STEVE BANNON: A NECESSARY SACRIFICIAL LAMB.

ICHEOKU says the president had no choice but to let Steve Bannon go and in order to hopefully rejig his governance towards getting his agenda back on the track. An agenda which has literally stalled with no clear meaningful movement and needed a reboot. Steve Bannon was becoming too much of a distraction with all the media focus on him which sort of took some of the shine on both the president and his government. The pressure was mounting and had remained resolute until the president yielded and allowed his top strategist to be eased out of the White House. 

A man viewed by many anti-Trump and Never-Trump hollering monkeys as a white nationalist, the ambassador/gate keeper of the movement inside the White House, especially after the mixed messaging that came out of the Charlottesville melee, had to be sacrificed on the alter of pleasing those blood hounds who has been calling for the head of the presidency himself. Whether this very big sacrifice, of such an awesome proportion, will placate and appease those nut-jobs and atone for all the imaginary sins of President Donald John Trump is left to be seen down the road. But Steve Bannon, the president's former chief strategist, is now gone and stands shoved out of the White House. He joins Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer, General Flynn and the many other now ex-staffers of President Trump's White House who have been let go. 

It would also appear that the previously fired, eleven-days only communication director of the White House, Anthony Scaramucci, finally had his way. with the departure of Steve Bannon. He was the catalyst which quickened the reaction of staff push out from the White House. He had fingered Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus as two senior staffers of the president who has no business being in the White House, claiming that they are not truly loyal to the president and are sabotaging the president's agenda and leaking classified information about the government to the media. First to go was Reince Priebus and now Steve Bannon follows suit, showing that Anthony Scaramucci eventually achieved his primary objective to rid the White House of both men, albeit retrospectively.  

ICHEOKU says the interview Steve Bannon gave to American Prospect magazine was indeed a killer, the last straw that finally broke his back and forced the president's hands,  and he acted on a nearly boiled over rage against Bannon. Similar to Anthony Scaramucci's own interview to the New Yorker magazine which led to his being let go, Steve Bannon's interview was indeed detrimental to the Trump's government policies, especially its ongoing stand off with North Korea over it nuclear weapon pursuit and ballistic missiles firing. No sane president would stand idly by and watch as his chief adviser creates a firestorm  between him and his military chiefs; people who are planning a massive "fire and fury and power" response against North Korea, while the same adviser is busily behind the scene, sabotaging the response by literary telling North Korean Kim Jung Un to ignore the president's threats as it is merely hot air. 

ICHEOKU will not take it and is glad that the president saw it the same way and found it unacceptable. You don't go rogue against a president or anyone for that matter, in whose service you are engaged in. You go 'lock and step' with the person, fanatically defending whatever policy objective he marshaled out, regardless; or in the alternative, you resign your appointment and your office let another loyal staffer take. But to allow such a rascally conduct will amount to permitting two captains on the same ship and it can only spell disaster. Therefore, President Donald John Trump acted wisely and in the best interest of his government when he fired Steve Bannon in order to send a message that his government's policy towards North Korea is solid and that there is no equivocation nor divisions within his government on the decision to decisively deal with the crisis. 

Steve Bannon is gone and stays gone. The only question now is whether the forces which are amassed against the president would accept the sacrifice and let the president be and allow him to do his job geared towards accomplishing his flagship Make America Great Again campaign promise. The fear however is that these forces will become an Oliver Twist and like the plant in the movie "Little House of Horrors", having tasted blood, will continue to demand for that crimson liquid until they exhaust the president's will to carry on fighting for the American people. With all these firings, particularly the latest Steve Bannon's, these forces will feel more emboldened in their pursuit of the president scalp, having realized that pressure works and that they can influence the president and will continue to dictate who goes and who stays in the White House. 

The good news however is that Steve Bannon, who claimed that he voluntarily resigned and was not fired, is not feeling terribly sad about his latest fate. He has promised to continue fighting for the president from outside the White House. Feeling relieved with his release from the shackles of office, he will go to a full blown war for the president against all his traducers, both in the Congress and in any other place they might be holed in within the Washington DC Swamp establishment. In his own words, Steve Bannon said "If there's any confusion out there, let me clear it up: I'm leaving the White House and going to war for Trump against his opponents -- on Capitol Hill, in the media, and in corporate America." ICHEOKU wishes Steve Bannon God's speed in his new avowed mission and appreciates his effort in electing the president and also for his service while it lasted. So long Steve-B. 

(The publisher of Breitbart has now returned to his pet project as the chairman of the company).

LIKE SADDAM HUSSEIN'S STATUES: PULL DOWN ALL THE GADDAM STATUES.

ICHEOKU says it is about time enough really became enough, so that a very deplorable chapter in the storied history of America can finally be laid to rest. Enough of all these vestiges of slavery and Jim Crow's segregationist era, which constantly reminds their victims what an ugly past they and their forebears really went through in America. Doting the landscape in one form and fashion or the other, statues, which still continue to tower and hover over America till this day. 

