LIBERIA EXPORTING EBOLA TO THE WORLD, ONE COUNTRY AT A TIME?

Icheoku says first it was to Nigeria through Patrick Sawyer and now to the United States of America through another son of Liberia named Thomas Eric Duncan? Both Liberians are now world famous or rather notorious for exporting the deadly Ebola Virus Disease to countries outside the shores of Liberia. Icheoku says what a people? As with Patrick Sawyer, he acted male-fides, for intentionally lying to doctors and medical workers in Nigeria that he did not have Ebola nor did he ever come in contact with any Ebola victim prior to being stricken? As a result of his deceitful concealment, so many Nigerian victims were infected and some of them also died as a result, including a first rate physician who was part of the first responders. 

As to the other Liberian Ebola exporter who ferried his deathly ware to the United States, Thomas Duncan, it seems that he acted bona-fides, being ignorant of his Ebola-infection status when he boarded that flight to the United States. Some days following his arrival to the United States, he was feeling under the weather when he went to the hospital but was told to go home with some antibiotics as his symptoms were interpreted as "ordinary and not of any extreme nature" requiring acute care or needing further observation? Subsequently he was diagnosed with the dreaded EVD and admitted for treatment. But as of this report, what remains of him is only his ashes, having been since cremated following his loss of his struggle to stay alive against EVD. 

Icheoku says with Duncan now dead and hopefully EVD in America checkmated, so many questions remain unanswered? Was all that could have been done to save Duncan done or was all systems not let go to save this Liberian as was with other White American Ebola victims? Why was Duncan not sent to the renowned center for infectious disease control and treatment facility in CDC co-run Emory University Hospital Atlanta? Why was Duncan not treated with the experimental drug ZMapp or any other trial anti-ebola virus drug? Why was Duncan not infused with an Ebola survivor's blood as was done in some other cases to help provide boost to his immune system? Icheoku opines, is it possible that Duncan's condition was not fully assessed when he first showed up at the emergency, complaining of feeling sick, because he has no medical insurance?  Does  the hospital has a standing policy of not usually wasting their precious time on patients with potential  'unrecoverable medical bills of claim' status? 

Icheoku queries how did Duncan who self checked himself into the hospital, alive and well, looking very robust and healthy enough, not survive the EVD but other three White Americans who were medevaced thousands of miles from Africa and nearly comatose when they arrived, survived? Why was Duncan only exposed to experimental drugs three long days after he was admitted and not immediately upon admission? These and many other burning questions are needing urgent answers in order to fully comprehend the spiraled turn for the worst of the first black Ebola victim in United States of America. Hopefully an inquiry will reveal what actually happened that a Duncan that was beginning to show some signs of turning the corner suddenly slipped into eternity? 

Although some schools of thought are beginning to wonder if Duncan was eased out to help starve off the disease from spreading or becoming epidermal and causing panic in a very hysterical society, Icheoku will reserve its final opinion on this matter to await the outcome of an investigative inquiry into what happened. Also Icheoku would wait to see if the now newly infected White police office would also survive like the other three White Americans or follow black Duncan to the land beyond. But in the event this White officer survives, then naysayers would have abundance of reason to become more cynical about the care Duncan received. This is because blacks are known to have far more stronger immunity than their Caucasian counterparts, which would definitely suggests that some fish business took place concerning Duncan's handling and thus make everything surrounding his death seem more fishy. Icheoku however prays for a more favorable outcome that Duncan freely succumbed to his affliction and that there was now external facilitation or inducement.

Finally, while James Bond 007 would like the world to believe it is "From Russia with Love," as with this Ebola Virus Disease, it is now "From Liberia with (Hate) Ebola?" The only good news, if any, out of this tragic situation is that for the very real first time, Americans have been woken up to the urgency of time to do something to checkmate Ebola. Previously, to many of them, it was just some 'news story about some damned Africans and one of their diseases called Ebola?' But as Duncan, the now official Ebola courier to the United States, has shown, neither of the two seas is wide enough to shield America from the dreadful Ebola. What is required now is for the whole world to attack Ebola as a global emergency that knows no boarders nor country and do it NOW. 

As could be seen, one American is already under quarantine, suspected of being infected by Duncan and who knows the spread thus far. Icheoku says if any positive yields from this Americans Duncan's scare, it will be that the world is now forced to focus much needed attention to a sinister disease that has nearly decimated some African countries, while the world, hitherto, looked the other way as if it is those Africans' and their diseases? It is now crunch time for the whole world to battle to suppress and possibly defeat Ebola. Icheoku says if EVD is successfully battled to a halt or even defeated, at least some benefit would have been reaped following Duncan's importation of the disease to the United States. Unlike the rogue Patrick Sawyer, whose mission to destroy Nigeria, turned out to be a  'mission unaccomplished.' Icheoku says while Nigerians are still smarting on what to do with Liberia for their attempted poisoning of their society, Icheoku hopes that Duncan will not provide White Americans another reason to ramp up their racism against everybody BLACK since all blacks come from Africa and they all look the same? Icheoku says what a way to remember a country, Liberia, for exporting a deadly virus called EBOLA to Nigeria and America! 

