GOVERNOR RASCAL AMAECHI, BOWS FOR ATIKU?

Icheoku bemoans the mentality of this Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who continually battles a president from his neighboring state and sometimes insultingly too; but has no qualms genuflecting and bowing for an ordinary Hausa man Abubakar Atiku? 

The only way to sensibly fathom any logical explanation for this inexplicable disparate behavior is to conclude that Governor Amaechi is psychologically troubled and probably suffering from a South-south man's inferiority-complex tinged slave-mentality that still regards the Hausa/Fulani North as superior to them? Icheoku asks how can a man who stands up on rostrums all over the place, pouring invective on a sitting President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, now crawl to the residence of Abubakar Atiku to bow for him? 

Icheoku does not know about you BUT this Governor Amaechi makes me sick to the stomach. Icheoku says if the PDP cannot stop any other recalcitrant governor in 2015, Rotimi Amaechi MUST be made an exception because he has since crossed every bar of decency in showing mortal disrespect to a sitting president while at the same time slavishly kowtowing to the Hausa/Fulani North. Icheoku condemns his slavish conduct as very despicable, especially in view of the mortally CORRUPT individual before whom he bows and trembles as personalized in Atiku Abubakar. What a farce this man is that is Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Icheoku feels like throwing up for his vileness. 

PUTIN'S 4TH OF JULY MESSAGE, A PLEA FOR MERCY?

Icheoku says the Russian strong man it would seem is not so strong afterall as he now reaches out to the United States of America asking for understanding and accommodation in world affairs? Icheoku says it is definitely a good step in the right direction by Vladimir Putin as unnecessary obtrusiveness and petulant braggadocio never delivers ill-desired results, especially when a united world stands firm against such meddlesome interloper. Finally, the whole world now knows whose position was right and who provoked unneeded crisis when he invaded and stole another country's territory, Crimea, thinking that he can get away with such murderous act. Thankfully America alongside its international partners stood firm and now Putin is begging to be forgiven. 

Icheoku says forgive, the world shall; BUT Putin must first vomit Crimea and pledge never to act like a spoilt kid who needlessly throws tantrums each time his wishes are not met or when he is told that he cannot always have his way. Icheoku says the world will accommodate Putin's request to be recognized but he must be told that unequals cannot be made equal just because he so wishes; and provided he is ready and willing to take his place as possibly the number two country and ceases and desists from making further troubles, then reasonable accommodation should be made for Russia in the comity of nations.  On July 4th independence day celebration, Icheoku says many more years to America and may America continue to shine the light for the rest of the world. including Putin's Russia, to see and follow!

VANDALIZATION OF BRT BUSES, UNACCEPTABLE UTTER MADNESS.

Icheoku says provided the Nigerian army is guilty as alleged that some of their soldiers went on rampage, vandalizing public transportation buses, just because one of them was mowed down by a bus while illegally riding his bicycle on a lane exclusively reserved for such buses, their action is condemnable and simply unacceptable. Icheoku asks what was the soldier doing riding his bicycle on such a busy highway as Ikorodu road, especially on a lane strictly reserved for those rapid transit buses (BRT)? If true, then it is yet another display of crass indiscipline, wantonness, egregiousness and lawlessness by the often ill-trained Nigerian "unknown" soldiers, whose penchant to go cuckoo on the slightest provocation is legendary. Icheoku says it is completely incomprehensible for these soldiers to go on rampage, destroying public transportation equipment and infrastructures, simply because one of their possibly 'DRUNKEN' colleague, seemingly chose to commit suicide using a BRT bus; otherwise what was he doing in such an exclusive rapid transit bus lane in the first place? By the same token, if a train kills someone on a rail track, whose fault is it anyway?

It is only in uncivilized brutish enclaves that men and women trained, equipped and paid to protect and defend the territorial integrity of a country, often viciously turn around against the same people that make their existence possible. In advanced civilized societies, the only place and time you see soldiers is on television news coverage when they are returning from or shipping out on deployments, during such National holidays when they are participating in parades and on other seldom occasions when they are receiving honors or burying one of their killed in action (KIA). You do not see soldiers on the streets getting rascally or in "MAMMY MARKETS" getting drunk or in 'Mosalashi Yaba burning Kalakuta Republic' or now on 'Ikorodu road burning BRT buses' or at any other place for that matter that is not within their confined barracks, which is often zoned off to 'bloody' civilians. Speaking in equivalence, such occurrence as this BRT brigandage is alien and completely none existence, admitted that once in a while, an incensed soldier can snap, pick up a gun and kill his colleagues or family members and then sometimes self in a murder suicide? This could be explained away as a mental illness of that particular soldier BUT Icheoku refuses to accept that an entire army of a country is probably afflicted with unsound mind due to the frequency of occurrence of such outlandish misbehavior by the Nigerian army.

The BRT buses destruction by the Nigerian army will go a long way in further damaging the image of a country that is already very far below stellar; added to the Boko Haram madness particularly their Chibok girls 'alleged' abduction that is continually spewing very corrosive sulfuric volcanic ash upon it. icheoku asks which tourist or investor would pick such a country as a priority go to place for a visit or investment? Humanity like to be safe or at least have a sense or feeling of it, otherwise no one would want to even visit America because of gun violence, but at least you know and feel the authorities are making effort to stop it or solve it when it happens. Most times, appearance rather than reality is key; and at present, Nigeria certainly appears to be a very unsafe place for anyone to be. 

With one crisis after another, Boko Haram this Boko Haram that and some school girls being kidnapped etc; and in an Internet age when one does not need a Nigerian Information Minister Maku to spew his peculiar facts about the condition in Nigeria, Icheoku wonders whose interest all these disturbances are really serving? Icheoku says Nigeria could sure use some break from all these nightmarish daily incidences and so, this further stain on its image at this time of great tribulation and challenges was certainly uncalled for and was also avoidable. But whether the authorities would do something to find and arrest these miscreant soldiers and punish them accordingly, the jury is still out. icheoku says our safest bet is that instead, the authorities will use the cover of "UNKNOWN SOLDIERS" to allow them to escape from justice. 

Icheoku laments that the impunity of these khaki wearing department of the Nigerian society was foist on Nigerians by the Alusi (deity) of Ota, Olusegun Obasanjo, who in 1977 destroyed Fela's Kalakuta Republic, killing Mrs Ransome Kuti in the process and later dismissed the carnage as 'Unknown Soldiers' act? Regrettably, for Nigerians, if it is not them that is impacted directly by an action, it does not matter; and today, the BRT which was not even in existence during Fela's persecution by Obasanjo, is now at the receiving end of the same Nigerian soldiers' fury. Since that Obasanjo's infamy of 1977, it has been one abuse after another, one wantonness after another by the Nigerian army against the people of Nigeria; with some of them stealing governance through coup de tats (Buhari and Babangida), to murdering innocent civilians including Dele Giwa, Bartholomeo Owo, Bernard Ogedengbe, Segun Lawal, Ken Saro Wiwa and most recently a Police DPO and his deputy in Ikorodu Lagos. Simply put, the Nigerian soldier has brought so much sorrow, blood and tears to many Nigerians that one begins to wonder if there is indeed any real use for their existence and whether they actually do add value to the Nigerian society?

