MOTHER NATURE HAS LOST ITS MIND, PARKS CAR ON ROOF-TOP?

 When you think that the worst has been heard of mother-nature, then comes the parking of a care on a roof-top instead of the garage. One of the crazy things the Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Tsunami accomplished as it rampaged through the land is to mistake a roof-top for a garage. Our hearts goes out to the people of Japan in this time of great tribulation and we pray they pull through it in defiance of mother-nature who seem to have served them a quit notice from their land?

NIGERIA'S POWER PROBLEM SOLVED, USING JAPAN MODEL?

 Icheoku says the intractable power problem in Nigeria afterall have a solution - the Japanese way. Ten privately owned and operated electric companies providing power, from generation to distribution as well as supply to their delineated areas of the country. They are divided into ten sub-nationalities electric power companies of Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Chubu, Tohoku, Tokyo, Chugoku, Okinawa, Kansai, Shikoku and Kyushu.

The authorities in Japan had since figured out that because each area of the country has certain peculiarities, with varying climate and geography, it would be foolhardy and unproductive for one company to manage the entire country's electric supply. Therefore since supplying energy to each region has its own special characteristics, they reasoned that in order to meet each local requirements, different companies has to operate as independent generators and suppliers, forging close relations with local entities towards each regional development. These companies also "cooperate with each other to ensure a stable and efficient nationwide electricity supply;" which transcends their allotted service areas for the benefit of the entire electric power industry in Japan. These companies collaborate among themselves to exchange electricity, to provide power efficiently, to cope with emergency situations such as power outages or failures or to meet peak-hour demands such as during heat-waves. To ensure the smooth operation of power exchange amongst these various providers and suppliers, extra-high voltage transmission lines connect the entire country from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. These companies similarly partake in the cooperative development of electric power technology and the sharing of resources. 

Icheoku says, Nigerian government this one is for you to adopt in order to solve the lingering problems of the power sector which has defied every solution thrown at it in the past. Just emulate the Japanese, divide up the country and farm out each division's electricity requirement to different companies respectively. The Japanese have shown it can be efficiently done, so why not replicate same in Nigeria. Each contracting company will decide how best to generate its own electricity from nuclear to hydro to thermal to wind to solar and/or gas turbines. So with the problem solved, no one will ever complain that PHCN or NEPA has struck again or shout for joy each time light comes on. Nigeria is almost twice the size of Japan landmass although both has practically about the same population; so it makes for perfect replication for Nigeria to hug the Japanese way. Electricity is almost at par with fundamental human right in so many functional countries run by reasonable and rational human-beings; but in Nigeria, such officials as would make this possible are in the back pocket of generator mafias who profiteer from selling noisy polluting generating sets in Nigeria. It requires a president with some back-bone but Icheoku is afraid President Jonathan might not be able to stare down on these peddlers of death and dry their swamp by solving Nigeria's intractable power generation and distribution problem once and for all.

NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST IN JAPAN IMMINENT, USA ORDERS EVACUATION OF CITIZENS!

 Icheoku says the alarm bells have tolled and Armageddon is nearer today than it was yesterday in Japan otherwise America will not order the evacuation of her citizens from Japan. Icheoku says there must be something the Americans know about the exploding nuclear facilities in Fukushima Japan which the rest of the world has not grasped yet.Only fifty kamikaze nuclear fire-fighters who have pawned their lives trying to save those of millions of other Japanese and foreigners alike is what is the only thing standing between it at present. First was 8.9 earthquake, then a murderous tsunami and now a nuclear meltdown - all waging war of attrition on Japan. The gods must be angry at something the Japanese did to have sent these cataclysmic events all at he same time. Please dear god, call off these merchants of death waging wars of destruction on the Japanese!

APOCALYPTIC JAPAN, THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT?

Icheoku have watched severally the video-footage of the double disaster that mother nature wrath on Japan and each time, Icheoku asks, were it motherland, what would Nigerian government do? An 8.9 magnitude earthquake followed within just five minutes by a 52feet five-storey high monstrous tsunami that washed away everything on its path including thousands of human-beings, fixed standing structures such as homes and buildings as well as cars, ships, rail tracks and carriages, bridges, cars, roadways and even parked airplanes?