$9.3 AND $5.7 MILLION SEIZURE, SOUTH AFRICA SHOULD PAY A STIFF PRICE.

Icheoku says Nigerian media has been awash with  news about some intended "military purchases" gone wrong in South Africa, by an overwhelmed Nigerian government, trying so hard to stem the tide of Boko Haram madness. Icheoku says it is absolutely indeed laughable that a pittance of $15million, spent for military procurement, is subject to this degree of scrutiny? Icheoku says so because the amounts in question is pitifully and ridiculously infinitesimal and a drop in the ocean when scaled against military spending the world over and the real cost of military hardware.  

Icheoku says except the sums were respectively meant to just purchase ordinary bullets and bayonets, BUT NOT any specialized hardware, the amount is ludicrously too small for a military to become a subject of this frenzied discussion in Nigeria. But unfortunately an ever partisan media that has nothing more to offer to her customers ran with the story of how South African government seized "millions of Nigerians dollars" meant for military purchase. Analyzing an industry wherein midsize countries the world over spend upwards of $300billion with a "B" in equipping their armed forces, what is $15million spent to finance anti Boko Haram campaign? Icheoku asserts that a cursory check of pricing of military hardwares backs up the Nigerian government as very conservative with this aborted transactions, because $15million is a considerately modest sum where military procurement is concerned. 

Take for instance an F-35 fighter jet costs between $60 to $100 million each and the lower end F-16 costs about $17million a pop. A blackhawk (down) helicopter costs about $6million each; an Abram tank costs $5million each; one howitzer artillery gun cost about $600,000 each; a M-16 machine gun costs about $20,000 each; and some cannons costs upwards of $10,000 a piece. Now do the math and please educate Icheoku on what he is not getting right or correct when he says that $15million is peanuts if employed toward routing those mongrels in Sambisa Terrorist evil Forest. How many artillery pieces can this amount buy? How many M-16 machine guns can it really buy viz a vis the number of soldiers needing to carry and fire one? How many howitzers guns can it actually bring into the arsenal of the Nigerian military and yet we are not even talking about the heavy gadgets and top dollar military hardware including tanks and air-crafts. Or better still how much is indeed too much if it puts Boko Haram out of commission or is the life of any of those Nigerians being beheaded by Boko Haram quantifiable in dollar bills?

Icheoku says Nigeria will be a better place when politicians learn that there are watersheds in politics and not to play politics with certain things including national security. If only certain politicians and some particular geography could see the current madness of Boko Haram as a challenge to every Nigerian and worth fighting for and not just President Jonathan and the PDP war. Icheoku says what the president and all those currently engaged in the war against Boko Haram need at this time is support and encouragement; but certainly not words of disparagement or laughable accusations such as that a paltry $15million was expensed in the purchase of military needs. Once again, Icheoku urges Nigerians of every politics and persuasion to please give the war against Boko Haram a chance at succeeding. Anyone in doubt about the need to throw everything including the kitchen sink at defeating Boko Haram, should take a good look at Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and all other such places where terrorists have established a hold and are meting out unbearable abuse of human rights  and then tell Icheoku that they gladly wish this to Nigeria. Please Nigerians, say no to Boko Haram, support the war effort. 

Icheoku says as for the disgruntled polygamist South African President Jacob Zuma, a man whose corruption is legendary, an accused rapist and racketeer, a man who would have gone to prison but for political expediency, and a man who very recently faced another corruption investigation for lavishing poor South African's $20million to refurbish his private country home, Nigerians should simply ignore him. Icheoku says Zuma is a cry-baby who is sucking his thumb because Nigeria is finally trying to get its acts together and is in the process of removing the shine out of South Africa as Africa's newest big thing, including its largest and biggest economy. Icheoku says who wouldn't be as pissed off and smarting to get his vengeful payback for being dethroned, which President Zuma saw an opening in this two botched  transactions?

Icheoku does not even know why Nigeria is routing their military procurements through South Africa as there are so many countries in the world ready and willing to do business in that direction including Cuba, Ukraine etc. At worst Nigeria can resort to the black market and get whatever weapons they desire to pay for. Icheoku is emphatic that South Africa is possibly part of the bigger conspiracy of Boko Haram in their effort to clip Nigeria's soaring wings. Icheoku says may be it is about time Nigeria permanently consign South Africa in the cold where they really belong for all their ingratitude for the so much help Nigeria gave them while fighting the apartheid regime. After all the only respected man and the symbol of that struggle Nelson Mandela is already dead and so, who still cares about what a grumpy womanizing South African President Zuma and his xenophobic country think. To hell with Zuma and to hell with even his ungrateful South Africa country! 