Icheoku wonders what manner of men these guys are and what sort of training they actually receive and further, whether they are from another planet; because were they Nigerians, they cannot continuously be committing such hateful crimes against their fellow citizens and their properties? It is quite unfortunate that the BRT which every Lagosian applauds Governor Fashola for, could be so vandalized by the Nigerian army. Icheoku wishes that all of these soldiers in Lagos as well as other cities in Nigeria could be shipped away from the cities to places like Sambisa Forest, Bakassi, Kaura Namoda etc because army formations do not belong in the cities. Military formations throughout civilized world are NOT located in cities but in such far away secluded places where they can freely be the armed men they choose to be. They remain there, train there and wait to be deployed as security needs arises and periodically get some days off to visit the cities if they earned it. The military have a separate existence or world of their own and the Nigerian military should not be an exception to the rule by stationing them within city limits. Such their removal and separation from the main society greatly reduces frictions between them and the civilian population; and thus help in reducing the frequency of such outcomes as was witnessed on Ikorodu Road Lagos today. But unfortunately, icheoku forgets that preaching to a 'deaf and dumb' society, led by a timid government that refuses to learn how things are done better or could be improved upon, is often an effort in futility. 

Anyway, what an unfortunate BUT otherwise avoidable destruction of public properties by the Nigerian army it was. Icheoku hopes that Governor Fashola will throw enough tantrums and stir overbearing dust over the incident that Abuja is forced to do something to get the army authorities to pay for the damage done and also punish their petulant errant soldiers that perpetrated such untoward breach of the peace. OR could it possibly be that these perpetrators are Boko Haram members and/or sympathizers trying to provoke Lagosians into a confrontation? Icheoku says what happened on Ikorodu road today is crazy-madness and unacceptable, no matter the prism with which it is viewed. However, if according to the army version of the incident, Lagos Area Boys took advantage of the accident involving their soldier and carried out the vandalization, then Icheoku apologize; but maintains that such rampage is not beyond the usual repertoire of the Nigerian army. Only a thorough investigation would unravel what actually happened and Icheoku calls for one. 

NATIONAL CONFERENCE, THROWS NIGERIA A LIFE LINE?

Icheoku says it appears the National Conference was worth its assemblage as it has given Nigeria another chance at survival with a much needed shot in the arm. Icheoku says provided their resolutions are fully implemented, the call for Nigeria to wind down as an entity has now become mute since most of the problems militating against its unity has now been RESOLVED. Most times people, especially minorities, always agitate for separation when they feel they are being treated unfairly as non-equals or that their voices are being needlessly drowned out by the majority. So solve the pointy issues and no one wants to leave a big house for their little huts because their is strength in numbers. Given this backdrop, the National Conference's solution to the problem of what happens when a sitting president dies or in any other way could no longer function as one is as clever as it is brilliant. 

Icheoku commends the recommendation that a presidential election be held to fill the slot within a prescribed time and that only candidates from the particular zone of the indisposed president be allowed to participate in the run-off election. While icheoku prays for its full implementation, Icheoku queries whether a sitting vice president's only function now is strictly limited to only temporarily holding fort until run-off election to elect a replacement president and no more? Also what happens to such a "widowed" vice president after the election; is he forced to retire or to continue acting as vice president to the new president? Lastly, what happens if the party that produced the president loses in the run-off election OR is the runoff election going to be limited to the party that won it in the first place? 

The second germane resolution is the bringing of Southeastern region to par with other zones in the number of states in the region. It is equitable and justice hugs equity. Icheoku would have wished the conference went a step further by asking Nigeria to apologize to the people of former Biafra for the inhumane way the civil war was conducted especially the use of starvation as instrument of warfare as well as the twenty pounds criminal payout. Anyway the people of Biafra has since moved on and the matter might as well be mute also. Further the conference would have recognized MKO Abiola's election as president and mandate the president to formally recognize him as a president Nigeria never had and then apologize to Nigerians for June 12. 

Icheoku says the freeing of Local Governments from obtrusive State Governor's control was also on point and commendable. However Icheoku begs to disagree on the intent to later create additional eighteen states in Nigeria as not viable and unrealistic. Fifty five states for a country of less than two hundred million people, without any sound economic base for the states to self-sustain would be undue duplicity of bureaucracies and multiplication of government employees and avoidable administrative functions which will only serve to further drain state resources, period. Icheoku believes that a well structured and functioning Local Government areas would solve the problem of agitation by ethnic minorities and other disenfranchised members of such states. Icheoku emphasizes that what Nigeria needs is mega cities and not all these mushroom states that can barely pay their overheads if Abuja does not show cause.

Icheoku also would have wished the Conference pegged the number of senators from each state to just two since the House of Representatives already serves the purpose of representing the population based on density and spread. This way associated cost involved in running the senate could be curtailed and saved once the extra thirty six senators are weeded out. The senate main function is merely to take a second look at whatever the House resolves on, hence there is really no useful need having too many of them around. Further on the issue of the political status of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Icheoku says it should be treated like Washington DC with only locals appointed as Ministers of the territory. This will give them a say on what happens on their neighborhood and enable a fair and equitable development of their land. But the current idea of appointing someone from Bauchi or any other "foreign" place as lord and master over the people that OWN the territory is another form of colonization and slave mastery and this ought to stop. 

To ACF's Anthony Sani, Icheoku says in rebuttal that if 'no one has wronged anyone' then why did Northern army officers coup plotters create more states in the Northwest than in the Southeast? Further, If many of existing states are not economically viable and their governors contributed to their underdevelopment, especially in the North, let Boko Haram tackle those governors. Icheoku says it is not only population or landmass or viability or homogeneity that is used to create states. States are political institutions and therefore are created for political expediency ONLY, period.  Icheoku maintains that in any political estate such as Nigeria, each congruent member is deemed as equal irrespective of their size or number, hence the Arewa Consultative Forum was off the mark when their Anthony Sani argued against this point while challenging the creation of additional state in the Southeast. Take for example the United States of America where a state like California boasts of about thirty nine to forty million residents while a state like Wyoming has fewer resident than the City of San Francisco (eight hundred thousand) at a mere five hundred thousand residents? Or a state of Delaware with about two thousand square miles of land area while Texas has over two hundred and sixty thousand square miles of space and Alaska has nearly six hundred thousand square miles? So Icheoku asks Anthony Sani whether all those arid useless desert wastelands in the North should now be used to unfairly disenfranchise other regions that have a more concentrated and saturated population living within their congruent territories? 

