FRANK T. CAPRIO OF RHODE ISLAND, A DISRESPECTFUL DEMOCRAT!

The other time it was the South Carolina hilly-billy Representative Joe Wilson who shamelessly shouted "You Lie" at the president while he was delivering an address at the House of Representatives chambers. The next time it was a Supreme Court associate Justice Samuel A. Alito who mouthed "That is not true" at President Obama while he was delivering a State of the Union address at the National Assembly. Now Frank T. Caprio, a democrat, running for Rhode Island governor has joined the bandwagon of these highly disrespectful 'racist' Americans who cannot live with the fact that a black-man is the president of America and have gone out of their ways to openly show disrespect to the president as well as the office which he represents.

Icheoku condemns this crass disrespect for the office of the president and President Barack Obama in particular through the thuggish misbehavior of these public officials. That Republican Party's mega-phone and administrator in chief, Rush Limbaugh, lampoons the president on a daily basis has become a fact of life in America and you wonder how much of such disrespect was shown to previous United States presidents; and not by members of even their own political party. Rhode Island governorship candidate Frank T. Caprio overstepped his bounds by this outburst and no amount of a political adrenalin justifies such demeaning language used against the president of the United States of America, Barack Obama. The fact that this human-being has not yet apologized for this uncalled for remark several days after shows that it probably was not a spur of the moment outburst, but something much like a smouldering dislike of the president which just boiled over. The good news however is that hundreds of Frank T. Caprios of America cannot change the fact of what America has become - a more tolerable and accommodating politically changed land and that after President Obama will follow, several more other minority presidents.

In the offending remark, Rhode Island governor wanna be, Frank Caprio, said "I never asked President Obama for his endorsement and what’s going on here is really Washington insider politics at its worst. He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I am concerned" Icheoku queries if the president's endorsement does not mean anything to this Sicilian and assuming he never asked for nor expected it as he claimed, why did he go out of his way and a step too far to use the 's' word against the person of the president and the office which he represents. Does this Italian not know that when he tells the president of the United States to 'shove it' that he was telling all Americans whose president Obama is, to also shove it? Anyway Icheoku will not belabor the impropriety of the impetuous outburst of Frank T. Caprio here, but will defer to the people of Rhode Island who on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 will decide whether they support such an unwarranted disrespectful attack on the president with their ballots. But definitely, this very governorship candidate is not what any reasonable state would want to have as their governor and in their government house; but hey, each state gets what they deserve and the state of Rhode Island has to decide and determine what they desire and deserve on Tuesday.

GREGORY ISAACS, MR NIGHT NURSE IS DEAD!

The reggae world has lost yet another one of its finest - Gregory Isaacs, the originator and the man who brought the world hits like 'Night Nurse,' 'Number One etc.' Gregory died of complications from lung cancer at his London home October 25th; he was 59 years old.

Icheoku says lung cancer has become the killer in chief of many of these reggae ambassadors and it was the same lung cancer that took the life of legendary Bob Nestor Marley in 1986. Reggae fans all over the world surely miss Gregory; but our consolation lies in the fact that as a Rastafarian, he will now join Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and the rest of them departed in Jah Kingdom where they can smoke ganja and party non-stop till thy kingdom come. No more pains for dem Rastaman Gregory. Icheoku says, so long Mr. Night Nurse!

JUAN WILLIAMS OUSTER, FREEDOM OF SPEECH CURTAILED FOR MINORITIES?

It is very interesting to note the wild-fire furor generated by the firing of former NPR commentator Juan Williams by the radio station's chief executive officer Vivian Schiller. Icheoku condemns the crucifixion of Juan's freedom of speech right by the radio's CEO, who considered, albeit subjectively, that the statement accredited to Juan that he gets nervous on airplanes whenever he sees Muslims, as prejudicial to Muslims. In Juan's very own words, while speaking on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox-News television Channel, "When I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

Icheoku makes bold to say that Juan Williams, like every other American, should have a constitutionally preserved right to speak his mind on any topical issue without let or censure; and what National Public Radio did amount to an attack on the constitution and the abridgment of the vested right of Mr. Juan Williams. Icheoku hereby condemns the decision of NPR radio station CEO to fire Juan, not because of his incompetence but for somewhat private and personal hurt feeling by proxy of a supposed attack on Muslims. Icheoku asks Madam NPR CEO how comfortable is she usually in an airplane sandwiched by Muslims speaking in tongues and acting strangely? And we are talking about Muslims here post 9/11 when it is a given that the same Madam CEO would readily cross to the other side of the road on the ordinary approach of blackman at certain times of the day and in most neighborhoods. But like Juan admitted, the said statement was merely a subterfuge for an already boiling issue of his numbered days at NPR being a blackman who has an opinion and expresses same at Fox-News.

But why is Juan Williams firing making all the headline and front-pages of our newspapers? Why the public outcry or rather Republicans and Fox-News hysteria over an employment contract matter which one of the parties choose to terminate? Why the throwing of feat that Juan Williams was fired? Afterall Juan Williams was not the first nor will he be the last employee to be so fired by a media house or radio station, based on a hurt-feeling emanating from what was said or written about. Dan Rather was fired by CBS for a news report critical of George Bush's service or lack thereof in the military; Don Imus was fired for a commentary of "nappy hairs" in reference to Rutgers female basketball players; and most recently, Rick Sanchez was fired by CNN for stating the fact that Jews control the media in America. Now suddenly Juan Williams was let go and low and behold, the heavens will fall if he is not reinstated? Said who? Who in his real senses is asking that this Uncle Tom gets his job back at NPR, fully seized of his dirty mouth that needs some soap-washing? Definitely not NAACP and not Icheoku, as this guy has sold his black-soul to the white devil and hauntingly thinks himself white and more superior as he continuously disparages black people. During the 2008 President Barack Obama's presidential campaign effort, this Juan WIlliams readily commented as if he regrets the color of his skin and never supported Obama's effort. Now he has been told to his face that hanging out with White people does not automatically earn one certain privileges such as unabridged freedom of speech or otherwise make one a white person.