GEORGE CLOONEY, FINALLY SAYS "I DO?"

Icheoku says most men like to say the magical words and mean it; but while many just do it because it is about time and their contemporaries are all in suit, some others stand the pressure until they find the right partner for them. This certainly is the case of George Clooney, who after severally dating many very gorgeous and tantalizing beauties over the years finally gave his heart to Amal Alamuddin. Many would ask why Amal and what does she have that made her an exception to the many ladies George has had affairs with over the years. A list which include Kelly Preston, Elisabetta Canalis, Sarah Larson, Celine Balitran, Krista Allen, Renee Zellweger, Lisa Snowdon, Talia Balsam and Kimberly Russell just to mention a few. One thing is cuts across these women - they are all impressively very beautiful and you wonder why none of them was able to safely lock George away  prior? 

Icheoku says for most men, what is inside always trumps the outside flashiness; admitted no one wants to wake up every morning starring at a witch of Endor lying next besides him. But after looking at just a pretty face for sometime, life often becomes boring except there is something else other than just a pretty face to add pep to the bond. Further most good men wants and craves for peace in their life and would not settle for just any thing, simply because she has a pretty face or is well rounded and nothing more. There is this inert quality about everyone and anyone that most always put them ahead of the competition and this is what Icheoku believes put Amal Alamuddin ahead of the rest and did it for George. Only George knows the very thing or things in Amal that did the magic for him and all the world can do is to wish them well. 

Icheoku therefore in tandem wishes the couple the best a marital life could bring along; and convinced both waited as long as it took for the right person to appear in their lives, fully matured and without any insecurity related hang-ups, would make a wonderful couple together. Icheoku says congratulations George and Amal on finding yourselves; best of luck and happy trails in wedlock. But isn't the couple awesomely beautiful together and especially for Amal, a case of beauty and brain come together in one person; admitted also that George is handsome. From Icheoku to you, happy blissful marriage G&A.

SHEKAU DEAD, THE UNENDING TALE OF KILLING HIM OVER?

Icheoku says the nuisance that is Abubakar Shekau and his Boko Haram lunatics has recently taken another dimension with the ever morphing tale of his death. Nigerians and the international community are getting exacerbated that this seemingly elusive maniacal religionist has not been decisively dealt with thus far and in order to put an end to his taunting and vicious brigandage. Icheoku asks, but should it still matter at this stage whether or not this monster is dead provided his band of roaming nihilists are effectively put out of commission or at worst quarantined in one remote corner of the earth? 

The fact of the matter is that the name "Abubakar Shekau" might be a fictitious operational name or just a norm genre used by any or every CEO of Boko Haram in Nigeria? A sort of alias or designated title for their leader, such that there could be in existence several 'Abubakar Shekaus,' with each stepping up and assuming the title and successively making appearance as an 'Abubakar Shekau' following the death of a predecessor-Abubaka Shekau? Possibly too, these many 'Abubakar Shekaus' could be mere body-doubles of the real deal and they are the ones being targeted and killed by the security agents in the country? 

As for the uncanny similarities of these 'Abubakar Shekaus', studies have shown that so many people usually look alike in every given community and the Boko Haram community of Northeastern Nigeria won't be an exception. Seemingly, this particular 'Abubakar Shekau' has now been "killed" twice and twice has he resurfaced, claiming that he is alive and taunting the Nigerian security authorities to catch him if they can. Whether this very 'Abubakar Shekau' resurrects or has the power to rise from the dead, Icheoku does not know, but suffice it to say that a close examination of the latest killed Abubakar Shekau's forehead reveals the same bump on the then living Abubakar Shekau's forehead. The similarities did not end there as both the now dead and the then living Abubakar Shekau's monkey face and beards are eerily similar if not the same? 

So how any naysayer would suggest or want anyone to believe that the same 'Abubakar Shekau' is now releasing a video of "I am not dead" and claiming to being alive defies every commonsensical logic. Even in case of a mutation or the proverbial "abiku", at least it does not instantly result in a full grown person simultaneously popping up following a death. Anyway, Icheoku suggests that the Nigerian security operatives should ignore this ever shifting stories about a living 'Abubakar Shekau' and continue with their offensive against this terrorist sect. They should also consider and treat summarily every arm-bearing Boko Haram operative as an 'Abubakar Shekau.' That way all the would be actors or potential norm de genre of 'Abubakar Shekau' would become extinct before they can make a new video of 'being alive;' which will help end the insurgency more quickly.  