Finally Icheoku says there is no injustice in harmonizing the number of states in the respective regions to be at par with one another since each region is deemed in politics and law to be all equal. Nobody or region is unequal in Nigeria and this fact should be drummed into Anthony Sani's head as well as other Northern Nigerian elements he represents and speaks for. Icheoku admonishes Anthony Sani that family planning is a virtue and not a vice and that one man should not be punished or another man unduly rewarded because they have various ideas as to the number of children that is ideal to have. No man should because he has thirteen children ask to be paid more than his colleague who has only one child since choice was what each of them made. Nor should vast useless dusty arid desert lands be used to determine who gets what in Nigeria.

But be that as it may, with some of these far reaching resolutions of the National Conference, Icheoku is now more hopeful today than yesterday in the survival of Nigeria. It appears that finally Nigerians as represented in the National Conference are now prepared to do the heavy lifting needed to move the country forward. Icheoku prays that these recommendations be wholly adopted through a voice vote by the National Assembly without any amendment whatsoever. At last the path forward has been parted and Nigerians can  now begin to nation-build instead of all these break us apart war cries renting the air. Well done and thank you, National Conference. Nigeria, we hail thee!

UMARU DIKKO IN A CRATE, GOES HOME IN A COFFIN?

Icheoku says whether it is in a crate or coffin or casket, they are all confinement as the man who once ran Nigeria under President Shehu Shagari's government is going home for the last time, albeit willy nilly; and not even the British Government's Scotland Yard can rescue him this time. Courtesy of the almighty leveler, MISTER DEATH, then fugitive Umaru Dikko can no longer run or hide from his transgressions for which the Buhari/Idiagbon junta wanted him bundled back to Nigeria so badly that it led to a diplomatic face-off between Nigeria and then Margaret Thatcher's British government. Icheoku says whether Umaru Dikko's body will be handed over to Muhammadu Buhari on arrival, so that he can "retroactively" settle their old scores, the jury is still out. Icheoku recalls with great vividity the urgency of the junta getting the runaway Umaru Dikko that they paid Israeli agents to bundle him back to Nigeria, dead or alive, and at whatever cost; an operation that was botched when the whimpering Umaru Dikko was discovered unconscious inside a crate at Gatwick airport waiting airlift back to Lagos. The rest of the story is now history and so also was the man Umaru 'DISCO,' who once welded so much power in Nigeria. Umaru Dikko has made his exit from this journey called life which he began eighty something years ago when his mother pushed him out of her womb.

Icheoku asks but who is Umaru Dikko that his death would elicit all these obituaries? What made him a "statesman" that David Mark described him as? What legacies did he leave behind? Did the lot of his Kano State people and Nigerians in general improve while he held sway? When he was called to serve in various capacities especially as Transport and Aviation Minister, did he deliver on his assignment creditably well? What kind of Kano and Nigeria is he leaving behind? Did he groom and nurture successors to take over from him and finally did he ever had time to explain himself to Muhammadu Buhari and did both men make up and reconcile their differences? Anyway answers to some of these questions on the life and times of Umaru Dikko, Nigerians may never know; but suffice it to say that Umaru Dikko was one heck of an unapologetic Northern Nigerian Fascist, who believed in the inalienable right of the Northerner to maintain a vice-hold on power and in perpetuity. 

Umaru Dikko was so many things to so many people, depending on which side of the political and geographical divide they belong, who would remember him divergently. But above all, Umaru Dikko would be remembered for his no nonsense quasi-presidential authority which he exercised over his then political party, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and throughout Nigeria in general. The rice scandal readily comes to mind too. Icheoku will remember Umaru 'DISCO' particularly for his condescending 'HUNGER-TEST' theory that "no Nigerian is picking food from the dustbin and therefore there is no hunger in the land?' Icheoku berates that were this a valid universal litmus test, it will then be safe to also suggest that because some Americans feed off discarded food from garbage bins, that there is hunger in America? 

Anyway in Umaru Dikko, lived one Nigerian who once thought that the entire estate called Nigeria was his private playground and boy did he weld absolute authority then. Stories abound then that even President Shehu Shagari had to first check with Umaru Dikko on so many issues of the day? Icheoku says just like today's men of power Edwin Clark/Tony Anenih are to President Jonathan Goodluck, Umaru Dikko was the go-to-man in the then Shagari power structure, such that even the vice president allegedly deferred to him? Umaru Dikko was among the very few men that can go to then Agura House whenever he pleases and secure the ears of President Shagari. But hey in politics as well as in many other life endeavors, having a godfather or a father-figure to check in with never hurts. 

Among other things credited to Umaru Dikko, he solely stopped MKO Abiola's presidential ambition in 1979 whence came his infamous "the presidency is not for sale to the highest bidder" comment; and then literally handpicked Shagari for the office? Umaru Dikko also resuscitated and solidified the "born to rule" fighting words of Northern Nigeria Hausa/Fulani Muslims as initiated by Ahmadu Bello the Sarduana of Kaduna and permanently etched it into their psyche? Umaru Dikko was once quoted as saying that "the Igbos are gifted in technology, the Yorubas in diplomacy and the North has the gift of leadership of Nigeria bestowed on them by Allah?' Also the then dreaded "Kaduna Mafia", now made impotent by the Niger Delta/South-South Mafia, was part of his brainchild too? Icheoku says now that the nightmare of a crate has finally become an inescapable reality in the shape of a casket, except that at the shallow grave he will once again be freed of its confinement as his white-linen draped body is lowered into it for yet another confinement and covered up to begin his final journey back to dust from whence he came, Adieu Umaru, RIP Umaru 'DISCO' Dikko! 

FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014, LETS PLAY SOCCER!

Icheoku tips Netherlands to win the cup - their performance against Spain in the opening and now Mexico, has irrevocably moved the process forward. Icheoku says 'Go DUTCH.'

THE FINAL BEFORE THE FINAL, NETHERLANDS V. MEXICO.

Icheoku says the world just watched the finals of FIFA World Cup 2014 played between the flying Dutchmen and the Aztecs; and boy was it thrilling indeed. The Mexican goaltender is masterfully good and is a sure contender for the goalkeeper of the tournament award. 

Anyway, we just gonna have to wait until the July 12th or thereabout to officially crown the winner of Brazil 2014, but surely those Orange Boys are on the prowl. With their 2 -1 come from the behind win over Mexico, Icheoku continuously sees the cup in their future at Brazil 2014. Icheoku says what a match, it was. Go Dutch!

KAYODE FAYEMI, SHOWING THE WAY FORWARD.