The firing of Juan Williams once again shows what minorities in America must always put up with - to advise themselves that they should always know their place within any given setup, when they are magnanimously let in. Also to learn how to fall in line and only speak when they are spoken to or told to; and speak only what they have been told to say, but never to have or formulate any independent opinion or be let go in defiance. Regrettably too, several years since slavery ended and with a blackman in the white House, it is still same old same old as it appertains to black Americans and other minorities who are expected to always defer to their white superiors and as a correlation, keep their thoughts to themselves. To survive, they must become totally and completely emasculated, 'zombie-fied' and kow-tow to whatever line that are drawn for them by their superiors and assume a complete subservient status that is expected of them otherwise their ass is out the door as the Juan William example just told. Icheoku believes that were Rush Limbaugh a blackman or any other minority, spitting the incendiary toxicity he spews out five days a week on our airwaves, steps would have since been taken to cage him or to borrow their words, let him go! But hey, he is a white-boy and hence privileged to holler fire in a crowded theater, while media minders pretend it is Oxycontin that is speaking and that it is not really his act?.

Icheoku has no beef with any employer cutting loose an employee, but please let it be for some good reason or cause and not just for such subjective non-plus reason that a speech was deduced as capable of demeaning a group. CNN's Rick Sanchez is also a victim of this conspiracy to subjugate and shut-up minorities of America, their voices stifled and near-silenced and no one among them ever allowed to rise above certain pay-grades within the media industrial complex. All the major networks have no minority host of a program and Icheoku makes bold to ask, if the Jews do not own and control the media in America, who does; and this was the offence Rick Sanchez was accused of committing resulting in his ouster from the CNN? But who among these conservative sympathizers rose in defense of Rick Sanchez when he was fired or was it because they considered him an elitist liberal freethinker; unlike their lap-dog Juan Williams; who they are now raising hell to have reinstated or have the government subsidy to NPR withdrawn in lieu. Whether Juan is a marked man waiting to be taken-down Icheoku does not know for certain, but suffice it to say that both NPR and Fox-News are such two polar opposites that one wonders how anyone could sincerely and objectively work for both stations and still go to bed at night eyes shut, convinced that he did himself and his listeners some service. But Icheoku shall rest on one commentator's observation that 'Juan Williams association with Fox-News was troubling and most likely damaged NPR's reputation for objectivity; to have a well known voice of Fox-News serving in the capacity as an NPR commentator. Good enough Fox-News have signed Juan to a two million dollar contract as a payback for holding forte their and shamelessly driving their agenda. What a reward for selling one's conscience and people still blame Judas; but that does not give NPR right to censure speeches in that fashion?

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS DEFEATS PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, GOES FOR WORLD SERIES!

The Giants by the Bay demolished Philadelphia's Phillies 3-2 to clinch a place for the 2010 Major Baseball League World Series against Dallas Texas Rangers. Icheoku congratulates San Francisco Giants for this dream come true, so many years in making. GO GIANTS

$475,000 FOR THIS BABY, IF YOU COULD WOULD YOU?

Mercedes McLaren, Micheal Jordan has one but has put it up for sale. Icheoku asks, assuming you can would you? Go figure!

ABUJA BOMB BLAST, A BLAST AIDED BY AND MIRED IN GROSS INCOMPETENCE!

Icheoku says at no other time has the truth been murdered much more by the Nigerian security operatives as was in the press conference addressed by Marilyn Ogar, assistant director public relations of the dreadful Nigerian State Security Services. While addressing a press conference to inform the world on the ongoing investigation into the Abuja independence anniversary celebration bombing, Madam Assistant Director said, "The SSS is a public service and people come here and go out at will. The vehicles used for the bombing were wired for detonation at Charles Okah’s house in Port Harcourt and driven to Abuja."

Icheoku cries holly molly and queries, since when has the Nigerian gestapo state security services shed its cloak and dagger? Since when did the Nigerian SSS become a pub where citizens freely visit for leisure and pleasure or is Icheoku loosing its mind or recollection or mistaken as to the true nature of the very SSS being referenced here? If the SSS is now a public service where people come and go at will, why did it then take Raymond Dokpesi thirteen frigging hours to make up his mind to leave after he was "invited" there, suspected of having a role in the bombing of October 1st 2010 Abuja independence celebration? Anyway previous guests of the Nigerian SSS would attest as to this unfounded claim since they know how truly free they went to the said public service and how they left on their own free will; but like the preaching goes, you shall know the truth and only the truth shall set you free. So Madam Marilyn Ogar, how truthful a witness are you with this statement as to the friendly nature of the business of the Nigeria SSS?

Now to the portion of her statement that Icheoku seriously has issue with, that "the vehicles used for the bombing were wired for detonation at Charles Okah’s house in Port Harcourt and driven to Abuja." Anyone conversant with Nigeria and what obtains therein, including the nature of the roads as well as those annoying security check points alias "road-blocks" which dot every corner of road in Nigeria knows that it will be impracticable for these rag-tag vehicles used in the bombing to have been driven unnoticed from Port Harcourt to Abuja as this woman is now trying to sell to the world. The distance from Port-Harcourt to Abuja is about 416 miles (661km) and at about the usually one security checkpoint per two miles would have roughly yielded about 350 roadblocks between the two cities. Now, how did MEND pull this feat off - driving three bomb rigged vehicles from Port-Harcourt to Abuja undetected, except they had some inside help or possibly some security operatives directing the drive or even drove those vehicles themselves with full police and/or even army escorts. If MEND as alleged could drive two or three bomb laden vehicles into the seat of government in Abuja, then no one is safe in Nigeria including the political high-ups; except that it could not have happened as this Madam Assistant Director is struggling to make the world to believe.