ICHEOKU says if Iraqi people could do it, so should Americans. If Russian Ukrainians could do the same and pull down Lenin statues, so should Americans find the courage to pull down at least some of the offensive statues. If Germany could bury their Nazi past or at least try, so should America be able to rise up and wipe the slate clean about an inhuman past which nobody should be proud of. Therefore why is America finding it rather difficult to similarly erase this very ugly past. Why is the United States of America, a champion of freedom and liberation, be clinging to this ugly past experiences of slavery, segregation and Jim Crow laws of "WE and THEM" state policy that dehumanized fellow human beings and made them two third humans. 

ICHEOKU says enough of all this foot drag and making of excuses of a nonsensical heritage past; the time to have ended it completely came a long time ago and therefore now is the only acceptable time to boldly embrace the moment, admitted belatedly. Therefore, every statue honoring anyone connected with slavery, establishing and/or enforcing segregationist laws, should immediately and without more and/or any further ado, be pulled down forthwith. These mean spirited fellows and every person and partaker of this ignoble acts should be deemed not to have any storied records worthy nor deserving of immortalizing in perpetuity.  They should not be honored and their descendants should rather be ashamed of this their past connection, than celebrate them. This is irrespective of whatever sentimental, nostalgic, memories, which anyone may have about them and/or what they represent or did. 

There is no explanation, whether or not satisfactory, which would in any way otherwise justify such honor, because their victims are still here and it reminds them of a very horrible past each time they behold such statue. The people of Iraq, despite the attachments of Sunnis, especially those of Tikrit to Saddam Hussein, did pull down every statue of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and there are many to help them completely erase whatever memory or sore taste which Saddam Hussein left in them. Americans also once pulled down the statue of British King George in New York after the revolutionary war of independence. Ukraine and other former Soviet era republics also pulled down Vladimir Ilyich Lenin statues to help them close that chapter of their horrible past recorded history. Germany has not only pulled down Adolf Hitler's statues but went a step further by de-legitimizing everything Hitler and abolishing and criminalizing anything Nazi including the Fuhrer salute. 

So based on these precedents, why can't America also do the same by completely eradicating anything and everything slavery. This is the way to go for a country that is indeed serious about making amends for its past. America cannot be allowed, by the same token, to be saying that they condemn racism and have since abolished slavery and segregation and still be honoring those people who actually imprinted that man's inhuman treatment to fellow man and left such a dark spot on America's soul. The logic does not add up and a moment has now thrown itself up for America to do good for and by its minority citizens and quit reminding them that they are technically their properties and not equal fellow human beings. It is this ability to rise up and really be great in magnanimity, by taking down all the offensive statues, that America can indeed become whole again, more united, and then forge ahead collectively to doing many more great things. Americans of all shades and every hue should therefore help wipe away this lingering psychological nightmare, a ghost of the past, which these statues represents and constantly remind and subject our minorities fellow citizens to and help Make America Whole Again. 

Sierra Leone MUDSLIDE: OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY,

ICHEOKU says our condolences to the people and government of Sierra Leone on the loss of hundreds of citizens to a Noah's flood which overwhelmed the country's capital city Freetown. May the country find the fortitude to bear their loss as they try to recover and rebuild. 

USAIN BOLT: HOW NOT TO MAKE A FINAL EXIT.

ICHEOKU says what a storied career he had and was on the last competition before he retires when he was hamstrung and cramped out of the race. But instead of going out in  blaze of glory with yet another world record win, he limped down, out and face-down on the ground, cost Jamaica the race and with it ended his career. 

ICHEOKU says Usain Bolt cannot allow his career to end abysmally like this and must therefore reverse his decision to retire and have another shot at it, in order to go out with a bang but not in the limply manner the race in London ended. ICHEOKU say he had the opportunity to retire when the ovation was loudest with the last Olympics gold medal  wins; but he chose otherwise. He lingered on for this final encounter at the 2017 IAAF World Championship in London which ended in a disaster of a cramp which forced him out of the meet. It is not a good way to go out for a man who had such a storied record and it is not acceptable to millions of his fans worldwide. 

Therefore Usain Bolt must not allow such a pitiful performance to be his valediction and the way he is remembered. He cannot leave the scene after all he has accomplished as a bumbling fallen, face-down splinter and therefore must compete again to top off his crown of glory in a more acceptable fashion. ICHEOKU wishes Usain Bolt well and a speedy recovery. He was a champion and should try and remain a champion by returning for another competition in order to go out a champion.

WE ARE READY - GENERAL MATTIS

"The United States and our allies have the demonstrated capabilities and unquestionable commitment to defend ourselves from attack. Kim Jong Un should take heed of the United Nations Security Council's unified voice, and statements from governments the world over, who agree the DPRK poses a threat to global security and stability. The DPRK must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people. 

President Trump was informed of the growing threat last December and on taking office his first orders to me emphasized the readiness of our ballistic missile defense and nuclear deterrent forces. While our State Department is making every effort to resolve this global threat through diplomatic means, it must be noted that the combined allied militaries now possess the most precise, rehearsed, and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on Earth. The DPRK regime's actions will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates. My responsibility as Defense Secretary is to have military options ready if needed. We are ready." - General James Maddog Mattis, US Defense Secretary.

