ETHNIC PRIDE AND PREJUDICE IN NIGERIA - SIMON KOLAWOLE.

Riddle: name the Nigerian ethnic group known for being “arrogant” and “clannish”. I will give you one or two clues to make things easier. They are perceived by others as thinking and acting like they are God’s greatest gift to Nigeria. They think they are by far superior to the other ethnic groups. Give them a space in public office and they will take a yard, filling every available position with people from their ethnic group. Even the gateman, the cook and the cleaner will be from their own part of the country. When one of them starts a line of business, sooner than later they will populate and dominate that space with their kith and kin. Any guesses? Yoruba? Hausa? Fulani? Igbo?

Maybe your guess is Yoruba. They are accused of “ethnic arrogance”. They actually call themselves the “Yoruba race”, meaning they are not just an ethnic group like others but a whole race — as you have the white race, the black race and the human race! In fact, the Yoruba pride themselves as the “most educated” and the “most sophisticated” in Nigeria. Their elite often say “the rest of the country is holding us back”. The solution is the revival of the defunct Oyo Empire under an Oduduwa Republic! There is this Yoruba saying: “Ajise bi Oyo laari, Oyo kiise bi eni kookan” (“You can only imitate Oyo; Oyo do not imitate anyone”). Pride? Arrogance?

On clannishness, some argue that the Yoruba are the kings of “tribalism”. Some say Yoruba started ethnic politics in Nigeria when the Greak Zik was denied premiership of Western region in 1952. President Olusegun Obasanjo was initially accused of running an “Afenifere government” in 1999. Mr. Louis Odion, respected columnist, wrote in Daily Sun (November 9, 2003) that Obasanjo had established a “new Yoruba oligarchy”; the NNPC GMD, the police IG and the CBN governor were all Yoruba, he said. Most recently, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was accused of filling government with Yoruba and Redeemed Church members within two weeks of being acting president!

Being classified as “arrogant and clannish” is not limited to the Yoruba, so my riddle remains unsolved. You want to make another guess? The “born-to-rule” Fulani and their Siamese twin, Hausa! I grew up being made to understand that the “Hausa/Fulani oligarchy” think they own the country. In fact, I used to hear of the “Kaduna Mafia” that decided everything about political power in Nigeria. The rest of Nigeria believed (believes?) if you do not pander to the Hausa/Fulani interest, you can never become president. The late Alhaji Maitama Sule, former minister, was once quoted as suggesting that northerners were the ones divinely gifted with the leadership of Nigeria.

As for clannishness, one of the raging accusations against President Muhammadu Buhari is that he has filled his government with the Hausa/Fulani. Since he came to power in May 2015, there has been an outcry that most revenue-rich agencies (“plum jobs”, as we call them in Nigeria) and key security bodies are headed by the Hausa/Fulani. The recent recruitment by the DSS, in which more people were employed from Katsina state than the entire south-east, is further given as evidence. The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was also intensely accused of not just filling strategic positions with northerners but making sure they were from the Katsina-Kano axis.

So maybe Hausa/Fulani is the answer to the riddle? Or Igbo? I recently got entangled in a protracted but decent argument with a reader over my article, “Biafra is Not a Dirty Word” (May 28, 2017). In it, I broached the possibility of a president from the south-east in 2019 to balance the national equation and continue the nation-building project. The reader objected furiously. She said she would never support an Igbo to become president. She said the Igbo think they are superior to everyone else “and that the rest of us are just making up the numbers”, reminding me that the Greak Zik was quoted in 1949 as saying the Igbo were created “to lead the children of Africa from bondage”.

She referred to a statement attributed to Mr. Charles Onyeama, an Igbo lawyer and member of the central legislative council, in 1945 that “Igbo domination of Nigeria is only a matter of time”. She argued that the central thesis in Prof. Chinua Achebe’s book, “There Was a Country”, is that Nigeria was making progress when Igbo were the ones calling the shots — “an arrogant suggestion that merit is an exclusive Igbo thing”. She added: “Achebe more or less said Nigeria was no longer a country because his Igbo brethren lost their strategic positions at federal level after the July 1966 countercoup. That is conceit undisguised.”

Sure, I am aware of the arguments being articulated against the Igbo by other ethnic groups, particularly the charge of clannishness. They are often accused of seeking to dominate anywhere they operate. It is said that when an Igbo trader rents a shop, he will soon make sure all the surrounding shops are taken by fellow Igbo traders. I am aware of the accusation that Senator Anyim Pius Anyim filled his office with Igbo when he was secretary to the government of the federation, and that the financial sector was overwhelmingly Igbo when Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was minister of finance. So, is Igbo your final answer to the riddle?

Wait a minute — what about the Ijaw? They were also accused of being “arrogant and clannish” when President Goodluck Jonathan was in power. Ijaw leaders and youth constantly reminded the rest of Nigeria that it is “our oyel” (also known as “oil”) that is sustaining Nigeria, isn’t it? The haughtiness of Ijaw militants such as Asari Dokubo and Government Tompolo, it was said, stank to high heavens. They were accused of walking on people’s heads. The Ijaw also speak proudly of their rich history, reminding anyone who cares that they had an embassy in Portugal many centuries before the rest of Nigeria knew civilisation.

