LAURENT GBAGBO, HANG THE PIG UPON CAPTURE!

Icheoku says those who make peaceful handover impossible make violent ouster inevitable and so it is that the hold-over former president Laurent Gbagbo will soon have his fate determined, albeit cruelly. Reports reaching Icheoku has it that the embattled former president has been encircled by the liberating republican army loyalist of the legitimate president elect Quattara. One report even have it that he has since fled from the presidential palace to some non-discreet undisclosed location.

Icheoku's position is that when finally he is caught, he should be tried for his crimes against the humanity that call Ivory Coast home, especially for the over four hundred Ivoriens that have lost their lives in the democracy struggle. Without a doubt, he will be convicted and hopefully hanged alongside his wife Simone for refusing his stepping down. African dictators are all alike and not even the fate which befell Idi Amin, Charles Taylor etc was of any persuasive influence on this wanna-be sit-tight leader Gbagbo. Icheoku says, just hang him like a dog upon eventual capture! There is nothing to negotiate as Gbagbo lost every iota of negotiating chances when he rebuffed every plea to accept defeat and hand over government. Gbagbo thought that he could bluff his way through and at worst case scenario secure a power-sharing arrangement like in Zimbabwe and Kenya but the power hungry gestapo miscalculated and like Saddam Hussein is now hiding in an underground crawl space. Gbagbo has shed thousands of innocent Ivorien peoples blood and he cannot escape justice. Just try him and hang him like Saddam Hussein of Iraq - the ugly end fate which awaits all deaf and dumb dictators. Better still, hang him alongside with his wife Simone so that they will become African version of Romania's Nikolai Ceausescu and wife, Elena!

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, NOT A SANE CHOICE!

 Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari (right) is one of the three diseases afflicting Nigeria and Nigerians must eradicate it this time by rejecting him at the polls. Adamu Ciroma consensus arrangement has taken care of disease number 1 IBB; resistance to third term agenda took care of disease number 2 OBJ and now Nigerians has the opportunity to take care and must take care of disease number 3 Buhari through the ballots. Nigerians you must now retire the last of these three old evil men forever and for good, so that they can go and live out whatever life is still left in them while awaiting their eventual painful and lonely tortuous death.

Icheoku says Imam Muhammadu Buhari has the blood of innocent Nigerians in his hands (Barthlomeow Owo, Bernard Ogedengbe and Lawal Ojulope). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari previously aborted democracy in Nigeria (overthrew Shagari). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari sponsored SHARIA in northwestern Nigeria ( Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kano states). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari abridged freedom for Nigerians (Decree 4). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari encouraged corruption in Nigeria (53 suticases). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari champions tribal and ethnic Islamic causes (his tenure as PTF chairmanship). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari is not a nationalist (very vengeful and his disproportionate treatment of vice president Alex Ekwueme after the coup). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari is of the old retrogressive school that has kept Nigeria down for too long (first ruled Nigeria in 1983). Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari is an Islamic religious zealot and a sympathizer of Boko Haram (did not condemn the butchery of non Muslims or the Boko Haram heinous criminality of mass murder in the north. Moreover his wife if he has any, the potential first lady of Nigeria, is quarantined in a purdah).

To summarize, Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari is BAD for Nigeria, hence his candidacy must be rejected by Nigerians in the forthcoming election. Moreso Buhari is not what a futuristic Nigeria needs in 2011 or anytime whatsoever as a leopard cannot change its spots nor can an old dog be taught new tricks. Did Icheoku tell you also that Muhammadu Buhari is NOT A DEMOCRAT (he is very autocratic) and cannot get along with the national assembly for the peoples business. If all these reasons fails to wake you up from your slumber Nigerians in your support of Buhari, then please remember how you fared under Olusegun Obasanjo and vote your conscience as Buhari is another Obasanjo on steroids. Take a look at the three musketeers in the picture above and one thing holds them together - their ruthlessness and hatred for Nigerians. They are all sadists who drive joy in seeing agonizing Nigerians groan and moan. Nigerians, you are doomed with Buhari's presidency. Be SMART and be WISE Nigerians, please DO NOT DO IT - do not vote for Buhari. 

