INDIAN AYODHYA RESOLUTION, GOOD FOR MIDDLE EAST JERUSALEM CONFLICT?

It was biblical King Solomon who refused to divide something in disputation, a child, because to do so would be very unwise and King Solomon was a very wise man. Had he yielded to the agitation of the woman who did not own the child and divided the child between the two women, the child would have died and both women lost out in their claims of ownership of the child or their motherhood. While the adverse claimant-mother insisted that the child be divided into two, the mother who went through the pangs of child-labor decided otherwise and instead implored King Solomon to give the child to the other woman and when the child grows up he will discover who the real mother is.

Icheoku says, whereas King Solomon's case appertained to a human life, other things especially chattels and lands that are easily divisible should be so divided if that is the only equitable manner to deliver redress to parties claiming ownership interest therein. It is on this note that Icheoku gives hi-five to the Allahabad High Court India which gave verdict on September 30, 2010 on the 60 year old Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case which had pitied Hindu and Muslims over the disputed Ayodhya prayer grounds. The court ruled that the 2.77 acres of Ayodhya land in question should be divided into three parts, one third for the construction of Ram temple, another one third for the Islamic Sunni Waqf Board and the remaining one third for the Hindu religious denomination Nirmohi Akhara. Icheoku applauds this ruling as the 'only tenable and meaningful solution to an otherwise incendiary matter touching on peoples' faith, mythology and politics; and in India, such people are plentiful.

The Ayodhya piece of land in controversy is located in the city of Ayodhya in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh India. It is traditionally regarded by Hindus as the birthplace of the Hindu God, Rama; while Muslims' revered Babri Mosque was built thereon. However, the mosque was destroyed by hard-line Hindu activists in December 6, 1992; claiming that a previous Hindu temple was demolished or modified to build the mosque. A land title case as to who owns the land or have the right of use thereof was lodged in the Allahabad High Court resulting in the verdict. But an archaeological evidence upon which the court partly relied its ruling found that a ruined temple existed beneath the mosque but did not find any evidence of its destruction or by the Muslims who merely used its ruins to build their mosque.

Icheoku says the Ayodhya verdict was a big relief for the Indian Congress-Party led government which is Hindu dominated as a completely pro-Hindu verdict would have put a question mark on the government's secular credentials or its non-interference; while a wholly pro-Muslim judgment would have alienated the government from their Hindu majority. This is an apparent case where wisdom came to judgment as the judges of Allahabad high court took all reasonable considerations in arriving at this fair and equitable decision. Icheoku says may be the Middle East conflict which has its primary roots on the status of Jerusalem should take a cue from this decision and use it as a precedent. It should consider bringing the wisdom of Ahodhya decision to bear on Jerusalem and divide it into two or even three parts - one side for Jews and their Judaism, another for Arabs (Muslims) and their Islam and the other for the Christians and their Christianity. This way, the century long and solution-defying problem of how to go about with Jerusalem or how to proceed therefrom would have been equitably solved and the three religions with their umbilical cords attached to Jerusalem would have given a portion thereof and the world would live happily ever after. What an Indian solution to the Jerusalem question; with a Daniel come to judgment! Thank you India, especially the learned gentlemen of Allahabad high court for seasoned judicial decision.

Indians were glued to their televisions Thursday afternoon as a team of three judges at the Allahabad High Court ruled that one-third of the site would be held by a Muslim organization, with the remainder divided between two Hindu groups. For more than a century members of the two faiths have fought over the site in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. In 1992 a Hindu mob tore down the 16th century Babri Mosque there with pickaxes and their bare hands. Ensuing riots killed more than 2,000 people, mostly Muslim.

MID TERM ELECTION 2010, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

VOTE YOUR HEAD NOT YOUR HEART, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS! THE COUNTRY MUST MOVE FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARDS, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

Now go vote, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

ON TUESDAY VOTE FOR MODERATION AND RATIONALITY, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

Do not let extremism run over America; show that you care for a progressive America and not America rewound and retrogressed. Vote for the future, vote for reasonable ideology, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

ON TUESDAY, VOTE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE COUNTRY FORWARD!

"We are not there yet, but we are on course and headed there:- full economic recovery and a better future for all Americans." - Democrats! This November 2, 2010 VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

ICHEOKU ENDORSES JERRY BROWN FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA!

That Arnold Schwarzenegger comparison advert finally did it for Icheoku. How could this $150 million governorship woman, Meg Whitman, not attempt to even paraphrase a copyrighted material to make it sound and appear somewhat original? This November 2, vote for Democrats; VOTE JERRY BROWN governor of California!

THIS NOVEMBER 2, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

Republicans, they have already sold our economy to China, India, Russia etc through out-sourcing and there are no more jobs in America. Now they want to also sell our democracy to foreign interests through undisclosed foreign sources of election funding and we shall then also lose our freedom to chose our leaders. Would you let them? This November 2, 2010, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS!

GOT AMNESIA, VOTE REPUBLICANS!