Finally, Icheoku is convinced beyond doubt that the errant 'Abubakar Shekau' we all have come to know is DEAD and it does not matter whatever any purported new video otherwise says to the contrary. Furthermore, the science of  holograms can be used to "resurrect" people for show-appearances; and who knows what the powers behind the Boko Haram nuisance are up to once again by now purporting that the dead 'Abubakar Shekau' is magically alive again? What these anarchists' s sponsors stand to gain by making Nigerians believe in the invincibility of their created 'Abubakar Shekau' and his ability to rise back from the dead after being shot by bazooka and his body nearly disintegrated, is beyond Icheoku's fathoming. Anyway the show must go on and so, let Nigerians hang in there and check back on this Boko Haram crisis after the 2015 elections are concluded. Until then, Icheoku says Nigerians  should consider 'Abubakar Shekau' as he then was, now dead as a door knob.

STRONGER AT THE BROKEN PLACES - LINDA & CHARLES BLOOM.

The real reason that opposites attract is that little tension can sometimes be a good thing in relationships. 

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Did you ever think that it was a cruel joke of nature that most of us find ourselves attracted to people very much unlike us? I mean, wouldn’t it be an awful lot simpler and a lot less messy if we tended to be drawn to those whose personalities are more like our own rather than those who seem like they are polar opposites of us. Especially given the inclination that seems to be present in most humans to see the way that we are as the “correct” way and to try to influence the other person to become more like we are, rather than vice versa. 

It sure can make for some “interesting’ dialogues. But consider the possibility that those differences that can seem so problematic may actually be the very things that add spice and passion to your relationship, particularly its sexual aspects. We are drawn to others out of needs and desires that are unfulfilled in our lives, such as a desire to experience greater connection, security, love, support, and comfort. On the other hand some of those unfulfilled longings have to do with their polar opposites, such as adventure, freedom, risk, challenge, and intensity. While these needs and desires may appear to be mutually exclusive, they not only can co-exist with each other, but in the process, generate a “tension of the opposites” that produces the passion that sustains, deepens and enlivens relationships. In an age in which external cultural norms no longer sustain and enforce  the continuation of long-term partnerships, the generating internal  motivation, that which comes from within the relationship itself, is essential to its long-term growth and viability. 

The incentive to support that motivation comes from the ability of both partners to continue to co-create compelling experiences on an ongoing basis. While security, safety, closeness, and comfort are certainly qualities that characterize all fulfilling relationships, without a balance of excitement, passion, adventure, risk, and yes, even a certain degree of separateness, security becomes boredom, dependability becomes indifference, intimacy becomes claustrophobia, and comfort becomes stagnation. The French view this paradox, not as a problem, but as something to celebrate. Rather than say “Oh merde” (look it up if you aren’t sure what this means) when this apparent contradiction shows up in a relationship, they say, “Viva la difference!” It’s “la difference” that makes relationships edgy, dynamic, exciting and a little scary. There is of course, a fine line between “a little scary" and frightening. And there is a fine balance between having enough danger in a relationship to make it stimulating and to keep it from dying from a lack of excitement. 

As most of us know, those differences can and do show up in a lot of ways. Opposites, or perhaps more accurately, “complements” do attract. Introverts and extroverts, morning people and night people, impulsives and planners, steady plodders and adrenaline junkies, adventure-grabbers and security-seekers…there’s no denying the idea that something in us is drawn to people who counter some of our dominant inclinations with complementary tendencies. And while this can create some interesting challenges for most couples, these differences are actually the source of what is considered by many to be the source of the most important aspect of any successful relationship: chemistry. Chemistry refers to that undefinable quality that is the basis of the attraction that fuels the impulse to be drawn to another. While the first thing that we consciously become aware of in meeting someone is their physical appearance, what determines the degree to which we find them attractive is something that is much more than skin-deep. 

It has to do with a feeling, an instinctive sense of the qualities and tendencies that may be all but invisible to the naked eye or to our conscious awareness, but are recognized by a kind of inner radar that identifies and responds to someone on a subconscious level. We're probably asking some version of the question: "Is my experience of myself more whole, more complete with this person?" When the answer is “yes” and the chemistry is strong, our relationship, particularly the sexual aspects of it is likely to be powerfully compelling, particularly in the early stages, when the fire of infatuation is sufficient to ignite our mutual passion without much effort on anyone’s part. This intensity will continue without any effort or concern on either partner’s part until the elements of mystery, excitement, risk, and adventure that drive the feelings of infatuation burn out or atrophy. When a relationship is imbalanced because of an excessive amount of danger or threat, feelings of anxiety inevitably arise and create instability. This diminishes the feelings of security that are also important to the sustaining and deepening of the relationship. 