THE CANCELLED OR POSTPONED ELECTION, JEGA FUMBLED!

 

Icheoku joins millions of well meaning Nigerian democracy enthusiasts in condemning the cancellation of today's scheduled parliamentary election. The reason given is both inadequate and insufficient to prevent voting by Nigerians as it is not such humongous intervening act as would cause an election to be cancelled. Such act envisaged include major earthquake, tsunami as witnessed in Japan, military coup de'tat or such other act of God as would make it impossible but not impracticable to conduct the election.

If due to some logistical nightmare, INEC could not conduct elections in certain parts of the country, they should have conducted it in those areas where it is feasible and then reschedule those impossible areas at a later future date; but to cancel the entire election is an affront on Nigerians and their desire for real democracy in Nigeria. Professor Jega had all these months to carry out test-runs on conducting the election and despite the billions which his INEC is awashed with to enable him conduct a free and fair election, he failed to pull it off as scheduled. Icheoku's verdict, Professor Attahiru Jega has failed to provide the required leadership that will guarantee Nigerians fair elections and therefore should consider resigning now as he had threatened in the past. Icheoku aligns itself with the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties in calling the postponement or cancellation of today's election "an unwarranted false start" by Jega's INEC.

Icheoku asks, if election materials could not be delivered since these past days, what is the guarantee that a weekend will now make any difference and that they will be ready as promised on Monday? What happens to those ballots already cast? What happens to the now leaked ballot samples which some unscrupulous politicians will now print and with them rig the elections? There are simply too many questions for Jega's INEC to answer and Icheoku says, this weekend alone will not make any difference. Such a catastrophic failure in logistics requires more than a weekend's patch-work to fix, so INEC would have postponed the entire exercise for one week or two to properly get its acts together. The implication is that this election is now tainted and any result coming out of the deferred process will be questionable with eventual losers claiming they would have won and vice versa.

Icheoku says no explanation is good enough since INEC did not suddenly realize they had insufficient time to prepare and conduct the election yet they undertook it anyway. Icheoku had warned about it while advocating for an extended time to conduct a proper election but no one listened only for this shoddiness at the eleventh hour. A credible electoral body worth its paycheck would have conducted trial runs on its logistics and even conducted mock elections to see the lapses that need to be fixed and since fixed it instead of waiting for the real thing to deliver this shocker of election postponement. Icheoku says, not in our name and we condemn INEC's action and hereby call on Professor Jega to resign for gross incompetence. Jega should have soldiered on under the circumstances but rather he chose to drop the ball on Nigerians, the easy way out. Jega should not be allowed to explain himself out of this displayed incompetence, not after the billions that he requested and got for this exercise! Nigerians had hope that he was the man for the job, but not anymore. What a pity!

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, SIMPLY NOT GOOD FOR NIGERIA.

Icheoku warns all those short-sighted and mentally challenged Nigerians clamoring for a Buhari presidency to think again. Buhari is a dictator, a fundamentalist and so pathologically fixated on Islamic doctrines that he is not what a democratic secular Nigeria needs at this time or any future time. Also remember what Nigerians went through under Olusegun Obasanjo regime and be informed that Buhari's despotism will make Obasanjo look like a Mother-Theresa. If Obasanjo was mad at Nigerians, Buhari will be madder! If Obasanjo was crazy against Nigerians, Buhari will be crazier! If Obasanjo chastised Nigerians with sticks, Buhari will chastise them with scorpions.