If you have amnesia, vote for Republicans; otherwise, this November 2, 2010, vote for Democrats! Remember, Bush messed it up so bad it gonna take awhile to fix. But thankfully enough the people in charge right now know what they are doing and are on the right course to fix the broken and should remain in office. They will get it right and only needs your support and additional time. Just empower the Democrats more with your votes this November and watch them sizzle. Democrats gets it and gets it done!

'IBRAHIM BABANGIDA THINKS BLACKBERRY IS A FRUIT' - NASIR EL RUFAI

“President Babangida and General Buhari should just disappear. They should give way to a new set of people with new ideas. Young people preferably. Obama is 48 and Cameron is 43 for God’s sake. So, why are we recycling leaders that ruled this country very well or very badly 25 years ago? I was 25 years old when Buhari and Babangida were Heads of State and I am now 50 and they still want to be Head of State. I don’t understand that. I don’t understand that at all and I call on the young people of Nigeria to take their future into their hands and ensure that in the next election, they vote for a new generation of leaders. I think that we will not make progress until we break the link from the past and just move on. 70 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 40. Many of these young people, the next generation, as they are called, are on internet services such as Facebook and twitter, using Blackberry and if you ask any of these people running for presidency, they will think that Blackberry is a fruit. So, we have to move away from there and stop thinking that this leadership thing is all about us or all about individuals. We must put the future of the country at heart and give way to a new generation of leadership.” - Nasir el-Rufai. Icheoku says, this particular mallam is different and quite impressive.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NIGERIA!

Today, October 1st 2010, Nigeria turned 50years old, post independence colonial Britain. Nigerians are celebrating their one half century of co-existence and for good/different reasons. Icheoku is despondent at a paradise lost and billions of dollars which was fretted away by successive highly corrupt leadership which took their turns in raping Nigeria into comatose. Regrettably many of these decrepitude personalities are still walking the Nigerian landscape with bold cockiness instead of cooling off in some central prison somewhere in Kuje or Abakiliki. Some of them even have the effrontery to again solicit Nigerians to allow them another entrance to Aso Rock, to which Icheoku screams lung-heavy, NEVER AGAIN.

Fifty years later, there is still no electricity, security, good motor-able roads and navigable water-ways, jobs, there is tension in the land with disparate people asking when shall the contraption called Nigeria finally yield itself for a new birth of the different nationalities forcibly clustered therein to move away to pursue their respective destinies. Icheoku on the other hand is however glad that finally in Nigeria and for the second time since her independence in 1960, a highly educated person (PhD Zology) is presiding over the affairs of the land. The first leader of letters being the Great Zik of Africa and Owelle Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Nigerian's post independence first president; admitted his presidency was ceremonial. As for all others before President Jonathan, especially those military coup-plotters, they are all semi illiterates and you wonder how a blind man could have lead people with sight. Anyway, congratulation Nigeria and happy birthday to you; we hope Nigerians will get the upcoming elections 2011 right.

OLUSOLA SARAKI, THE KIM JONG-IL OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA!

In Kwara State, the North Korea of Nigeria, a Kim Jong-Il has finally emerged. His name is Olusola Saraki who has now converted the state into his personal fiefdom. His family is holding the entire state hostage to their peculiar brand of political power play which favors the Saraki-Family alone. His daughter is following soon after his soon to be termed out son as the next uncontested governor of Kwara State.

Icheoku asks when will this 'dynasty' end alongside their occupation of the government house in Ilorin? Icheoku also wonders if all the men in Kwara State have been castrated with none with any balls left to stand against this Saraki's anti-democratic arrant nonsense. if he purchased Kwara State as a his private property, Icheoku wants to see the deed of purchase as well as the purchase receipt?

The Saraki family has by this novelty, introduced an alien brand of government known as "Familocracy" - government of the family by the family and for the family; with the citizens of the state as ordinary serfs, not good enough to rule or preside over their own destiny. The Saraki family appears to tell Kwarans that they cannot manage their own affairs by themselves and that their Allah-sent, all-knowing Sarakis, are there to help do it for them? Icheoku says what would Nigerian men of power not do simply because they can!

NIGERIA'S GOLDEN JUBILEE INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, THE 50 AWARDEES!

Icheoku asks were former heads of state Muritala Mohammed, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha excluded from the distinguished Nigerians who are to receive the golden jubilee awards due to their destabilizing roles in Nigeria through their coup-plotting? Or was it a result of politics of bitterness as is gradually becoming the preferred politics of President Jonathan; the recent shut-out of pro-Babangida Igbo Political Stakerholders at a hotel in Owerri Imo State taken into advisement? Whatever be the case, Icheoku commends the audacity of President Jonathan for placing these rascals in their proper place within the Nigerian political history - the political dustbin.

It is only in Nigeria where criminals are celebrated leading to these four despicable Nigerians being erroneously celebrated in some quarters as statesmen? The same impetus enables 419 practitioners to find their way into the Nigerian senate as well as some traditional institutions as their custodians. What President Jonathan just did by shunning these four human-beings is proper and Icheoku believes that such public disavowal, scorn and odium will go a long way in stemming the tide of criminality in Nigeria when criminals know that they will be so publicly shunned or fingers pointed at them as the reason Nigeria is standing on its head today. Way to go President Goodluck Jonathan!