OZUBULU BLOODY SUNDAY: MASSACRE IN THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

ICHEOKU says whodunnit is really not that important and so also is the intended target, as it appertains to this essay. The predominant interest here is why anybody ever gave such senseless act of sacrilege a thought; talkless of actually carrying it out. Tens of innocent parishioners were observing their early morning Mass devotion when some lunatics walked into where they were assembled and sprayed them with bullets, leaving 22 people dead with 18 others seriously wounded. 

ICHEOKU queries what manner of human excrements would carry out such a dastardly act and inside a House of Worship, a CHURCH. Even if they are non believers, do not go to church nor believe in God and does not not understand the reverence of a Catholic Mass, they should have, at least, respected the sensibilities of those devotees and given them the opportunity to finish their devotions before killing them, if they must. But to do it in the depraved manner they did it, shows that they are callous, extremely wicked, ungodly and deserves to rot in hell.

The Holy Bible, in Book of 2 Samuel 1:20, admonishes "publish it not in Garth nor the streets of Ashkelon lest the daughters of Philistines rejoice and exult", to which ICHEOKU paraphrases "publish it not in Ozubulu nor in Ala Igbo that such great abomination took place and it is being discussed as real and not just a nightmarish dream from which people woke up and soon forgot.  How the people who did this, so lost their moral compunction,  that they descended into such a depravity and desecrated the House of God, with such reckless indifference to what the place meant and defied a sanctified place by shedding the blood of parishioners, is simply beyond pale. But it happened and all everyone can do now is to figure how to avoid a repeat happenstance going forward. 

Hopefully, security agencies will solve the crime quickly in order to arrest and punish the perpetrators, prevent panic among the society and also to preempt people from arriving at their own conclusions which is capable of adding more tension to an already tensed society. Security agencies must work hard to unravel the culprits, to avoid a total and complete breakdown of law and order, by a people who might feel that the government is covering up something or is somewhat in cahoot with the perpetrators and might resort to self help vigilantism asa result. 

To say the least, this massacre is certainly a new low for Nigeria, especially its security agencies that seem incapable of securing the country and her citizens and properties; admitted that they work under near impossible austere conditions and are simply overwhelmed with un-incentivized large workload. A country that is awash with problems, including a president who has been MIA for quite some time now, holed out abroad in London where he is receiving treatment for cancer, could sure use less of this madness. ICHEOKU says all is not well with Nigeria and denying it or trying to sugarcoat it can only make a bad situation turn worse. It is time now to seriously consider all available options towards saving Nigeria and reposition it for greatness; rather than continue to pretend otherwise while watching its continued slide.  

The implications of Ozubulu massacre has a global ramifications - from the Vatican which might take umbrage that its church was desecrated in this manner and her parishioners's right to life so flagrantly violated; to the United States of America whose Christian community might feel that the Church of Christ is now under threat in Nigeria; to Russia and some other civilized nations which must be wondering what manner of heartless people inhabit the geopolitical entity called Nigeria. A country whose mafia has, in the past, been compared to Japanese Yakuza, Russian Mafia, Chinese Mafia, Italian mafia and the Mexican Sinaloa mafia; but which has now certainly outdone itself by this church massacre. How these civilized societies, which consider churches sacred and sanctified, would view a country where devotees are murdered while kneeling in prayers inside a church during a Sunday Catholic Mass is anybody's guess. 

ICHEOKU says Nigeria is in a deep doodle, a very smelly, stinky and sticky one indeed; such that not even Londonderry own Bloody Sunday compares to this. Even though both the infamous British escapade in Irish Derry and the unsolved murders in a Nigerian Catholic Church in Ozubulu took place on a Sunday, but the Nigerian incident was right inside the sanctuary of Christ. Nigerian Boko Haram has such modus operandi and so too are terrorists ISIS; but that such a depraved heart massacre took place inside a church in the heartland of Christianity in Nigeria and also a very religious Igbo community simply begs the question will the police ever find the real culprits. ICHEOKU prays that they will; and also that the massacre will not draw the ire of the world, compelling them to brand Nigeria a narcotic producing, trafficking and facilitating country. If it happens and possible additional targeted measures are put in place, it will affect millions of innocent Nigerians. Lets hope it will not get there and ICHEOKU prays that the victim community finds the fortitude to bear the loss and heal from the trauma. May the souls of the killed now rest.  

TRUMP SPITS FIRE: PUTS NORTH KOREA ON NOTICE

"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. As I said, they will be met with the fire and fury and, frankly, power." - President Donald John Trump. 

ICHEOKU says the Michelin Tire midget at Pyongyang is definitely courting trouble and messing with the wrong man. He probably thinks Barack Obama the redline president is still in office; but unbeknownst to him there is a new sheriff in town and his name is Donald John Trump and he does not mess around. Hopefully China can rein in the little man before he commits mass suicide with his North Korean people.

