NEWT GINGRICH CAMPAIGN SUFFERS MASSIVE CONVULSION!

 The fight is mine said the Lord; so all those ganging up against the Lord's anointed one are bound to fail - falling by the way side, one wanna-be at a time. If only these charlatan wanna be presidential candidates had listened to the Oracle of Republican politics, Karl Rove, who said that there is no vacancy in the White House 2012 for the republicans to fill, may be all these pretenders to the presidency may have saved themselves the embarrassment of their premature withdrawals. 

But no, their bloated personal egos were simply too big that it momentarily forced them out to the stage, such that even some of them who ordinarily could not be elected as Mayor of their cities, are now angling for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. However it appears that the man who abandoned his dying wife in a hospital bed and eloped with his mistress, Newt Gingrich, would soon follow these early back-out candidates as his entire presidential campaign team have given up on him and resigned en-mass in protest of his continuing as a possible candidate. So can a masquerade go to the village square without its retinue of minstrels? Icheoku hopes the heartless Newt will read the handwriting on the wall and withdraw from the race now before being disgraced at the Republican Party's presidential candidate nomination convention by a Tea Party-backed candidate. If he wisely do withdraw as expected, it will make it the fourth Republican wanna-be to throw in the towels; chickening out of the 2012 presidential campaign before it started for fear of practically being decimated by a much better positioned incumbent, President Barack Hussein Obama. 

Newt Gingrich would then join the other cowards, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Mister Loud-mouth Donald Trump; presidential candidate dwarfs who turned tail because of the formidable opponent they will face for the White House rather than any other thing. Newt Gingrich, Icheoku asks, when is the formal announcement of your withdrawal coming or is it not over until Callista says so?

CONGRESSMAN WEINER'S SNAKE, NOT THAT BIG AFTERALL?

Icheoku had previously reported that based on the pictured bulging briefs that nudist pervert Anthony Weiner of New York was well endowed. Icheoku was duped as it appears the Congressman exaggerated his equipment by adding artificial phallus therein. Now that the naked thing has been revealed, it does not seem to be of any meaningful size afterall; and since size matters, the Congressman must be feeling awfully so shortchanged by his creator. Judging from the latest nude picture of his equipment, the actual size should be about 3.5inches by 1inch; which is ridiculously tiny for an average honk who is well hung. Pictures does not lie, so take a good look at the naked picture of Congressman Anthony Weiner of New York 9th's phallus and be the judge for yourself.

OLADIMEJI BANKOLE'S CORRUPTION TRIAL, A HUGE JOKE?

Icheoku says imagine the camaraderie between the accused former Speaker Bankole and his prosecutors, the EFCC; and inside a courthouse? Icheoku says if Bankole could exhibit this much indifference to his travail publicly, then imagine how much have gone behind closed walls to imbue him with such confidence that nothing will happen to him? 

Icheoku says that Bankole's indictment is just another chapter in the drama playing itself out in Nigeria's ever intriguing political theatre otherwise how does anyone explain the too relaxed attitude at display during the arraignment as he laughs at a huge joke. Icheoku bets that former Speaker Bankole Oladimeji will not be convicted and will be acquitted on all charges and a due apology tendered to him for the little inconvenience of an indictment. Former PDP chairman Vincent Ogbulafor is still walking the grounds a freeman despite mouth-watering corruption charges; so why would Bankole's case be any different. So instead of asking, what's so funny that Bankole and his prosecutors are laughing about; ask, why is he not treating this case with some seriousness. 

PDP'S OBJECTION TO SPEAKER TAMBUWAL, VERY RUDE AND UNDEMOCRATIC!

Icheoku says it is regrettable that the Peoples Democratic Party is frowning at the election of Barrister Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives and wonders what happened to the internal democracy being preached by the party? Or is the PDP's making a Pharisee-styled preaching which ensconces only "do what I say but not what I do?" So if the House of Representatives freely elected who they want to lead them, wherein did they get it wrong or in anyway had democracy trampled upon? Icheoku says for even entertaining this objection at all, the ruling party, PDP, has now metamorphosed into the Pharisees of our times,