We are talking of the biggest disaster to strike a people known for their resilience and ability to rebound each time they are pinned on their back either by mother-nature or a powerful foreign army. The fabled stoicism of the Japanese once again is not in short supply as they maintained their unassuming demeanor despite going through one of world's greatest disaster comparable to the volcanic eruption that wiped out Pompeii. They maintained their cool, showing great patience and orderliness and in the face of churning stomachs and parched throat, they did not betray any emotion or got frantic but maintained their staid. Icheoku commends the Japanese people for showing a good example of how to conduct oneself faced with helpless situation which is beyond anyone's control. It makes it easier for government officials to do their job without much distraction. The Japanese by their conduct has laid to waste the proverbial stiff upper lips the Brits are known for, as they proved that not even mother nature was capable of making them shiver and panic.

We are talking about a country reputed as the most prepared for disaster in the world; yet they found out that no amount of preparation is enough when mother nature decides to show its fury. With so many cities and towns wiped off the face of this earth, one would expect to see the Japanese hysterical and frantic; but no, they were as cool as cucumber and fastidiously going about their business of search and rescue and attending the thousands of their people rendered homeless and without food. For people of faith, these could be end-times prophesies come to life; but either way, at least the world has ended for those ten thousand plus already confirmed dead and missing Japanese. With radiation now spewing from damaged nuclear reactors at some crippled nuclear power plants in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan, who knows what will come next but it sure don't look good. Our hearts go out to the people of Japan and may the good Lord help them cope with the monstrosity that visited them.

GADDAFI SURVIVES LIBYAN REVOLUTION, ACT OF GOD TO THE RESCUE?

Icheoku says it appears that God or Allah is against the planned external intervention in Libya; otherwise why is it now when the world is putting its head together, weighing the best option possible  to ensure the removal of Gaddafi from office that hellish earthquake and tsunami struck Japan; thereby shifting world's attention to the more important issue of the day?  Now it is a question of which one is more important - helping a devastated society survive two tragic catastrophes or helping to destroy another that has some semblance of normalcy, irrespective of the so called ongoing but almost squelched peoples revolution.

Icheoku says there should be no external intervention in Libya otherwise the purported revolution will lose its flavor of a peoples move against their unwanted leader and becomes an aggression. How much is too much to ask for especially coming from Muslim Arabs who are still cursing and abusing the United States of America over its foreign policy initiatives and interventions in other Muslim countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan. What suddenly changed or is Libya no longer one of their Arab country that must be left alone and free of American imperialism. Arabs do not like America or its foreign policy objectives, so why would the same haters of America now desire the same American foreign policy manoeuvres which they have hitherto condemned as Zionist-instigated? Why would it suddenly be okay now for America to intervene in an Arab Muslim country, Libya, when it is not okay to do so in other such countries as these Muslim Arabs have severally consistently protested. They do not want us and we should therefore not make ourselves available for their selfish need to get power, not this time of a fork on the road at Tripoli.

The revolting Libyans called it a "peoples revolution" and such a revolution should it remain; so if they want Gaddafi out, let them take him out by themselves and not make us do their dirty job only for them to later throw us out with the added abuses and insults such as burning our flags and stomping on our national glory? Egyptians removed their Hosni Mubarak without our help or intervention; Tunisians did same without our assistance, so why must it now be incompetent and incapable Libyans who cannot pull theirs off that we must assist; moreso after blowing up our PAN AM airline over Lockerbie Scotland killing our 208 nationals. What are the Libyans giving us in return - the alleged bomber who was released to them on the urging of British government or what? America must secure some guarantee from Libyans before stepping up, if ever otherwise lets just say to them, we are not interested. Icheoku says American intervention in Libya is not a good move as it will later come to haunt us as has always been the case with our other interventions in the Arab world. If France Sarkozy wants to do it, oh well and dandy, but not with our help or assistance as the French has been lukewarm with helping us out in matters of our foreign policy adventurism throughout the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Let the French go into Libya and pay the cost both in treasure and blood required to unseat Gaddafi for all Icheoku cares; but there must be no American assistance for them.