DANIEL CORMIER: TIME TO RETIRE IS NOW

ICHEOKU says has watched Jon Jones V. Daniel Cormier 2 rematch for the umpteenth time now and has come to a verdict that it is about time Daniel Cormier hung up his gear, stop fighting, retire; and concentrate on commentating and training other young and upcoming wanna be fighters. Yes, UFC 214 lived up to its billing; all the fighters gave viewers their money's worth plus more; with the spectacular will and power they exhibited. 

The evening was topped off by the main event Jones V. Comey 2 and the two fighters equally delivered. It was a thing of beauty to behold, watching the extent to which the human spirit can go on in the inert battle to survive and thrive. Round one came and went and so did round two and then in round three, a kick to the head triggered an even that led to a dazed, confused, stunned and nearly unresponsive Daniel Cormier being saved by the referee. When he finally regained his consciousness, Daniel Cormier, amid sobs, said "I thought the fight was going well; I don’t even know what happened.” ICHEOKU said that was the viciousness of the kick and subsequent elbowing which Jon Jones delivered on Daniel Cormier that his lights  literally went out, needing quite some time before he recovered nearly enough to give the few answers to the interviewer's questions. 

ICHEOKU says Daniel Cormier has nothing more to prove, having defeated all but one person, Jon Jones, in his weight class of the UFC/MMA. Therefore, having failed in this second opportunity to defeat Jon Jones, he should do the expected and take his bow when the ovation is still loud enough. Like Ronda Lousy, Daniel Cormier will never recover from the psychological  trauma his second loss to Jon Jones inflicted upon him. Prior to the fight, both of them had boasted to knock each other out and Daniel was so optimistic and fired up that he dreamt of it happening. He went into the octagon fully convinced that this is it and that he will defeat Jon Jones but it did not happen leading to the question what else Daniel? ICHEOKU says in answer, NOTHING and the best outcome for him is to retire or move out of the weight class; concentrate on his commentating as well as training up and coming fighters. 

Daniel Cormier had looked forward to a third fight in which they would have decided who is a better fighter, believing that his win would have parred them one win apiece. It did not happen and Daniel Cormier himself put it very succinctly when he conceded “If you win both fights, I guess there isn’t a rivalry”; to which ICHEOKU would add "anymore" and ICHEOKU completely agrees with Daniel's assessment. At 38 years old, he is not getting younger either and taking his leave now would guarantee him ample time to do so many other things both outside and inside the UFC/MMA. ICHEOKU therefore calls on defeated Daniel Cormier to retire now or at least drop off from the light heavy weight class which Jon Jones now proudly and rightly occupies until Jones either retires himself or moves from that weight class. Overall it was a good UFC 214 fight and every fan was entertained and satisfied. ICHEOKU says congratulations to champion Jon Jones who actually just reclaimed what rightful y belonged to him as no man has ever defeated him in the weight class. 

BIAFRA: ARISING QUESTIONS - an article by IKE EKWEREMADU

We know very well that the toad does not run in the daytime for nothing; if it is not after something, then something must be after it. Although Nigeria is not new to agitations of all kinds, the nation has of recent been caught in a cacophony of agitations by different groups and sections of the country. In particular, these agitations have been most pronounced in the South-east, where the activities of various pro-Biafra groups have been most prominent. 

There have also been loud and well-meaning voices in the South-east and all over the country strongly canvassing a restructuring of the country. All these point to the fact that there is widespread dissatisfaction over how Nigeria is presently constituted and run. The South-east region, in particular, has, no doubt, been at the worst receiving end of the structural imbalances with ripples of disequilibrium in the distribution of resources and opportunities since the end of the civil war in 1970. 

This, as we know, are at the root of the disquiet and agitation by various groups for a sovereign state of Biafra. Although the Biafra agitation has been with us even during the regimes of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, it was managed, through tact and semblance of inclusiveness. Thus, after Ralph Uwazulike’s arrest and release from detention by the Yar’Adua administration, the agitation withered greatly. It was even much less noticeable under the Jonathan Administration. Therefore, the renewed and aggravated agitations across the South-east, the hero status of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the growing pro-Biafra sentiments in the South-east, and the widespread feelings of alienation and disgust with the Nigerian project since after the 2015 general election can be traced to the mistreatment of the region, which graduated from marginalization to exclusion, based on the 97 percent and 5 percent policy of the present administration. 

However, while our people have every reason to be aggrieved and the right to vent their frustrations and seek equity and justice by democratic and non-violent means, we should also not allow our emotions to rule over our reasoning. As our people say, it will not be good to hear that the she-goat delivered in tether when elders are at home. Questions would eventually be asked. History would inquire if no elder was at home when the toad put to bed and the baby toad grew up a puffed creature because no one cared to stretch its hands or legs. There are two major opinions as to the way forward for Ndigbo at a trying time like this. We have mostly the younger generation, who believe they have had enough of the Nigerian union, which they have described in unprintable terms. The other is restructuring, which seems to appeal more to the older generation. 

Beyond sentiments, it needs to be emphasised that Nigeria is a sovereign state, with a defined territory recognised by the international community. She is a member of the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among others. This territory includes the South-east region. While the right to self-determination is guaranteed under the international systems, specifically the United Nations and African Union, this right has laid down procedures that must be religiously followed. For instance, while the call for referendum is legal, they do not come by fiat. 

Referendum is the ultimate result of wide and long negotiations, consultations, and processes involving the international community as we have seen in the cases of Scotland in the United Kingdom, Catalonia in Spain, Quebec in Canada, and recently in Puerto Rico as well as the successful secession of East Timor from Indonesia, Eritrea from Ethiopia, and South Sudan from Sudan. Unless these due processes are observed, as in the case of Eritrea, East Timor, and South Sudan, such enclaves will not be recognised as sovereign states by the international community. I have followed incisive arguments on this matter and looked at the history of other secessionist efforts in other parts of the world. For example, about 43 years after it broke away from Cyprus in 1974, with the help of the Turkish Army, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Northern Cyprus) is yet to be recognised as a sovereign nation by any nation because of lack of due process. The citizens can only travel with the passport of Turkey as citizens of Turkey, not Northern Cyprus. 

Today, there is widespread agitation by citizens of North Cyprus to be rejoined to Cyprus. There is also the case of Somaliland. Almost three decades after it declared itself a sovereign state from the Federal Republic of Somalia, the best the self-declared Republic (British Somaliland) has achieved is recognition as an autonomous state, but still part of Somalia in spite of the fact that Somalia is a failed state. We also have the Russia-backed breakaway Eastern Ukraine, which still uses the Ukrainian international passport and currency, several years after. It does not matter that it is supported by Russia, a world super power. In the Caucasus, the breakaway South Ossetia and Abkazia from Georgia are only recognised by Russia more than 10 years after. They can only travel as Russian citizens with Russian international passport. The international community still recognizes them as citizens of Georgia. 

Ndigbo also need to understand both the local and international political tides and sentiments to be able to make the right choices because the considerations for self-determination go beyond just the South-east. Already, extreme utterances and actions by some key elements in the agitation for Biafra are taking tolls on our goodwill, friendship, and the sympathy we enjoy. Insults hurled at religious and political leaders of other regions are not helping us, politically. Today, discordant tunes over the boundaries or territories of a prospective sovereign State of Biafra is growing in proportions with the hard wickets hurled at our neighbors and compatriots. Indeed, as things stand today, the greater part of South-south region have continued to discountenance the idea of Biafra, perhaps, for these utterances or fear of becoming a minority within another sovereign state. 

Only recently, the Governor of Rivers State was in Sokoto to emphasise that the people of Rivers State are rather in support of a restructured Nigeria, not a sovereign state of Biafra. Similarly, the people of Delta State have reiterated that Delta State, including the Anioma cultural zone, which is Igbo, will not be part of Biafra. The truth is, times have changed because 1967 is different from 2017, and so have political interests. So much water has passed under the bridge and we have to be realistic. 

As I earlier said, there is serious clamour for Northern Cyprus to rejoin Cyprus. Beside the frustrations from isolation, the economy is also at the heart of it. The Monday, June 26, 2017 edition of UK’s newspaper, The Telegraph, estimates that the reunification of the tiny island could boost its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by GBP5 Billion. South-east’s political future should therefore be put in the context of its economic interest and survival. The Igbos have larger chunk of their investments outside the South-east. Our people have invested heavily in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. They are into trading. Imagine a situation where a Republic of Biafra would have to depend on Nigerian passports to travel out. Importantly, as I mentioned earlier, we are not certain that the South-south will go with the Biafra idea. And in the event that they do not, what are our options for economic survival? Flowing from this, and aware that no nation is a Santa Claus, what guarantee do we have for international support if the main oil bearing region pulls out? 

Nigeria has never been as divided as it is today. The hate rhetoric is getting worse by the day. Parting ways under such level of bitterness could be risky to the investments and lives of the South Easterners. Realistically speaking, is it possible that all Ndigbo living in the other parts of Nigeria, many of whom were born and bred outside Igbo land, and have been well assimilated by their host communities will return home? Many have never visited home and do not even speak Igbo language. Can we realistically expect those who have their investments in other parts of Nigeria to willingly abandon them and head home? Although international systems seek to guarantee the security of lives of peoples and their properties on either side of the divides, should there be a self-determination process that leads to the emergence of a new nation, such guarantees are not absolute and difficult to enforce, especially in a society such as ours. The quit notice and hate spewed by the Arewa youth to Ndigbo point to the fact that all is not well. And it calls for caution because the mother hen does not run without looking back to know the fate of her chicks. 

The other option left for us is a restructured federation. Ndigbo need to develop and market what it believes to be the right template for restructuring. The Eastern Region was rated the fastest growing economy in Africa in the First Republic because the regions were relatively autonomous; resources were largely developed and controlled by the regions. I believe Ndigbo will thrive, probably more than other regions, under a federal structure that guarantees substantial autonomy, justice, equity, security, and prosperity for Ndigbo wherever they live. What we need is a federalism where each constituent part fends for itself to promote industry. We need a federal arrangement that guarantees and allows every constituent state or region to be primarily in charge of its aspirations and preferences to catalyse competitive development. We need a mutually agreed arrangement that allows every component to take charge of the security of lives and properties of citizens through decentralised policing, while the Federal Government takes care of defending our territorial integrity. 

We need a federal arrangement where the best excels, and does not have to be sacrificed in the name of federal character. We need a restructured federation where the Igbo man or woman, and indeed, every Nigerian can live and ply his or her business in any part of the country without any form of discrimination, molestation, and destruction of his or her life and property on the flimsiest excuses. Igbos should be better off in a federation where they freely exercise their democratic rights without being hounded and killed by security forces. We need a federal structure that guarantees smart and efficient government. And I believe these are possible if the leaders and constituent parts of the nation come to the table with sincerity of purpose. We should push for that, please. 

Way forward Going forward, we need to set up a committee for a continuous engagement and moderation of IPOB, other pro-Biafra organisations and their leaders to avoid hate speeches and reckless statements that will make us lose our friends and sympathisers. We need to send a team of South-east leaders to have yet another meeting with the Presidency, this time to tell them, in clear terms, the need to address the fears and complaints about marginalisation of the people of the South-east by this government, which is fueling the agitation in our region. Government needs to take concrete steps and demonstrate commitment in addressing the said complaints. This will help the South-east leaders to manage the restiveness. 

The Igbos must continue to emphasise restructuring, which is presently enjoying acceptance by the South-south, South-west, Northern-central, and well meaning people from other parts of the North. I believe that at the discussion table for restructuring, we will have sufficient allies that will enable us extract a good bargain for a just and equitable society, where we will, no doubt, excel. Ndigbo need a bigger space to operate. In fact, Nigeria as a country is even a small space for the enterprising spirit of the Igbo, hence our people are scattered all over Africa and are capable of dominating the economic space. We need to send delegations to different entities of the North, especially Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Adamawa, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, among others, to engage the respective governors and top traditional rulers and clerics who will also help to moderate the utterances and actions of the Northern youth. 

These, I believe, will secure the lives and properties of our people all over the north and avoid their possible mass movement ahead of the October deadline contained in the threat by the Northern youth. We need to send another delegation to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police, National Security Adviser, and the Director-General of the Department of State Security to express our concern over the safety of the lives and properties of our people living in the North and to urge them to take every necessary step to protect them. Finally, whatever choices we make, we must not allow ourselves to be ruled by our emotions, but by reasoning. The same tree stump does not trip a wise man twice. We must learn from the past and act wisely and decisively. Likewise, we must endeavour to present our demands in a civilized manner and in a language that is cognizant of other people’s sensibilities, not in a provocative or rancorous manner. 

BARACK OBAMA GETS A DAY OF HONOR IN ILLINOIS, AUGUST 4TH.

ICHEOKU says former President Barack Hussein Obama has been honored by his adopted State of Illinois with a holiday, to be observed throughout the state, as Barack Obama Day. The State Republican Governor Bruce Rauner signed Illinois Senate Bill 55 into law, declaring August 4, Obama's birthday, a State day of honor to celebrate the state's illustrious son and former president of the United States of America. 

However, government offices and businesses will not be required to close on the said day in commemoration of the day; but schools and other institutions are encouraged to observe it, but not necessarily required. ICHEOKU queries what use is a holiday if it is not observed with closure of businesses and government offices as well as schools and other institutions. But hey, it is Illinois and they have decided to honor their son in the best way they know how and ICHEOKU says congratulations to Barack Obama. August 4th of every year beginning with 2018 will now be observed in the State of Illinois as Barack Obama Day. 

JOE IGBOEKWE(GHI): THE SLAVE WHO WEARS PURPLE.

"In his bid to prove that he is not a slave, he ended up writing the story of his long years of slavery to the Tinubu dynasty. He was called a hungry Lagos slave and he responded by listing his long years of "serving" Tinubu for 8 years, Fashola for 8 years and Ambode for 2 years and still counting. In all his sordid tales, he didn't mention anyway his Lagos sojourn benefited his Nnewi hometown. He made mention of no tangible record of achievement. All he regaled us with was his long years of serving Tinubu and Sons Nigeria limited. Should we now crown him the longest serving Lagos servant? All the people with whom he served Tinubu are now Masters, yet, Igbokwe is still serving. The joke is on him but the bigger joke is that he didn't even realize it." - Charles Ogbu

TRANSGENDERS IN THE MILITARY: A NEEDLESS DISTRACTION.

ICHEOKU says commends the president for boldly and courageously telling volunteers to the United States of America military to serve as soldiers, period. Therefore, cosmetics and lipsticks should take the back seat as they train and fight to defeat any world's army and decisively too. It is based on the need to have a fighting military of great repute that ICHEOKU supports the president's ban of transgender or rather gender-conflicted persons from serving in the US Military. 

At whatever cost, the segregation which has inflicted much damage on the societal fabric must not be allowed to rear its head in the military. Soldiers bleed blood, not lipstick and they don't fight with lipstick on and America will have only an army of one, an army strong. So if anyone wants to fight or join the fighting men and women of the US military, that person must conform and not ask the military to conform to him or her. 

The military is the dominant party here and whoever is joining must abide by rules of the military and not the military make accommodations to suit personal idiosyncrasies. So it necessarily follows that any person who wants to volunteer his or her service must then serve as a soldier and not a "transgendered" soldier or any other form of soldier but a soldier of the United States military. There is no room for cosmetics including cosmetic surgery as the soldiers job is to kill and destroy and any volunteer must abide by this rule or fall out. Nobody needs a sex change in order to carry out this task and so should it remain. 

President Donald John Trump is providing the much needed and desired leadership and focus which America needs right now; pulling the country back from the precipice where Barack Obama had dragged it to and nearly destroyed the social fabric of a great nation with his attempted social reengineering of America. President Barack Obama's gay tendencies and inclinations nearly ruined America and it did not help matters either that he had forced the military to pay of r expensive sex change operations of any so desiring service member who is conflicted about his or her sexuality. 

ICHEOKU says thank you President Donald John Trump for bringing God back into the military and the country at large. In the president's own words, "After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you."  ICHEOKU says the president said it all, exactly what the country has been waiting for; an America of one solider and not a military of variegated soldiers.

CHRISTOPHER WRAY: TRUMP'S NOMINEE FOR FBI DIRECTOR CONFIRMED

ICHEOKU says for those leftist looney tunes still protesting the election of President Donald John Trump and manufacturing a variety of fantastic Russians Did It collusion nonsense, the 45th president is soldiering on with his presidency. His nominee to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Christopher Wray, was overwhelmingly   confirmed 92-5 as the new director of the Bureau. 

With a new FBI director now in place, the president continues to stamp his authority on America and leaving a lasting legacy; having earlier appointed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and now an FBI Director Christopher Wray. The new director during his confirmation hearing assured Americans as follows: 

“If I am given the honor of leading this agency, I will never allow the FBI’s work to be driven by anything other than the facts, the law, and the impartial pursuit of justice. Period. Full stop. My loyalty is to the Constitution and the rule of law.” 

ICHEOKU says with such assurance, no one is left in doubt that the new director will bring utmost integrity to his assignment. He will also strive to repair whatever damage the fired former director James Comey must have caused the Bureau when he failed to recommend the prosecution of Hillary Clinton after establishing a prosecutable case against her. That way he will restore the confidence of American people that the Bureau is apolitical and will always uphold the constitution in the discharge of its obligation. 

The confirmation now finally seals whatever sliver of hope the disgruntled James Comey might have entertained of ever coming back to the Bureau again. Hopefully, Americans can begin to believe in their FBI again and ICHEOKU prays that the new director will Make FBI Great Again and transform it into a place devoid of any cloud of suspicion or partisan influences. ICHEOKU says congratulations to Director Christopher Wray on his new gig and also to President Donald John Trump for making a right appointment and for having the nominee confirmed in such a non partisan manner. Simply put, it is yet another feather to the president's presidency's cap.

SCARAMUCCI FIRED: THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON PREVAILED.

ICHEOKU says this was certainly the most natural outcome of the recent feuding and tidal wave which swept the White House. To let both antagonists go and with it quench whatever taking of sides and loyalty rancor which may gave arisen amongst the staff. It is also good in order to enable both parties save face, with a no victor no vanquished declaration. 

It would have been a humiliating experience and a cut off of the nose from the face situation for Reince Priebus had Anthony Scaramucci remained, after Michael Short, Sean Spicer and Reince Priebus were forced out at literally his instance. Not after the spat between them which directly and for the first time publicly acknowledged that all was not well with the different personalities congregated in service of the president in the White House. Good enough, an adult has entered the service of the president and as a first act, has finally and fully resolved this budding conflict which was ominous, with potential to threaten or even take-down the presidency of President Donald John Trump.

Anthony Scaramucci had come in as Communications Director with great fanfare and great expectation and was warmly received; including by ICHEOKU, who dubbed him the communication director/press secretary President Donald John Trump has been waiting for. He was presentable, he had the presence and also commands the stage; he was photogenic and people were attracted to him as a welcome relief to the ever studious and uptight Sean Spicer, who was too cumbersome to look at and somewhat boring. His first introduction to the White House press corps was equally charming as he took the podium and made it his own, amiable and answered all questions that were thrown his way. 

But his passion did him in as he became so out there, talking, pushing back and threatening such that he suddenly became the news instead of being the vehicle for the news. He became arrogant, cocky and somewhat condescendingly full of air; acting as if he is even the clone of the president. Simply put, he morphed into the junior President Trump and people were drawing closer and closer to see and hear what he is going to say or do next. Then suddenly he lost his mind, forgetting that the White House is different from his boardroom in New York where whatever he desires and wants is commanded. He also forgot that the White House is closer to American Christian community than it has ever been in the recent past. 

