It also does not matter to the toothy fairy monster of Minna that MKO Abiola whom he denied the presidency is an Oduduwa son of the soil and their former Aare Ona Kakanfo. Icheoku asks, how much is too much of a trauma for one individual to dish out to a whole race; and hereby call on the Yoruba nation to make Oduduwa proud by denying IBB this second attempt at thumbing his nose at them. Why Yorubaland and not Minna or Zamfara if not to taunt the Yorubas and further provoke them to confrontation? There is an Igbo saying that if you bring the fight to my home, I will fight you till the last drop and so Icheoku calls on the Yorubas to take Babangida up on this his challenge this time; and not again turn tail. If Icheoku recalls correctly, the Igbos stoned Awolowo and nearly destroyed his plane at Aba in 1979 for daring to step his feet on their soil and ask for their votes after his infamous 'starvation is the best instrument of warfare' evil policy of the war which brought countless death by kwashiokor; and his wicked 'twenty pounds handout' to the Igbos after the genocidal war of 1967 - 1970. Let this rally not hold in Oduduwa-land and any Yoruba man or woman participating in it should be ostracized and banished from the kingdom as not worth being called the son or daughter of Oduduwa. Unconfirmed report also have it that Babangida suffered a mild stroke?

BABANGIDA IS EVERYTHING DEFICIENT, SO REJECT HIS SECOND COMING NIGERIANS!

"If Nigeria has not excelled hopelessly in several dubious departments no newspaper or magazine worth its salt in Nigeria will allow its front page to be used to celebrate a man that ruined and destroyed Nigeria, a man deficit in honour, deficit in character, deficit in integrity, a man without shame, a man who cannot be trusted." - Joe Igbokwe. Icheoku concurs and states that Nigerians will have no excuse to give should the accident of a Babangida's second coming ever come to fruition!