Similarly, an excessive attachment to  security can diminish the excitement level and move the needle too far to the left on the security-adventure spectrum. Great relationships thrive on passion, particularly passionate lovemaking, and in trying too hard to avoid risk or novelty, we may inadvertently cool down the sexual heat by transforming our perception of our partner from a lover to a parent or a child. A commitment to continual harmony and peacefulness can be as threatening to the integrity of a successful relationship as an excessive amount of risk, discord or disharmony. Creating this balance involves the ability to hold the tension of the opposites, without going too far over to one side or the other, which by the way is unavoidable. Fortunately when the inevitable occurs, as it occasionally does, it is possible to put in course corrections that can re-stabilize things. Sometimes we have to risk going too far in order to find out how far we can go. And, there is no fixed or correct point at which we can find some permanent balance. 

This is a dynamic process and the balance point between the two poles of security and adventure is constantly in flux, and influenced by the inner and outer realities of each partner and the needs of the relationship itself at any given moment. Sounds complicated? Not really. It’s actually pretty simple, but simple isn’t necessarily easy. Particularly when your operating system has been wired from (or perhaps before) birth to have certain tendencies and inclinations. Influencing the system is possible, but it does take a willingness on the part of both people to be willing to risk moving into their partner’s world and accommodating their needs and values without compromising their own. Again, easier said than done. Yet the more we practice being on either side of this process, the more capable we become of developing the kind of flexibility that passionate relationships require. And over time, the process of making the micro-adjustments that great relationships thrive on becomes effortless, natural, and even fun! There is, however for most of us, a learning curve that isn’t always fun, and can be,at least  temporarily, unsettling. That seems to be the case for any new challenge that we step into. If we can overcome the initial resistance that is inherent in the process of making life changes, the long-term payoffs can be truly amazing and worth every moment of the process. But don’t take our word for it, find out for yourself!

"A" WORDS THAT STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS - AIDY THOMAS

FLEECING NIGERIANS IN THE NAME OF GOD - GABRIEL OMOH

When the white man came to Africa to preach and spread the gospel, he was altruistic, truthful and selfless. He rendered selfless service to humanity. He left the comfort of Europe and risked his life in a land seen then as a dark continent full of evil spirits and peopled by beings that were living on top of trees.

He came into a land that was infested with mosquitoes that was a death sentence to the white race as at the time. Yet, in the name and love of Christ, they came.

These missionaries were taken to what many saw as evil forest to settle, with the hope that they will die on their own.

Yet again, in the name of Jesus Christ, they conquered every challenge thrown their way. They taught us the truth, showed us the light and the way. In the process of time, they set up schools which many attended without paying anything or just a token.

So we became educated, learnt the art of preaching and teaching the word of life like them. In the process of time, many left the early believers behind as old school, those born before. They got born again, the fire of revival spread through the continent and Nigeria.

Many pastors were raised. General overseers were in their numbers. The church saw prosperity, the born again knew the way to wealth. The message changed from salvation to prosperity.

The name of the Lord soon became the key and access to wealth. Many became attracted to the church.

Many who believed as well as those who did not but wanted a piece of the pie that was in the church, trooped into the church. In their quest for material possession, splitter groups began to emerge as a result of disagreement on managing the tithes and offerings coming into the church.

The slogan became how much you can make by being a man of God. Instead of using the money realised from offerings to serve God and charitable cause, men of God started buying expensive cars, houses in highbrow areas and now jet planes.

Nigerians will remember that in the 1960s, 70s and early part of 80s, magicians were in every major street in Lagos, Benin, Aba, Enugu, Kaduna etc.

These magicians who were performing magical acts in these cities got inspired by the fact that there was money to be made in the name of the Lord. So they abandoned their magical acts and went into church-planting. Since the Nigerian state is lax in its laws governing charity organisations, it was easy for these men to creep into the house of the Lord.

In some of these mushroom houses called churches, as soon as you enter, the so-called man of God starts prophesying to you; your mother or sibling is the one behind your travails.

The gullible accept this; the next thing you hear is that the Lord wants you to sow a seed. Sometimes in thousands of naira. These fake men of God have forgotten that the Bible say, freely have you received and freely shall you give.

These men in Nigerian churches are crucifying the Lord Jesus the second time. In every ministry today, it is all about money.

What car am I driving as a pastor? What kind of house am I living in? What part of the city is the man of God living in? Many pastors today if transferred from the city to a rural area, will quit that ministry.

It is no longer service to the Lord, but self service. In-fact, the poor, the needy that the church is supposed to cater for are neglected. Men of God in search of wealth and fame dine and wine with politicians. They, as their political associates have become corrupt.

They bear arms for these politicians, run errands for them and some to the point of money laundering. They cannot serve as the conscience of the society anymore.

They cannot look at these evil politicians, like Elisha did to King Ahab and said: ‘You and your father’s house are the problem of Israel.’ Nigerian gospel ministers have lost it.

They have shut God Almighty out of the Church, locked Him outside, and are now worshipping money. If today you enter into any Nigerian church with serious money, no one will ask you what work you are doing to make money. No, it is the Lord that has blessed us.