The PDP high-ups are crying bloody murder that their purely internal affair and arrangement of zoning political offices among the various six zones in Nigeria has been messed up with the election of the North-western Tambuwal instead of their anointed South-Westerner. Icheoku queries since when has an internal private arrangement take precedent over a constitutional democracy which enshrined the right to choose? Icheoku asks, why didn't the same PDP top-shots cry with the same despair when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ran and was elected to the presidency, despite his action being anti-zoning arrangement of the PDP which pre-zoned the office to the North as the rightful zone to produce the president in 2011? All of a sudden, President Jonathan had crossed the bridge of no-zoning and here once again comes the road-block of zoning against all others? Icheoku says, somebody should drag the PDP and President Jonathan to court to explain to Nigerians how such could be possible? It is indeed very unfortunate the type of Yes-men and Yes-women Nigeria is saturated with; men and women who would sell their conscience just for a pot of porridge and cannot brave it to speak up when it mattered; but suddenly now it has once again become convenient for them to chorus zoning. 

Finally, Icheoku says Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is well qualified both in academic training and his experience as a long time incumbent legislator to lead the House and the House reserves the right to choose whomever it pleases to lead them. They have chosen Tambuwal and he is well qualified to do the job, so case closed PDP; so live with it. If you did not or could not stop Jonathan from going against the grain of zoning himself, why do you think Tambuwal will be an easy prey to chew and spit out. Icheoku says PDP should join Nigerians and say YES to real democracy; they should also support the House revolutionary vote for a speaker of their choice instead of towing the wishes of the PDP to rubber-stamp a supposed "rightful" candidate. Unfortunately, the PDP forgot that the House has other party's members therein and that it is not the place of the PDP to dictate to such diverse population as to who shall lead them. Congratulations Nigeria House of Representatives for being real democrats and showing the way forward on the art of separation of powers and that you will not be anybody's toy! Icheoku says if the presidency disturbs you one more time about your choice of your speaker Tambuwal, you may consider bringing articles of impeachment to keep them in check - it is your prerogative!

TAMBUWAL ELECTION SHOWS PRESIDENT JONATHAN LACKS GRAVITAS!

 Icheoku congratulates the House of Representatives for not kow-towing the PDP directive on who leads them. It is called democracy and that includes internal democratic right to chose freely who shall lead the House. On this note the election of Tambuwal is a right and correct thing to do and the House just did that. 

Now what does that portend for President Jonathan? It shows that he has been perfectly checkmated by the North which now in addition to the vice president, also has the party chairman, senate president and the speaker which conversely means that President Jonathan is serving at their pleasure as they can decide to just impeach him and make way for a Northern President Namadi Sambo. On another front, they can conspire to deny President Jonathan his policy directive just to make him a failed president or simply frustrate his effort as the 2015 time clock runs its course. Icheoku has always known that President Jonathan is a naive politician when he allowed a Northern Party Chairman and INEC chairman preside over the last election and further confirmed this political puerility when he obstructed the Igbo South-East from producing the speaker. 

Now the North has everything and President Jonathan is a mere seating duck without any other Southerner in high offices to get his back. Anyway, Icheoku believes that the Yoruba Southwest PDP did not deserve being rewarded with the office of the speakership, having lost the zone to the Bola Tinubu ACN. Icheoku saw the attempt as unreasonable and irrational - rewarding a zone that forsook PDP with the speakership of the House was both unjust and uncalled for. Icheoku asks President Jonathan, how about a Kebbi Speaker as an alternative to a Southeast one; go figure Mr Goodluck; except that these days the good in the goodluck seems to have been replaced with "beware of what you wish for". So long and congratulation Speaker Tambuwal.

CONGRESSMAN WEINER'S BATTLE OF THE BULGE, APPEARS WELL ENDOWED!

 