But Icheoku is not buying it and will not let her to successfully pull the wool over the world's eyes with this her account of the route travelled of these bomb vehicles. Except she is shielding some security operatives on their involvement, this investigation should be expanded to include unraveling the logistics of driving these bomb-laden vehicles hitch-free from Port Harcourt into Abuja and how it was successfully pulled off without being detected.

Those five suspects currently being held in custody and soon to be charged to court, reminds Icheoku of the military days when serving prisoners are usually brought before television cameras and paraded as suspects in some politically charged high crimes such as the murder of Pa Alfred Rewane by Abacha goons. But who are these suspects; what do they look like; or are they ghosts without names or facial identifications? Nigeria and the world demand that faces be put on these alleged bombers that they and their families be shamed for their dastardly terrorism against the people of Nigeria and on their national day of celebration. But nay, all the security services have are ghost-bombers who must be hidden from the public and used as scape-goats to solve a politically charged crime. A case especially compounded after the shot at the foot of a gaffe perpetrated by President Goodluck Jonathan whose mouth preceded his brain as he alleged that "he knew the bombers, that they are not MEND but a small group of terrorists residing outside the shores of Nigeria. Icheoku asks Mr. President, if these terrorists resided outside Nigeria, did they telepathically plant and detonate those bombs? If the terrorists resided outside Nigeria, when did they return or visit Nigeria to now be arrested and undergoing investigation? And if they reside outside Nigerians and not Nigerians, why are these Nigerians being arrested or are the arrested not Nigerians?

But as to the veracity of this Madam Assistant Director's statement, Icheoku now takes her address apart to show some missing links. First she failed or refused to disclose the type of materials used in making the bomb, whether it is TNT, plastic explosive, dynamite or even ammonia nitrate aka fertilizer? What type of detonator triggering or timing device that was used to set off the bomb; whether some accelerates were used; whether shrapnel were indicated to maximize injury; and the tonnage or strength of the bomb used. Or was the press conference the normal Nigerian official rattling-off, believing she was talking to some dumb and dumber Nigerian populace or she did not care enough to give some assuring details within a reasonable degree as would not compromise investigation but still capable of throwing some further light on what was going on with their investigation. Icheoku says the science of explosives does not support the assertion that fully wired vehicles rigged with bombs and ready to go-off, were driven through those rough pot-hole filled roads from Port-Harcourt to Abuja without them detonating en-route. We are talking about charges which gallops or uncontrolled acceleration and deceleration could have triggered causing a bang or fireworks ever before they reached Abuja.

The inconsistencies in this press conference raises further curiosity and Icheoku hereby call on the Nigerian authorities to seek help elsewhere as they try to solve the mystery of the independence bombing; as the so-far put forward scenario does not cut it. It is bogus and anyone with some modicum of the physics and chemistry at play here will laugh out loud that some wired for explosion vehicles would be driven for almost 416 miles without any explosive incident on the way. An investigative agency worth its name would trace the source or chemical coding of the explosives, using residue of the bomb and once this signature is established can then trace the makers and their sellers to know who bought what. That way a more realistic chain of forensic investigative methodology could be establish leading to a believable suspect or suspects. But to punt in this fashion expecting the world to believe the outcome of their investigation is rather hubris akin to getting a mathematical question correct but without establishing how you arrived at the answer or conclusion reached. America's Timothy McVeigh's Oklahoma City bombing is a good case in point where good forensics were fully deployed to solve one of the most heinous and callous bombing of a public place by a fringed anti-decency domestic terrorist, Timothy McVeigh. Hopefully these Nigerian scape-goats will soon have their day in court and with a good lawyer will lay to waste this rush to solve a politically charged case of the bombing of a 17 billion Naira independence anniversary celebration in Abuja.

Madam Assistant Director also claimed during her press conference that MEND's ambassador plenipotentiary, Charles Tombra Okah has been identified as the alter-ego of ‘Gbomo Jomo,’ and that he uses that alias to send emails on behalf of MEND including those that warned of the impending blasts which later took off the shine from an ill-advise, thoughtless, self-serving and wasteful extravaganza amidst millions of hungry Nigerians. Now a good gum-shoes would have gone a step further to inform the world on how they reached that conclusion - informing the world on the evidential steps taken to arrive at that determination. But no, she was addressing a cowered populace whose journalists have eaten of the truth-forbidden fruit and for brown enveloped transport money, would not waste their time digging deep into a developing story. The assistant director said it and that makes it true; really? There was no identity suggesting the two personalities as the same person; there was no information scooped from a hard-drive somewhere to buttress the assertion; there was no percipient witness who testified as to the dual identities; or was there any false document/s with the alias found in Okah's possession with his picture on it; yet she told the world that the SS has identified Okah as the 'Gbomo Jomo.' Icheoku asks, if it is truly Okah that is Gbomo Jomo, why then does the said Gbomo Jomo still write emails while its body-double Okah is in detention in faraway South Africa; or is he getting access to a computer as was his interview with Al-Jazeera television while in detention? If truly Okah is the Gbomo Jomo, why did another Gbomo Jomo write again just this week alerting Abuja residents of an upcoming bombing of their city? Icheoku strongly believes that political pressure is pushing state security operatives into desperately wanting to solve this problem immediately and in the process, things are being muddled up and rushed through. Just in case, a direct question to Madam Assistant Director, 'how did your agency establish that Okah is the same person as Gbomo Jomo?

Further, Icheoku asks if the arrest of Raymond Dokpesi was not in connection with the explosion, why then was he falsely detained and for thirteen long hours without access to his lawyers, friends and family? Why then was he confined and for such a long period. Icheoku queries further if Raymond Dokpesi did not 'freely walk into the SSS' in connection with the explosion, what then was his business going or being there or did he also mistake it for his new dig as the campaign headquarters of the evil-one, former maximum ruler Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. If Raymond Dokpesi was not arrested, but simply visited on his own free-will, has the SSS since apologized to him for unnecessary and unreasonably prolonging his said visit or pay him compensation for his time? Simply put, this assistant director was not leveling with or telling the world what the true state of affairs is regarding the investigation into the independence day Abuja bombing; except statements are diversionary curve balls. Whatever information these guinea pigs may have already supplied or would eventually supply was not voluntary and must have been extracted from them through unbearable torture.