How can a true man of God openly endorse divorce? How can a true man of God use the church’s money to build an empire for himself and his family at the expense of his poor congregation? How can a true man of God establish schools that his members’ children may never be able to attend?

How can a true man of God be competing in worldly possession with his members? How can a true man of God rape teenage girl in his church? How can a true man of God commit adultery with his members’ wives?

These acts instead of drawing men to Christ in actual fact bring shame to the gospel. It makes unbelievers unwilling to accept the true gospel. Instead of many of Nigeria’s pastors being the light of the world, they show darkness, cover the true light in preference for money.

No responsible man of God will disobey the laws of the land, but what do you have, Nigerian pastors openly disregard the law and even threaten citizens who point out their wrong doing.

No responsible believer in Jesus Christ is happy about the presence of such social evils as racial hatred, a spiraling crime rate, the liquor and drug traffic, slums and violence. He realises that such conditions as these have the potential to destroy his society and therefore ought to be checked. If the Nigerian church had shown enough love, perhaps some of the problems facing the nation today would not have occurred.

If the Nigerian church leaders were not working hands in glove with the political class, if they had consistently denounced corruption and punished members found to be involved in stealing, the moral decadence in the society today may have been checked.

Where is the power of the Spirit-inspired testimony in the Nigerian Pentecostal/charismatic and even evangelical churches? It is only the effectual working of God’s power in a human heart that will allow a man to go outside of himself to share the gospel boldly and testify of Jesus.

A man with social and political stigma cannot boldly share the gospel. When a man of God is spiritually healthy and vibrant, it brings light into the local church and city. Precious are those who are on fire for Jesus especially in times of gross darkness and moral decline as we are in now.

In a time of spiritual declension in Great Britain in the 1800s, Catherine Booth, wife of Salvation Army founder, William Booth, went about the churches “looking for burning words.”  She recognised that doctrine alone is not enough. Logically sounding phrases and great swelling words are not enough. Oratory skills are not enough.

We must have the Word on fire and the power and move of the Holy Spirit.

Nigerian churches need to get out of the twilight zone of cessation theology and post-modernism and craze for wealth and learn what it means to be filled with the mighty Holy Spirit and press on into all the fullness of God.

SHEKAU AND EBOLA VICTORIES, LESSONS IN SELF HELP?

 

Icheoku says the recently recorded victories by the Nigerian authorities in the fight against Ebola Virus Disease and the notorious Boko Haram dreaded terrorist organization is a testament of what is possible if only the country could make up its mind and decide to put its acts together. Icheoku says it is all about taking one's destiny in ones hands without endlessly waiting for the never coming help from yonder. Nigerians did it and could also do a lot more things but first they must convince themselves on their ability to do so and then put the strategy in place to have it done. 

Icheoku is emphatic that were Nigeria still waiting for the Americans to come and save them from the scourge of Boko Haram, the scallywag, Abubakar Shekau, would still be running his foul mouth, disparaging everyone and bragging about his group's invincibility and murdering hundreds of defenseless North-easterners and destroying their properties in the process.  So also would the awful Ebola Virus Disease still be wrecking havoc throughout the land and would have claimed a chunk of Nigerians were their fate trusted solely to the Americans. But peradventure, the Nigerian authorities did not wait for the American "miracle" workers to make up their mind whether to help or not, rather they strapped their loins and went to work. The result is that today the dread EVD was stopped dead on its tracks and so also was the ever taunting scoundrel Abubakar Shekau dispatched to rendezvous with his seventy virgins in Hades. 

Icheoku says both successes recorded against the two nightmares show what is possible if a country is  motivated, fired up and ready to go; and using a can-do, self-help to move the process forward. Icheoku says nothing is ever freely handed over or conferred to anyone, talk less of a country. If you want it, you must go and get it and doing things for oneself is the best known definition of independence and self pride. Like the Asian Tigers who took matters upon themselves to pull themselves up and are today a force to reckon with in the world, Nigerians and Africans need to start doing things for themselves and not unnecessarily wait for these white folks to come and bless them with their heart desires. 

Icheoku maintains that Nigerians and Africans as a whole can do it if only they have the will to take the initial baby steps necessary for growing up. It will be faltering at first, but with time, the feet get firmer and soon strides becomes brisk walk and from there running. Nigerians and Africans must stop waiting for manna to fall from the American and European skies and learn how to resource from within their environment. Things might not be a par or up to standards or as good with advanced technological know-how countries initially, but with necessary perseverance, they will eventual get better. 