Icheoku says this is the man of the hour in whom millions of Nigerians including Icheoku is well pleased; in appreciation, Nigerians, lets make him president someday. Dr Kayode Fayemi, the defeated and now outgoing governor of Ekiti State has said he would not challenge the result of the June 21st governorship election that saw his challenger, Ayp Fayose elected as the incoming next governor. Icheoku says it is simply a fabulous and fantastic day in Nigeria that at last a Nigerian politician has emerged who does not see political office as a do or die affair and who understands that incumbency is not his life's inheritance? 

Fayemi, who made the disclosure when he received the governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose, in his office in Ado Ekiti, said “I will not challenge the result of the election because I am not desperate to remain in office. Election must not be seen as a do or die affair.” Continuing, he said "Fayose’s victory had assisted in strengthening and deepening democracy, especially in Ekiti State and the country at large. Election by its nature generate tension and hot exchange of words, but to me, once the whole exercise is over, all those involved should take such with calmness and stop all acrimonious. It is my belief that we must all start imbibing attitude that will make us avoid activities that can threaten our peaceful co-existence. We must also avoid the bad loser syndrome. I believe we need to build this democracy to a mature end, rather than pull it down.” 

Icheoku says what a wisdom-filled counseling from a decent Nigerian politician, except unfortunately that his lone angelic voice would be drowned in a cacophony of voices inside a den of Lucifer.  Icheoku agrees with the incoming governor-elect Fayose that Fayemi's show of unparalleled sportsman's spirit is unlike atypical Nigerian politician and also "quite un-African" and worthy of emulation by other Nigerian do or die politicians. Well done Fayemi and congratulations Fayose. Ekiti is showing the way and the state must be proud of its two eminent sons; way to go!

DR. KAYODE FAYEMI, MAN OF THE HOUR.

Dr Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria, Icheoku says thank you for being such  a civilized, cultivated, cultured, urbane, savvy and above all true DEMOCRAT, who understands that politics of 'do or die' belongs in the jungle ONLY. That unlike animals, humans deserve better; and because they have analytical functioning brains, their expressed wishes should and MUST be respected including in choosing who will govern them in an election.   Icheoku commends Governor Fayemi and says that we are pleased that the greedy urge to hold without letting of mere temporal power did not come in the way of his seasoned upbringing and erudite education. Way to go Gov,

Hopefully the message the governor sent with  his  unconditional acceptance of the result of last Saturday's Ekiti governorship election was delivered to the political class, many of whom, unfortunately, are molded in the likeness of the thuggish Olusegun Obasanjo, godfather of politics of rancour and bitterness aka vindictive politics of do or die. Icheoku says what Fayemi did by accepting the result of the election as the will of the Ekiti people strongly resounds among the decent population of the Nigeria society and we pray it will resonate among the political class going forward. 

Icheoku and millions of other decent Nigerians are very proud of Governor Kayode Fayemi and wish to say congratulations Governor for allowing democracy to firm up its roots in Ekiti State. Icheoku says Governor Fayemi's progression into a respectable statesman have just gotten a big boost by this conduct and the history of democracy in Ekiti and Nigeria in general can never be written without his imitable mention. Icheoku adds that Governor Kayode Fayemi has now transcended into the pantheons of cultivators of democracy in Nigeria to which people like MKO Abiola and all those who sacrificed to ensure that democracy anchored and thrived in Nigeria belonged. Well done Doctor Kayode, in you many of us are well pleased.

EKITI ELECTION, YORUBA VOTES TO REJECT BOLA TINUBU.

Icheoku says studies have shown that in every and any election, people vote for two principal reasons:- they either vote against something or they vote to make a categorical statement moving forward.  People usually do not necessarily vote simply because suddenly a messiah just emerged on the scene to take away all their sorrows? In Ekiti State, the Yorubas voted to reject Bola Tinubu's GREED and to send a message to Bola Tinubu that their Obas are not USELESS. 

Icheoku knew from right from the bat that Bola Ahmed Tinubu shot himself on the foot politically, when he uttered those offensive words -"Yoruba Obas are useless."  It is politically suicidal for any politician to attack that which the people and electorates hold very dear to themselves even if culturally. Icheoku says when a politician disparages the electorate by telling them that the institutions which they hold highly in reverence is occupied by USELESS persons, that politician is by extension equally condemning the people that instituted those persons as being dumb. No sane thinking people will tolerate or forgive such communal insult and this is what Ekiti State people have expressed in the outcome of the election. It is just like insulting a religious leader be Him Jesus, Mohammed or Buddha or a racial-struggle symbol like Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela. Such personalities mean something very special to the people and it is simply a no-go area for any right thinking politician to insult them or in any way be seen as not sharing in the people's collective admiration. The rule of the thumb is that politicians do not tell people what they are really thinking but only tell them what they want to hear and Bola Tinubu went astray here when he castigated a whole institution as being "USELESS?" It is just in the same token as a man who wants to score a chic for the first time do not tell her the hard truths. 

Further, wise Yoruba people are beginning to see through the veil of APC as just a vehicle to satiate Bola Tinubu's gluttony and that the party is Bola Tinubu personalized. His wife is a senator, his daughter is a councillor, his son in law a representative and another of his daughter is Iyaloja Market Women's leader and you ask yourself is APC's democratic dividend ONLY for Bola Tinubu's enjoyment? Simply put Ahmed Bola Tinubu has become too high handed in the APC and Yorubaland that only a Khaki uniform is stopping him short of being a full military dictator and any democracy frowns at and shuns of such persons. If any people are yearning for democracy, they are collectively desiring to partake in what democracy brings but will not gladly watch as the communal goods is being wantonly cornered by just one man. Such brings resentment and Bola Tinubu has cornered himself in the receiving end of the peoples anger. So Icheoku asks Bola Tinubu whether APC's democracy is for the people or ONLY for Bola Tinubu and his family?

So Nigerians now you know that the vote for Ayodele Fayose is a vote to reject Bola Tinubu and not necessarily a vote against Dr Fayemi. In the Ekiti election, the wise people of Yoruba land has sent a strong and loud message that they are going to free themselves from the clutches of ABT. As a result, no one should be surprised if the same voting pattern is replicated and resonates throughout the rest of Southwest Yoruba states as the people vote through 2015. icheoku says Bola Tinubu has so much damaged APC's credibility and no right thinking man would pretend that APC is not Bola Tinubu and Bola Tinubu is not APC. Both are two Siamese twins joined in the chest and sharing one aorta; and any attempt to separate them will be fatal. Anyone still in doubt should just look at the recently concluded so called APC convention and see the trappings of a master puppet who pulled all the strings to impose his candidates on the party; and you ask yourself is this still democracy or an apparition of it known as Tinubocracy? 