Icheoku calls on the SSS to produce these suspects immediately for physical body examination for signs of torture, of battered and broken bodies, busted lips as well as black eyes. The usual broomstick insert into the phallus, the hanging on the ceiling fan, the mosquitoes, the stewing of bucket receptor of human feces as well as liver-punches are all too familiar and would make even the most hard-core terrorist confess to anything. Talk about the real cruel and unusual punishment and water-boarding becomes a pic-nic or a walk in the park. But with such a damning humiliation of a nation and her fledgling providential president, leading to the death of 16 innocent Nigerians with 67 others wounded, Icheoku can only imagine what hell on earth these detained suspects are currently going through as payment for the incident. To add that they are detained in a tomb-like underground facility without any light rays at all, a place similar to dungeons of the ancient Rome might be TMI; but hey the world should know the type of cohesive evidence of complicity this woman is bragging about.

Finally, if it is true that this week's 'Gbomo Jomo' used the same Zoom Mobile modem to send out the warning email and also sent it from Lagos as was the previous Gbomo Jomo modus operandi, then it is correct to posit that this Gbomo Jomo is capable of being more than one person? Or better still that the Nigeria SSS spoke rather too quickly that they have netted the Gbomo Jomo or a Gbomo Jomo? What if Gbomo Jomo is a call letter code-name and that it is not even a real live human-being? Based on this latest warning development, Icheoku believes that Gbomo Jomo is still out there if he/she/it exists; and that the authorities in Nigeria have the wrong Gbomo Jomo or most plausible that Gbomo Jomo is just an assumed name personality code. This latest SSS briefing that Okah is Gbomo Jomo reminds one of the emphatic exculpation of MEND by President Jonathan as not being the independence day bombers while the same MEND was vociferously stating their claim to the bombing. Here a Gbomo Jomo is saying that he truly exists and that Henry Okah is not him, yet the SSS is insisting that Okah is Gbomo Jomo; and while Gbomo Jomo is still writing his/her emails as Henry Okah, the SSS's Gbomo Jomo, is cooling-off in detention in South Africa. Like Eminem Slim Shady once asked and Icheoku hereby re-asks, could the real Gbomo Jomo please stand up!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, NOW AN IGBO HIGH-CHIEF!

Chinaemeze (God's anoints the king) of Igboland title is the latest feather on his cap; and with it the Igbo people of Nigeria hopes to be on the better side of the ongoing political jigsaw in Nigeria. Icheoku hopes too that like the people of Kano was asked to name their price for their support of President Goodluck Jonathan's candidacy for election 2011, that Ndigbo also named their price for their own support. Goodluck to both of you - the President and Ndigbo as well as Nigeria in the coming 2011 election! Congratulations Chief Jonathan!

'RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH' JIMMY MCMILLIAN, NY GOVERNOR WANNA BE!

The mustache is unique and so also is his campaign slogan, 'Rent is too damn high!' Icheoku admires the colorful Brooklyn brother who just added some zest in the otherwise "Paladino said this Paladino said that" New York State governorship campaign. Jimmy 'Rent is too damn high' is a 64-year old retired postal worker from Flatbush, Brooklyn. Icheoku wishes the candidate well.

FAYEMI SWORN IN

That makes it three for Action Congress of Nigeria governors; the other two being Lagos State's Fashola and Edo State's Oshimole. Icheoku says, congratulations Fayemi and the ACN for fighting for true democracy and that votes are counted. Gradually the ACN is growing into a formidable opposition party to the PDP and if only Atiku was not pursuing his selfish interest hopping parties, may be the ACN would have been the party to beat in today's Nigeria.

ANTILIA, WHEN MONEY IS NOT A PROBLEM!

India's richest man and the world's fourth richest person, Mukesh Ambani, just made a very loud statement with his newly completed private residence. The 27 storiess high-rise in Mumbai has all imaginable life amenities including helipads and air-traffic control tower? It took 7 years to complete it at an initial cost estimate of $70 million which later ballooned significantly but he is not disclosing. The residence will employ 600 minders to help Mr. Mukesh Ambani get through his life-struggles? You're right; but hey when you are worth $27 billion you can employ as many as 1000 servants for all that Icheoku care and on this note, Icheoku wishes the owner and occupant of this 570 feet high tower jolly living! But remember this is in a country where about 700 million people live below poverty level and the movie "Slum dog millionaire" helped throw more lights on the situation - the abject existing poverty in India. But Mukesh Ambani cannot be responsible for every Indian poor, right?

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO IS A HOMOPHOBE, CALLS HOMOSEXUALITY AN ABOMINATION!

"I believe that God who created man, male and female, is a wise God, is to me a God who doesn't make a mistake. If he wants sexual relationship between man and man, and between woman and woman, God will not have created them male and female. For me it is an abomination and if anybody practices it then he must be unbiblical, and anything that is unbiblical for me as a Christian is not right. What is the privacy of your home? Why don't you take an animal and say look, the privacy of your home, you want to make love to a horse? Bestiality. You say that is right? No. If the privacy of your home means a socially condemnable act, then you have no privacy. You have done what you should not do and if the law says you should be punished for it, whether you do it in public or the privacy of your home, you have breached the law and you must be punished, according to the law." - Olusegun Obasanjo. Icheoku says and this NIgerian man has no trouble sleeping with his son's wife and his daughter in-law. Icheoku adds, did anybody remember to ask Obasanjo if incestuous misbehavior is also an abomination?

'GOP RUNS ON THE BIG LIE' - REVEREND JESSE JACKSON!