The implication of this show of disdain is that these four army men did not contribute anything to the development of Nigeria but brutally through their jackboots destroyed the fledglings that were taking roots in a democratic Nigeria. Icheoku also could not agree any more with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, who said that the 50 personalities being honored are for their contributions to the development of the country. But conversely looking at the sorry state that Nigeria is today, a concomitant question naturally follows, is it even ok to vouchsafe that these people contributed any development in Nigeria, otherwise where are they? But hey, at least they did not like those four armed and dangerous bandits, muscle their way into power and for this among other things they stand out to be counted as the shinning stars on Nigeria's beacon.

However Icheoku must observe that conspicuously missing from the list are Ebam Eda Fela Anikulao Kuti for his music as a weapon for change and societal upliftment, he was also a great ambassador of Nigeria introducing the world to Nigeria through his world-famous brand of Afrobeat; Chief Gani Fawehimni for his human-rights activism and fine legal mind; Chief MKO Abiola for his democracy credentials; Reverend Father Tansi the first Nigerian to attain a sainthood; Austin Ilodibe of Ekenedilichukwu Transport for a successful conglomerate that employed so many and provided commute to millions of Nigerians; our music maestros Ebenezer Obey, Osita Osadebe and Sunny Ade for providing food for our desolate souls. These people projected Nigeria to the world in various capacities and created tangibles one can really appreciate. But whatever be the paradigm for the selection, Icheoku surrenders to the superior reasoning of the committee that did the selection; but sure is glad that the criminal coup-plotters of Nigeria were well humbled through their exclusion. These jackals contributed nothing to Nigeria development except sorrow, blood and tears!

IGBO POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN; NOT IN OUR NAME!

Icheoku denounces the umbrage of the so called Igbo Political Stakeholders parading themselves as Igbo representatives when they are neither Oha-N-Eze Ndigbo nor the elected political leadership of the Igbos who are duly authorized to serve Igbo cause. The make-up of the 'Igbo Political Stakeholders' so called, parades of known apologists and appendages of the feudal Hausa-Fulani oligarchical north including Shehu Shagari's beautiful bride Alex Ekwueme and Ibrahim Babangida's beautiful bride in the waiting Ken Nnamani. It also includes the former central bank governor Chukwuma Soludo, and you wonder who crowned these human-beings Igbo leaders or on whose authority they speak for the Igbos. It is condemnable the self arrogation of authority by these self-seeking politicians including Jim Nwobodo who sabotaged Ekwueme's own presidential effort in Jos in 1999 and sold out on his Igbo brother? Kalu Idika Kalu served the notorious Ibrahim Babangida's regime as both Finance and Economic Planning Minster respectively. Same with ABC Nwosu as Health Minster; Luke Ochulor was a military administrator under Babangida and Agunwa Anakwe was the speaker of the House when Babangida annulled MKO Abiola's election.

Now the picture becomes clearer that it is the gathering of the Babangida clan masquerading as an Igbo Forum that was dispersed at Owerri and not a true Igbo organisation; and this group is ready to once again sell the Igbos short to the north and the resident evil, Babangida. Icheoku says not this time; Igbo people are politically more savvy, wiser, smarter and are long tired of 1978 politicians dictating or attempting to dictate the tempo of present day politics in Igboland and trying to influence the trajectory of the 2011 Igbo course. Udenta Udenta or whomever that person is, is presently working as presidential campaign director to the man whose father owns Kwara State, Saraki; and Dubem Onyia, Ben Obi and Chris Ngige are all in love with Atiku.So tell Icheoku why these people are always content with playing the second fiddle or servient role to the Islamic north, who have not stopped killing the Igbo man since their genocidal war of 1967-70; or given the Igbo man reason to still remain fanatically loyal to their northern cause. Icheoku says to Alex Ekwueme that their group does not represent the Igbos and so it was wrong for him to misrepresent the purpose of their meeting as "to enable all Igbos to speak their minds freely and not to support any candidate or political party after which a decision would be made for the Igbo nation." Such statement is very arrogant and since when did the Igbo people become the property of IPS that they should make decisions for the Igbos or on their behalf?

Be that as it may, Icheoku does not begrudge anyone or any group from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association to meet and take positions on issues of the moment; but we have beef with any of such group parading itself as representing the entire Igbo nation. Moreso the peoples Generalissimo and Ikemba Nnewi was not there and these people are neither the elected political representatives of the Igbos nor the official existing Igbo pressure group, the Oha-n-Eze Ndigbo. Igbo Political Stakeholders should therefore cease and desist from further parading themselves as representing the Igbos or their cause as Igbo people have duly authorized body and elected officials representing them and only such people can make decisions for and on behalf of the Igbo nation. Get it IPS; you are on your own!

BRISTOL PALIN DWTS, WHEN TEENAGE PREGNANCY MAKES ONE A STAR?

The over-sexed teenage teenage daughter of Sarah Palin, who got pregnant outside wedlock, is now a star - she made it to the TV hit-show, "Dancing With The Stars! Icheoku ask what made her a star or is it now the new ok and an acceptable norm for one's bad morality to be all it takes to meet Hollywood's benchmark for stardom?