Then enter the profanity laced rant to a New Yorker reporter which finally took him down and out. The diatribe and exhibited vulgarity was simply too much for everyone, including a president who is still trying to wish away his own "grab them by the *ussy' Access Hollywood with Billy Bush comment, to bear. So when the opportunity finally came with the new Chief of Staff General Kelly, he was shoved out and there ended the ten day reign of the King who wanted to 'fire them all' but ended up himself inside the belly of the beast and now, a goner too. What a cruel irony that what he wanted to visit on others was visited on him. What a short lived tumultuous White House Communication director Anthony Scaramucci was. It must all be in the stars. So long Mucci.

JONES DEFEATS CORMIER: 3RD ROUND TKO IN UFC 214

ICHEOKU says it was a thriller although not in Manilla; but Anaheim California and it lived to its hoopla. It was a good fight and as ICHEOKU predicted, Jon Jones defeated Daniel Cormier in a third round technical knockout. Now their rivalry is finally over and with a two time wins, Jon Jones is now the indisputable better fighter than Daniel Cormier. ICHEOKU says congratulations Jones for reasserting your fighting supremacy over Daniel Cormier. What a fight it was.

JOHN MCCAIN TORPEDOS HEALTHCARE REPEAL: VENGEANCE AND ANGER DRIVEN.

ICHEOKU says the ever angry 84 year old Senator from the great State of Arizona has nothing to lose, being terminally ill, afflicted with glioblastoma brain cancer, and it showed. He abandoned the president, his party's interest, including the of his closest friend South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and voted to kill Obamacare's repeal. He was the deciding vote and he voted alongside his Democratic Party friends to kill the repeal effort and the attempted repeal failed. 

ICHEOKU says yes, Senator John McCain is a perpetually angry person, unforgiving and it once again showed. He did not act out of any deep rooted concerns or convictions about the bill as every possible tweaking of the Healthcare repeal that was possible was made to accommodate needed concerns; such  that it become merely a shadow of its original self and now termed a "skinny" repeal, yet McCain did not bulge. He acted with a malicious mind in order to spite the president whose main agenda is a Healthcare reform, which drove his campaign message. Yes, John McCain acted to get back at the president and take his own pound of flesh from the president, for his remark that "those who were not captured" are the type of heroes he likes. It is obvious that Senator John McCain has not forgiven the president for the remark which the then candidate Trump made concerning the Senator's years of being detained inside a Hanoi prison. The Senator, known for his unforgiving spirit, clearly understood then that Trump's jab was meant to diminish his hero status and he has never forgiven Trump ever since. So when a golden opportunity presented itself to get back at Trump, the Senator did not show magnanimity but cashed in, measure for measure. 

Senator John McCain is as mercurial as he is a maverick, admitted he denied being a maverick when called out on that his special streak of his. ICHEOKU says here is a man who then as presidential candidate campaigned on repealing Obamacare and now that the opportunity finally arrived to get it done, he shirked and shied away; simply because he had an ax to grind with the president. Such an unforgiving spirit is not good for anyone, especially a senator of the United States of America who is now making his personal feeling come before the interest of the people of Arizona as well as the general United States of America citizens. Sad!

ICHEOKU says Senator John McCain is simply lashing out, probably because his days are numbered and he does not care about burning down the house as he departs. That the president sent him good wishes while in the hospital and even called him an American hero was not enough for the Senator to forgive a past squabble. Those paying attention and who are versatile with body language, saw the telltale signs of McCain going rogue with the repeal when he went off against talk radio hosts, calling them names and urging politicians to ignore them. It was unlike McCain and he was once a fan; but apparently he no longer have any use or need for them due to changing life circumstances and he told them to take hike. Otherwise how else could any Republican argue against talk radio hosts who literally direct conservative public opinions in the country; except to say that having crossed the bridge and have no further need for them, he is now telling the bridge and its builders to go to hell.

Senator John McCain also probably voted against the repeal just out of jealousy and envy of a president who achieved and accomplished more than he dreamt of by winning the United States presidency on a first try. The senator lost to then Barack Obama in 2008 after years in politics and here came Donald John Trump, on a first attempt, securing victory and is now the President of the United States of America. John McCain is human and humans do get envious and jealous of what they don't and couldn't have. So when all these considerations are factored in, the true picture comes to live and one can begin to actually truly understand what it is that moves McCain and indeed moved him to vote against the repeal effort - he is petty and little. 

Possibly too, because of his latest diagnosis of incurable brain cancer, he decided to make one last final stand, a last major act, before passing on. He wanted to leave one lasting legacy for which he will be remembered among other things, by voting against the repeal. Although one of three Republicans to vote against it, but his was the consequential vote in the 49 - 51 downer. The Senator has since returned to his Arizona hospital to begin a regimen of treatment which will only ease him out, as their is no cure for glioblastoma, the same malignant brain cancer which killed Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. But why the senator want such epitaph is really beyond many people's understanding; except that he is John McCain and he is irascible and choleric and it once again showed.

DC CORMIER V JOHN JONES UFC FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

ICHEOKU says their age long rivalry will be finally decided in Anaheim California today July 29th, 2017. ICHEOKU says Jones will win in round 3; admitted a good fight will be watched,