As we head into the final weeks before the election, it is time for closing arguments. Democrats run largely as defenders of working and middle class families, fighting against the entrenched special interests that have stood in the way of the changes we need. They are pushing for jobs programs, for health care reform, for curbing Wall Street, for moving to renewable energy.

By contrast, Republicans are marching in virtual lockstep with banks and corporations in resisting reform. Republicans pushed to weaken the recovery plan, and now pledge to repeal what is left of it. They opposed extending unemployment insurance. They opposed curbing Wall Street. They opposed health care reforms that would stop insurance companies from cutting off your coverage if you get sick. Now, they are holding the extension of tax cuts to middle class families hostage unless the richest Americans get an additional tax cut, demanding that the government borrow another $700 billion over 10 years to pay for an extra tax cut for the wealthiest Americans.

So what do they run on? They run mostly against -- seeking to harvest votes cast in protest against the lousy economy. But former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has a different idea: He wants them to run on the big lie. In a memo to Republicans, he urges them to contrast Republicans as the party of "paychecks" against Democrats as the party of "food stamps." The only problem with this formulation is that it is simply a lie.

In reality, Republican presidents have a worse record on job creation going back to Herbert Hoover and the onset of the Great Depression. And the worst record since World War II was racked up by George Bush and the Republican Congress. Manufacturing lost one in four jobs under Bush as the president remained ignorant of the China challenge and his advisers claimed that off-shoring -- multinationals moving jobs abroad -- was good for America. Then came the worst downturn since the Great Depression, with the economy in freefall, losing 750,000 jobs a month by the time Barack Obama was sworn in.

Coming out of this collapse has been brutal, with Americans having lost about $10 trillion in savings or off the values of their homes. But as bad as it has been, and despite Republican obstruction, the recovery plan stanched the fall -- and Obama has created more jobs in the recession than Bush created in eight years in office. Republicans aren't the party of paychecks; they are the party of pink slips and red ink.

And Gingrich's intended slur on food stamps is simply ignorance. As Republican Sen. Richard Lugar noted, "People now see it's necessary to have a strong food stamp program." Among families with children, nearly half of all those on food stamps -- 47 percent -- are working. Food stamps ensure decent nutrition for children in low-wage families. When the economy collapsed under Bush and unemployment soared, more people became eligible for food stamps. These not only ensure that the unemployed don't starve; they also subsidize America's farmers and grocery store owners. Food stamps are one of the most efficient forms of economic stimulus. The stamps provide customers for stores and save jobs. The least-efficient stimulus? Exactly what Gingrich and Republicans are fighting for: tax cuts for the wealthy who don't need the money, tend not to spend it and these days often invest it abroad.

Gingrich isn't a policy analyst; he's a politician. His intention isn't to inform, but to deceive. But in this case the big lie is particularly perverse. If Republicans take control of Congress and carry through on their promise to roll back spending on jobs while cutting taxes for the wealthy, we'll see even more pink slips and fewer paychecks. Unless Republicans decide that the cost of offering $100,000 annual tax cuts to millionaires is not worth thousands more hungry children, more families will be eligible for food stamps.

Icheoku says Republicans is not the answer to the question, how do we move the country forward? What is needed in November are more Democrats voted for in both House of Representative and the Senate to help President Obama complete the job at hand. Please do not let them cash in on your assumed amnesia - that you have so soon forgotten what it is that almost brought the country to the edge of darkness, the eight years of their President GW Bush. Now the Republicans expect a miracle of a magic wand to wand off all the problems that took more than eight years to create, just under eighteen months. Icheoku says it is hard work and it will take some time and the President and his men are focused and directed! Do not allow them to brainwash you, this November 2nd, VOTE DEMOCRATS!

CHINUA ACHEBE, HAUNTED BY AN EVER ELUSIVE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE!

At 80 plus years old and still counting, with several literary works of fiction, including one world-famous and globally read classics of all times, 'Things Fall Apart', to his credit, Professor Chinua Achebe of Nigeria is still hopeful; waiting anxiously for the ever elusive Nobel Prize for Literature award. Regrettably, Stockholm has not dialed his number just yet and the 2010 opportunity came but also eluded him and for the umpteenth time. Unfortunately, Professor Chinua Achebe is watching his dream of winning the coveted Nobel Prize for Literature gradually evaporate before his own eyes and in his lifetime; and this must surely make him one less of a happy and fulfilled man.

Year after year, it is with great expectation, excitement and anticipation laced with melancholy, of what have become a purposeful neglect of his literary prowess and accomplishment, that his family and friends world-over, had hoped that at last his moment had come. That finally the world through Stockholm will recognize his many works and accordingly honor him with that cherished Nobel Prize for Literature. But as each year passed by, with it went millions of dashed hopes of admirers waiting to see their literary hero rightfully honored.

For inexplicable and unfathomable reasons/excuses, Professor Chinua Achebe is always red-flagged and denied the privilege of this award. In this fog of no-reason or lack of any meaningful one whatsoever, justifying the refusal and/or denial to honor Achebe with a Nobel Prize, Icheoku had figured out what the root cause might be - the associated politics of the selection process of the Nobel Prize Committee in Stockholm Denmark. Icheoku says, it is because Chinua Achebe's writing is considered politically too hot to handle and somewhat very radioactive that he has not been accorded that singular honor and time is no longer on his side. However, the army of Chinua Achebe's friends and family will take particular exception with the Nobel Prize Committee in the future event they ever posthumously award the honor to Achebe long after he passes away. Icheoku hereby call on the 'wise-men and women' of Stockholm Nobel Academy to stop forthwith the playing of politics with honoring Chinua Achebe with a Nobel Prize for Literature. Achebe has earned and rightfully merited to be so honored; his literary exploits speaks volume as to the preeminence qualification of this literally giant and son of Africa for this award and Icheoku calls on the Nobel Academy to make Chinua Achebe one happy recipient now while he is still alive. Enough of the politics, Nobel Prize Committee.