What has Bristol Palin achieved or done in her 19 years of life to merit an appearance on DWTS; and she did not even complete her schooling after being knocked up by former boyfriend, Levi Johnston, with her mother Sarah Palin watching?

Icheoku says, this is a new low for television that such a 19 year old over-sexed girl and unwed teenage mom should be so idolized in this manner while other good teenagers who ace their Math, Science and English are cast aside by Hollywood. What is the new standards now, Hollywood? Or does Hollywood want these honor-row students to go back to their dorms, regretting why they did not start having sex soon enough and getting knocked up in their mother's bedroom rather than remaining 'A' students?

It is wrong for Hollywood to provide Bristol Palin the DWTS's portal; it is a bad example of how not to glorify nothingness and elevate societal decadence into something to be tolerated and celebrated. Bristol Palin is not a role model, she is a wayward teenager who got knocked-up outside wedlock in her parents bedroom, figuratively speaking; and so does not deserve a place at such platform as DWTS or any such other. It sends a wrong message that it is ok to be sexually active at such a young age and that it is no big deal getting pregnant and becoming a teenage mom. It is all about the message and this Bristol Palin's message is faulty since it creates a wrong impression that it is ok for teenagers and young persons to occupy themselves with purely adult matters.

Icheoku says it is absolutely wrong, immoral and condemnable for the director of 'Dancing With The Stars' to mine the notoriety of this over-sexed teenage daughter of Sarah Palin in this way. Regrettably too, the all beauty and no brain Alaskan wildlife killer, Sarah Palin, a self-confessed fundamentalist Christian and religious zealot, did not see anything ungodly in her daughter making a spectacle of herself in this way and for the world to feast their lewd awe on. And worst still, Bristol Palin is FAT.

REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RUNNING ON EMPTY!

"Back in Tennessee there's an old saying: When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler. That pretty much defines the Republican opposition to President Obama's agenda for change and their strategy for the 2010 campaign -- a whole lot of hollering to obscure their real goal, which is to restore the very same policies followed for eight years by the Bush-Cheney White House -- and actually promising more of the same. We cannot afford to let that happen." - Al Gore. Icheoku concurs and urge the Democrats to man up and take the fight to the crazed out Republicans. It will be regrettable if the Republicans win the argument again just as John Kerry allowed George Bush to win the argument on national security when he served but Bush never did, being a draft dodger. Marshall the facts and let the facts do the job Dems!

IRAN OFFER OF COMPROMISE, SIGNS THAT SANCTIONS ARE BEGINNING TO BITE!

"Iran would consider ending higher level uranium enrichment, Iran is prepared to set a date for resumption of talks with six world powers - the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China as well as Germany, to discuss Teheran's nuclear program probably in October; we are ready for talks. The doors are open for talks." - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. Icheoku says for this erratic loony of Tehran to be talking in this manner is sure evidence that the rumor is true - the sanction is beginning to squeeze life out of Iran. It should be full throttle henceforth until those mullahs realize that a weapon they can never use without debilitating response, nuclear weapon, is not the way nor the answer! Who says sanctions does not work?

REPUBLICAN PARTY'S PLEDGE TO AMERICA, A RACIST MANUSCRIPT?

Icheoku says they are at it again, doing all they could to 'take back their government' from That One. Racists organisation masquerading as a political party have been grumbling since 2008 that a 'nigger' is occupying their White House instead of plowing the fields; now that they are ganging up and throwing up dirts hoping that something sticks. They have come up with a manifesto, Pledge to America, which they hope will do the magic. Icheoku asks, why did the Republican Party not publish this 21 page booklet during the 8 years of George Bush's bull in a China shop-like destruction of America - economy and relationships. Anyway, they are appealing to the low-information voters who they hope to befuddle into committing a political suicide if they vote these White-Only America mindset back into power in November 2010.

NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE, SURRENDERS TO 'EGUNJE' AT A ROAD-BLOCK!

Yes your eyes are not deceiving you, as you are watching members of the Nigerian Police Force praising and hailing a man in a Toyota SUV who have just bribed them heavily. Call it egunje, roger, your particulars, bribe, tip or what have you; regrettably the police in Nigeria is endemically corrupt and for a proper amount will look the other way as criminals terrorize Nigerians. Can you imagine the phoniness of these six police men at a road block - a mirror image of what is wrong with Nigerian police; what a window they provided into the greater Nigerian police population. But does anyone know the solution?

BABANGIDA'S PROFESSED LOVE FOR IGBO PEOPLE, NOT REAL; NOT GENUINE!

It is unfounded and unsupported by evidence and/or precedents; and therefore an attempt by a conman to throw a fast-ball at the Igbo people of Nigeria. Icheoku says that MKO Abiola's rule number one of surviving the double-faced Janus, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is to remember the mantra, 'with a friend like IBB no one needs an enemy." So Igbo people of Nigeria should beware of Babangida's unsolicited offer of love to them, as it is a poisoned chalice from which any that drinks does not live to tell the story. Igbo people therefore are again advised not to accept Babangida's Trojan gift of sudden affection as it is not needed, not now; as Ndigbo have since learnt to survive on their own and can survive without Babangida's tainted love.