At the moment, Icheoku is of the opinion that two successful revolutions are more than enough in the Arab world and that America should just help Tunisia and Egypt consolidate their gains instead of over-extending itself trying to secure Libya too. With Iraq and now Egypt and Tunisia, a flourishing democracy in these three countries will help the rest of the region do what is needed at the appropriate future time; but they all do not have to democratize at the same time and not NOW. One commentator queried, assuming America were to intervene in Libya now, what happens if some dissidents in Saudi Arabia or Jordan call upon her tomorrow to also intervene to remove their leaders? What will happen to their prospective requests and when will enough be truly enough with America trying to be everything to everyone in the world. Power is what it is and never freely given, so if those revolting "highly medicated" Libyans want it so badly, they should go and get it from Gaddafi but without our assistance. It is not our place to secure a revolution for those Libyans and we should tell them exactly so and let them decide what their future is but in any event, they should leave us out of their domestic problem. Look at the Egypt's revolution that has now transmuted into religious ideological fight with Muslims burning Christian churches and you wonder who actually is pushing this supposed revolutions; or may be Gaddafi was right that al-Querida is sponsoring these revolutions to create their Islamic caliphate in Northern Africa spreading into Middle East.

But Moummar Gaddafi may, if he cashes in on the shifted attention caused by the double whammy tragedy of Japan and acts swiftly, reassert his control throughout the Mediterranean coastal region of Libya including Benghazi the stronghold of those dissident; thus giving credence to the assessment of his army spokesman who said that those rebels are "a group of rats and vermin" who will raise their hands in surrender as soon as they march into the city. Icheoku cannot wait to see how this Libyan crisis is finally resolved and would love to see France forced to withdraw their recognition of a non-existent government made up of the same opportunistic people who served in the same Gaddafi's regime they are now disparaging and raising arms against. Icheoku asks at what point did these so called do-gooders in the interim national council realize that Moummar Gaddafi is a despot; yet they served him for a very long time without complaining. The good news however is that the Libyan revolution now seem to be petering to a halt, having been aborted by an embolden Gaddafi army killing off the insurgents and any attempt by the world to rekindle it through military intervention of any kind will only hurt Libyans and the world oil price - two scenarios no reasonable leader wants to see happen. So, let the Libyan people cart their own destiny, if they want Gaddafi out, let them do the heavy lifting but in any case, America must stay out of intervening in another Arab Muslim country, period!

PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S LITANY OF PROMISES, ANY ROAD-MAP TO FULFILLING THEM?

“If I am elected, my administration will revive the railway system, create more job opportunities and ensure that more refineries are built. We will also tackle the security situation to ensure that the security challenges become a thing of the past.” - President Goodluck Jonathan addressing campaign supporters in Ogun State. Just another one of his numerous campaign promises as the president traverses the length and breath of the country, seeking votes and urging the people of Nigeria to elect him president in 2011.

The myriad of promises so far made by the president has caught so many peoples attention including Icheoku that we are now forced to align forces with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammed Sa'adu Abubakar, in asking President Goodluck Jonathan to "put it in writing" - his promises to do this and that for everybody and groups in Nigeria. Campaign promises are one thing, finding the money and political goodwill to see those projects through is another and it is on this premise that Icheoku calls on President Jonathan to tone down the flurry of promises; especially their specificity such as building sea ports, refineries, power plants, international airports etc as such capital intensive projects might not be all fully accommodated within his four year promised term by Nigeria's lean finances.

The April 2011 presidential election is President Jonathan's to loose, hence he does not need to make all these tall flowery promises to remain in contention but should try to keep it real - just general promises that he will strive to improve on what is and will do more, funding permitting. To date, President Goodluck Jonathan promises on his campaign trail has reached more than ten trillion Naira and Icheoku wonders how Mr. President plans to fund them within just four years when elected within the next few weeks as is most certain he will.  All the same, Icheoku wishes the President well and hopes he delivers on his promises to avoid being tagged long on promises short on delivery; his election is as good as concluded, the CPC/ACN much anticipated alliance having not materialized to give the PDP any meaningful challenge. Godspeed Mr. President but please keep it short and real.

OLU GBENGA HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO BEG BABA-IYABO!

"I am a true Yoruba son, and in Yoruba-land it doesn’t matter who is right or who is wrong. It is the younger that will beg the older person, so I have begged Baba and I will continue to beg him.” With those words Governor Olu Gbenga of Ogun State went prostrate before the Otta deity asking for forgiveness. Icheoku asks OGD when he finally realize that he is a Yoruba son of the soil and one who understands what the Yoruba culture demands and stipulates in matters of disputes resolution between a young and the old?