A United States Congressman posted Twitter picture? Really; displaying his equipment in this fashion or did he put some stuff underneath the Hines briefs? The only beef Icheoku has with this picture or the act of sexually harassing the recipient is that a law-maker of the United States of America had the time and mindset to be this stupid, reckless, idiotic as well as imbecilic! Where traveled his mind without him or did he smoke or snort something? Icheoku says can you imagine a man with the mind of this legislator legislating for th country? This is definitely some of the reasons why they have not been able to figure out the way out of the economic wood the nation is wallowing in. The fact of the matter is that Congressman Anthony David Weiner, Democrat and U.S. Representative for New York's 9th congressional district is not the only one doing this among these legislators; but until caught, their pretended demeanor is that of a purist as clean as wind-driven snow. Now does this Congressman not know such indecent exposure could be interpreted as offensive sexual harassment and that on his shoulders lies millions of his constituents who depend on his attentive representation to have their problems solved? However, Icheoku sympathizes for a man most likely in a loveless marriage, bored by a boring wife who does not provide him with an affectionate companionship hence he drifted to lala-land in search of a soul-mate. As his stuff shows he found his soul-mate but was only stupid to blow it in this manner. Icheoku advises Congressman Anthony Weiner to be courageous and walk away from his present marriage and follow his heart; as any woman who could pull out a man to this extent might as well know the right things to whisper into a man's cranial membrane. It is almost a 7x2.5 equipment protesting and roaring underneath the boxers; little wonder he flaunts it. His chest also shows a man working out real good - America, we got a "Buffy the Vampire slayer in Anthony Weiner! Better still, may be the New York Congressman should quit his day job at the Capitol !and head West to Hollywood for some role in Porn; just suggesting!

OLADIMEJI BANKOLE -SAGA, ARE ALL NIGERIANS OPPORTUNITY CRIMINALS?

Icheoku has been following the 10billion Naira loan saga of former Speaker Oladimeji Bankole or "Bank-thief"; and one thing has stood out from it - that Nigerians are mostly criminals waiting for time and opportunity to present itself before dipping their hands and itchy-fingers in that pot of gold. 

Surprisingly Nigerians always pass the buck by blaming their leaders or the next person for what has gone wrong with the country; but they failed to realize that these leaders do not come from Mars but are products of the society called Nigeria. This seem to suggest that it is a faulty system which produces these swines that is to blame and not the swines themselves. They looked at historical records and nothing was done to their predecessors, for their crimes against the purse; so they said why not help themselves with the people's coffers since nothing would also happen to them for following in the footsteps of their predecessors in office. 


Imagine the young and ebullient Dimeji who have endeared himself in the hearts of millions as that youthful , single, bachelor-boy speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives, the becon of hope for millions of youth and here he is, caught in the jar - a petty crook using his office to swindle Nigerian tax-payers of billions of their hard currency as whatever allowance which never made any sense. Icheoku says if Bankole with his youthfulness and cool demeanor could descend so low to do this, imagine the decay in that society called Nigeria and who else could thereafter be trusted to do the peoples job without dipping their filthy hands in the peoples collective pie? Is there any hope still left for a country where the majority if not all, are just bidding their time for the right opportunity to present itself for them to "gbuo- ozu" (kill dead body a local parlance for making it filthy rich overnight). 

Icheoku has no particular beef with anyone over the matter under advisement but is there any hope left when the old failed and the youth now being tried as exemplified in the bachelor 39 year former speaker has now equally failed to live up to expectation and abysmally too? Imagine a young man of thirty nine years, single and childless, who collects $1million dollars every three months to freely use as he pleases; still craves for some more like Oliver Twist and this is in a country where millions of starving unemployed youths are roaming the streets daily in search of a non existent and unavailable jobs. And then you have six principal officers of the House of Representatives collecting $4.56million dollars every three months free money and you now truly understand why the do or die brand of primitive politics is headquartered in Nigeria. 

Anyway the arrest of "Bank-Olee" by EFCC is a step in the right direction; admitted nothing much would come out of it as pressure will be mounted on the EFCC to drop the charges or better still provide the bank-thief with a soft landing; but at least the former speaker was led out of his home by the men of EFCC and with the world's eye trailed on the exercise. As is usually the case with corrupt PDP chieftains, who always get away with all manners of crime with impunity, former speaker "Bank-Thief" will soon smell the air of his freedom. However, at the rate these politicians are milking Nigeria's purse, soon and very soon, an already hopeless situation will be made desperate, except that Nigerians are too complacent and unreasonably too hopeful for the future to risk what it takes to usher in an Arab-Spring styled revolution in Nigeria. But the bad news is that such an uprising will not help matters get better because it is not caused by just one person such as Mr Oladimeji Bank-Olee, but by an entire society which thrives on such opportunistic thievery. If not Bank-Olee, it is Vincent Ogbulafor; if not him it is Aminu and the vicious circle goes on round and round. 