Moreso, Babangida's sudden offer of friendship appears very sinister, it is not genuine nor real; but merely perfunctory, coyly orchestrated and deployed at this time as a tool-subterfuge to cajole Igbo people into providing him with the much needed ladder with which to climb into Aso Rock seat of power. That Babangida will discard them as soon as their use is no longer needed, immediately following his swearing in, is stating the obvious since his antedents speaks volume. Please Ndigbo, Icheoku implores you not to short-change yourselves or in any event, short-sell yourselves to the self acclaimed beast of Minna, Ibrahim Babangida. He is not worth a friendship of the Igbo people and his former friends including the former NSA Gusua know him as a betrayer. Icheoku calls on the Igbo nation to reject Babangida and tell him that the days of northerners using Igbo people as beautiful brides, with which to win presidential elections is since long gone. That the present attempt by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida to once again, surreptitiously woe Igbo people will not succeed as Igbo people are now politically smarter, wiser and much more savvy than before and will only seriously consider a political alliance with a truthful and trustworthy political suitor; and Babangida is not such a desirable suitor nor is he possessed of these qualities.

Icheoku is talking about the recent visit by the resident evil of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida to the Enugu residence of Odumegwu Ojukwu, the peoples' warlord; where he solicited and conferred with Ojukwu on the matter of Igbo support/votes for his candidacy during the coming 2011 elections. According to the reports, Babangida told Ojukwu to convey to his Igbo people that he, Babangida, 'loves them.' In his own exact words, Babangida said to Ojukwu, "tell your people that "I love them!" Icheoku retorts, please Igbo people do not mind the Islamic conman from Minna, who has conned Nigerians including Igbo people before with an unending political transition which resulted in the annulled election of June 12th, 1993. Further Icheoku reiterates that Ibrahim Babangida does not love the Igbo people, never did and not in the future; since one cannot teach an old dog new tricks and Babangida is one heck of such old bull-mastiff. A great saying has it that for you to understand the trajectory of an arrow, you must apprise yourself of the boomerang that fired it as well as the archery prowess of the firer that pulled the boomerang. Tell Icheoku where you have been and we shall tell you your intended destination, and so it is that all precedents considered, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is no friend of the Igbos and does not love them.

So what does a person do to a conman but to put it to his face that you are aware of his game and that you won't bite his bait. To Babangida, Igbo people say to you, take back your love and stuff it in your you know what - rear end; as it is worthless since you kill your friends and have killed Mamman Vasta, your best friend and best man during your wedding. According to MKO Abiola, Babangida's friendship or professed love is tantamount to making a pact with the devil as he will always turn around and get you.

Icheoku says, the recent 'love of the Igbos' expressed by Babangida is a empty air not supported by any evidence, both factual and imagined. First Babangida fiercely fought on the side of the Nigerian armed forces, ganged up against a fledgling Biafran side which was merely looking to survive a pogrom followed by a genocide of great proportion. Not only did Babangida and his vicious Nigerian side led by the genocidal Yakubu Gowon tried to annihilate Igbo people by shooting defenceless women and children but they also went ahead to levy an economic embargo on the people of Igboland which nearly completed the genocidal work which their bullets and bombs couldn't finish. As a result millions of Igbo people's lives were drastically wiped out during the Biafra war; yet this toothy-fairy from Sharia Niger State is now claiming love for the Igbo people? Please tell Icheoku that Babangida had just finished a joint, prelude to making this statement in buffoonery as it falls flat on its face amidst known precedents. Secondly, Babangida said he "loves Igbo people", yet nothing was done by his ravaging beast of the Nigerian army to carry through their promised three Rs of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction that forty years after the brutal civil war, ravages of the war still dots the landscape of Igbo South Eastern people of Nigeria.

Now lets fast-forward to December 1983 when Babangida, Abacha, Gusua and Buhari conspired and overthrew a democratically elected President Shehu Shagari's government with an Igbo man vice president, Alex Ekwueme. To so many people, the December 31, 1983 coup was to arrest the rot that had permeated and spreading throughout the country's body-fabric during the civilian leadership. But presently available information indicates otherwise as that gang of terrorists and religious zealots were only trying to preempt Alex Ekwueme's shoeing in as president after Shehu Shagari. Continuing, the story has it that Babangida and his fellow coup-plotters were on a mission for Arewa nation to secure and hold as well as maintain a northern stranglehold on power in Nigeria and not to allow anybody take it. Essentially, the coup, by extension, was against Igbo people's ascendancy to power in Nigeria; they had to struck to prevent an Igbo man from ruling "their" Nigeria? Yet this coup plotter claims he loves Igbo people?