Anyway Icheoku has nothing against the manner which OGD choose to make peace with his erstwhile mentor, but when one takes a gift from the devil like OGD took from OBJ, what else does he expect but absolute obedience and complete submission to the devil's whims and caprices. OGD ate Obasanjo's 'command and control' potion and lacks any moral fortitude to now fight him; so he had no choice but to capitulate to the real deal, the deity of Otta and now Ogun State without preconditions. The humiliation of going down on all fours is good for OGD; what a great lesson for all other future power-hungry politicians who turn to the devil for help. The moral lesson of OGD travails is that such sniveling power seekers cannot fight or revolt against the giver of their power as they will always be humbled at the end of the day. Governor Olu Gbenga, like Abubakar Atiku, has now been forced to eat the fabled OBJ's humbled pie and will never recover from it; neither will he ever be fully and truly forgiven by the very vindictive OBJ. Icheoku says this very Daniel has no judgment at all; what a pity!

PETER KING, ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM IS NOT THE ONLY FUNDAMENTALISM IN AMERICA?

Icheoku makes bold to state that Islamic fundamentalism or radicalization within the American society is not the only extremism sprouting up in America and for which there should be concern. It is therefore an absurdity, propelled by a seething disdain for those who knock their foreheads on the ground in worship, for Long Island Republican Congressman of New York, Peter King, to so selectively pigeonhole Muslims communities in America as the sole incubator and harbinger of radicalization as well as fundamentalism in America.

Please do not get Icheoku wrong on this matter by interpreting our remarks as a felicitation with Muslims or the figurative sleeping with the enemy; no if Icheoku was in a position of authority during the infamous 9/11, Icheoku would have nuked some place in the Middle East for supplying those airplane bombers. Icheoku knows these guys and what they are capable of doing in the name of their religion and in order to spread it such as the violence they can visit on infidels; so anything they are accused of by Representative Peter King is understandable. However, our position on the ongoing congressional hearing by Peter King is somewhat at odds because it is not all inclusive of all known radicalized groups. Icheoku is of the opinion that such congressional hearing should not be exclusive Muslims, but should encompass other radical elements of the American society that is intolerable of other Americans including such groups as produced the Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh; abortion-doctor killers and the Rush Limbaughs of this country whose stock-in-trade is to continuously spread hate-messages against people with different skin-pigmentation. Icheoku says nothing is more radicalized than the daily dosage of asinine messages oozing out of the mouth of Rush Limbaugh and his cohorts, disparaging not only the "Nigger President" occupying "their" White House, but also every other person who seem not to fit the template of their "great American?"

Representative Peter King's hatred for 'THAT ONES' is palpable and Icheoku still remembers his comment concerning Michael Jackson while the rest of the world was mourning his loss. Calling a dead Michael Jackson a pervert is the height of disrespect from a hypocrite who did not see anything wrong with the Irish Republican Army terrorist bombings of yester-years in Northern Ireland. According to this extremist, yes Peter King is an extremist, Michael Jackson "was a pervert, a child molester; and a pedophile. I just think we're too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say we don't need Michael Jackson. He died, he had some talent, fine. He may have been a good singer, he did some dancing. Bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room with Michael Jackson? What are we glorifying him for?" Icheoku asks what a hate-filled soul would say such uncomplimentary things about an entertainer, whom the world acknowledged as the King of Pop music and this Representative Peter King failed to admit that the allegations of child molestation was not proved by a jury of his peers and that MJ was acquitted of the trumped up charges. A case of willful misinformation and selective dementia by Peter King who settled for lashing out at a dead man. Once again this Long Island Irishman in New York is using the same "not being constrained by political correctness of majority Americans" to attack another disparate group - the American Muslim Community.  A man who would not respect the dead and so brutishly made such uncomplimentary remarks of a world reknowned mega superstar is capable of anything, but Icheoku blames the people of Long Island who continuously send him to Washington as their congressman.