Icheoku is taking umbrage with the Nobel Prize committee for not recognizing Chinua Achebe so many years since his Nigeria contemporary Professor Wole Soyinka was rightly honored in 1986. Two decades plus later, it is still just hopes that someday Achebe's time will come and Icheoku asks when would the time of an 80 year old come if not now; except they would rather honor him posthumously? It is 2010 and a Peruvian writer Mario Varga Llosa is the year's winner and Icheoku asks the people of Stockholm Nobel Academy, when will Nigeria's Albert Chinualumogu Achebe receive his own Nobel Prize for Literature, especially for his 'Things Fall Apart?" Or is it a case of the Falcon which still is unable to hear the Falconer, that the Nobel Prize Committee is playing deaf to this great expectation and clarion call for them to honor a man whose time has since come to be so honored as a Nobel Laurette.

Icheoku is talking about Nigeria's Chinua Achebe and states that he has earned the privilege of becoming a Nobel Laurette for Literature for his works, particularly Things Fall Apart. Further, Icheoku says, except there are some other mundane and sentimental/subjective considerations other than pure meritocracy, which is beclouding the sense of judgment of the Nobel Academy selection committee, there is no reason why Chinua Achebe should not have been honored with a Nobel Prize for Literature. In his Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe wrote a parity about the colonial Europe and their religion, with which they forayed into Africa and caused so much friction; and drove a knife through the body-fabric of a society that was previously homogeneously water-tight. The question no one has attempted to answer is whether Europe liked this their being put on the spot and being held responsible for fractious Africa by Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'. Icheoku does not think that Europeans are happy campers and we strongly believe this is one of the reasons why Chinua Achebe has not been recognized by the Nobel Academy. Like Nelson Mandela who refused to be silenced and suffered greatly for his people, Chinua Achebe is suffering because his work cast aspersion on the European colonial masters; the same people tele-guiding who received or does not receive the award.

Further it would appear also that Chinua Achebe does not have enough lobbyists working the Nobel Academy committee on his behalf; but hey if the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo could win the Nobel Prize sitting in a prison, who then needs a lobbyist? But not when you are an African, whose works are perceived in certain quarters as somewhat "antagonistic" of the European colonial adventurism in Africa; and it is the same Europeans who decides who receives what prize. So the greatest lobbyist known to man could not have been able to make any difference in the matter of Chinua Achebe and the elusive Nobel Prize for Literature. Also does Chinua Achebe command a huge profile which the Nobel Prize Committee would want to tap into and harness; the jury is possibly still out on that issue but Icheoku strongly believes that he may need to do more to keep the media-light flashing either through interviews or press statements or even becoming somewhat more radicalized and outspoken or even controversial. Also his current affiliation with the David and Marianna Fisher University as Professor as well as Professor of African Studies at Brown University in Providence Rhode Island should be an added profile booster; assuming the Swedes are magnanimous enough to get-over the underlying militating political considerations and induct Chinua Achebe into the hall of Nobel Prize Laureates. So the Swedish Nobel Prize Academy that will like to know the mileage they can get out of an Achebe' Nobel Prize, now have it.

Like Peru's president Alan Garcia said of Vargas Llosa Nobel Prize, Icheoku says the same of Chinua Achebe, 'that the award of Nobel Prize for Literature to Chinua Achebe of Nigeria is long overdue' and hereby implore the Nobel Prize committee not to miss the next opportunity in 2011, since youth is no longer on the side of the Nigerian literary giant who is now 80 plus old. It will be a thing of great honor to right the wrong now of many years of neglect of a man whose work has been translated into over 158 languages and read throughout the world. It is a cry for remedy and Icheoku hopes the Nobel Prize Academy is not tone-deaf. Chinua Achebe is a story-teller of no mean repute and Icheoku challenges the Nobel Prize committee to tell the world how many other literary works ever, have taken man into the insides of humanity as did 'Things Fall Apart'? So what then is the grudge which they hold against Chinua Achebe not to bestow on him an honor and recognition which is since long due? Borrowing from the praise poured on Vargas Llosa by one of the committee members, Icheoku says of Chinua Achebe, "He has a number of masterpieces in narration because essentially he's a narrator, he's a storyteller. My goodness, what a storyteller Chinua Achebe is!"

With so many works to his credit including Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, A Man of the People, The Sacrificial Egg, Antihills of the Savannah and The Problem with Nigeria, Icheoku does not see why this writing genius has not been deemed a fit and proper person to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature; except the Swedes resent his political activism and anti-racism crusading. Icheoku remembers vividly the controversial lecture Chinua Achebe delivered in 1975 titled "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" wherein he criticized Joseph Conrad as a bloody racist; and queries whether such outspokenness may be the albatross hounding his being considered for this recognition by the Conrads of this world at Stockholm's Nobel Prize Academy. Our plea, let Professor Albert Chinuanulumogu Achebe receive his Nobel Prize for Literature now, 2011 that is; so that he can celebrate while he is still alive since an 80 year old man does not have much time any longer but merely lives on borrowed times. It is the right thing to do, the correct thing to do and to deny him this award is wrong and unjust.

YAKUBU GOWON, A GENOCIDAL MANIAC, HIS HANDWORK!

Whether they survived the asphyxiating economic blockade of Biafra by the maniacal Yakubu Gowon, helped by Awolowo, no one knows; but Icheoku wish to keep their sacrifices in our minds - little children whom Yakubu Gowon starved to death and near death during his Biafra genocidal war against the Igbo people of Nigeria. Icheoku says, it shall not be well with Yakubu Gowon for using starvation as a weapon of mass destruction against Biafrans!

HELP THE ECONOMY REBOUND, BUY MADE IN AMERICA TODAY!

Contribute today to the economic revival effort, buy made in the USA. Icheoku says that is the only meaning and true way to get out of the economic woods. Simply put, buying American made and manufactured goods is the solution to reviving our staggering economy. So stop creating jobs overseas for foreign workers, do not patronize products manufactured by out-sourced labor and in such plants.