As head of state the first order of business for Babangida was to humiliate Ebitu Ukiwe, a chief of general staff out of office. Babangida relegated Ukiwe to the background and acquiesced to a conspired change of order of hierarchy during parades in deference to Army Chief of Staff, Sani Abacha. But Ebitu Ukiwe instead of suffering further unnecessary humiliation, resigned his commission from the navy. Icheoku queries, did Babangida suffer a temporary amnesia not to remember that Ebitu Ukiwe is a beloved son of Igboland as he scurried to the Ikemba to profess his bridegroom's love for the bride? As head of State, Babangida did not appoint any Igbo man as member of his security council; yet he professes undying love for the Igbos! As head of State, Babangida did not construct a second bridge over the River Niger, fully aware of the particular need of the bridge which serves as a major thoroughfare for the ever upward mobile and commercial Igbo people; so where was this love then? As head of State, Babangida did not rehabilitate the only power station in Igboland - Oji River power station; yet he proclaims his love for the Igbos? As head of State, Babangida did not build any industry in Igbo land yet he loves Igbo people? As head of State, Babangida created states but instead of using the opportunity to equalize the number of states in the South East to be at par with other regions/zones, maintained that lopsidedness started with his crusading then Nigerian army; so where was his love then? As head of State, Babangida failed and/or refused to build any international airport in Igbo land or even upgrade the premier Enugu airport into one while he built three in the north, so where was this love then?

As head of State, Babangida took a once secular Nigeria, dead in the middle of the night, into the membership of Organization of Islamic Conference(OIC) and forgot that Igbo people, 40 million of them strong, are majority Christians with a few animist religionists; yet he choose to rather forcibly Islamize the Igbo people he supposedly loves and against their will? As head of State, Babangida was nearly toppled by Gideon Orkar and company; in the process so many people were executed and few forced to commit suicide rather than be taken alive. To date Babangida has not told Nigeria how or what led to the death by suicide of Chief Ugochukwu, the Abalilkiti of Umunze and proprietor of then Ugo Foam; yet Babangida loves Igbo people? When Babangida was forced to step aside, he did not appoint a person from 'the people he loves' as interim head of government of Nigeria; instead he looked West to make his choice and imposed Ernest Shonekan on Nigeria. So where was this love then? Again in 1999 when an Igbo man Alex Ekwueme was almost clinching the PDP presidential ticket, Babangida again rose to thwart this Igbo man'e effort, preferring instead to hand the ticket and by extension the presidency over to Obasanjo; yet he loves the Igbo people? Icheoku asks where was this love then?

Babangida is again running for presidential election in 2011 and who did he appoint as his campaign director, a person not from his "beloved" Igbo people? Dokpesi is not an Igbo-sounding name nor has he ever made pretensions as to his allegiance to the people of the SOuth East; yet Babangida ignored his loved Igbo people and made his 'enemy' his director? Icheoku says that report had it that Babangida had planned to marshall his campaign through the Yoruba Western States of Ogun or Oyo, with Gbenga Daniel as his point man; but when the Yorubas conspired to confront him over June 12th and to remind his that MKO Abiola was one of their own, Babangida ran for cover scared-stiff because of previously abstracted promises. He made a u-turn and where did he run to but the East for political salvation. He took his private plane airborne and landed in Enugu to visit with the peoples General Odumegwu Ojukwu, where he condescendingly mouthed the word, "tell your people "I love them!"

Icheoku says, this Babangida is so full of it and thinks that an aged Maradona, at 70, can out-dribble all Igbo intelligence put together and prevent them from seeing through the fog of his desperation. Not this time Babangida, as your sins have finally caught up with you and are yelling for the holding of you accountable; if only President Jonathan has some balls, may be your silence would have long ago been secured as a trade-off for your freedom. The other good news however is that Ojukwu does not speak for the entire Igbo nation as the republicanism of the Igbo man continues to be alive and well. So irrespective of whatever promises Babangida might have extracted from Ojukwu on behalf of Ndigbo, the Igbo people will do the right thing at the right time and shall reject Babangida for his numerous infra-digs against Nigeria and for this attempt to pull a wool over their eyes by alleging his "unfounded love for the Igbo people."

Concluding, Icheoku emphasis that Igbo people know who their true and genuine friends are and that fortunately enough, Mallam Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the evil-genius, is not one of them. That he conscripted into a war-marriage a beautiful Igbo gem, Maryam, during his plundering days as a Colonel in then Nigerian Army waging an atrocious war against Biafra alone, does not make him a beloved son-inlaw of Ndigbo. At best it qualifies him as an adopted son-inlaw of Ndigbo but nothing more; needless to say a friend, as no sane person craves such a murderous friendship of a man known to have stabbed his numerous friends in their backs. Once again, Icheoku reminds Ndigbo that MKO Abiola warned Nigerians to beware of Babangida, stating that 'with a friend like IBB, no one needs an enemy'. So my dear Igbo people of South East Nigeria you must be fully advised of this Abiola's espoused time-tested truism about the person of the crazed-out toothy monster of Minna, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and deal with him with a ten-foot totem pole, if at all. Babangida does not love the Igbo people and at best could pass for a green snake in a green grass waiting to strike! Reject Babangida's love; reject his candidacy, reject his presidency, never again Babangida!

INDIA 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES VILLAGE, FILTHY AND UNINHABITABLE!