Icheoku says Peter King's house hearing on "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response" is disproportionately skewered against Muslim groups in America who have been singled out as poster-child of extremist behavior in America. It failed to include other radicalized groups such as White Racist Groups who are known trouble makers-in-chief of America as well as some arm of the Black Panters Group who have since become radicalized. The Pat Robertson Group and so many other "Men and Women of God from hell" who preach intolerance were also excluded from the House hearing and one wonders who Peter King is deceiving with his purported house hearing on radicalization. Also Rush Limbaugh and co groups were not included for investigation and Icheoku wonders who else if not them? Fairness demands that equity be observed in such house investigation and being against radicalization, should have been against all manners and forms of radicalization and not just restricted to Islamic radicalization. Or could it be that America is witnessing the rise of another Senator Joe McCarthy of our time; but Icheoku prays that Peter King shall not have his way and that the morality in many of us shall triumph over the warped, ideological-driven antics of a bigoted fellow who happened to be a US congressman called Peter King.

Icheoku says what Representative Peter King is attempting to do with his House hearing is nothing other than the conduct of an Islamophobic hearing and eventual persecution of Muslims in America, based on unfounded allegations and innuendos of Muslims hatred of America? What Peter King is subjecting American Muslim minority to is akin to an inquisition and near perfect copy of the time worn rites of passage which every American minorities of the past were subjected to. Icheoku prays the latest Muslim minority to be discriminated against shall survive Peter King's onslaught and come out of it whole, intact and more audacious. God bless America and God bless American Muslim community so long as they are being Americans and without secret agenda to cause it any harm.

EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN, ICHEOKU EMPATHIZES!

 What a world we live in that is a mix of ephemerality and hopelessness such as the awesome power of mother-nature that destroyed Japan. In some fleeting moments, all that we cared for and that are endeared to us become part of 'ancient' history - GONE!

Except you did not watch the footage of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and the resulting tsunami which swept Sendai, Miyaki Prefecture of Japan like one giant monstrous sweeper, then you can live on still thinking those funny thoughts swirling in your head. It simply shows that we are not in control of anything despite our arrogance pretending otherwise. Icheoku's heart goes out to the people of Sendai Miyaki Prefecture as well as the entire Japanese population for what fate had visited on them early hours of this morning (our time). To the people of Japan, Icheoku says the whole world is with you as you at this time of great destruction and as you clean and eventually rebuild your devastated society as you have previously done in Kobe, our prayers are with you. Goodluck.

SCOTT MCCREERY, A COUNTRY FOR AMERICAN IDOL?

 Icheoku was boycotting American Idol 2011 for the loss of Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and the introduction of Jenny from the block. But channel-surfing landed Icheoku to a performance by Scott McCreery, singing a country tune. There and then Icheoku concluded that American Idol 2011 will go to a country singer named Scott McCreery and we are prepared to put our bet on it. Moreso it is been long since country won the show and it will be nice to retain the good ole folks down south who are tuned in. Scott has what it takes - the voice, the presence, the cowboy demeanor and moreso he is from North Carolina and Icheoku could not have imagined a more perfect mix. Icheoku therefore says that Scott McCreery is the American Idol to beat this 2011 season. Icheoku must add, Ashton Jones is impressive too.Congratulations crooner! Icheoku once again tunes off as our protest is ongoing.

GBAGBO STILL IN OFFICE, SEVERAL DEMANDS AND THREATS NOTWITHSTANDING?

Icheoku says one great thinker once said, never say to someone go to hell except you also have the wherewithal to send him there. So Icheoku asks African Union and ECOWAS what have become of their threat to use legitimate force to oust dissident Laurent Gbagbo if he fails to quit? Or is it possible these political groupings spoke a little bit too early without first considering necessarily logistics, manpower and the will needed to see their threat through. Icheoku calls on AU and ECOWAS to reclaim their pride by dispatching their "legitimate force" to rid Abidjan and greater Ivory Coast of de-facto Laurent Gbagbo now or forever descend into irrelevance.

WISCONSIN ANTI-UNION LAW, GOOD FOR THE UNION?

Icheoku once met a construction worker from Waukesha Wisconsin named Jerrolds (he supplied only his first name), a registered democrat who vowed not to vote for then presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama because the White House was named so for a reason - it is for whites only! Again in September 2010, Icheoku ran into another dairy farmer/producer from Oshkosh Wisconsin who would not vote for Democrats because they are wussies? They lack backbones and lay supine in the face of more macho Republicans threats.  