Be that as it may, Icheoku as with the rest of the world will be watching to see how far the prosecution of the former speaker will go, but we are not hopeful of a full gestation culminating to a conviction and possible jail-time because of the usual Nigerian factor. Nigeria has a problem and that problem is not the leadership but the society itself that breeds such people as make up such horrible leadership such as the Oladimeji Bankole example. It is  pitiful and it is regrettable that the former speaker who represented transparency by replacing his ousted predecessor Patricia Etteh, who suddenly have now been exonerated of her alleged complicity in some corruption scandal which brought her down; himself also descended into such dubious practices. This is the first time in the history of the world and democracy that a House of Representatives took out a loan to share among themselves, give to themselves staggering amounts in allowances? If this is not 419 on Nigerians by a 419 House of Representatives led by a 419 speaker and officers, then nothing so qualifies. Now, when would the recently signed into law Freedom of Information law come into effect so that Nigerians could look into other Oladimeji Bank-Olees of the Nigerian PDP government. 

CHINESE MILITARY BUILD UP IS NO THREAT - GENERAL ZHANG QINSHENG

 Icheoku asks, why then are they building it up if they do not intend to use it to threaten world peace? It is a known fact that third world war will surely take place following a Chinese miscalculation of its "might" and they will get their back-end kicked decisively. 

Icheoku says instead of spending all those money building up an army that can never be allowed to dominate the world, the Chinese government should use their resources to build up democratic institutions preparatory to freeing up the 1.6 billion Chinese citizens under siege to enable them determine their destiny and not always being told what to do. Hopefully the "Arab-Spring" will soon reach the land of Mao and transform into a "Sino-Spring" and sweep away the old way of doing other peoples thinking for them. Finally, Icheoku reiterates that China's military build-up poses a threat to world peace, not withstanding the bold-faced denial to the contrary by Chinese General Zhang Qinsheng, deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army.

JOHN EDWARDS STANDS ACCUSED, COVERING UP AFFAIR WITH BABY-MAMA!

A successful lawyer, Senator, Vice presidential candidate and also a presidential candidate nomination contender; but suddenly his life is fast evaporating like a morning dew and please let someone tell Icheoku that the bible and William Shakespeare were wrong on the jest life makes of man. John Edwards, whose ex-wife Elizabeth Edward died of cancer, accelerated by a broken heart caused by the infidelity of a cheating husband now stands accused - indicted on a six counts criminal charge, of illegally using political donations to cover up an affair with a former aide to his 2008 presidential campaign. John Edwards' indictment include one count of conspiracy, one count of making false statement and four counts of illegal campaign contributions. If convicted, the pretty face girlie-man, who regularly gets a $400 hair-cut, will be spending the next five years in prison in addition to paying a $250,000 fine on each of the six counts, totaling $1,500,000 in criminal penalties.

Icheoku says that John Edwards is no longer loved in America is akin to preaching to the choir - hated by his native South Carolinas for whatever the beef the two have, by the republicans for being a too girlie liberal, by the democrats for being camelionic, by insurance companies for being a mass-tort lawyer, by the poor for spending $400 a piece on his haircuts, by vulnerable single girls for taking advantage of his aide Rielle Hunter and knocking her up like the Bristol Palins of America and for lying initially about the existence of his baby-mama and finally by the women folk for cheating on his cancer-stricken and dying wife. Now Icheoku asks, where would John Edwards lawyer find the jury of his peers who will judge him fairly and not with some bias or prejudiced minds? May be somewhere else but definitely not in the Carolinas as second only to Al Gore who lost election in his native Tennessee, John Edwards might be the only other home-boy who is so much hated by his hommies - the Carolinas. As a defense lawyer, the first move should be to remove the case from both North and South Carolina and move it to some place else, otherwise John Edwards fate is determined and soon he will have to add convict to his resume.

The case involves his use of about $900,000 allegedly campaign funds to cover up the existence of his baby mama and her pregnancy then. While the prosecution maintains that the money falls under the ambit of campaign funds as it was solicited during his 2008 presidential campaign; John Edwards camp claims the opposite, that the money is personal "gifts"? Icheoku asks who ordinarily gives a millionaire presidential contender a gift of $900,000 and during a  presidential campaign period if not intended as a contribution to the presidential campaign? John Edwards team should better come up with a more plausible explanation or better still plea-bargain as no one juror will buy this fable that anyone intended to make such a gift under the circumstance. Icheoku wholly agrees with the prosecution that John Edwards misled the American public during his 2008 presidential campaign when he presented a face of a dutiful and loving family man before them while in his closet, he had hidden, an expectant baby-mama; knowing fully well that such disclosure of the affair and the resultant pregnancy would destroy his candidacy. Icheoku says, for such a double-life alone, this John Edwards should be found guilty as charged; at least do it for the dead Elizabeth. 