Lastly Icheoku commends Governor Fayemi for quickly conceding the election and congratulating the winner Fayose. It shows that although it is still making baby-steps, but finally the democracy in Nigeria is evolving and hopefully will get to the promised land someday. At least nobody rigged and nobody roasted. Thank you Ekiti people for rejecting Bola Tinubu's greed and his emerging insulting dictatorial tendencies; now Nigerians know who is USELESS. Icheoku says congratulations to Fayemi and Fayose for being two great sons of Ekiti who wanted only the best for their people. At least their personal desire was not worth the shedding of any Ekiti son or daughter's blood and we commend this and prays other sections of Nigeria will look up to them as they struggle for power in their respective constituencies. Icheoku will also like to commend INEC for conducting an election which all gladiators applauded as exemplary; ditto is the Nigerian security agencies for securing the election process to ensure no malpractices took place. President Goodluck Jonathan is equally appreciated for providing a fair playing ground for all partisans and if this is what 2015 is going to be, then there is no shaking as Nigeria will only emerge stronger. Way to go Nigerians; lets keep the hope alive. 

TINUBU'S REPRIMAND OF YORUBA OBAS AS USELESS, REVOLUTIONARY.

Icheoku does not often agree with the man who owns and runs APC, but with the latest upbraiding of Yoruba monarchs, Icheoku cannot but agree more with Bola Ahmed Tinubu that it is about time some of these people causing trouble in Nigeria are called out for their deeds. Icheoku says what ABT did by calling eminent Yoruba Obas "useless" and thus greatly diminished them in the eyes of their subjects, who hitherto held them in so high a reverence, is very monumental indeed and commendable as it will help move Nigeria forward without all these unneeded shackles called revered traditional institutions. 

It is simply revolutionary and falls in the same category as the late Sani Abacha's demystifying the Sokoto Sultanate when he  unceremoniously dethroned and banished the then Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki outside the Sultanate. Icheoku says since that Abacha's brave destruction of what once was an "untouchable institution", the  Sultanate, many Nigerians now live in less awe of the Sultan of Sokoto. Now many see it as just another traditional institution like many others in the country and that the Sultan is not God-like but a mere mortal subject to the laws of the state. Now Bola Tinubu has followed that path of brave actors in history and hopefully he will one day find the much needed power to permanently free his Yoruba nation from the shackles and clutches of these Obas, who fleece and freeload on their people as if it their divine right, being their divinity or their earthly spiritual representative. 

Icheoku says the problem with Nigeria is that many people know that things are wrong and also know which people are festering this situation but are complicit in the situation. Also because of these perpetrators' high standing in the society, no one ever braves or dares calling them out on account of their numerous misdeeds including taking their subjects wives and children as part of their concubines. Icheoku says this is where ABT has now set himself apart from the pack, trail-brazing and rightfully followed in the shoes of Sani Abacha by going where many trembled to bravely call these people what they really are - USELESS. 

Icheoku says this possibly explains why Ahmed Bola Tinubu did not pay a courtesy visit to the Obi of Onitsha during the last APC governorship campaign stop in that city, due to his disdain for traditional rulers and the institutions they represents that is equally "useless?" As far as Icheoku is concerned these institutions should disappear as they are up to no good and contribute nothing to the economic well-being of Nigeria unlike the Queen of England that helps boost tourism in the United Kingdom. They were relevance when there was no government, but now a functioning government makes their hitherto usefulness, useless. Icheoku says other than perpetually enlarging their concubinage with their subjects wives and daughters, who they sometimes forcibly seizes and usurping their subject's properties, they are all good for nothing. And Icheoku means all of them throughout Nigeria, not just Yoruba Obas. Icheoku says bravo ABT and we pray other brave souls could follow your good step to unshackle Nigerians from this outdated traditional institutions once and for all.

AS NETHERLANDS WALLPOS SPAIN 5 - 1, BRAZIL 2014 CHAMPION EMERGES.

Icheoku says what a routing it was that defending World Cup champion Spain received today as they could not find their feet faced with a formidable foe - The Netherlanders? The Spaniards could not produce an answer to Netherlanders' question - "who is your daddy" in football(soccer)? The Netherlanders smothered, eviscerated, vanquished, obliterated, decimated, shock and awed, dissected, overwhelmed and use any word that suits your fancy to describe the trouncing those Spaniards got from The Netherlanders today and you will still not be able to fully encapsulate the shattering to smithereens of the Spanish side by those guys whose countrymen brought the world Heineken, KLM and of course made women of easy virtue and marijuana use legal; or when was the last time you visited Amsterdam for crying out loud? 

Icheoku says the encounter between this two soccer foes actually and truly jump-started this Brazil 2014 World Cup championship in all honesty since those who had played earlier did not rise up to the billings of a World Cup tournament, but simply displayed soccer artistry that might as well pass for amateurish mediocrity? Icheoku says Netherlands outplayed Spain in every department of the game and therefore meritoriously earned their overwhelming victory. Now Icheoku makes a prediction as follows and says provided the Netherlanders maintain their displayed states-craft of today going forward, suffer no injury and favorably weather condition and unbiased officiating permitting, they will hoist the World Cup trophy this 2014 Brazilian edition. Icheoku bets on this and if we lose, we will make recompense as may be determined in atonement. Now lets watch as those professionals do the thing they do best in Brazil 2014 - play the round leather object. Icheoku says "GO DUTCH and all the way!"

LESBIANS FACING VICTIMISATION IN THE UK, FOR BEING BLACK?

Icheoku says but for racism, isn't it very obvious to any observer, that the victim here pictured front, of the British Home Office threat of deportation and lack of protection from apparent persecution, Ms Aderonke Apata, is one proud lesbian? Take a good look at her and you will conclude that God did not make any one lesbian better or more than this woman. She is not just your ordinary closeted lesbian by night and straight chic by day person who is not proud of who she is; no, she is proud of her sexuality and she is living it fully, out and in the open. All the British Home Office could do is to help but not to further hurt or fetter her lifestyle and permit her to live in the gay-friendly and more tolerant United Kingdom and save her from an assured persecution in her country of birth, Nigeria, a well known anti-gay country. 

Ms Apata is seeking asylum in the United Kingdom from her gay-phobed country Nigeria and she ought and deserves and should get it on grounds of persecution for simply being GAY. Icheoku says such victimisation of a person because of their sexual preferences is a known act of human rights violation, for which the British government has severally intervened in the past, continues to intervene and should therefore intervene in this case. Icheoku emphasises that failure by the British authorities to intervene in Ms Apata's case and grant her a protective asylum cannot be explained away in any other way except to say that the victim's nationality and/or skin color most probably dealt her a back hand. Look at her - she can easily pass for a man and Hilary Swank's 'Boys don't cry' comes into view for crying out loud? Her physique alone ordinarily should have supplied all the answers needed by the British Home Office to prove her case that she is not only sexually attracted to same sexes, but that she is one heck of a protective and assertive Dyke with a Harley. Icheoku prays that the officers involved with her asylum petition should trade their prejudiced eye-glasses and start seeing a lesbian that needs protection from existential persecution instead of a black woman telling stories just to remain in the UK? 