With just a few days to the October 3 - 14, 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, the host country preparation for the games has been described as sub-par. According to the Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper, the Athletes Village is “filthy and uninhabitable!” Icheoku says, it must be scenes from 'Slumdog Millionaire' come alive! But in order not to be outwitted, an Indian official responded that "India have their own standards of cleanliness and that the West should not dictate to India their own imperatives." To this Icheoku says to India, stuff it as the standard and meaning of hygiene anywhere remains the same and accommodates of no shortfalls. Either India cleans up their act or the game be cancelled or moved elsewhere; even to Pakistan if that will drive the message home to Hindustanis that their being too many, poor and dirty should not be an excuse!

RACIST PRANK, A WHITE GIRL THROWS ACID ON SELF AND BLAMES BLACK GIRL!

As another white girl wrongly accuses a black person of inflicting a criminal injury on her, Icheoku says this is the second time it is happening in the recent past. A white girl in Vancouver Washington throws acid on herself and accuses a black woman of being responsible. It lead law enforcement agencies on a wild goose manhunt for the supposed criminal until investigation eventually led them back to her; thus the complainant becomes the accused. Icheoku says it seems de javu American 50s all over again and the lynching of innocent black people based on hoax perpetrated by racist white people comes to mind.

First was during the tail end of the 2008 McCain/Obama heated presidential campaign when a girl in Pennsylvania cut her face up with razor-blade and blamed a black man for the assault. Now it is this no-good white bimbo from Vancouver who went to the extent of throwing acid on her face and pointed accusatory fingers on one phantom black woman. Icheoku wonders the kind of hatred which was churning inside this girl's heart to lead her to the great extent of pouring acid on herself just to implicate a black person. Which but for the vigilance of some homeless people who witnessed her fall on the ground with no one by her side, would have led to another anti-black people sentimental emotional outburst in an increasingly more racist charged America ever since the advent of black President Obama.

The 28 year grocery store worker, Bethany Storro, concocted her tale from hell of a black woman assaulting her with a cup of acid and elicited sympathy and financial support from a gullible but sympathetic public; who rallied around to help pay her hospital expenses and rehabilitation; only to later find out that they have been duped by a wicked and racist soul who inflicted an acid attack on herself and blamed it on a black woman. Icheoku says not only is Bethany Storro "obviously dealing with some deep internal emotional and psychological problems" as alleged by her parents; but she is also a case study for a lunatic asylum where she needs to be long confined until she figures out the demon in her that pushed her into this path of infamy - accusing another person for the acid attack she levied on herself. Icheoku says the black community in Vancouver are rightfully indignant that another white girl claiming to be a crime victim had once again purposely and wrongfully placed an African-American person in jeopardy - the villain which fits the template of the usual suspect in America.

According to one commentator who is conversant with the usual police and criminal justice practices in America of presuming African Americans guilty as alleged, "this case is quite different as the police did not automatically accept she was telling the truth because she is white." Thanks to good old police investigative work that unraveled her story 'of a strange black woman throwing acid on her; who searched her home and car; wanted to know why no witnesses saw the attack; why the pattern of splash was not cognizant with the alleged throw and finally why the phony victim was wearing sunglasses after 7 pm as she alleged it was her sunglasses which she had bought immediately before the attack that saved her eyes.

On the final analysis, Icheoku says lets hope American criminal justice system will learn some lesson from this experience that many of those they rush through the harrowed criminal justice are sometimes not guilty of the crime they are convicted of. That so many people are languishing in the prison system today with many already executed wrongfully based on hoax perpetrated by racists white people as this self-inflicted acid injury by Bethany Storro of Vancouver Washington has shown. Icheoku prays that long after she is healed of her physical injuries that some permanent scar shall remain to serve as a constant reminder of her wicked act; and also that her pangs of guilt shall remain indelible. Bethany Storro shame on you, how low could you go to prove your racist wicked heart.

BABANGIDA'S PRESIDENTIAL QUEST, A VOYAGE DOOMED BEFORE IT SET SAIL!

When way back in 1999 this contributor wrote urging Nigerians not to acquiesce to the return of army man Olusegun Obasanjo back to power, as that will open the floodgates for all other army men to queue up waiting for their turn particularly Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. So many people told me to me to be real and branded my reservation against Obasanjo as the usual anti-Yoruba sentiments. Peradventure, Nigerians paid dearly for that grave mistake of allowing Obasanjo's comeback; which subsists till today. Obasanjo, having let the dogs out, another disgraced former army man has presented himself to Nigerians to plead his case to be let back into power.

The recent declaration of the resident evil, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, for the presidency of Nigeria is not only an affront on Nigerians but a bad example of what happens when a people do not stand firm against evil. Had Nigerians remembered what Olusegun Obasanjo did in the 70s particularly his repression of students and other trade unions which led to "Ali must go" riot of 1978; and rejected his candidacy then in 1999, there is no way in hell that Ibrahim Babangida would have ventured on the same thorough-fare to Aso Rock now. But a 'monkey see monkey do' mentality has now spurred Babangida to want to match and possibly outdo Obasanjo's ruling record, with his declaration to rule Nigeria as her elected president in 2011. But Babangida will be surprised at the abysmal failure his campaign will receive in the hands of the Nigeria people at the polls, assuming he doesn't chicken out before the d-day as has become his customary cowardly stock-in-trade practice. And to make matters worst, this self-styled prince of Minna is jumping the gun and instead of doing first things first, he is pretending the preliminary imperative can easily be glossed over. Icheoku says, Babangida before you seriously get involved in your presidential pipe-dream, please first explain in detail to the Nigerian people, why your previous eight years first coming to power was such an atrocious experience for Nigerians; thereafter apologize profusely to them for the sweat and blood which you took away from them.