So Nigerians make your call whenever the election may be rescheduled, but know that a vote for Buhari is a vote for chains. Nigerians want freedom but Buhari will put them in bondage. Nigerians want a democrat with human-face but Buhari is a dictator with the face of Lucifer. Further Buhari has not told Nigerians which Muslim country bankrolled his presidential campaign and what he gave them as a trade-off; whether an Islamized and Sharia-nized Nigeria or OPEC oil politics?It is not yet too late Nigerians to save your necks from this Islamic zealot Muhammadu Buhari as the election has not been held; so DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI whenever the election comes. Imam Muhammadu Buhari is simply too extreme for a secular Nigeria and if you think you had it rough and tough during Obasanjo government, wait until the accident of a Buhari presidency comes to pass and you will chew gravels. Who wants such an austere and gaunt looking Imam for president, not Icheoku and not millions of our followers and visitors; so other Nigerians, what about you? Prevention is better than cure, so do not be hoodwinked by the Buhari4Change slogan as Buhari caused the problems that elicits the change being sort. Nigerians, REJECT BUHARI, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI.

LIBYAN UPHEAVAL, A REVOLUTION OR AN INTERVENTION?

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Icheoku asks is the lingering Libyan crisis still an organic revolution of and by the people of Libya or has it been hijacked by some external forces:- terrorists and al-quieda being assisted by a naive international coalition with remnants of the decimated Libyan military trying to earn their payday? It gets complicated even further because some members of the so called coalition of the willing are now re-interpreting the specific mandate given to prevent possible civilian massacre to include arming the rebels. They sure want to sell weapons as a boost to their home economies and their defense-industries are doing over-drive lobby to have thousands of death-agents parachuted into eastern Libya Benghazi. They just want to sell and it does not matter who these weapons are finally trained on or whose hands they eventually find themselves.

Icheoku says never in the history of international gang-ups against a sovereign nation has fallacy of intent been so blatant like the current attack on Libya's Gaddafi. If as claimed by these coalition of the willing, the primary purpose of "Operation New Dawn" is to prevent civilian massacre and protect civilians, what then is meant to be achieved by saturating Libya with arms and ammunition that has the same potential and capabilities as was meant to be prevented by the no fly zone - killing, injuring, wounding and maiming the same civilians the world was sold as being the reason for the attack on Libya? They want to arm the rebels yet they tell the world that Libyan civilians are protesting and demanding democracy? Who are these rebels and where did they train or which civilians are we even talking about, since big guns, missiles and rockets are not toys that civilians should play with. Let the truth be told, something is going on that triggered the attack on Libya's Gaddafi which no one wants to tell the world about; and borrowing the word of one so called revolutionary, may be we should all assume that "we are waiting but we do not know what we are waiting for." 

If there is a revolution and the army still sides with the government, then it is not total or organic and it might as well pass for an attempted insurrection by some dissidents and any government worth its name cannot sit by and watch the security situation of its territory become compromised without doing something about it. Icheoku is not a fan of Gaddafi nor in anyway trying to understand his continued over-stay in power since 1968; but let the truth be told, if the Libyan people desire a revolution they should pay the price for freedom and not coerce the international community led by the United States of America to do their dirty works for them. That way they would value and appreciate it when finally it becomes a new dawn in Libya; but to instigate hostilities on a newly repentant Gaddafi is just outside the rational template; otherwise what then is the benefits of being a friend of the West or maintaining a cool head and not being obstinate like Kim Jong-iL of North Korea or Amandinejad of Iran or even the Chinese or the Russians. Mubarak was a friend of the West and he is gone? Ben Ali was a friend of the West and he has gone? Now Gaddafi who just repented from his old ways and is warming himself back to the West is now being bombarded by the same West and you wonder if such cuddling of the West is of any beneficial use indeed when they will so easily throw you under the bus at the slightest opportunity? Icheoku expected the West to stay out of the Libyan crisis and instead advise and support the revolutionaries from outside and not to in such blatant manner take sides in a supposedly internal revolution. Just for the heck of discussion, if Gaddafi goes today, would it be okay to still term what took place in Libya as a revolution or more properly called, an intervention? Also would the people of Libya have the face and be proud to celebrate their incompetence and inability to do it by themselves, an intervention by coalition of the willing which removed Gaddafi?