CECILIA IBRU, A CONVICT, JOINS BODE GEORGE IN THE BIG HOUSE!

Yes, it is real and it is happening in Nigeria as the matron of the Ibru previously untouchable family of Warri, Cecil Ibru, is now a convicted felon. She was found guilty of bank fraud and sentenced to prison for a paltry time of eighteen months. However Icheoku says kudos to the Madam Farida Waziri led EFCC that achieved this hitherto unimaginable feat, sending Nigeria's very well connected socialite to prison. Icheoku says Cecilia Ibru's guilty verdict, added to the former Bode George's, shows that the case of Nigeria is not completely hopeless as many of us tend to believe. If a Bode George and now an Ibru could be convicted in a Nigerian court by a Nigerian judge and sentenced to prison, then there is some flicker of hope that someday the country Nigeria will be a legal equalizing ground for everyone irrespective of his/her social standing.

It shall become Uhuru in Nigeria the day the legal tenet of equality under the law reigns supreme and Nigeria's prodigious 'big men and women' no longer simply get away with breaking the law just because they are rich and connected. That day, Nigeria's problems will become 3/4 solved and Icheoku looks forward to such a day with great excitement that at last Nigeria has truly come of age as a civilized society of laws and not men.

On a lighter side, Icheoku wonders if the Ibrus did not 'make the judge in this case 'an offer he cannot refuse' or was the judge simply one of a kind special person who is tired of the rot in Nigeria and choose to make a statement. Anyway, thank you Judge Abutu and we pray there will be more of your courageous and incorruptible types to emerge within the Nigerian judiciary and clean the Augean stable that is a Nigeria profusely corrupted. To Madam Convict Cecilia Ibru, Icheoku says, please say hi to the other convict Bode George when you get to prison to begin your term as a jail-bird. What a shame that you dipped your fatty hands into bank's money and brought public shame and odium to the once enviable Ibru family.

As managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru allegedly granted credit facilities totaling about 747 billion Naira half of which went to his family and friends. Lest Icheoku forgets, we will like to ask Cecilia Ibru what was she doing with all those properties seized from her valued at more than 190 billion Naira or did she not learn any moral lesson from the biblical teachings in Ecclesiastes 1:2 while nesting her greedy fat stomach? It is quite unfortunate that a woman and a mother should be such a grand-scale thief and robber/looter of the treasury of a bank under her care and administration. What a shame to womanhood, Cecilia Ibru!

INDEPENDENCE BOMBING, OKAH LIED ON HIS "BLAME NORTHERNERS" STORY?'

What a cheap get-even desperate ploy to create a treacherous rift between President Jonathan and the northern opposition; and thereby make a messy situation messier; and then in between the ensuing melee, find a way to get out of his asphyxiating legal choke-hold. It would have been very brilliant plot, the stuff excellent crime novels are made of, except that nobody seriously speaking, not even a dullard, buys into this crap of 'implicate the northerners' story as told by the Niger Delta terrorist in exile independence celebration bomber Henry Okah. This guy deserves no mercy and should be hanged!

Icheoku wonders earnestly what type of infighting people that populate the Niger Delta that they should beef with one another in this manner as to desire to incriminate the president of Nigeria? What hatred does this Niger Delta Henry Okah has in himself that will make him want to bring the government of another Niger Delta man, President Jonathan down with such a grave allegation capable of shaking Nigeria to its foundation? Why does Henry Okah want to set up one of his own and president of Nigeria Jonathan, against the North and in this cut-throat manner. Is it possible that some Niger Deltans, including this hellish Okah, are still smarting and internally protesting President Jonathan's mercurial rise to power and his present occupation of a Niger Delta throne which was not rightfully his by their warped calculations; being not part of the militancy which cuts through the length and breath of the entire watery region? Is it possible too that those financiers of the militancy movement are not happy with Jonathan and petty jealousy is fueling this their resentment that they are prepared to go to any length to sabotage his government.

Is Okah now a readily willing tool in these peoples hand or do they have a joker they want to pull at the Nigerian people, already traumatized by the unfolding drama that was a bomb on their country's independence day celebration, facilitating these barrage of accusations and counter-accusations? Does Okah have any smoking gun or is this all he got and was merely bluffing that the president's aide approached him to conspire against the northern people? Why was Al-Jazeera Television allowed unlimited access to an accused person in detention for terrorism that claimed the lives of so many innocent Nigerians? Why was terror master-mind Henry Okah not handed over to the Americans so that they can find him a suitable accommodation at the infamous Guantanamo (prison) Terrorist vacation home in Cuba? So many questions needing answers present themselves if only Nigeria still have some investigative journalists ready to dig deep and fish out the real story instead of their present trade of pay-to-play garbage and reportorial. Is it also possible that these Niger Delta terrorists with their front man Henry Okah still have the sympathy of James Ibori, DSP Alamaseigha and Sylva to whom they owe their loyalty and are merely trying to telegraph President Jonathan a message that some people outside his Aso Rock still call the shot; and that somehow he is not fully in control or in charge of affairs in Nigeria especially in the Niger Delta.

Icheoku says balderdash to the claim by Henry Okah that "an aide of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan called and asked him to "blame the Northern politicians" for the Independence anniversary bombing in Abuja." Anybody with even a simplistic juvenile knowledge about the workings of security agencies knows that they do not operate in this reckless manner as alleged by terrorist Henry Okah. If a mole or an aide of the president is to approach a person on behalf of the state, there is usually subtle pre-move feelers sent out to know if the target will bite. It is usually done with discreet caution and never as blatant as Henry Okah is trying to sell to gullible Nigerians. Such prospecting is never as direct and plain as Henry Okah described and even using a telephone to communicate such is near impossible, except it is scrambled and secure line. The approach would have been somewhat like, "what do you think if this thing that happened in Abuja on Friday was shifted elsewhere?" Then subsequent discussion will be predicated on the response got and if unfavorable, it trails off into the cold annals of secret agent 007. The enthusiasm of the prospective contact always determine the next steps to be taken while eliciting such a high consequence assistance. Moreso, if the government had any such plans to scapegoat anybody or group, they would have tidied up every loose end prior to the bomb setting off but definitely not after the train has left the station and everybody is in a panic mode.