A good place to start is to explain why June 12th ended in flames; and mindful that it was Nigerians mandate held in trust by Abiola that you messed up, apologize and ask for their forgiveness. Then visit UruEkpen and ask Dele Giwa's people to please forgive you for murdering their son or better still for being the man in-charge in Nigeria when their son was brutally parcel bombed. Then tell Nigerians that your scorning Oputa panel was out of your rascally misbehavior and that you have since grown up and now no longer a hot head or so explosively ill mannered and tempered. Then tell Nigerians that admitted you took control of $12billion of their money, that you used it to develop Abuja and nest your retirement; that you are not arguing or trying to justify any of your evil actions but merely asking for their understanding and peradventure, forgiveness. That Mamman Vasta, Gideon Orkar and co were victims of an army survival tactics which you learnt in Defence Academy? That those army officers that you killed in Ejigbo faked military plane crash also had to go because of security imperatives. And that all the money you amassed were not Nigerians' money but kickbacks you got from being a corrupt head of state and that they should understand and please forgive your poor judgment. Lastly that you surreptitiously took Nigeria into OIC (Orgnization of Islamic Countries) membership not out of your free will but out of instigation of Saudi Arabia; that you will use all powers within your authority to withdraw them as soon as you are inaugurated. Except that such a day of your official oath taking as Nigeria's president shall never arise as you are both unelectable and heavily disliked and hated by every sane Nigerian.

Now Babangida, Icheoku wants you to know that the beef Nigerians have with you is not necessarily because of your numerous acts of misdeeds while in office, but for your arrant and arrogant refusal to ask for their forgiveness, atone for your sins and make amends. Nigerians are a forgiving bunch and if only Babangida has come genuflecting before the wronged millions of Nigerians, all these army lined against his candidacy would have been unarmed and of peace keeping nature than the present one firing on all cylinders. Regrettably, Babangia and his handlers do not get it and are not getting it - the real reason why the resistance against him is so goal-directed, fierce and widely spread; otherwise he would have long adjusted his strategy and come before Nigerians, humbled and in tears, plead for their forgiveness. That is the only way Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida would and could jump-start his near dead on arrival presidential effort and securing power again in Nigeria. Anything short of this is not necessary as they are efforts in futility akin to putting the cart before the horse. If Babangida wants to plant a farm of Nigerians, he must first cultivate it and this is the missing link of his lacklustre campaign efforts this far. It does not matter how many times he flies to Enugu in his ill-gotten private plane to meet with Ojukwu or to the West to meet some other Yoruba leaders or to the north to meet with some emirs; Icheoku says until he resolves his problem with Nigerians and apologizes to them, he is just wasting his time.

The rehashed speech at his declaration of intent notwithstanding, Icheoku fact-checks as follows:- the situation Nigerians face today are minor compared to what they were forced to endure during Babangida's eight long years of murderous regime; that nothing infrastructural was developed then; that power supply was the ever "never expect power always" and so was telephony and other communications, which led to his then communication minister David Mark, the now senate president to once say that 'telephone is not for the poor;' that Babangida never harnessed the abundant human resources available in Nigeria instead he was busy blowing them away with parcel bombs; that instead of encouraging education he was in constant war with higher institutions, arresting and jailing students union members as well as Academic Staff Union officials including the current INEC chairman Attahiru Jega; and corruption was midwifed by Babangida as his own beloved child. So Icheoku does not see how Babangida would kill what he gave birth to or better still, let Babangida show leadership by example by explaining to Nigerians how he came about his humongous fortune including a private jet? Babangida Icheoku says it is either you do what is expected of you - apologize to Nigerians for your regimental misdeeds especially the political roller-coaster ride that ended in June 12th annulment or just forget about the 2011 presidency. Just in case you need to be reminded, Nigerians have since passed their verdict - they do not want to relive the nightmare that was your first coming and are now tone-deaf to whatever message you may have, get it! What a politically damaged good this toothy-fairy, evil-incarnate is; and he doesn't even appreciate the enormity of the hate Nigerians nurse for him.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN FORMALLY DECLARES HIS 2011 PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

In a thought provoking sanctimonious parody similar or rather borrowing heavily from America politicians, Nigeria's President Goodluck Ebelechuku Azikwe Jonathan offered himself for the office of the president of Nigeria in 2011; emphasizing his "never despaired" zeal and his desire to "keep hope alive; but without however paying tribute to either Reverend Jackson or President Obama for their borrowed inspirational one liners. Icheoku would have rather the zoning arrangement of the PDP was sustained, allowing the north to complete their eight years term of office; but instead of the resident-evil of Nigeria, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida ever smelling power again in Nigeria, let anybody, including President Goodluck Ebelechuku Azikwe Jonathan be the president. On this note, Icheoku wishes GEAJ God's speed!