Icheoku laments that many human rights violation issues throughout the world are often times taken up with the seriousness it deserves if and when it impacts the "right" skin color type? It would appear and it is regrettable indeed that some "wrong" skin type people are not often considered or treated as "real humans" or "human enough" to deserve expedited and concerted human rights protection? Icheoku admonishes that the British Home Office should therefore prove this school of thought wrong by considering Ms Apata's petition for asylum based on existential threat to openly gay people in Nigeria; which evidently is within the public domain and they should not and must stop pretending that Aderonke Apata is not atypical LESBIAN. Icheoku therefore calls on the British Home Office to do right for and by this gendered female and extend to her all the protections available to people with her peculiarities, who are being persecuted just for who they are, including granting her a protective asylum in the United Kingdom. Ms. Apata is not a criminal, she is not a public charge and she has not done anything that tinges the conscience other than gayly express herself. Icheoku maintains that coming out of the closet is not a crime except you are in Nigeria and other Mullah-controlled enclaves of this world; and her coming out has already cost her and her family dearly and the British government should not make it any worse. Ms Aderonke Apata has already lost several family members including her brother to anti-gay violence in Nigeria and should not be further exposed to such hatred and rancour and possible lynching by forcibly sending her back in shackles to Nigeria. She has suffered enough and should be spared further suffering including torture. 

Icheoku says like many freedom-loving peoples of this world, Ms. Apata wants FREEDOM. Ms Apata 'wants the sanctuary of United Kingdom to protect her from persecution; she wants to be protected from her persecutors in Nigeria, a known anti-gay country. Tired of hiding behind the mask of a false identity of a straight woman and overly discomforted by the confines of the closet, Ms Apata has since come out and Ms. Apata wants to remain outside. Ms Apata want to openly remain who she is - a proud homosexual lesbian, whose home country is notoriously anti-gay and from where she escaped to the United Kingdom. Ms Apata wants to remain in the United Kingdom, free to be who she is and sending her back to an assured long prison term or even a certain death in Nigeria for simply expressing who is actually is, would be a gross violation of her rights including her right to life. Icheoku says protecting this lesbian from this assured egregious bodily harm is not too much to ask for, especially from a United Kingdom government that is known as being pro-minority rights as well as a huge defender of human rights, anywhere and everywhere. Icheoku says Ms Apata is already exposed and over-exposing her further by deporting her to a certain discomfiture, grave bodily harm if not death in Nigeria, simply because of her mere sexual preferences will be inhumane, callous and a decision arising from a cold unbeating heart. Contemplating this absurdity is bone-chilling enough not to imagine its implementation and therefore SHOULD not be the so decided.

Icheoku says therefore the British Home Office should grant Ms Aderonke Apata a protective asylum to enable her live her life unmolested and unpersecuted from her country Nigeria, that has passed one of the toughest anti-gay discriminatory laws known to mankind. To the British authorities, please Icheoku urges you not to make Ms Apata another mere statistic of gays killed in the world including Nigeria simply for the "SIN" of who they are; and unfortunately, like every other gay man or woman out there, Ms Apata did not have a choice in making her same-sex gender preference gene. Finally believing that the spokeswoman of the British Home Office was speaking on behalf of the British government and on its position on gay rights and safety throughout the world, Icheoku says no time is ever better or any occasion more appropriate to demonstrate that the British authorities "do not remove anyone at the risk of persecution for their sexuality from the United Kingdom." Now is the time to demonstrate this your government's commitment and on the matter of Ms Aderonke Apata, Icheoku says put your money where your mouth is. Do it and do it NOW, let Ms Apata stay in the United Kingdom.

DISRESPECT TO PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, ENOUGH.

“SLS (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) is the Emir of Kano. Jonathan and co can go jump into the lagoon.” - Mallam el_Rufai, Twitter message. 

Icheoku says President Jonathan brought all these insolence on himself trying to be civilized in a country of hyenas and pack of wild attack dogs. If these jackals were contained during Baba Iyabo's presidency, why not now EXCEPT that President Goodluck Jonathan would not let the dogs of war out to go take care of some business? Just kidnap one of them, remove one governor, arrest one politician and put him in handcuffs publically or at worst assassinate one of them and all these disrespects will vanish. Imagine an ordinary citizen telling the president of a country to go jump into the lagoon and Icheoku wonders what the president is waiting for to lead by example by first drowning the animal in the lagoon? 

Anyway Icheoku is not in a position to direct affairs therein BUT such excessiveness will not thrive in nor be tolerated by a government were the position to suddenly sway. But hey those who fetched ants infested firewood ask the lizards to a party or at least a visit. The president lost big time in the battle for the emir of Kano and now his detractors are adding insult to injury by ridiculing him and asking him to go and quench? Icheoku says President Goodluck Jonathan's tolerance threshold must be extremely high if not simply TOO HIGH for crying out loud. The Igbo people have a saying that you don't just take a hoe to dismantle the anthill except you have first circled it to ensure that its occupant are just merely ants. President Jonathan must also remember that if the snake does not act like a snake, little children will use it to tie their firewood, thinking it a rope. May be it is about time Jonathan bared some fangs so that these people will understand that there cannot be two kings in a manor and that someone is still in charge in Nigeria. ENOUGH!

SANUSI- LAMIDO SANUSI IS NEW EMIR OF KANO, DEAL WITH IT?

Icheoku says who the constituted authority in Kano decided to make the custodian of Kano emirate is entirely their prerogative and no Nigerian, especially non Kano indigene, should be seen to butt into a purely private affairs of Kano people. To this effect therefore, Icheoku congratulates the Kano people and their new emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on the seamless transition of authority just few days after the former emir passed on. The transition process was matured, it was expedient and it was well-oiled; and luckily too, unlike some parts of Nigeria where succession process takes an untoward toll on the people including sometimes protracted decades-long court battles, it took only FOUR men, within forty-eight hours, to midwife a new emir for Kano. The feat is highly commendable. Icheoku says it does not matter whether the Kingmakers were bought-over, bribed, cajoled or intimidated into signing off on an already anointed candidate, what is paramount here is that just within a few days after the demise of the previous emir (three days to be specific) a new emir emerged. The job of choosing a new emir was done, completed. 

icheoku says as to whether the emerged emir is the candidate of choice every Nigerian would have made or preferred, in view of his antecedents and history and record, the jury is still out; but Icheoku second-guesses probably not? Icheoku says this question and answer is actually mute because the emir of Kano is not answerable to the whole Nigeria and therefore it does not behove the entire country to elect or select him or in any other way have a say on who becomes the emir. The emir of Kano does not exercise authority all over Nigeria and therefore those Nigerians not within his jurisdictional area of influence or control should not bother about what does not concern them. Icheoku says if you are not his subject and amenable to his policies or laws, you should just butt out. So, Nigerians have nothing to fret about that in the process of selecting or choosing the new emir of Kano that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi emerged victorious. All Nigerians can do now that Kano people have made their choice, is to keep their eyes wide open to make sure that the new emir confines himself and authority within his domain ONLY and does not in any way overreach himself or overtly extend his authority, period. 

Icheoku says the choice of such controversial figure as the new emir of Kano, especially to succeed an emir who was mourned by all Nigerians as a de-tribalized, patriotic, welcoming and non-bigoted Nigerian father figure, is rather befuddling; except to say it may be in furtherance of an agenda only known to a select few? Icheoku says appointing as a new emir, a man fingered in the hacking to death of Gideon Akaluka for being seen with a torn page of the Koran must be keeping Igbos of Sabon Gari sleepless in Kano, oblivious of their fate under this not-so-loving-Igbos emir? Icheoku says appointing as a new emir, a man seen by many as an Islamic zealot must have startled so many Christians, who are rightly wondering now what is the new direction in the thirsty uneasy relationship between the two religions' adherents in Nigeria? icheoku says appointing a man so steeped in Sharia and Islamic doctrines, that he introduced Al-Baraka or Sharia compliant Islamic Banking during his tenure as Central Bank Governor, a position that is supposedly secular, must be sending shivers in the spines of non Muslims of Nigeria, who are at a loss on the next possible move on the chess board of this new emir? icheoku says appointing as the new emir of Kano, a man so enmeshed in his Islamic upbringing and beliefs that he comes to office as the then CBN governor, fully turbaned; and you wonder what becomes of all and every person visiting or living in Kano under his emir-ship and whether there would be an Islamic dress code introduced therein? 

That SLS has temper and has a diarrhea mouth is a fact and Icheoku wonders whether he will not in one of his temper tantrums, do or say something capable of throwing his domain or even the entire country into a burning furnace? Icheoku queries, does SLS has the temperament and discipline to be in charge of an emirate as big as the Kano emirate and how far would he go to reprimand those who had hurt or injured him on his way to the top? Query, does SLS has the capacity to be a father to all who call Kano home, without isolating them according to their religious beliefs and suspected loyalties? 

Icheoku has no authority over the appointment of the emir of Kano just like millions of other Nigerians who are neither the four kingmakers or the governor of Kano State, but proffers that the Kano emirate should have been spared of the controversies of a man still under investigation by the authorities and whose passport is still seized by the authorities and whose stewardship at the CBN is still under the microscope for profligacy and squandermania? But who is Icheoku to have an opinion in the manner and ways Kano State and its emirate work or to have a say in deciding who their next emir should be; but millions of Nigerians are watching to see if all the cases against the now emir are dropped, closed and his passport returned to him? If that happens, then the entire world would be amazed at how certain positions of authority in Nigeria provide a cannon fodder and immunity for suspected crimes, leading to the question, should the appointment has been made in the first place in view of his circumstance? 

This leads further to the question, did Team-Jonathan do all they could possibly have done to preempt the appointment or were they slapped in the face with it? Icheoku queries, were Baba Iyabo to still be in power, could a SLS not in his favored book, scaled through with the appointment? Icheoku asks, were Baba Iyabo to still be in power, would a disfavored Kano State governor been so blatant with choosing someone as asymmetrically opposed to the president to become the new emir of Kano? Some of these questions are not answerable at this time but suffice it to say the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as emir of Kano, just within mere three days after his tenure as Central Bank Governor officially expired on June 2nd, despite his suspension and being placed under investigation, is a big SLAP on the presidency, who could not and was unable to influence the outcome.

But be that as it may, was SLS qualified for the new office? The answer is an emphatic YES, being a lineal member of the emir-producing family of Kano emirate and therefore well pedigreed. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was the son of a former emir, who happened to be the senior brother of the now late emir, hence a nephew to the departed emir Ado Bayero.  It is also instructive that the now late emir succeeded SLS's father after he was deposed in 1963 for falling out with the then controlling authority in Northern Nigeria, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, who was then Premier of Northern Region. So conversely, if SLS's father was not deposed, SLS could still have inherited the emir stool by directly succeeding his father, instead of now succeeding his uncle. It is also worth noting that SLS married his cousin, a daughter of the now late emir, so by marriage as well as by blood, he is well anchored to the emir-ship. 

Finally the good news wary Nigerians can take from this appointment is that the wind blew to reveal the pants of the reverend father or the fowl's yaash as some people would say. The appointment of a mere mortal that has been the cynosure of the public for quite sometime now demystifies the emir of Kano's throne, which has been perceived prior with a bigger than thou awe. Nigerians can now place the emir of Kano in his rightful place - a mere banker that is turbaned and partially masked, instead of a revered man that is near immortal facade that has been synonymous with the emir of Kano. So, with Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the emir of Kano is afterall a human-being and its "godlike" authority would be lacking under his tenure. The other seemingly good news too is that possibly some day a head of state who does not like the choice of SLS, might rise up to depose him in like manner as Dasuki was thrown out of Sokoto Caliphate or Sultanate by Sani Abacha, to make way for a direct descendant of Ado Bayero to step in as emir of Kano, like Maccido with the Sultanate? Thereafter, it will be prayers that an Obasanjo-incarnate president will not subsequently emerge to kill the installed emir of Kano in a plane crash like Maccido and then appoint a favored retired army man in his place like Saad Abubakar? Icheoku says it is just a game of thrones being played by Nigerian chess players and so will it go on and on until thy kingdom come. 

With our assignment now done that issues may be ventilated, Icheoku says "Hail to the chief, the Dan Majen of Kano and now the new emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Congratulations SLS and may your tenure progressively add to and not subtract from that of your predecessor in the development and oneness of Kano and Nigeria in general. Icheoku says may whatever you believe in. guide and protect you through your reign Insha Allah. Nigerians, we have a new emir of Kano and his name is Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, hurray!

CHIBOK GIRLS / BOKO HARAM PRISONERS SWAP, GREENLIGHTED?

Icheoku says the Nigerian government of President Goodluck Jonathan has received the political cover and green-light needed to proceed with the rumoured Boko Haram prisoners exchange for those Chibok girls. Icheoku says if America can do it why not Nigeria? Icheoku says if Israel can do it and repeatedly too, why not Nigeria? Icheoku says the Chibok abduction scandal has become such a distraction that anything is good enough that will help resolve it, including trading in every detained Boko Haram terrorist for the release of those girls and thus bring closure to the festering debacle. 

The United States of America, despite its age long principle of not negotiating with terrorists just negotiated with terrorists and you ask yourself if America can cash in on an opened window of opportunity to secure the release of one of their soldiers, what's the big deal if Nigeria follows in tandem? It is on record too that America released the "hardest of the hardcore terrorists" in exchange for the release of a knee-jerk army deserter, who purposely delivered himself to be captured by the Talibans just to protest the war? So if Nigeria releases those Boko Haram foot soldiers in their custody for the return of those girls to their families, Icheoku does not see anything outlandish or outrageous with such action and is certain that Nigeria will not be chastised by the West for simply following their example. 

The good news also is that Boko Haram is not demanding a king's ransom for the number of girls they are willing and ready to release - they are only demanding 100 of their men for 50 Chibok girls, which translates to a 2:1 trade ratio. Unlike the Americans' 5:1 trade ratio, who traded 5 Taliban Guantanamo Bay prisoners for just 1 American soldier, Bowe Bergdahl; and the Israelis' 1000:1 ratio, who traded 1000 Palestine "terrorists" for just 1 soldier, Gilad Shalit, the Nigerian Boko Haram offer at 2:1 ratio seems rather very reasonable in the circumstance. It is indeed a mouth watering deal that does not need any second thoughts before the president's signature meets the paper of the contract. Icheoku says President Jonathan should therefore, instead of all these grandstanding being put up just for show, ask Boko Haram representatives to show him where they want him to sign to seal the deal. It is a deal to kill for and it cannot be any better and therefore should be accepted by the Nigerian government which would be getting 50 Chibok girls for ordinary 100 Boko Haram terrorists whose lives are as good as spent anyway. The derivative lesson being that next time, instead of taking such terrorists prisoners, their summarily executions on the battlefields, like their erstwhile leader Mohammed Yusuf, would be the preferred option? 

Icheoku adds that President Jonathan should find strength in the fact that he would not be the first nor would he be the last leader or president to ever negotiate with terrorists? In addition to President Barack Obama and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, his predecessor President Umaru Yar"Adua also negotiated with the then Niger Delta terrorists, which led to the relative peace presently being enjoyed in the restive Niger Delta region. However Icheoku condemns the American terrorist swap as setting a bad precedent especially for a great country that has come to be known as being tough on terrorists and who hitherto does not negotiate with such tin-head terrorists, hence the moniker, the cowboy country. President Obama has set a bad example with the Taliban prisoners swap as it has now exposed us more to the vagaries of a troubled world. Imagine the target pool of Americans now at the disposal of terrorists all over the world and henceforth, they will be choosing and picking their victims depending on who will yield the most dividend? Anyway, Icheoku calls on President Jonathan to be like President Obama and bring home those Chibok girls.

BERGDAHL SCANDAL, ANY IMPEACHMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OBAMA?

Icheoku says possibly President Barack Obama has finally walked into the minefield of those who always wanted him out of office and out of sight, and may have his presidency blown into pieces by the gathering storm of Bowe Bergdahl trade for Taliban 'hardest of the hard core' Guantanamo Bay detainees? Icheoku asks was the President misled into celebrating one of the worst decisions of his government thus far in the Rose Garden or was he a victim of overzealous staffers eager to score cheap political point with securing the release at all cost without first weighing the ramifications? 

Icheoku queries further who vetted the deal to ensure its compliance with existing statutory laws of the United States as well as its conformity to a standing practice of the United States wherein we do not as a matter of policy negotiate with terrorists, despite that President Reagan negotiated with the Iranians except that the Iranians are not terrorists but state actors one would add? Icheoku asks but are the Talibans terrorists or rather state actors in view of the fact that they were the government in Afghanistan before the US invasion which eventually led to their toppling? Anyway assuming that the Talibans are not terrorists and also not in power anywhere, including in their former Afghanistan, why would US negotiate with them? May be because they had something the United States wanted and only them can negotiate a trade for it and they did; and the rest is now history. 

However, the issue here is not the standing of the Talibans or their otherwise suspected terrorists-status or lack thereof. No, the issue triggered by this is whether President Barack Hussein Obama acted ultra vires the constitution when he released some Talibans without first notifying Congress as required under the law? Icheoku hopes that this is not the case as the President would have handed his detractors a weapon to attempt to shoot down his presidency through impeachment? But President Obama will not be the first US president to be impeached - President Nixon was impeached over the Watergate Scandal; President Bill Clinton was impeached over Monicagate Scandal and President Reagan escaped Irangate impeachment. 

So Icheoku posits that were President Obama to be impeached and possibly removed from office over the developing Bowe Bergdahl Scandal, Americans will understand and so also would the world especially Africans, who although identified and celebrated with his electoral victory have been left holding the plate under his presidency. African Americans will also understand because their lot has not improved much since they overwhelmingly helped vote him into office? Icheoku will not also "give a damn" because it is been disappointments all over the place as a result of so much promises that has largely been left unfulfilled and lastly, America's influence the world over is for all intent and purpose seemingly tanking. May be a change of baton would be appropriate except that his vice president Joey Biden, despite all his trumped foreign policy credentials, has not gotten many foreign policy right under this administration? This somehow gives  credence to former defence secretary Gates' assertion that Joe Biden was absent in his strongest suit - foreign policy. 

Icheoku calls for an independent investigation into the Bowe Bergdahl/Taliban prisoners swap scandal and if the President is found to have willfully violated existing United States law for the Congress to immediately commence an impeachment proceedings.  If impeached, then let due process take its course through a removal or reprimand; admitted the former will be difficult because of the composition of the senate but at least a message would have been delivered that the United States laws and interests supersedes anyone individual's, including the president, whose duty it is to honor and uphold such laws. Nothing else should matter including the fact that five Talibans were traded just for one American deserting soldier? It shows how much value the Taliban attached to the life of an American, suggesting that one American is equals to five Talibans. Icheoku has no problem with that. 

But if investigation concludes that the president acted on the advise of his trusted advisers, including that of security, military chiefs, state department and of course chief of staff and his vice president, then blames and reprimands should be apportioned accordingly, admitted that the buck should have stopped at the Oak desk? But until the root of the matter is completely excavated and unearthed, Icheoku maintains that the Bowe Bergdahl Taliban prisoner exchange scandal is not going away anytime soon, but will continue to haunt his presidency until its soul rests in peace. 

But a traitor cannot and should not be canonized or turned into a undeserving hero. Such honor is earned and not conferred and assuming the later, not to an army deserter who could easily pass for a traitor for crying out loud. American military service is an all volunteer force, no one conscripted Bowe Bergdahl into service and he understands the duty to salute and carry out orders fully well. So if he wanted to mount the soapbox, he should have turned into a politician and then his views would become relevant. But until then it is not his to decide whether a war is immoral of not or whether the scenes of battle is always messy. No, his part to play in the scheme of things especially policies, was to ask how high to jump when asked to jump. Bowe Bergdahl, as a soldier, has no right to question or rationalize any of his orders. That is the life of a soldier and Bowe Bergdahl swore to uphold these rules.