What terrorist Henry Okah is alleging is akin to the school of conspiracy o 9/11 which claims that the government of the United States permitted the wanton provocation that was September 11, 2001 to find reason to march into Iraq and take out Saddam Hussein; and you wonder what lunatic government would allow 3000 of its citizens to so painfully die just to set up an attack. Any security operative that walks that part as Henry Okah volunteered ought to be fired and does not deserve to work for the good of any state including Nigeria. Further it was very puerile for the president's spokesman Ima Niboro to challenge Okah to name the implicated aide as nothing stops Okah from just reeling out a name from among all the aides working for the president. The proper rebuttal and best approach would have been to obtain the transcript of the alleged telephone conversation and see who called who and what they discussed. But regrettably, many Nigerian officials are like Nasir el-Rufai said of Babangida, still in the yesteryear of technology and assume that Blackberry is a type of fruit? Icheoku asks, what is the rocket-science in verifying this conspiracy claim since Henry Okah mentioned a telephone call and not that he was approached by an aide physically and personally. Just order the damn transcript and lay waste this allegation or timidly watch as it gathers momentum and turns int a whirlwind!

Just see the fluidity of Okah's statement that "they wanted to blame the attacks on northerners 'who are trying to fight against him' (Jonathan) to come back as president in 2011 and if this was done, I was not going to have problems with the South African government." Icheoku says, any person with some common sense or who has some rudimentary knowledge of law of evidence will know that this is a very watery allegation of fictitious nature. Why would President Jonathan's aide go to the rudimentary detail of re-informing Henry Okah that 'the northerners are trying to fight against him (Jonathan) to come back as president" when it is a worldly available information and the Nigeria polity had since been seized of that fact and for several months now that Jonathan is running and the north want to stop him? It is simply TMI (too much information) and portrays Okah in a very bad light as a lying scumbag and someone who was purposely and overtly embellishing a concocted story. Secondary, since when did the fledgling Nigerian government started dictating to the South African judiciary as to promise Okah that he was not going to have problems with the South African government once he cooperated? What a life of fantastical non-plause, this terrorist Henry Okah lives in and he thinks he can hold the entire 150 million Nigerians hostage?

Icheoku hereby calls the Nigerian government to seek the extradition of this terrorist from South Africa pronto and seek the death penalty for him for this offence. This guy is wickedly very callous and now has the blood of about 36 innocent Nigerians on his dirty filthy hands; and to add insult to injury, he is making allegation about the office of the Nigerian president. If any one criminal deserves the death penalty in Nigeria, this cockroach is a sure candidate; but if only President Jonathan got the balls to do what is demanded of this hour and time in Nigeria. How did Henry Okah know what was going through Jonathan's mind when he (Jonathan) absolved MEND or is he equally privy to Jonathan's inner workings too or was he working in tandem with the fired Col Areh and could this be the reason why he was abruptly retired? How did this terrorist secure knowledge about what he is alleging and/or how well-founded was his information. When the president said the bombing was carried out by some terrorists outside the country sponsored by unpatriotic elements within the country, was he referring to Okah and co-terrorists; and if, how did they gain access into the country, suggesting that they had some local collaborators and conspirators within Nigeria. Therefore it was an unverified faulty premise that President Jonathan spoke upon when he absolved MEND while blaming the anniversary bombing on some fantasy outside terrorists.

Borrowing from the Northern Group, Icheoku reiterates that the bombing was a callous and barbaric act of cowardice perpetrated by terrorist Henry Okah and group that are steeped in the culture of terrorism and unbridled violence and it is about time they are completely wiped out, exterminated just like the pestilence they have now transformed themselves into. Icheoku had a recurring sympathy for the Niger Delta struggle until Jonathan was sworn in as president and unrepentantly, they continued their mayhem assault on Nigerians; and you ask yourself, what else do these people want again having won the most coveted trophy in Nigeria, the Nigeria's presidency! Icheoku also agrees that terrorist Henry Okah and group are petty common criminals masquerading as militants and that they should be executed if found guilty for their insurrection against the Nigerian State. Also imagine the stupidity of this MEND, claiming that they never intended their bomb to kill anybody; yet they threw a live grenade into a crowded theatre and expected no casualty? Insanity redefined is the best way to describe Henry Okah and his MEND non-remorse remorse. Icheoku also agrees that terrorist Henry Okah and group are a notoriously violent terrorist group that must be hunted down, apprehended and punished dearly for their dastardly act of causing so many deaths and mayhem of kidnappings for ransom, rape, torture, arson etc.

However Icheoku does not think that President Jonathan is a closet member of MEND but reiterates that his statement absolving MEND in the face of their warning and admission of complicity in the anniversary bombing suggested that the president has a predetermined course of travel and that he should have been more creative with his position statement. Icheoku hereby categorically dismisses Henry Okah's story as unfounded based on positions canvassed above; similar to the same manner we wrote off the Nigerian government supposed evidence of complicity of Raymond Dokpesi/Babangida as a mere cheap forgery. Icheoku however strongly believes that somewhere in the middle of all these dusty, combatant, explosive talking over each others head, lies the gist of what went down on October 1st 2010 at Abuja's eagle Square. Icheoku is emphatic that only the good old meticulous investigative work will eventually unravel what was hidden so far regarding the anniversary bombings. Until then, Icheoku calls on all Nigerians to please sheath their swords of recriminations and await the final findings of the agency tasked with solving the subject matter bombings. In the interim, Nigerians should refocus themselves to and prepare for the 2011 elections; and stop and desist from further heating up the polity. President Jonathan should address the nation and explain what happened, steps taken by his government to prevent future occurrence and give further assurance that things are now under his full control.