Icheoku says the need for self help in doing things for oneself becomes imperative because no one can love you more than yourself. Moreso these white people don't like nor really care about Africans or the blackman in general; and could care less if Nigerians and Africans remained in stone age and for a long time to come. The solution is for Nigerians and Africans in general to learn the trait of a survivor and try and become one by doing things for themselves to survive. Biafrans improvised with "Okukwu bucket", ogbunigwe, refined petroleum products etc and would have gone very far now were their dream realized. Icheoku says Nigeria's taking care of business on the matter of Ebola and Boko Haram Shekau is a thing of great pride for the country; at least they did it without any outside or American help or intervention. This feat is worthy of being proud of, it is also worthy of celebration. Icheoku says congratulations to President Goodkuck Jonathan, his security team, especially the military, and of course the Ministry of Health for successful mission accomplished on both fronts. 

ATIKU TO FIGHT CORRUPTION, RUNNING ON EMPTY?

Icheoku says except that Nigeria is peculiar country where anything goes, this man should have since been locked away or at worst politically disposed into irrelevancy for corruption. Here is a man wanted by the United States of America for corruption, but who has remained a fugitive from justice on the run, now saying that "He wants to lead a government that will rebuild the institutions of governance with zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism, where hard work and dedication are adequately rewarded?" 

Icheoku says if only Atiku Abubakar will lead by example by accepting Baba Iyabo's challenge to visit America and enjoy their big house. But hey, the joker and obviously a proven failed president wanna-be, has  begun yet again another arduous Mountain Everest climb without preparation nor appropriate gear. For Jonathan Goodluck, it seems that the gift of an Atiku challenge would be a gift that keeps on giving. Atiku Abubakar, Icheoku says should accept Olusegun Obasanjo's challenge and visit America today and prove himself worthy of Nigerians' sacred trust. Atiku should just put his money where his mouth is to prove that he seriously would like to fight corruption by showing a good example. Or may be he is just another Mr Pharisees. Icheoku says if Atiku has nothing to be afraid of, he should board the next Delta Flight to JFk and until then, Atiku remains only a blow-hot linguine candidate especially on the issue of corruption! -www.atikuvisitamerica.blogspot.com

DIMGBA IGWE, TINUBU'S SAD COMMENTARY?

Icheoku has been reticent in writing a commentary on the deceased Dimgba Igwe, principally because we know little to nothing about him and also because we do not want to join the retinue of pallbearers that have been thronging the deceased home ever since. Icheoku did not want to become part of the spectacle that is these Nigeria's heavies, who have been doing acrobatic somersaults since the demise of the journalist, struggling for who will pay the most moving eulogy. Icheoku says where were these people when this "economically struggled" journalist was alive and what did they do to prove that what he stood for and wrote about impacted them rightly in the way they live their lives? Suddenly the guy is dead and now he is the best thing that ever happened in Nigeria since telephone became within reach of the poor; thanks to the Senate President and then Communication Minister David Mark who derided Nigerians for being too poor to have telephones? 

It has been more than two weeks since that fateful morning when an errant motorist struck and killed the journalist in a hit and run accident, yet no arrest has been made. Icheoku says whether he was a victim of a deliberate hit man sent to do the ax-job because of some local politics in his home state of Abia or some business gone wrong; or because of what he possibly wrote or caused to be written; or somebody just took him out as a warning shot or to get at some bigger fish and/or in order to undermine a business, Nigerians are yet to find out from the investigators. But suffice it to say that the ever encumbered and cumbersome Nigerian Police Service is so stretched thin that determining what truly indeed happened on that wee hours of the morning resulting in his fatality might never happen? The Nigerian police is trying but they are always being asked to do too much and to perform investigative magic with little or no forensic tools to work with. Icheoku says the coincidence of the journalist jugging and the killer-vehicle confluencing at that particular point and at that wee hours of the morning is rather too surreal? But hey it is Nigeria, so give it up to the ever inventive hired hands who have more tools in their sack to do their job than Home Depot could muster.

Anyway, a check of the condolence register shows names of the who is who in Nigeria, the high and the mighty, especially politicians, who are now falling over each other to express their "heart-felt" sympathy for the deceased family. Needless to say that some of these politicians would have established emergency trauma centers during their heydays in power but didn't; some of them could have established ambulance services and functioning emergency dial numbers and rescue squads, but didn't; some of them could have established helicopter medics and medical evacuation teams but didn't;  some of these politicians could have also made sure that well qualified medical professionals were always on duty to manage such traumatic circumstance but failed to so do. 

Now they are pretending to love and care for the deceased more than his own family would in fact do? They are pretending that their love for Dimgba Igwe is more than the pope's love for the Catholic Church?  Icheoku asks why would these crop of sympathizers seem to cry more than the bereaved? The answer seems to be politics, politics and politics. It is the silly season of politics and suddenly the death of the journalist has become a not to be missed photo-op to shed that proverbial crocodile tears and lament how Dimgba would be sorely missed? Tales by the moonlight by Gentleman Mike Ejeagha and his minstrels one would say?