The controlling factor in virtually every crime is the intent of the accused and it would appear that John Edwards has a guilty aforethought in this matter. According to one testifying former aide, "Edwards told the aide that this was a huge issue and that for 'legal and practical reasons' it should not be mentioned in the statement they were preparing." Icheoku says herein lies the hammer that will nail John Edwards guilty-coffin as he actively sought to cover up a crime when he said that "for legal and practical reasons it should not be mentioned in the statement being prepared;' so what more can a prosecution ask for. This also buttresses the  rule of the thumb that whenever a grand-jury brings an indictment, it is always for a real cause; so John Edwards being charged at all, presupposes the existence of some criminal wrong doing otherwise they will not vote to charge him. 

In a statement following his formal indictment and plea of not guilty, John Edwards said, "There is no question I did wrong, and I take full responsibility for having done wrong. I will regret for the rest of my life the pain and harm that I have caused others. But I did not break the law, and I never ever thought I was breaking the law." Icheoku retorts that this man is lying again when he denied the aforethought since his "for legal and practical reasons.." bears witness as to his state of mind at the material time of commission of the alleged crimes. John Edwards would have used the occasion rather to apologize directly to his dead wife, Elizabeth by name, for her pain and suffering while he cheated and impregnated his mistress; instead of generically saying "the pain and harm that I have caused the others?"  Icheoku asks, who are the others but principally Elizabeth; admitted children, family, mistress, the little love-child, friends and the American people were similarly wronged by John Edwards' lies, denial of paternity, denial of the baby-mama and the attempted cover up of an affair outside his matrimonial home. What a liar this man is! 

Finally, Icheoku says if the dead can take their revenge, now is the time for the departed Elizabeth Edwards to take her pound of flesh from her cheating ex-husband and make sure that he is convicted on all the six counts charge. If only John Edwards had kept his zipper up or better still walked away from his prior marriage to the dead Elizabeth before dipping his whinny into another pit, may be his transgressions would not have been this many. But while he lived a lie, he was trying to market himself to the American public as that boy from South Carolina who had nothing but made himself into something and now wanted to be our president. Icheoku says, William Shakespeare might as well be a prophet as he foretold that there is no way of knowing the mind's construction by looking at the face and John Edwards face was a pretty one indeed which never betrayed its recesses but successfully deceived us into nearing buying his presidential candidacy. Anyway, give it up for men especially those politicians amongst them who think they are gods and can get away with anything. Luckily enough for Arnold Schwarzenegger, he can now take a breather as John Edwards' indictment now takes over the center stage. But just wondering, how would the pretty-face John Edwards cope with a jail-time; boy, would he make a beautiful bride to the so many guys needing some in the big house, should he be convicted and sent to prison. What a tragedy, the life for John Edwards is - his rise was poetic and the stuff the proverbial American dream is made of but his downfall now is rather earth-shattering!

OBEDIENT WIVES CLUB FORMED IN MALAYSIA, HURRAY!

 

Icheoku says how about that for a change for the rest of the world which has since lost its mind regarding the rightful hierarchy in the institution called marriage. Divorce, spousal abuse, killing, fights, quarrels etc are all a result of there being no clearly identified head of family to stamp a final seal of approval on matters in controversy thus resulting in a never ending tug of war that finally crashes what was. Men trying to be what they should be and women fighting to topple and usurp the men's headship role against the laws of both God, nature and man. Icheoku says this Malaysian club is imitable and should be spread throughout the rest of the world. Nigerian women in the Diaspora who regularly wear the pant in their households with their men consigned into mere glorified nannies and house-helps should particularly take note of the Malaysian women initiative if they want to be truly happy in their marriages irrespective of who brings home the bacon. 