The reason why these two analogies are necessary is to buttress the shallowness of voters of Wisconsin who did not care a hoot about the consequences of their electoral action and voted anyways in such a cavalier manner for a man who now wants their blood; and for reasons that at best will be considered mundane. Why is Icheoku cultivating these grounds one may ask? It is just to show that it is more likely than not that Governor Scott Walker came into office riding on the back of such voters as mentioned above:- people who were persuaded not by what they heard then governor candidate Walker say or promise; but for such other petty considerations including to "show those Dems?" Now they are reaping the whirlwind which they sowed and should therefore not be heard saying that Governor Walker is a tyrant. Icheoku says the people of Wisconsin should just quit complaining and savor the consequences of their electoral action or lack thereof that produced Governor Walker.


The book of Bible tells us in 1Kings12:11 of King Rehobam who thundered to the people of Israelites who came to inquire how his reign will be that if his father chastised them with whips he will chastise them with scorpions; and that he will add to their burden and so has Governor Walker added to the already laden-workers of Wisconsin; turning them into literally "slaves" of corporate employers who will now toss them around with offer of minimum wages commensurate to Chinese workers or their Mexican counterparts. All these would have been averted were the voters of Wisconsin smart enough to know that election has consequences and that votes count and matter. They had all the time in the world to have mobilized their unions to get out the votes for the more peoples orientated Democratic candidate Tom Barrett to succeed outgoing Democratic Jim Doyle; but no they were nonchalant and apathetic, cowered by Tea Party aggression and now they must reap the resulting tornado.


A Governor Walker who campaigned on "true reform" and proudly told the state's senate that "this is our time" and that his mandate was for a true reform towards solving the state's budget woes. Icheoku believes that Governor Walker has now truly sold out to business as he stated earlier that "Wisconsin is open for business. At least the man keeps his promises and men are supposed to have balls. Icheoku believes that were Governor Walker in the White House, that there would have been "public option" in the Health-Care Reform Law; that Guantanamo would have been closed and that the financial reform would have been more far-reaching. All it requires is the mindset and resolve to go all the way no matter how long it took or put in another way "my way or the highway" as the anti-Union bill soon to become law has shown. Icheoku strongly believes that there is more anti-people initiatives from where the union bursting anti-union bill came and Wisconsinites should better gird their loins and take it through the rear like real adults. Next time Wisconsin, during next election circle, know who your real friends are and vote for DEMOCRATS as they will protect workers and the little guys more than the fat-cat republicans who want both cheap labor and reduced cost of doing business. Remember someone's profit is another's loss and for them to grow fat, some people somewhere have to be on diet; get Icheoku's drift?

One thing about Republicans is that they damn the consequences as they barrel headlong with whatever initiative/agenda they consider germane to their cause including unprovoked wars? Unlike the Democrats who seek to "tone it down" the moment republican operatives bark out or Rush Limbaugh calls them out. Governor Scott Walker's anti-union bill has passed 18-1 in the senate following a similar passage in the house, despite month-long protest by workers of Wisconsin and their friends protesting the inhumane face of the legislation. But the Republican Governor Walker never bulked, notwithstanding the flight to Illinois of Democratic senators trying to sabotage it with their absence. The Republicans found a way out of the woods and around the fleeing Democrats, circumvented them by excising a provision requiring twenty-votes and passed it with just 18-1 votes without debating the bill or even needing again those Democrats in undisclosed location outside the state.


Icheoku says the manoeuvre in Wisconsin was not a desperation move, it is rather a well orchestrated rug-pull from underneath the fleeing democrats by a more well geared political operatives and they chose to deem as read a bill which they authored and thus dispensed with the need to read it all over again. To put t in a short terse two-word sentence - THEY WON and the union lost! It is a lesson in electioneering politics which teaches that election has consequences and that unions must be proactive during elections and not to threaten general strike for something that would have been averted by intense and passionate campaign and get-out the votes operations. The people of Wisconsin lost Icheoku when they did not vote in their affable longtime Democratic Senator Feingold and you wonder who these unions now expect to come to their aid or is Michael Moore that influential? They deserve it all, what they are getting int he hands of the Republicans controlling Wisconsin.