Icheoku says of all the moving eulogies so far written about this journalist, Bola Tinubu's in-situ commentary and lamentation about the sad state of affairs in Nigeria caught Icheoku's attention more. According to Bola Tinubu, the majority shareholder of APC Plc and the man who calls all the shot in APC, Dimgba Igwe died a poor man because Nigeria disappointed him. Nigeria failed to honor their promise to keep their part of the social contract bargain which they ordinarily ought and should have had with Dimgba Igwe and his ilks in Nigeria Plc. Listen to Bola Tinubu speaking about Dimgba Igwe, "Here is a man’s house; simple. When you hear the name of Dimgba outside there, you will think he is wealthy. You will think he is living in affluence. On his part, you will see sign of someone still struggling economically in this environment. Is that the type of Nigeria we will continue to build with sentiments, emotions and wrong assumptions?" Icheoku says the thing that stood out is that this journalist despite all his best effort to make it honestly, still died "struggling economically?" Recall that but for the purchase of Reuben Abati's silence by Aso Rock, may be he too would still be struggling economically at the Guardian Newspapers? 

Icheoku says Dimgba Igwe, a man who vice-chaired and is a founding director of Sun Publishing company Plc should not have died in a "sorry financial state?"  Icheoku wonders whether Nigerian businessmen are indeed that heartless as to merely be cashing in on the very stiff job market to milk Nigerians without adequately compensating them for all their hard grinding work? Query:- how could a man so highly positioned in a profitable newspaper not be problem-free financially? Does it mean that the publisher Orji Uzor Kalu is not treating his employees and gooses that lay his golden eggs responsibly? If a man that rose to that level in an establishment which he helped found, was still under water financially, what type of man is the man who signs his paychecks? Is it possible that he purposefully put him where he was just to maintain a stranglehold on his life and ensure his perpetual servitude to the big boss and to continue mining his brains for less and without adequate compensation? If a vice chair was pauperized how about the little underlings doing the real heavy lifting in the publishing house? 

As Icheoku disclosed earlier, we do not know this journalist nor do we pretend to know what he did in his life's career to elicit all these lethargic encomiums. However, Icheoku makes bold to state that it appears that he was not treated fairly by his employer who left him holding the bag despite helping turn Sun Publishing Plc very profitable and into a multi billion Naira publishing stable. Icheoku says Dmigba Igwe was also not treated well by Nigerian politicians especially those in charge of Lagos State, both past and present, who denied him the opportunity to fight for his life through the provision of a functioning health care system that works. Dimgba Igwe  was also not treated well by Nigerians who ignored him while he toiled to foist a decent functioning society using his pen or rather keyboard and mouse only to now turn around and mourn his loss as irreparable? What morbid, vulture society Nigeria is that only sees the good in dead Nigerians ONLY. The dirge is always in the past tense "he or she was the best Nigeria ever produced or never had" and you wonder why not listen to Mike Ejegha and praise these Nigerians while they could still hear. 

Lastly, the only hope Icheoku has is that his mourning spouse loved him enough while he was alive and was also able to kiss him goodnight the night preceding the tragic morning he departed from this sinful world. If they had an unresolved fight or quarrel, it is the bereaved who will now have to bear the pain since the departed has since moved on. Icheoku says may his soul now rest and may all these face-time seeking politicians allow the bereaved family to grief. One final note, Icheoku saw Orji Uzor Kalu make a promise to the family that they will "NEVER LACK" and that the Sun Group will take care of them financially and in any other possible manner. This is commendable, coming from a financier who most likely shortchanged Dimgba Igwe while he was alive and now using the opportunity of his condolence to make a remorseful amend for depriving their breadwinner? Our promise is that we will monitor the implementation of this promise and commend or condemn same accordingly as either may become applicable. Adieu Dimgba and now go wrestle on the other side.

NORTH WILL NOT VOTE FOR PDP - ATIKU.

Icheoku says first of all "NORTH" is not the entire Nigeria? Second of all which "NORTH" is Atiku referring to? Is it the Hausa/Fulani "NORTH" that has been killing and maiming the other "NORTH?" Is it the Northwestern "NORTH" that has been appropriating everything allocated to the North? Is it the Northeastern "NORTH" that Boko Haram has ravaged and rendered "NORTHLESS?" Certainly the Middle Belt "NORTH" does not agree with Atikku that there is one single cohesive "NORTH" in existence; and has since for the records disassociated themselves from the Atiku's hegemonic NORTH. There is also ACF's NORTH and NEF's NORTH. So would Abubakar Atiku please tell Icheoku and other Nigerians who cares to listen to his bullcrap which "NORTH" will not vote for PDP? In the mean time, Icheoku asks Atiku when is he going to take up the Baba's challenge and visit America where FBI's red carpet reception awaits him to join the banquet of William Jefferson. 

www.atikuvisitamerica.blogspot.com