Icheoku understands that there is even a Nigerian women club in the Greater Dallas area of Texas USA known as "Association of Di Gbakwa Oku women of Nigeria"; if this is true, could these over-liberated Nigerian women see the wisdom in the Malaysia women example and their reasoning that the key to a blissful marriage is a happy home and that there cannot be a truly happy home without a happy man in charge of affairs; admitted with a happy woman complimenting his effort. Icheoku says how about that as a solution to the epidemic of marriage break-ups, divorces and spousal bickering; or please show Icheoku any happy man who wants out of a happy marriage? 

Way to go, Malaysian Obedient Wives Club; kudos for braving such a touchy topic, despite being the only incontrovertible silver-bullet to end most marital problems; usually as a result of there being more than two captains in a boat. Call Icheoku a chauvinistic pig if you like, but hey the truth is out now in Malaysia and denying it is simply foolhardy!

A PRETTY WIFE AND A DUTIFUL HUSBAND AT A BALL.

 Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan digging it with First Lady Dame Jonathan at the presidential inauguration ball - the first dance for the first couple. Boy did Icheoku not know that the president's wife is this pretty; admitted she looks like an alpha-female. 

Did Icheoku hear anyone swear that the Nigerian First Lady wears the pant in the house of Jonathan, president or no president. Icheoku also noticed that President Jonathan looks good with a smile and should consider wearing it more often; but the tuxedo looks rather alien to his personality or who said presidential ballroom dance cannot be held in traditional attire? Anyway the first couple look very radiant in this picture; very impressive.

520 NIGERIANS KILLED DURING POST ELECTION VIOLENCE!

Icheoku says this makes it a truism, Thomas Jefferson's statement, that the tree of democracy must be watered and nourished from time to time with blood of both patriots and tyrants. According to this great American patriot, blood is democracy's natural manure and so it happened that Nigerian democracy has used 520 Nigerians blood to stay alive. Icheoku asks, but did these Nigerians have to die and could their death have been ordinarily avoided; but for Imam Muhammadu Buhari's call on his supporters for the lynching of people who disagreed with his warped sense of self-righteousness? Icheoku says all those innocent Nigerians who were killed on the instigation of Buhari are patriots whose blood ushered in Jonathan's democratic presidency; what is missing however is the blood of the tyrant, Imam Muhammadu Buhari to complete Thomas Jefferson's assertion. What a shame!

ADAMU CIROMA AND FELLOW GRUMPY OLD NORTHERNERS' INAUGURATION BOYCOTT?

The Northern Elders Forum or aka better still Hausa/Fulani tribal senile agitators are at it again - this time, boycotting an inauguration of a president who some of them had earlier congratulated as the bona-fide winner of the last presidential election. Icheoku says it smacks of some deep rooted animosity and resentment of the holder of the office and not just mere politics that these old farts are still holding grudges long after the elections were concluded; which shows that it is hatred for the South-South Jonathan and not a denied zoning that actually motivated them. 


Ibrahim Babangida called to congratulate President Jonathan and same did Atiku; so why the boycott on such flimsy grounds of not being trustworthy? Luckily enough they are nearing their respective graves and soon will all die off with their divisive politics of tribe and religion and a Nigeria, freed of these men, will definitely be a better place for all to thrive and prosper. In their deaths will emerge a Nigeria where everyone will be judged by the content of his character and ability but not the tribe that produced him or the manner he chose to commune with his God. Ibarahim Babangida especially, a man who has held the office before has descended into a tribal demagogue speaks a lot about this human-being who has defied every attempt at deciphering his character assuming he has any. 

However, Icheoku would like to offer a piece of advise to these mallams to tread very carefully as they can easily get themselves in trouble and that they can never win any election in Nigeria except they make real peace with the rest of the country especially the South-South, South-East, South-West and North Central. As Governor Babangida Muazu of Niger State pointed out, Nigeria is bigger than any one section of the country and the fact that a person lost an election in one section does not mean that he cannot be elected president. They could still have attended the inauguration in protest and continue trying to unravel things long after; but to collectively stage a public boycott in the manner they did suggests some seething anger and any president worth his office should mark these guys with a bulls-eye and put them in his enemies list, waiting for a good opportunity to strike at them. 