The only good thing out of this Libyan crisis is the futility and uselessness of all those military weaponry procured with billions of dollars that the government could have used to improve the lives of Libyans, which could not aid, protect Libya or repel the attack of the coalition of the willing. Icheoku asks what then is the use of these weapons when the same country that procured them cannot effectively use them to defend itself  from attacks by the coalition partners, who freely made a mince meat of them and without much of any resistance. May be these African governments should stop or reconsider buying these weapons from these Western manufacturers or any other person and instead use their billions to improve the lives of their people, building infrastructures and capabilities. That way the peoples lives would become so much improved they won't care a hoot about who rules them. But when money that would have been used for peoples orientated projects are diverted for procurement of weaponry and those weapons in turn could not defend the country in its hour of need, faced with coalition partners attack, then it becomes "double wahallah for dead body" - a peoples revolution and an unanswered attack from the coalition of the willing. So tell Icheoku what use are these weapons when they are not merchantable since they cannot defend a territory?.

Further, Icheoku is miffed at the incessant dictating by the West for Africans on who should rule them and who should not, particularly because they usually do not mean well. They usually abhor any strong African leader and instead support and prop up a somewhat weakling who would protect their resource interest in the continent. Yet no one tells the West what to do and only asks how high do they want them to jump each time they command African so called leaders to jump up. Moummar Gaddafi is not a saint but at least he is a great African patriot who is passionate about Africa and does not take dictation from any Western country or their minions. The West saw him as a threat, an arrogant African who has refused to know his place and now their dogs of war has been unleashed to humble Gaddafi and cut him to size. Icheoku asks where is the African Union to protest the manner of this foreign intervention by a coalition of the willing who only coalesces when an African or Arab leader is concerned but gladly looks the other way as China decimates Falang Gong, Tibet and other ethnic minorities of Ungurs including those democracy-marchers in Tienanmen Square. Not to be forgotten, the 2010 Nobel Prize winner is still jailed by the communist China for his democracy activism, yet no coalition of the willing has been assembled against China. Iran killed several thousands during their suppression of democracy yet no coalition of the willing went to protect those innocent civilians? Russia has some other peoples freedom emasculated, yet no coalition of the willing in Moscow.

The fact that Moummar Gaddafi is the "King of  kings in Africa" should have provided an impetus for a strong objection by the AU over the fate which befell him. But being also illegitimate themselves, they lack the moral fortitude to question a gang-up against a fellow African country, especially one ruled by the "King of all Kings in Africa?" Where are those African warriors of the yore to race up to Libya and protect the honor of their "King of Kings?" It is a complicated world and this coalition of the willing do not seem to have a one-size fits  all policy thrust for every country or its leader and this is where the cookie crumbled. Anyway, until the final resolution of the impasse in Libya, Icheoku maintains that an insurrection is not the same as a revolution and therefore should neither be supported nor condoned. These AK-47 wielding bearded men are not revolutionaries, assuming they are even Libyans and the West should assist them at their own risk; but must approach them with caution in their aid in order not to be eventually swallowed by their own created quick-sand. Sanctions and sabotage of the government would have been the preferred option but definitely not bombing from thousands of feet up in the dark skies of Libya. To make matters more sinister, when a devastated Japan on bended knees could use all the help it could get, this coalition of the willing is busy gleefully destroying another country and you call that being responsible?

NIGERIANS VOTE FOR ANYBODY BUT BUHARI.

Icheoku reminds Nigerians that a country with progressive ideals do not vote for a rustic past leadership; so a vote for Imam Muhammadu Buhari is a vote to take the country back to dark ages. War against Indiscipline is not enough nor sufficient, standing by itself, to qualify Buhari for Nigeria's president. Moreso Julius Caesar warned us that lean and hungry looking men like Cassius are dangerous and Buhari is the Cassius of our time. Nigerians, please think the future, do not vote the past. Reject Muhammadu Buhari's candidacy; say no to an Islamic Sharia presidency in a secular Nigeria and save your limbs from being chopped off for trifle offenses. In April 2011 presidential election, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI; vote for anybody but Buhari!

MUHAMMADU BUHARI HATES THE STATE OF ISRAEL, QUERIES VISIT?

Imam Muhammadu Buhari who is running for president in Nigeria is an anti-semitic Boko Haram member Muslim zealot who plans to Islamize and Sharia-nize Nigeria if given the opportunity. This mullah while military head of state disgraced and humiliated two Nigerian Majesties, the Emir of Kano Ado Bayero and the Ooni of Ife Sijuade because they visited the Holy land, the State of Israel. According to Imam Muhammadu Buhari who is also a Hamas sympathizer and aligns himself with Hezbollah, Israel does not deserve to exist. It is being rumored too that he plans to severe ties between Nigeria and Israel if elected. Icheoku has it on strong authority that his presidential campaign is being sponsored by Iran, Libya and Sudan; and wonders what the West and Israel is waiting to come out strongly against his candidacy. Nigerians please do not fall for the bogus tale of a reinvented democrat as leopard does not change its spots and old dog do not take kindly to being taught new tricks. NIGERIANS PLEASE SHUN BUHARI'S CANDIDACY, it is leprous!

THINK ABOUT OBASANJO, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI.

 Icheoku warns Nigerians not to make the same mistake twice. You can't teach old dog new tricks as it is set in its ways and so is an army man who retired as a general. Moreso coup plotting is a treasonable crime and Nigerians should never allow a coup plotting army man back in the presidency. Olusegun Obasanjo was a nightmarish example and he showed that leopards do not change their spots. Muhammadu Buhari is not good for Nigeria, he is simply too extremist for a secular Nigeria.

Further his days are long past and he has no fresh ideas to move Nigeria forward. Icheoku says, a forward-looking people do not regurgitate a spent past leadership to take them to the future. Buhari was once a head of state in 1983 and 28 years later in 2011 he still wants to become president again? Such amounts to recycling of leadership and Nigerians should tell the Imam that 150 million people is more than enough pool of people from which to pick one smart person to lead the country into the future. Icheoku says Buhari is not that person and Nigerians should therefore not vote for BUHARI. Nigerians deserve better and BUHARI is worst. Nigerians deserve a democrat and BUHARI is a dictator. Nigerians deserve a moderate and BUHARI is an extremist. Icheoku says, Nigerians say no to BUHARI, please do not vote for BUHARI.

MOUSSA KOUSSA, A LIBYAN TRAITOR?

 Libya's Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa betrayed the trust of Moummar Gaddafi as he defected to Britain; leaving the former strongman hold on power drastically weakened. Icheoku says as long as this world exists, there will always be amongst us, Judas Iscariots and Moussa Koussa has now become one as far as Moummar Gaddafi is concerned. For forty-two years, he tagged along and did not see anything wrong with Gaddafi's dictatorship until now?

Icheoku adds, what took this man this long to realize that Gaddafi is a dictator and has been in power for just too long - 42 years; or is it another case of a fair-weather opportunist who jumped ship when it started taking in water? Lockerbie PA AM bombing, Berlin night club bombing as well as thousands of Libyan dissidents - their blood flowed by the hands of this animal but suddenly Gaddafi is not good any more? A kettle calling pot black? Icheoku hates such traitors as this animal and wish Libyan agents can get to him before he takes in further sympathy or absolution from the world! All traitors deserve to hang and Moussa Koussa is such a candidate!

BUHARI IS NOT WHAT NIGERIA NEEDS AT THIS TIME OR ANYTIME.

PROPRIETY AND LEGALITY NOT JUST ENOUGH, SAY NO TO BUHARI PRESIDENCY.

“I have had the fortune and privilege of managing national resources in various capacities - as a military commander, as a state governor, as a minister, as head of the Petroleum Trust Fund and as the Head of State of this great country. And in all that I have been and done, I have never touched a Kobo of public funds. If elected, we shall challenge vested interests and erase unearned privileges. Propriety and legality will be our new watchwords" - Muhammadu Buhari, CPC presidential candidate. Icheoku says in as much as Buhari's WAI was inimitable and well-intentioned; but all other antecedents of his considered, he is not just good for Nigeria. Muhammadu Buhari is an extremist religious fanatic who will implement fringe-sect Islamic Wahabism SHARIA-law in Nigeria if elected. Nigerians, remember that lean and hungry-looking men like Buhari are dangerous and please do not fetch the firewood with which you shall be roasted, do not vote for Buhari. Also Buhari has not told Nigerians who is sponsoring his campaign and whether the allegation that some Middle Eastern Muslim countries are bankrolling his campaign is true. Icheoku finds it just difficult imaging a Buhari presidency in Nigeria in 2011, not after all the things he did wrong and illegal as a military junta in Nigeria.

NIGERIA DESERVES BETTER AND COULD DO A LOT BETTER THAN A BUHARI PRESIDENCY!

“The grounds on which Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naive. History matters, records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future.Canvassing for Buhari's presidency based on his supposed records is one of the most depressing argument that I ever encountered from people placing a political noose around the nation’s neck with a Buhari's presidency." - Professor Wole Soyinka. Icheoku says the same Nobel Laureate told the world that the man dies in him who keeps silence in face of tyrannyand Wole has again chosen to keep the man in him alive by speaking out against an impending anomaly of a possible Buhari election as president of Nigeria. Icheoku loves the bravery of this Wole Soyinka and quips where is Buhari's WIFE?

ELIZABETH TAYLOR WAVES HER FINAL GOODBYE TO THE WORLD!

She took out the band in husband. She made a joke of the institution of marriage. She made a fool of men; used and disposed them at will in fulfillment of her lustful pleasure. She possessed of some charm which many a man found irresistible and fell for her bait severally. She is somewhat and in many ways comparable to the other Hollywood lecherous daughter of Eve, Marilyn Monroe. Her name is Elizabeth Taylor, better known by her acronym Liz Taylor and Liz Taylor is no more - dead at 79 of "too much good life" related infirmities of congestive heart failure.

Liz Taylor went through seven marriages and even married one of her husbands twice; and was planning on the eightieth marriage before death decreed otherwise. Icheoku says what a "good moral authority" on marriage this Madam Hollywood was indeed; hopefully when she gets before God, she will explain to HIM what all these men did to deserve being used and dumped severally and respectively as husband-specimens. The good news however is that according to the scriptures, there is no husbands or wives in heaven; but who knows what the situation is in hell, admitted Icheoku  is not implying that Liz is hell-bound. Anyway, so long Liz and may your creator reward you according to your works. Adieu Madam divorcee extra-ordinaire!

NUHU RIBADU, HIS MANY SINS.

NORTH HIJACKS ACN FROM THE WEST, PUSHES TINUBU OUT.

ACN presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has admitted that his northern people have wrestled ACN from the Yoruba Southwest and that Bola Tinubu is no longer the owner of the party. In his own words, Nuhu Ribadu said, "ACN today is a northern party because I am the candidate.” Icheoku says now that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has descended into tribal politics, Nigeria will now see him for who he is - a ranting northern tribalist masquerading as a national leader. Good enough his legs have been brought out and is now crushed. Nigerians Icheoku calls on you to remember the admonition of Julius Caesar in Shakespeare that "lean and hungry looking men like Mallam Nuhu Ribadu are dangerous;" so do not take unmitigated risk with your vote on such a confessed tribalist. Just say no to the mallam - Nuhu Ribadu! 

NUHU RIBADU LIES AGAIN, ABSOLVES BOLA TINUBU OF CORRUPTION?

"There are areas I can never compromise. I can assure you I will not be corrupt and I will not allow corruption in my government. I will not allow anyone close to me to be corrupt, if you cross the line, you will face justice" - Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ACN Presidential candidate. Icheoku says, except that Bola Tinubu is sponsoring his presidential campaign and couldn't be any closer to Nuhu Ribadu!

SLEEPING NIGERIA LEADERS, WHAT DID THEY SMOKE?

Icheoku asks what was probably "infused" in these peoples drink or food that they all dozed off during a presentation at the last bombed-out 2010 Nigeria independence day anniversary celebration in Eagles Square Abuja? The above picture taken at the event shows past Nigerian leaders, from left to right, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ernest Shonekan and Abdulsalam Abubakar as they dozed off during the event? Anyway, it somewhat validates the allegation that these men only slept while on duty, during their respective tenure in government serving as heads of state and presidents. Leaders under the influence of something? Now reader, still wondering why Nigerian economy has been comatose ever since her independence in 1960, especially since the regime of the genocidal Yakubu Gowon declared in the 70s that he does not know what to do with Nigeria's surplus money? 

MALACHY UZENDU TAKES TITLE - "NWA-CHI-NA-EMERE NA ABUJA!"

He is one of the upcoming, upwardly mobile, dynamic, young and ebullient Igbo pillars of light in Abuja. A journalist extra-ordinaire and current Deputy News Editor of Champion Newspapers Nigeria, chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists Abuja chapter, a dear friend of mine and former high school classmate, Malachy Uzendu, has been recognized for his industry by his people - the Igbo people of Nigeria resident in Abuja and they have honored him accordingly. They conferred him with a chieftaincy title, "Nwachinaemere N'Abuja' - translation, 'a child whom the god helps of Abuja'. Icheoku says congratulation, Chief Malachy Uzendu!

The honoree pictured above, is seen kneeling with his wife as they received some royal blessings from the "King of Igbo people in Abuja, Igbo 1, the Eze Igbo Abuja, HRH Eze Nwosu Ibe; who placed his royal hands on Malachy's shoulders, as supporters and well-wishers look on approvingly.

We wish Chief Malachy Uzendu well and pray that the recognition bestowed on him will serve as additional wind underneath his sail, as he continues to excel in his chosen profession and carry the torch of Igbo people of Nigeria especially those resident in Abuja. Once again congratulations classmate and may the gods of Igboland continue to guide and protect you and your lolo, our dear 'Nwachinaemere n'Abuja.' Malakai is now a red-cap high chief, hurray!

LIBYA NO FLY ZONE OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN, THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE?

Icheoku queries, if Muammar Gaddafi complies with the United Nations resolution today and ceases hostilities as well as pledges to  protect Libyan civilians or even takes a step further by withdrawing his troops to their position ante the march to Benghazi, would he have met the benchmark necessary for him to remain in power?


If not and regime change is the ultimate goal of those coalition partners, what then is the incentive for Muammar Gaddafi to comply with the resolution rather than fighting to finish and possibly dying in the process? But if following his withdrawal, it will then be okay for him to remain in power in his Tripoli enclave, does it mean that by necessary implication that Libya has been divided into two and that Benghazi and Western Libya will then constitute itself into a different country? Unfortunately, those pushing the withdrawal failed to take into cognizance that the whole territory of Libya was once under Gaddafi's control, hence their demand that he withdraws from the rebel held eastern part amounts to taking side in the conflict and peradventure dividing the country.


Conversely though, if Muammar Gaddafi complies and withdraws to his Tripoli post, at a later future date there will also be demand for him to completely go, failing which, there will be further military action against his regime to forcibly remove him from office. Thereafter, he may be tried and hanged like his Iraqi counterpart Saddam Hussein, alongside his sons; and there goes the whirl-wind story of the evolving power struggle in Libya. Either way, Icheoku could care less but the urgency of the United Nations in taking sides in the Libyan crisis is questionable in view of their wilful indifference to the ongoing carnage in Ivory Coast, preceded by Darfur and so many other black African countries. May be the urgency to remove Gaddafi is fueled by some hurt feelings and bruised egos of some European leaders now trying to use this opportunity to pay back Gaddafi for some perceived insolence and arrogance? Icheoku asks why did Sarkozy and Berlusconi not resign from office when faced with similar protests by their citizenry; especially Berlusconi who has in addition been accused of sexual molestation of an underage girl? Even America's Barack Obama was similarly called upon by the Tea Party protesters to quit; yet did he quit?


Icheoku asks, why is it that it is only in Africa that leaders are ordered to step down by these Western countries, who themselves nobody tells what to do; and which order they cannot extend to Russia, China and even Iran? Why was there no similar resolution in Iran during the democracy protest or in China during Tienanmen uprising or Russia during the Chechnya massacre? Gaddafi probably made a mistake in not acting fast to take his country back and may pay dearly for it and possibly with his life. A fast-thinking person would have sped up the counter-offensive and since taken back Benghazi so that whatever resolution to give anything back would have become moot. But no, he dig-dallied and his loquacious son boasted how they will go door to door in search of those rebels and drew the ire of the coalition partners who peremptorily bombed Gaddafi's forces to protect Libyan civilians?


Icheoku asks, what then is the use of Russia and China to their allies when they can only stand hands akimbo while the army of their fan number one, Moummar Gaddafi of Libya, is being decimated; awash of tons of useless weapons supplied by the same Russia and China? Why are they afraid to raise their voices in protest; at least if they will not fight, let them complain loudly in opposition; afterall Israel gets away with all that it pleases because America supports it totally and completely and without equivocation. So why can't Russia and China support Libya's Gaddafi with similar conviction and let the world's standoff begin! But more seriously speaking, Icheoku asks why is it not okay for a duly constituted government of Moummar Gaddafi to defend its Libyan sovereign territories from pockets of armed insurrection? Icheoku have seen other revolutionaries in Tunisia and Egypt and they were not armed with big guns and rocket launchers. These Libyans rebels might as well be what Gaddafi called them - al-Queida operatives; and by the time this coalition of the willing will realize it, it might be simply too late as al-Queida would have firmly established an operational stronghold in Libya. Until Gaddafi goes or Libya is divided, the guessing game continues but Icheoku says, double standards by the world elite countries is simply not rational.

BABANGIDA ALIYU ASKS BUHARI TO FORGET ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY!

“Nigerians must jettison ethnicity, religious bigotry and other divisive tendencies capable of subverting peaceful co-existence and national unity as the race for the presidency hots up. Obasanjo became head of state in 1976 as a result of the death of Murtala Muhammed. Goodluck Jonathan became the president as a result of the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. That was done by God. It wasn’t designed by anybody and if God gives somebody such powers, what we can do is to complement and then wait for the appropriate time. But where some people think it is theirs and they use every opportunity and every sentiment to make it look like it’s their legitimate right, we must fight it. We must resist it so that every child, no matter the circumstances of his birth, can aspire to become the president of Nigeria. Our nation is passing through one of the most challenging phases of our socio-political developments. We must therefore sit up and move away from lip service and loose talk about national unity. We must individually and collectively act in the appropriate direction by promoting activities that will engender mutual respect, trust and understanding for continued peaceful co-existence." - Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State. Icheoku says this doctor spoke well and articulated the thoughts of majority of fair-minded Nigerians. May be he should be the president of Nigeria whenever next, it becomes the north's turn at producing the presidency.

JAPANESE TSUNAMI, WHEN WHALES FIGHT BACK?

 Icheoku is just wondering if the seas just had enough and decided to fight back the Japanese for killing their "gods and goddesses" - those whales? Whaling is one practice the Japanese have resisted the moratorium placed on it and for a very long time, and continually savor taking the lives of these majestic and humongous sea mammals of the world.In some cultures whales are worshiped as gods while some other cultures regard them as mermaids or the guardian of the seas. But the Japanese could care less, hence the harpooning of the whales that goes on regularly within the Japanese society such that Icheoku wonders if these gods have had enough and decided to take their revenge and pound of flesh on the Japanese people; washing away thousands of Japanese own people in retaliation? Just asking, because as the Japanese tsunami has shown, when nature fights back it could be very devastating; so humanity must endeavor not to disturb the equilibrium and peace of a world jointly owned by them and other creatures. Icheoku calls on the Japanese people to please observe some moratorium on their whaling in order to make peace with the seas in accordance with the Tokyo governor that rightly advised that the gods are angry and should be appeased. Japanese people, Icheoku calls on you to please stop killing those whales so that the seas will leave you alone!