MOUMMAR GHADDAFI TALKING TOUGH, STILL DEFIANT AND RESOLUTE?

 The embattled Libyan leader seems to be either oblivious of the depth of trouble he is in as well as the resentment mounting against him or he is simply taunting Libyans with his show-boating press conferences. Icheoku says no one really knows how the cloud enveloping Libya will finally dissipate; assuming it would not eventually turn into a tornado that will sweep away a 43 year old dictatorship. However tragic the end-game may be, presently, Moummar Gaddafi does not betray such emotions but appears confident and determined to ride out the storm. One thing Icheoku as well as the rest of the world knows is that the noose is steadily tightening around Gaddafi's regime; but like the saying goes, beware of what you wish for. If it is true that al-Querida is behind the Libyan insurrection, then the world especially Europe will be in such a big doodle in the event they are successful - what a Jihad launching pad Libya will avail these terrorists. Icheoku only prays the matter is conclusively resolved very soon and well.

GADDAFI SHAKES OBAMA, WHEN THE GOING WAS GOOD!

His love for the "African president of America" was bountiful that he went as far as urging that Obama stays president forever. When asked why, he retorted that is the yearning of the world and the world will forgive America of all its atrocities so long as President Barack Hussein Obama is still the president. Icheoku queries now that things have fallen apart for Gaddafi and his once "beloved son of Africa" is going tough on his administration which he has declared "illegitimate", what must Maummar Gaddafi be thinking of President Barack Obama now? This becomes imperative as Gaddafi sees the revolution as sectional and al-querida sponsored; and is doing everything within his authority to put the enemies of the state down; afterall when Glen Beck and the Tea Party people marched in Washington demanding to have their country back, President Obama never resigned or quit his office. So Gaddafi reasons that what he is facing is not an uprising from the peoples of Libya but certain disgruntled elements of the society under the influence of some narcotics. Day 15 and marching on, could Gaddafi have survived the insurrection since the Libyan army is still on his side? Anyway, the jury is still out but there are signs that the Libyan strongman's strong-arm is working to upturn the tide, at least for now. But is it a trite position to take that the devil one knows is better than the unknown alternative; go figure!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, COASTING HOME TO VICTORY IN APRIL 2011.

 

Icheoku says welcome the hardest working and most campaigning presidential candidate in Nigeria 2011. Icheoku has been wondering where other presidential candidates are since they are no-show everywhere one looks; forcing people to wonder what their game-plan is towards winning the presidential election.

Everywhere one looks, it is PDP presidential candidate President Goodluck Jonathan who is traversing the land from South-West to North-East to South-East to South-South to North-Central and to North-West; and except the opposition are banking on the courts to stop the election or to annul the result, Icheoku does not see how they plan to pull it off based on the effort the incumbent is putting, seriously campaigning to sell his candidacy to Nigerians. The PDP already have an edge both of the incumbency and the Governors Forum, so show Icheoku the options left for th opposition. Icheoku says the opposition parties in Nigeria lost the mojo when they failed to reach an alliance presenting one common front and candidate against President Jonathan. As a result, it is now an assured victory for President Jonathan as the PDP will most likely retain the presidency, admitted not by the same margin the Otta deity rigged the party in 2007.

Icheoku says President Jonathan will win all South-South, South-East and North-Central; and also at least two states in South-West, three states in North-East and one state in North-West, thus securing the needed number of votes to retain the presidency. Icheoku is being modest with the allocation of states especially in North-West and South-West acceding Buhari and Tinubu some commanding presence in their only catchment areas. We also agree that ANPP will likely retain its two North-Eastern states and that there will be a few other toss-up states in play. So plus minus, President Jonathan wins convincingly in 22 states out of the 36, the remainder of which will be split amongst the other three parties ACN, CPC and ANPP; thus giving him the victory. Icheoku says, Nigerians welcome your president for the next four years, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan! Icheoku is not a fan, but agrees that President Jonathan has worked and campaigned hard enough to earn his honors as president; so Nigerians, VOTE for JONATHAN

NUHU RIBADU, WHY HE WILL NOT WIN.