Partisan political campaigns they say end with election and after the results are declared people move on with their lives and supporting whoever won; but these Adamu Ciroma bunch of tribal champions are pushing their luck rather too far by publicly antagonizing a sitting president with enormous executive powers. Icheoku says were we President Jonathan, such public snub will not go unanswered and very harshly too. At least he can start by allowing America access to Abubakar Atiku to answer for his corrupt allegations and IBB can start telling a tribunal all he knew about the Iraqi Oil Windfall. Icheoku says, since they want to keep busy antagonizing the government; may be it will be much better for them to rather keep busy defending themselves from the law? As far as Icheoku is concerned, these arrogant and powerless senile old men since crossed the line when they cavorted with the ACN and later CPC, trying to help them strategize on how to beat President Jonathan at the pools. Icheoku also believes that these self-styled northern elders have already declared war against President Jonathan and Nigerians will understand if he takes them on with a counter-offensive of his own. 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY AMERICA!

Today as we remember our fallen heroes and heroines of war past, who selflessly paid the ultimate price to purchase for us what we have and enjoy today, Icheoku says keep them in your thoughts; because without their sacrifice, it would have been a totally different story. On this Memorial Day 2011, as you enjoy the barbeque and probably a visit at the park, renew your patriotism in the American experiment and work to improve what is; thus propagating the ideals of what we celebrate today. Today also marks the arrival of summer, so lets see some skins or have you not been working out lately? Have yourself a memorable memorial day America!

PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S INAUGURATION, BOYCOTTED BY COUNTRIES WITH REAL NET-WORTH?

 In solidarity with the Nigerian masses who were prohibited from attending their country's president's inauguration ceremony, major countries of Americas, Europe, Asia and Latin America stayed out from Eagle Square Abuja the venue of the ceremony. 

Icheoku says these major and more important countries of the world that really matter in the scheme of things, together pulled-off a no-show at Nigeria's President Goodluck Ebelesimi Azikwe inauguration ceremony and it tells a lot about low in the totem pole either this particular president or the ceremony itself is before the eyes of these countries causing them to ignore it. 

Except for a few African countries coming to pay tribute to their big brother for their allowances, no country of consequence in the world showed up. Icheoku wonders whether it was as a result of security concerns or their lack of interest in an ordinary African country's presidential function which they deemed beneath their status that made them to stay out. Icheoku is of the view that America, Europe, China and Russia, as well as countries of Asia and South America should not only be interested in Africa when there is a convenient crisis that present a perfect opportunity to try their latest weapons from thousands of nautical miles above the earth as is ongoing in Libya; but they should also show solidarity on occasions as this to celebrate something good and thus encourage the incoming president by manifesting their support. 

At least since they earlier acknowledged that the election that produced him was free and fair and should have taken a step further by showing up at his swearing in ceremony. But the cavalier manner they often treat such matters as this leaves much to be desired and such treatment makes government's antagonists stronger believing that the government has no real international support whatsoever. Icheoku says it is most likely that these countries decided to align forces with ordinary Nigerians, who were banned from the ceremony and chose instead to also stay out. Their logic being that since the Nigerian people whose president is being sworn in were banned by the same government from attending the ceremony, why should they? If the security situation is the real reason, why should they become the guinea-pigs or sitting ducks for those Boko Haram and splinter Niger Delta terrorists drawing blood of innocent Nigerians frequently. Anyway, congratulation President Jonathan and as you start the onerous journey ahead, may the good Lord guide your decisions. Now is the time to keep all the basket of promises you made during your campaign.

ADO BAYERO'S REPRIMAND OF NIGERIA'S VICE PRESIDENT IS WRONG!

Icheoku categorically denounces the reprimand of Nigeria's Vice President Namadi Sambo by the Emir of Kano and states that such conduct is a total and complete disrespect for the office of the vice president and by extension, the entire country. Nigeria's vice president is not under the authority or servitude of a traditional ruler or chief of Kano emirate to deserve being so disrespected by publicly calling him out for being a little late on a scheduled courtesy visit to the emir's palace? 

Agreed that lateness is tardiness and many people including Icheoku finds such habit distasteful; but in this situation involving Nigeria's number two citizen, the emir should have swallowed it or better still, conducted his displeasure in private with the vice president. What if the vice president never showed up at all or even cancelled such a visit or sent an emissary to represent him because matters of state will not let him out on a leisure visit to the emir's palace? What if his boss the president gave him some assignment that needed immediate attention? Icheoku says the emir forgot that there is a thing called protocol that manages the vice president activities and movements; and that the vice president does not have the privilege to just get up and go to anywhere that he pleases such as the emir palace in Kano with all the attendant security implications of visiting such a volatile place like Kano? A more circumspect emir would have in private confided in the vice president his unhappiness for keeping him waiting a little longer, but not in the public exhibition manner in which he pilloried the vice president for his lateness. 

Icheoku rejects the emir's claim to any privilege above the office and person of Nigeria's vice president and states that it should be the other way round if any, as the vice president is number two citizen and is not ordinarily obligated to visit the emir; nor does he draw his paycheck from the emirate of Kano; but only wanted to stop over at the emir's palace as a courtesy call. The same emir who could not and did not swath a fly when Imam Muhammadu Buhari reprimanded him and nearly locked him up for visiting Israel alongside the Ooni of Ife Oba Sijuawade is now puffing and huffing because Nigeria's vice president was few minutes late to visit with him? If Icheoku remembers correctly too that the late midget of Kano Sani Abacha was in the process of dethroning and banishing the emir from the Kano emirate before he was given the poisoned tea. Previously, the same Abacha earlier did away with Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki of Sokoto Caliphate, so the heavens would not have fallen if he had also laid his hand on Ado Bayero and sent him to prison or to some other God forsaken desolate hole somewhere in Cross River State rain forest to live out his life in exile. 

But now the same emir is thinking himself above and superior to the the person and office of the Nigeria's vice president to warrant publicly scolding the vice president simply for being late to his palace? Icheoku says in a civilized society, the emir would be forced to resign his office or dethroned for disrespecting the entire people of Nigeria whose vice president he publicly ridiculed. Icheoku says Nigeria and her vice president deserve an apology from the emir and we hereby demand same on their behalf for his impolite behavior towards Nigeria's second most important citizen. It is a serious matter and a timely offer of an unequivocal apology is needed from the emir as the dressing-down was not only personal to Namadi Samabo but to the entire Nigerian people whose business he was conducting in Kano before he decided to pay the emir a courtesy visit and does not deserve to be so disrespected and treated by the Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Bayero. Icheoku says Vice President Namadi Sambo is only answerable to one person and one person only - the president of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan, his only boss and not to the Emir of Kano.

But so what if the vice president was a few minutes late to visit the emir; afterall he is not an employee of the emir nor is he beholden to the emir; but to the entire Nigeria populace which writes his paycheck. Also Namadi Sambo is not a subject of the emir which makes the emir's motive rather intriguing; except that the emir might not be happy that their Islamic Northern presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari lost the election and here was part of the beneficiary coming to his palace just a little too late. Also the emir reserves the right not to see whoever he does not wish to see just like Benin monarchy Oba Erediuwa who once refused or asked out the minister of works from his palace and should have refused to see the visiting vice president. The emir's options were just darn plenty but he choose the least edifying one - scolding Nigeria's vice president? So, who gives a damn if the vice president could not break off from his duties at Aso Rock, concerning more important state matters, to be on time to see Emir Ado Bayero of Kano; and Icheoku expects the emir should not. 

LIFE IS FULL OF SELECTIVE AMNESIA.

Icheoku likes this cartoon from the Vanguard Newspapers that we republish it here, all deference observed. It sure is the laughing stock President Goodluck Jonathan and his PDP who conveniently decide when to kill and when to resurrect ZONING within the PDP. Icheoku says but life need not and does not have to happen this way where some greedy politicians swing like yoyo just to retain certain positions? 

President Jonathan and his inner kitchen circle, not too long ago claimed that zoning was dead and should not be the overriding consideration in matters of present day Nigerian politics and got elected when it was not his zone's turn at the presidency. If zoning was going to impact them adversely, the refrain becomes zoning is dead; but when there is cheap political gain to be made otherwise, their pendulum swings in favor of the existence of zoning. Icheoku decries the shameful manner in which these folks decide the fate of zoning just to serve their personal selfish interest. Less than three months after their zoning is dead argument which helped elect Jonathan, now it is very convenient for them to similarly declare that zoning is alive once again. Icheoku asks, who knows how soon circumstances will change or present itself to warrant zoning to die again! Only in Nigeria, the land of so many intrigues!