And the clannishness? I used to argue that there were only two Ijaw appointees in Jonathan’s 42-person cabinet: Elder Godsday Orubebe and Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke. So how can you accuse Jonathan of running an Ijaw government when there were only two of them in his cabinet? Then I was reminded of the influence the “almighty” Chief EK Clark, the Ijaw leader, had on Jonathan to the extent that Clark’s word was final on most of Jonathan’s decisions. All Clark’s nominees for federal positions got appointed, I was informed, and the militants virtually ran Aso Rock — in addition to controlling the pipelines.

To solve the riddle then, we may need a lifeline. But here are my thoughts and personal convictions:- 

One, there is no ethnic group in Nigeria that cannot be accused of being “arrogant”. We always use Abuja and any incumbent government to make our conclusions about ethnic pride and prejudice, but when we shift the focus to our states and localities, we will discover that these complaints and accusations are universal. Ethnic pride is human, I suppose. Go to India, Kenya, Ethiopia, Singapore and even mono-ethnic societies such as Somalia and you will find it there. Even the most advanced societies are not immune to it. You have white supremacists all over the world.

Two, “clannishness” is not confined to one ethnic group. Sociologists and anthropologists are in a better position to explain why the Yoruba control taxi business in Jos, why northerners dominate retail kiosks, and why Igbo rule the motor spare parts trade. More so, every ethnic group uses derisive terms to describe others — “Ofe Manu”, “Awusa”, “Yanmiri”, “Aj’okuta ma mumi”, etc. It is not limited to Nigerians, I know, but why are our prejudices so inflammable and so easily mobilisable, thereby leading to conflict? We have to view this within the bitter competition for limited opportunities in a country where whoever holds political power controls the juices.

My conclusion, lest I forget, is that we will never build a strong and viable nation if we continue to look at the negative traits in others rather than the positive things they have to offer. Agreed, every ethnic group has something bad to say about the other, but why do we always have to look at one another from the points of weakness rather than the points of strength? I will never argue that conflicts, prejudices and biases will disappear from our society. There is no society in the world devoid of prejudice — be it ethnic, racial, religious, ideological or regional. As far as I can see, it is human. I am not expecting Nigeria to become the first perfect country in the world. Not so fast.

My expectation, however, is that those who call the shots, those who mould opinion, those in positions of influence would reflect deeper. There are no saints in the underdevelopment of Nigeria. No ethnic group is devoid of arrogance, clannishness, corruption, indiscipline and greed. How then can we begin to construct a positive story for Nigeria, in spite of prejudice? That is the challenge. I’m convinced Nigeria can work. Unfortunately, it is easier to destroy than to build. What Nigeria desperate needs are builders, but what Nigeria is getting is a growing tribe of preachers of hate and purveyors of prejudice. Those who wish Nigeria well must create a new narrative. Imperative. 

BLUE ORIGIN SPACE FLIGHT: PLEASE DON'T JINX IT FOR JEFF.

ICHEOKU says why are people so mean that they would rather see Jeff Bezos get lost in space and not return back on earth once he launches into space on July 20th, 2021. What is wrong with some people that they are this evil and so hating that they would wish such a fate upon a fellow human being. What did Jeff Bezos do wrong that some people are this antagonistic against him that they are petitioning to get him out of this world and will not mind if aliens hijacks him and confiscates his Blue Origin spacecraft. 

But to all these hateful vermin, be assured that Jeff will safely launch and safely reenter earth in one piece on July 20th, 2021, regardless of their negativity and ill will. If there is any doubt about the safety of his adventure, he would not embark on it, talkless of going to take his only brother along with him for that ride; as well as two other space enthusiasts who have shelled out a lot of money for two seats on that rocket to the edge of space. The Blue Origin vehicle was engineered for this purpose and has been severally, successfully tested over the years; and on July 20th, 2021, will satisfactorily perform as designed. 

It is very unfortunate and smacks of crass pettiness, envy and jealousy, for anybody to begrudge someone who realized his American dream to its fullest just because he now wants to go on some space adventure. Jeff Bezos built his Amazon empire from scratch and none of these ill wishers ever noticed when he was grinding himself through the ladder of success. But now that he has made it, it is time for these urchins to crawl out of their woodworks to dictate to him how he should spend his money by giving them all away; and when he refuses and chooses otherwise, they are wishing him ill. But the good news is that their mere words will not a thing impact and Jeff Bezos will not be negatively affected by what these nut jobs are saying.

ICHEOKU says anyone wishing Jeff Bezos ill with his scheduled July 20th, 2021 space flight should repent of their evil thoughts or better still, just take a leave of this planet themselves. It is not right; it is condemnable and it should be condemned by every decent person as the thoughts of some warped and demented individuals. 41,000 people so far have signed petition to stop Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin's reentry into earth once it rockets out and you wonder who they will hand the petition to for enforcement, aliens may be and will they go to Roswell to turn it in? They want to prevent Jeff Bezos from returning back to earth once he leaves and you wonder what manner of people are these anyway, whose minds are this so messed up. 

Jeff Bezos have been dreaming about going to space since his childhood. He has worked so hard to earn the right to make his dream adventure into space come true, so why all the grudge? These knuckleheads petitioning to Mother Nature or the aliens to intervene and not allow Jeff Bezos back to earth, should instead pray that his mission is successful and that he comes back safely in one piece. His utility to the people of this earth is still very much valuable and the world is generally a better place with Jeff Bezos in earth. So, quit hating, people; and let us all join our hands together in prayers in wishing the maverick Jeff, God's speed!

UNDERSTANDING ETHNIC PREJUDICES IN NIGERIA - E O EKE

The evidence would suggest that there is deep seated ethnic prejudices against Igbos in Nigeria, but not in the form many believe. I am not talking about the ethnic banter that sees Igbos call Yorubas "Ndi ofe nmanu" (people who eat oily soup) and Yorubas call Igbos "Aje okuta ma Mu omi" (people who can eat stone without drinking water), or Hausas call Igbos "Nyamiri" (please give me water to drink) and Igbo call them "Ndi Awusa" (Hausa people). 

I am talking of prejudice of the type that resulted in the Holocaust and Rwandan genocide, which is why I am alarmed.The evidence does not support the generalization that Yorubas, Hausas and other ethnic groups hate Igbos. The facts would suggest that a percentage of Nigerians, as is the case all over the world, harbor ethnic and religious prejudices and, every ethnic group in Nigeria has their good, bad and ugly. 

Unfortunately, for many reasons, which include the way Nigerians are educated, the Nigerian bad and ugly almost always, end up in position of power, where they hide behind ethnic and or religious identities to act out profound immorality, wickedness and depravity hatched in the dark recesses of their ignorant and prejudiced minds. This is why it is dangerous for any society to tolerate or normalize ethnic prejudice the way Nigeria appears to have done. 

There are prejudiced Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas, Ijaws, Ibibios, Fulanis etc. It is their actions that are projected to their ethnic groups, which creates the impression that one ethnic group hates another and perpetuate the ethnic discord in Nigeria. These are the people who will lead in committing crimes against those they hate. In other words, the unacceptable behaviors of an individual or group of people from an ethnic group is projected to and ascribed to their ethnic groups. This is stigmatization  which is first step towards prejudice. 

I say these because I lived and schooled in West Nigeria among Yorubas and worked in the North amongst Hausas, Fulanis, Biroms, Kuramas etc., and East amongst Igbos. I have seen the best and worst of the diversity of Nigeria and how easily it can be upset by the actions of a few people. When I was in the university of Ife in the 80s. I bought a room in the post graduate Hall in my year 3 from a student from Edo state. When I wanted to move in, another student from Rivers state, who also bought his bed space from another post graduate student said that I would not move in because he did not want to share a room with an Igbo man with my Igbo sense. 

He threatened to deal with me, if I moved in. I left the room I paid for and pirated with a friend, in Fajuyi Hall, with a friend Chinedu Onuoha, a computer science student. A year later, I was elected president of Ife University medical student Association by majority of Yoruba students in preference to a 'son of the soil'. If Yorubas and Igbos hate themselves the way some people would want the world to believe, this would not have happened. 

Today, there are many examples in Nigeria of good interethnic relationships, but these are not highlighted and given the same coverage and consideration like the negative examples. As president of IFUMSA, I was also in charge of making sure that the rooms on campus halls earmarked for medical students were in fact occupied by medical students. On one of such inspections, I found out that the man, who chased me out of Post graduate hall the previous year, was occupying a medical student room in Fajuyi hall. He had failed his exams and was repeating the year. 

When he saw me his countenance changed and I felt he thought I would evict him. I had every right to evict him, that was what the rules stated. If I did, it would not have been because of what he did to me, even though it would be impossible to convince him otherwise. I made sure that every clinical medical student, entitled to a room got one and left the man alone. Unfortunately for him, my room was in Fajuyi hall and any time we met, he appeared uncomfortable. One day, he stopped me and apologized  He told me that what he did was wrong and I reassured him that I was not waiting for the day I would repay evil with evil. We made up. 

I knew that Ijaw people did not hold a meeting, where they decided to hate Igbos and I have never attended any meeting, where Igbos decided to hate people of other ethnic groups. I believe with education and leadership, the mistrust and ethnic tensions, which Nigerian politicians, turncoats and ethnic nationalists are exploiting for their selfish ends can be addressed. 

Nigerians are incrediblely caring, hardworking and generous people and, it would be a shame, if we allow ethnicity, religion and men, who think like, Jonathan, Buhari and Obasanjo to provide the excuse that makes us decide to go our different ways. I belong to the Nigerian generation, whose future was stolen by the Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida and Abacha generation. These men raped Nigeria and wrecked her future and expect Nigerians to bow down, whenever they appear. 

They are responsible, to a considerable extent, for many things that are wrong in Nigeria. The corruption they embraced, ensured that the country has been unable to make the necessary investments and grow the values that ensure strong and peaceful nations and their contempt for due process and rule of law has allowed autocracy, brutality and impunity to flourish. No people would be happy to be part of a country, which consciously excludes their region from developmental projects, subjects them to discriminatory treatments and find excuses to slaughter them in large numbers. Why should Nigerians expect Igbos to accept this systematic and deeply engrained injustices and prejudices? 

I believe in Nigeria, but actions like exclusion of Igbo state from interconnecting rail network make me wonder, if Igbos have a future in a Nigeria, where the likes of Buhari, who keep silent, when the Fulani herdsmen slaughter Ndigbo would be in position to determine the fate of Igbo people. If the decision to exclude Igbo States was made by Jonathan, what stops Buhari, if he is governing for the whole Nigeria, from remedying the injustice? 

This discrimination must now stop. The civil war ended more than 40 years ago. How long do the likes of Buhari and Obasanjo want Igbos to be punished for wanting to be free before they realise that what they are supporting is pure evil. The continued pursuit of policy of discrimination and active underdevelopment of Igbo regions, is an act of economic violence, collective punishment, abuse of power and misuse of position for political vendetta. 

This policy of the federal government of Nigeria, will only make more Igbos resolve to leave Nigeria and seek their future in an independent country or in any arrangement that would grant the regions the powers to develop at their own pace and control their destiny. No people with any atom of pride and sense of what they can achieve, would choose to be part of a country, where they would continue to be treated the way the government of Nigeria has treated and continue to treat Igbos and their region. It is time to end government discrimination against Igbos, link Igbo regions to the East-West rail line, repair federal roads in Igbo regions and complete the new Niger Bridge. 

These will assuage the just anger of Igbos. An East-West rail line that links Igbo towns will be one of the busiest rail lines in the world, if built and it will be a win win for Nigeria. In fact, it will be one of the best strategic moves, to make it more difficult for the region to break way from Nigeria. Nigerian government should stop hurting the country, by pursuing policy of sectarian empowerment and trying to punish Igbos. Igbos have done nothing to deserve the prejudice and punishment we have endured. It is time to end this madness

BIDEN FAMILY MOURNS AS CHAMP PASSES ON.

ICHEOKU says he was a delightful member of Joe and Jill Biden's household and they dotted on him very much. Champ was 13 years old and died from infirmities of old age. He will be particularly missed by his younger brother Major, the violent one which often bites people; unlike the departed Champ which was more cool headed. May his doggy soul now rest. Our condolences to the Bidens on the loss of their beloved Champ, the German Shepard.

HURRAY, IT IS JUNETEENTH AMERICA.

 HAPPY JUNETEENTH AMERICA!

IRAN HAS A NEW PRESIDENT, EBRAHIM RAISI: CONGRATULATIONS.

ICHEOKU says he is the Ayatollah in the waiting and former head of the country's judiciary who was elected president with 62% of the votes. Hopefully he will steer Iran in a different direction to help it reboot both its economy and its standing in the world. 

But hey, the mullahs of Tehran will always do what they want to do in order to maintain their power hold in that theocracy, regardless of what anybody in the West says and whether or not it is in the best interest of the Persian people. They are hardcore and they do not give a damn. They want Raisi and Raisi is it, case closed. 

Anyway, congratulations to Iranian President elect Ebrahim Raisi on his election victory, even though it was expected as he was the candidate of the establishment. Once again, the mullahs of Tehran just formalized the elevation to the presidency of one of their own through an election which outcome was predetermined. But is it any different from the Deep State machination of November 3rd, 2020 which installed Joe Biden in the White House.

KENNETH KAUNDA IS DEAD: ADIEU MR ZAMBIA SHALL BE FREE.

ICHEOKU says he was the last man standing among all the African liberation strugglers who battled colonial Britain for African independence. He went on to become the first president of independent Zambia which was formerly known as Northern Rhodesia. Mzee Kenneth Kaunda is no more, gone, dead at 97 years. Africa mourns one of its foremost son, an icon, a titan and an acclaimed warrior in the fight for freedom for Africa. He was instrumental to achieving freedom for the rest of the Southern Africa subregion and provided his newly freed Zambia as a base for freedom fighters fighting for freedom in the entire South Africa subcontinent resulting in a complete liberation from colonialism. 

He was a man amongst men and belonged in the same pantheon as Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyetta, Patrice Lumumba, Robert Mugabe, Kwanme Nkuruma and Nnamdi Azikwe. He was an exceptionally great man who did so much for both his country Zambia and the greater African continent, particularly the South African subregion. But unfortunately the African continent do not produce their likes anymore, the reason for the decrepitude state in which Africa has fallen. Majority of present crop of African leaders are corruption personified knuckleheads who do not love their country men and women any more, nor proud of their African continent heritage, the reason they stash billions of African wealth in private secret bank accounts overseas, instead of using same for African developmental projects and general needs.  

Mzee Kenneth Kaunda gave it his all, both to his country Zambia and Africa; and the history of emancipation of Africa cannot be written without a very conspicuous mention of his name. He authored a book "Zambia Shall Be Free" and it seems now that instead of Zambia indeed becoming truly freed in the real sense of the word, that he has become the one who was freed of Zambia, courtesy of his death. He reportedly died from pneumonia, although there is a strong basis to suggest that it was from COVID-19 since both diseases manifest similar indications. Also, there is a new resurgence of the dreadful Chinese gory gift to the world in Zambia presently and KK, as he was fondly called, died in a military hospital currently dedicated for treating coronavirus patients. 

ICHEOKU says the African continent has lost a great man; he was a great leader and he loved his people. He shall be sorely missed. He lived a good meaningful life and up to a good old ripe age of 97 years, just a few three years short of becoming a centenarian. So, he might as well have died from natural infirmities causes of old age, but something must officially be the cause of someone's death and his was decided to be a pneumonia; admitted that some people strongly suggest that it was COVID-19 that killed him. But it does not matter anyway whatever cause his death; death is death and Kenneth Kaunda has now gone the way of all mortals since nobody gets out of this world alive. May his soul now rest. Adieu KK and hopefully, your Zambia Shall Be really Free someday.

JUNETEENTH IS NOW A FEDERAL HOLIDAY: HURRAY!

ICHEOKU says it is another step forward towards an eventual full atonement for the crimes against African humanity, slavery. That America and other Western countries which profited bountifully on the backs of enslaved Africans have not yet deemed it fit to pay reparations to African Americans for the free slave labor of their ancestors; and compensation to motherland Africa for poaching millions of her able bodied people and in some cases in exchange for mere gunpowders, guns and sugar, is simply incomprehensible. 

Meanwhile Germany have paid compensation for their Hitler's holocaust against the Jews which saw to the death of six million Jewish people. But Africa, which lost more than 40 million of her people to slavery, some of who were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean alive to their watery deaths by drowning, either because they rebelled on the ship or were unfortunate enough to still be en-route America and Europe when slavery was abolished, has not received a dime in compensation. Instead of turning these ships around and returning these Africans back to Africa, those bloody white slave merchants just emptied their ship's slave cargoes right into the ocean. 

ICHEOKU says is convinced that the last story of the Atlantic slavery has never been told as the perpetrators of that damnable evil act are still trying so hard to keep certain aspects of that harried experience sealed and out of being discovered. But as time goes, they will have no choice over the matter and the reality will dawn on everybody. Anyway, congratulations to African Americans for finally securing June 19th as a federal holiday and national day of remembrance for eventually becoming a freed people in the United States of America on June 19th 1865. Now, we all can look forward to not waking up so early in the morning every June 19th to rush off to work and celebrate such a historic day of commemoration.

Although a lot more still needs to be done towards a final healing for the pain and suffering caused by that abominable act of slavery, which was brought about by crass greed of white people in search of free labor, who started poaching able bodied Africans before formalizing the Atlantic slavery trade. The good news however is that the future as is discernible from the progress so far, promises a brighter experience. It assures that a day will come when reparation will be paid and compensation made for the damage caused through slavery. But we shall see and while we wait, remain thankful for the Congress and Joe Biden for finally making right on this with a bill passed and signed into law making Juneteenth a national holiday. Happy Juneteenth folks!

THE GREAT REVEAL: BIDEN FINALLY TELLS PUTIN WHAT HE WANTS HIM TO KNOW.

ICHEOKU says overall it was a satisfactory performance by Joe Biden as he held his own and with lucidity explained what he came to Geneva to tell Putin. Hopefully Putin understood him with every clarity too. ICHEOKU has nothing personal against Joe Biden and he would have been a very good president had he came to the White House a decade earlier when he was much younger and not as depreciated as he currently is, admitted he outperformed his critics' expectations in the press conference. 

The only thing ICHEOKU has against him is that he colluded with the Deep State to secure a White House berth against American voters' expressed wishes based on legal cast votes on November 3rd, 2020. But be that as it may, we are not here to re-litigate the election, only to comment on his performance in Geneva in his first meet with Vladimir Putin as leader of the United States of America. 

He did well and his style was definitely more convivial and soothingly professional than President Donald John Trump, principally due to his decades of political experience and the inexperience of the later.  Even Russia's Vladimir Putin pointed this out as well by saying that Joe Biden was very constructive and balanced; and that he attributes it to his decades of being in the political sphere with its attendant political experience. ICHEOKU says cannot countenance that as foreign relationship is, as Joe Biden rightly and correctly noted, is an extension of personal relationships and being long in the field counts. 

Joe Biden's questions were pre-selected and so are those who mouthed them off, suggesting that their answers were also prepared in advance and that he rehearsed them; but he did well delivering them and that is what mattered most. His minders also did not allow Russian journalists in the Joe Biden media event, unlike Putin who allowed American journalists and freely took questions randomly. It was also obvious that President Donald John Trump still lives rent free inside Joe Biden's head as he severally nearly mouthed out President Trump name  while referring to President Putin. 

Although Joe Biden still does not trust Vladimir Putin and does not have confident in anything Putin says or promises, but he still believes that he came to Geneva and did what he came to do, tell Putin what he wants him to know. He also called their meeting constructive, thus agreed with Putin who also summarized it as such. Joe Biden assured that America will not give an inch in respect of its maintaining its principles and defending its values and that America will defend its interest with every fiber of their being. 

Stating the importance of their meet, Joe Biden said that it was necessary to meet in person with Vladimir Putin in order to avoid any lost in translation about what he communicates to him. Further, that the goal of the meeting is about how both countries can move, going forward, in a no nonsense, practical and straightforward way in dealing with issues and disagreements between them in the interest of both countries as well as the world in general. He also admitted that Vladimir Putin has some serious concerns that America wants to take him down and out; and that the phobia has remained the basis for his policies towards America. 

Russia's Vladimir Putin on the other side was his usual self and remained as unpredictable as ever, his surviving skill, which he has honed in during the several decades he has been in power since 1999. He was literally all over the place and refused to be pinned down on so many issues. But one concrete thing that came out of his mouth, in answer to political suppression in Russia, is that Russia will never allow a Black Lives Matter style anarchical disruption to take root in Russia. He also harped on the January 6th Capitol riot as a no no for Russia and that such a thing can never be allowed to happen in Moscow.  

Putin also said that there is nothing like happiness in the real sense of the word; that it is only the illusion of happiness or as he put it, the specter of happiness, that actually exists.  He was overall dodgy, but having survived four American presidents, he will also survive Joe Biden and as a ruthless dictator will always do what dictators do in order to cling unto power. The down side of it is that when he eventually vacates or surrenders power, either willingly or unwillingly  by force of nature through inevitable death of all mortals, he would have weakened Russia so much that there will be a power vacuum which could result to very bad consequences for Russia, including a power struggle that might further balkanize Russia. 

Anyway, Joe Biden said that he did what he came to do and spelt out what he told Putin as follows:-

1. That it is in both our countries mutual interest that a cordial relationship is maintained so that we can explore what we can accomplish together in the interest of our two countries and the greater world at large.

2. That United States of America will respond in kind if Russia ever threatened its values and interests including that of America's allies and he refreshed Putin on what those are.

3. That America wants Russia that is both stable and predictable as well as in its policies.

4. That Putin should clearly understand why Joe Biden says what he says and does what he does.

5. That Putin needs to improve human rights in Russia, encourage freedom of press and of course allow Radio Free Europe to restart its operations in Russia.

6. That there is a need for strategic stability between both countries and mechanism put in place for monitoring it.

7. That there is a need for arms control measures to be put in place in order to avoid unintended conflicts, including any accidental war and a nuclear first strike.

8. That the cyber attacks on America from Russia soil must stop as no responsible country should allow its soil to be used as a base of operation by cyber criminals. 

9. That there is a need to open humanitarian corridors in Syria so that food aid can reach starving refugees.

10. That America needs Russia's help in ensuring that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons. 

11. That the Arctic region must remain free and not weaponized or laid exclusive claim to.

12. That it is in the interest of both countries that terrorism does not resurge in Afghanistan following American withdrawal of troops and that Russia must do everything possible to support a hitch free withdrawal of American troops.

13. That Ukraine's sovereignty is non negotiable and that Russia should do something about the situation in Belarus too. 

14. That democratic sovereignty is always preferred than any other form of power holding including dictatorship masquerading as democracy.

15, That it is imperative that both countries lay down basic rules of the road which both can abide with going forward and that Putin has a duty to burnish Russia's dwindling image as a world leader by acting like a world leader in the true sense of it. 

ICHEOKU says now that the Joe Biden's sermon on the mount for Vladimir Putin has been read out, the only thing left is to see whether Vladimir Putin heard it and will heed it by halting his old ways and mend his ways going forward. But like Joe Biden's already sowed seed of doubt that he cannot trust what "anybody" says referring to Putin, ICHEOKU will suggest that the better approach will be to adopt President Ronald Reagan's "trust but first verify" mantra and hopefully Vladimir Putin is tired of the face offs and does not want to rekindle the Cold War. 

However, it is the military industrial complex that will, as always, have the final say about whether there will be a detente in the America and Russia sore relationship. But it is obvious that they will not agree to kill their golden goose which lays their golden eggs, because with Russia brought out of the cold, there will no longer be a bogey man to protect the world from, resulting in billions of dollars in arms, weapons and frequent America's led wars. ICHEOKU says the prediction is that nothing will change and the status quo shall remain the same because it is intentionally schemed that way. All the Geneva pretend camaraderie will soon evaporate and back to the bickering both countries shall soon return. It is sad. 

GENEVA WELCOMES BIDEN AND PUTIN.

THE BIDEN/PUTIN MEET IS HERE: NOW LETS HEAR WHAT JOE TOLD VLAD.

ICHEOKU says is dedicating this day, the 16th of June 2021, to the meeting in Geneva Switzerland between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Like Putin, the world anxiously awaits what Joe Biden wants Putin to know; and hopefully Joe Biden will be able to spit out the words containing what he wants Putin to know when he finally tells Putin what he wants Putin to know. So, the waiting game is on and we can only wait for press statements to disclose it since Joe Biden has cleverly avoided the great debate with Putin by dodging a joint press conference. 

Joe Biden is so afraid of his abilities faced with Vladimir Putin that he will not even have lunch with Putin. This makes you wonder what exactly he is afraid of after claiming that he "won" the last 2020 election and not publicly giving credit to the Deep State which installed him in the White House. It is sad what happened on November 3rd 2020 and the brazen audacity of all those who colluded to pull it off is such that the whole world is now witnessing the result of that effrontery. An American leader who will not, because he cannot, hold a joint press conference nor have lunch with a Russian leader to jointly inform the world on the outcome of their meeting is definitely a regrettable first of a kind. 

How will anyone know exactly what was said and that each side will not make up their own version of what Joe Biden told Putin that is what he wants Putin to know, when the two leaders will not hold a joint press conference? How do we know what Putin's response to Joe Biden is after hearing what Joe Biden wants him to know and what Putin also told Joe Biden was what Putin wants Joe Biden to know? But hey, we are six months in already, with 42 more months to go, assuming he will be able to stay the course and see it to the finish line. America will survive and definitely rebound from this malaise. Now, lets patiently wait a few more hours to learn what Biden told Putin was what he wants Putin to know. It is well. Good deliberations fellas.

I CANT WAIT TO KNOW WHAT JOE BIDEN WANTS TO TELL ME - PUTIN.

ICHEOKU says the bad guy of Moscow is giddy with expectation to hear what Joe Biden will tell him. But he does not give a damn nor cares a hoot about whatever Joe Biden might say because Vladimir Putin will always do what Vladimir Putin wants to do, regardless of how peeved it makes Joe Biden or any other person. In short, with his level of nukes stockpile, no such leader should be afraid of Washington DC, especially not of an American leader who is old, frail, tired and infirm; and who hardly impresses anybody nor makes any leader anywhere to tremble in fear. The hour of their meet is near and the world awaits.

I WILL TELL PUTIN WHAT I WANT HIM TO KNOW - JOE BIDEN.

ICHEOKU says tomorrow the world will find out exactly what it is that Joe Biden wants Putin to know, admitted Putin does not give a damn nor care about what Joe Biden may inaudibly  stammer out. But his plan to avoid a "debate" with the Russian strong man by snubbing the traditional joint media briefing which usually follows such a meeting, is a clever ploy devised by his minders, to prevent the world from seeing how mentally depreciated Joe Biden really is. 

It is obvious that he could not have correctly articulated America's position on Russia and/or proficiently communicated same to the world and of course Putin would have eaten his lunch in the projection of strength with the two men standing together side by side fielding questions. Perception is everything and the old, frail and tired, heavily demented Joe Biden would have been a complete flop, especially after the tiring G7 and NATO meets in which he literary shuffled and labored through to the finish line. 

But for how long will the cover up last as he is just in the first half of the first quarter of his four years in the office, in which the Deep State installed him. It is apparent that his "I will tell Putin what I want him to know" will eventually end up being a mere bluster as there is nothing he will say to Vladimir Putin which has not been said to Vladimir Putin before. It is sad what happened on November 3rd, 2020 that have reduced America's leadership to such a gerontocrat that nobody really cares any more what the White House says or thinks about anything. As for Putin, he will just scoff and sneer at whatever syllables that Joe Biden's lips manages to spit out, except if there is an accompanying written text which he will hand over to Putin for clarity. 

ICHEOKU is not excited nor expectant that anything tangible will be told Putin by Joe Biden; and so, the world is advised to not raise their hopes too much with great expectation as things will remain the same, as is; regardless of what Joe Biden tells Vladimir Putin and whether or not he knows or understands the same. The relationship between Washington DC and Moscow is military industrial complex dictated and as long as their lust for money persists, the relationship can never improve as Russia will always be held out as the bogey man that the rest of the world must be protected from and with it more money voted for defense spending and the periodic wars which is the golden goose that lays their golden eggs for their sumptuous omelet.

HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM POLITICS - BILL MAHER

ICHEOKU says finally someone in their lane of travel, who they can relate to and hopefully understand his language more clearly has finally spoken. He said what millions of reasonable, rational and sensible people have been thinking all these years, that the fact that some people can pretend to be something which they are not by role interpreting, does not make them the best there is in everything, including politics. 

Although late President Ronald Reagan, late former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, former Governor of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Donald John Trump, just to name a few, came from that make believe world; they all did not turn out so great and therefore it should not be a paradigm for automatic qualification for some more Hollywood alumni to go into politics. 

But it was because of these already ran Hollywood personalities, that many more people from that fantasy world are now considering making a foray into politics, including the man turned woman Caitlyn Jenner who is running for California governorship. In Texas, another Hollywood fellow Matthew McConaughey is thinking about throwing his hat in the ring to battle Governor Greg Abbott as well. Then all, the WWE wrestler turned actor, The Rock, whose real name is Dwayne Johnson who is considering a run for the White House in 2024. 

All of them share a common credential, they succeeded in Hollywood and now believes or rather deludes themselves that what worked in Hollywood will also work in politics and that they will be the best thing to happen to American politics. But comedian Bill Maher who described Hollywood as a recurring nightmare in American politics which the country cannot seem to shake off, have advised this wanna be Hollywood American politicians, to please stay in their lane and avoid dabbling into politics because they are not well qualified nor suited for what it takes to be a politicians as they can not transfer their role interpreting abilities effectively into governance. 

ICHEOKU says but will they listen as their ego is top heavy, admitted none of the three mentioned fellas stand a chance in hell anyway of winning the elective positions which they  covet. But American politics have since been reduced to basic minimum with an infirm and mentally degraded Joe Biden installed in the White House, the same way a green horn neophyte Barack Obama was put there before. It leaves many wondering, if the two can make it to the White House, why can't these other people equally fantasize. But no matter their dream, one thing ICHEOKU can bet on is that a transgender Caitlyn Jenner can never be elected governor of California. It is a bankable assurance.

NETANYAHU OUSTED: THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE HIM

ICHEOKU says he was one of a kind, simply the best Prime Minister which the Jewish State of Israel ever had, particularly within the last two decades. But like the common aphorism goes, people never know the value of what they have until it is gone; and so will the Jewish people of Israel live to regret the conspiracy that removed their world famous beloved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which included their arch enemy, the Palestinians. 

Benjamin Netanyahu was a remarkable Prime Minister and his love for Israel is legendary, starting from his days a fighting Israeli soldier. Although he was brash and forceful, but he had to be that way for State of Israel. He rubbed some people on their wrong side but his persona of always in your face was a protective shield for the State of Israel. Palestine and other Arabs detest him but it was because he refused to compromise with the security of Israel. Above all, his greatest asset is his unconditional love for the Jewish State of Israel and he was unapologetic about it. If there are people whose patriotism could be rated top notch A+, Bibi Netanyahu sure fits the tab.

If ICHEOKU had the ability, would have made him a Prime Minister for life, admitted sit tight leadership is frowned at by ICHEOKU but would have singly made that exception. He is exactly the leadership which the Jewish people of Israel needs if they are to continue to survive and thrive and remain competitive in the defense of their Jewish State. Their never ending battle for survival, amidst the heightened Arab bad intentions towards them, as spearheaded by Hamas terrorist organization, makes his leadership indispensable. Hopefully the new fella will have the guts to step into the shoes of Bibi and continue the hard nose disposition against all enemies of Israel, Arabs and those mullahs in Tehran. He must not his feet off the pedal as Israel's security is non negotiable, not even with the White House.

Bibi was a great Prime Minister who meant well for his Jewish people and loves them dearly. He will be greatly missed. He was such a phenomenal Prime Minister that every world leader listened and paid attention whenever he spoke; and most of them always desired to be on his good book, the right side of history. He was a leader par excellence and certain of another encore as a Prime Minister as his date with history is not yet completely written or entirely finished. This is of course dependent on his not being convicted in the ongoing corruption trial against him and sent away to prison. Paraphrasing Arnold Schwarzenegger, ICHEOKU says that Benjamin Netanyahu will be back as Israel's Prime Minister before too long, sort of a come back kid. 

Bibi was a good man and it mattered that he did it all and gave it his all for his people, the Jewish people of Israel. He did his best to keep Israel safe and prosperous and internationally more assertive and boy, he was dealing with the mullahs of Tehran in the language they understand and it was beginning to yield multiple fruits. Why the conspiracy that gathered against him was allowed to succeed is rather baffling and the fact that even coopted Palestinians should have being a red flag to the Jewish people that the new government will not stay the course in doing whatever it takes to secure and protect Israel. 

But why people sometimes shoot themselves on the foot is another unsolvable puzzle and it was for the same reason that some Jewish Americans voted against President Donald John Trump during the last election despite all he did for Israel. Jesus Christ was also not spared either by the same people who have now evicted Bibi Netanyahu from the Israeli Prime Minister's office. But we shall see whether the security condone wrapped around Israel which has made the previous constant bomb explosions in Israel a thing of the past and which has led to four wars defeat of Hamas terrorist organization will continue to hold. Hopefully the unknown quantum Naftali Bennett who spearheaded the conspiracy that removed Bibi will have enough gravitas to win favors in Washington DC and continue to bring home the bacon for Israel. It is well. Congratulations to him and so long Bibi.

THE NEW GUY: ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER NAFTALI BENNET.

ICHEOKU says he does not excite ICHEOKU and does not in fact look the part, but the Knesset have spoken and he is who Israel has settled for as their new Prime Minister to replace Bib Netanyahu, admitted with the narrowest majority ever of 60 - 59 votes in favor. 

The clock has started ticking on his term and we shall see for how long the government which came about as a result of his led conspiracy will survive. Anyway, ICHEOKU says congratulations to Mr Bennet Naftali, the new Israeli Prime Minister. God's speed.

UFC 263: ADESANYA DEFEATS VETTORI ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.

ICHEOKU says congratulations to Israel Adesanya for once again beating Marvin Vettori in UFC 263 to confirm his superiority over the Italian. Since it is once beaten twice shy, Vettori must be four times shy right now. Anyway, congratulations to both men as they put up a good fight and went through all the rounds, ending once again in Judges decision of 50 - 45 for Adesanya. UFC 263 did not disappoint.