 First of all he looks so gaunt and not presidential enough. He looks mean and hungry and Julius Caesar admonishes that such men are dangerous. He lacks experience. He is not President Obama, admitted he feels good comparing himself with that young charismatic American president. Above all Mallam Nuhu RIbadu lacks principles and convictions otherwise what explanation does he now offer for cavorting with Bola Tinubu, a man he once described as the numero uno financial and economic criminal in Nigeria?Icheoku queries, if Nuhu Ribadu could be so cheaply bought by Tinubu; who knows how bended his back will be when heavy hitters of the world come calling. Icheoku's beef with the mallam is that he appears to have swallowed his vomit on Tinubu by accepting his campaign sponsorship from him and you wonder what epiphany sanctified all the sins of economic and financial crimes his EFCC said Tinubu committed. Like Richard Akinjide rightly posited, it is very insulting for a man who has never held any position in his life other than being member of the Nigeria police force to arrogantly feel that he is experienced enough to rule a complex country like Nigeria.The gist of the matter is that Mallam Nuhu RIbadu lacks the experience to rule Nigeria; and even his strongest suit - anti-corruption credentials, now appears compromised with his dalliance with Bola Tinubu, a man with no stellar records. The good news however is that ACN is a Yoruba regional party, ran by Bola Tinubu as his personal estate and lacks national acceptability in Nigeria. To make matters worse, Nuhu Ribadu choose a fellow political no-body as his running mate and you wonder the God President Jonathan serves that so paves his political path with such diamonds. Away with Nuhu Ribadu, a puppet of Bola Tinubu who would run affairs were Ribadu to miraculously win in a nightmarish scenario; but thankfully enough, his chances at winning is akin to hell freezing over. Icheoku calls on Nigerians to simply say no to the man behind the scene, Bola Tinubu, by rejecting his minion, Nuhu Ribadu.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, A VOTE FOR HIM IS A VOTE FOR SHARIA LAW IN NIGERIA!

Icheoku says, just don't do it Nigerians except you want your body parts to be chopped off one part after another depending on the offense you committed under an Islamic Republic Sharia Nigeria. His northwest catchment area is already 'Sharia-ed" so do not encourage the spread throughout the rest of Nigeria with your vote for the Chief Imam.

Please do not buy into the hype that a leopard can change its spots and that Imam Muhammadu Buhari is now a pro-democratic man as a despot always remains a despot. Buhari is despot extraordinaire and a known Muslim fundamentalist of Boko Haram mold and cannot easily change so old in his life. Just in case you are still wish-washy with your decision or have forgotten, advise yourself of the following:- 1. Which Muslim country is bankrolling Buhari's campaign or don't you know that presidential campaign is a multi-billion Naira project? At least Ribadu is being sponsored by Bola Tinubu and President Jonathan by Governors Forum but no one knows which Muslim countries are sponsoring Buhari's campaign and he claims he is not rich? 2. Who murdered Bartholomew Owo, Ojuolpe and Ogedengbe - three innocent Nigerians killed by Buhari based on a retroactive decree for an offense which was not a death-penalty offense when it was committed. 3. Godfatherism or godmotherism is Buhari's stock in trade or does the name Major Jokolo not ring any bell in your ear? The Buhari ADC who smuggled 53 suitcases filled with currencies during the currency exchange in 1984 with Buhari's tacit approval? 4. Who overthrew a democratically elected President Shehu Shagari's government in December 31, 1983? An anti -democratic credential Buhari still carries with him till date just like a snail does its shell? 5. What was the purpose of Decree 4 which harangued journalists and emasculated freedom of the press in Nigeria that was authored by Buhari? The problem with Nigeria and Nigerians alike is their very short non-retentive memory, otherwise who in his right senses will be craving a Buhari's second coming - Obasanjo did it; Babangida tried it and now Buhari is attempting to do it with the strange support of some Nigerians; hope you are not part of that group. Anyway the good news however is that Buhari will not win as he is simply too extreme for Nigeria. Please Nigerians wake up and smell the coffee that Buhari is just an old wine that was simply poured into a new keg and that does not make him a NEW man. Muhammadu Buhari SHALL NOT win and if he "wins" SHALL NOT rule Nigeria. GET IT Buhari supporters so don't waste your votes, jump off the train to Shariaville NOW that there is still time! Muhammadu Buhari is an extremist Islamic religious fundamentalist not good for a secular Nigeria. DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI