DELE GIWA, 23 YEARS LATER STILL NO ARREST?

Nigeria we hail thee! Is there really any hope for the future for a country which is still investigating the murder of Dele Giwa, 23 years after his gruesome parcel-bomb killing?

It was October 19, 1986 in Ikeja, Lagos, while taking his breakfast that a parcel bomb, believed to have been sent by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida dispatched him to eternity! Now October 19, 2009; 23 odd years later, his killers have not been found nor any conclusive investigation carried out to unravel his killers and bring them to justice. Dele Giwa was the former founding Editor-in-Chief of NewsWatch magazine!

Regrettably, his colleagues at NewsWatch, the early team of Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohamed sold out on him; and have since moved on; consigning the memory of this their former colleague to the heap of ancient history. Icheoku asks, where is the courage that journalists are known for, and which they are supposed to display at times like this? What happened to the cause for which their former colleague gave up his life, pursuing? Was the alleged Gloria Okon's story that brought IBB's hit-men to town, not meant as a scoop for the then trail-blazing NewsWatch Magazine for which they all stood to benefit from? But good men are often interred with their bones and so was Dele Giwa's, who is now but a blimp in the radar of Nigerians killed, just another Nigerian that once lived. Icheoku says, NewsWatch did not do right by and for Dele Giwa; and because of this, they should be very ashamed of themselves as a bunch of castrated pigs, who joined forces with the killers of Dele Giwa to subvert investigation into his murder!

Nigerian Union of Journalists allowed their colleague's death to go unsung; their colleague was killed and they just turned tails? The judiciary or whatever resembles or represents it in Nigeria today, what are they doing to force proceedings in this gruesome death of a journalist who was just doing his work, trying to unravel the biggest drug-running by a Nigerian army general who was then sitting at Dodan Barracks as a ruling despotic military junta? A self styled evil genius, who has not taken responsibility for this murder, by parcel bomb of Dele Giwa, 23 years after? To Nigeria's Attorney General Micheal Kassie Aodonkaa, Icheoku says, Nigerians have since lost hope in your efficiency and ability to discharge the duties of your office; we have earlier called for your resignation or firing from the job which you have taken down to its lowest ebb ever. Since your inception as the AG, nothing notable or tangible could be attributed to your years in office; not even the death of Bola Ige have you investigated? It is a known fact that you are neck-deep in the corrupt power-play that is Nigerian politics, and would shield the party responsible for Dele Giwa's death at any cost necessary. Therefore there is no need for us to implore you to do something about Dele Giwa's death and investigation since we already know you will not? To the greater Nigerian civil society, another toothless bulldogs, victims of the oppressors of Nigeria state, it would appear that Dele Giwa's death has come to an inconclusive shameful end; as investigation thereto have stalled and deliberately so, just to protect the bloody self-styled prince of Minna!

Icheoku says, shame on these collaborators of Nigeria state, whose hands are dripping with the blood of so many innocent victims of the Nigeria state, including that of Dele Giwa. It shall not be well with you; as every innocent blood shed, like the biblical Cain's brother Abel's, cries to the Lord for redress; and so is Nigeria in turmoil, being punished for the shed blood of all innocent Nigerians. To the octogenarian, aged mother of Dele Giwa, Elekhia Giwa and family, Icheoku says take heart; the Almighty Lord is the rewarder who shall reward each according to his deeds. If IBB is not, cannot and would not be held accountable in Nigeria because he is an untouchable monster, someday he shall and possibly in hellfire! Our dear Dele Giwa, as we remember you today October 19, 2009, on the occasion of your 23 years memorial/remembrance anniversary, we say may your soul remain restless until the bloody murderer is held accountable! Adieu Dele Giwa!

MALDIVES, GOVERNING FROM DOWN UNDER WATER?

A government that will go under water to conduct the affairs of governance just to prove a point, should and must be taken seriously; as what they are crying for touches their very existential soul. Icheoku says, President Mohammed Nasheed of Maldives and his cabinet were exceptionally proactive in graphically and symbolically drawing the attention of the world to their plight, - the possibility that they may soon someday be submerged under water due to effects of global warming phenomenon?

Adorned in scuba diving gears and using hand signals, the government of Maldives held their first underwater executive meeting seating at a conference table on the sea floor, to highlight the threat of global warming to the their country, the lowest-lying nation on earth. The venue for this aquatic government meeting was in a lagoon, off the island of Girifushi, usually reserved for military training; where they were submerged under about 20 feet of water! Icheoku says what an incredible feat to pull off and a logistical nightmare overcame, which took more than just planning to accomplish.

If the objective of this meeting was to draw attention to their fears that rising sea levels caused by the melting of polar ice caps could swamp their Indian Ocean archipelago within a century, Icheoku says, it definitely achieved its objective as the whole world tuned in, watched and listened to the one of a kind first meeting under water surrounded by coral reefs.

The Maldives is a front-line state in the battle against the effects of global warming; which could result in many ocean surges. With some of the islands on the archipelago barely 7 feet above water, Icheoku says, their fears is probably well founded as it will only take a fair surge of tsunami-like water current to wash the island off?In the president's words, "we have to get the message across by being more imaginative, more creative and so this is what we are doing!" Icheoku says, it was as creative as it was well imagined, Mr. President!

As bubbles floated up from their face masks, the president, vice president, Cabinet secretary and 11 ministers signed a document calling on all countries to cut their carbon dioxide emissions. Icheoku says, this is major in view of the upcoming United Nations climate change conference in December 2009 in Copenhagen Denmark. Particpating countries will negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol with aims to cutting the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, that scientists blame for causing global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere?

Pursuant to further securing the future survival of his islands nation, President Nasheed announced plans for a fund to buy a new homeland for his people should the 1,192 low-lying coral islands ever submerge. He also promised to make the Maldives, with a population of 350,000, the world's first carbon-neutral nation within a decade! Icheoku says, taking governance under water is a remarkable feat and hopefully the message has been received by the parties whose actions affect climatic changes! Kudos to President Nasheed of Maldives and his cabinet.

IT IS DEJA VU IN LOUISIANA, NO MIXED MARRIAGES?

Rewind to pre-1967 anti-miscegenation South, when it was 'treasonable felony', punishable by death by public lynching and hanging on a tree branch for some macabre display, for any "nigger" seen messing around with any white girl? That South, with such a dark mindset, still exists today? Albeit without the vagrant exhibitionism of lynched, life-drained bodies dangling from tree branches. That South under advisement appears to remain true in today's 2009 Louisiana!

Anyone in doubt about the continuous existence of that kind of south or generally, racism in America, never visited the deep southern part of America? Better still, that person should continue reading this story; of a Justice of the Peace who would not wed a couple because they are of mixed race? America's deep south, the bastion of racism, which plunged the country into a civil war that claimed the lives of more than 600, 000 Americans because they wanted to retain slavery? Who says that racism is dead in America; no, not really and not even with President Barack Obama election as president?

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way!" With those words, a Tangipahoa Parish's 8th Ward Louisiana justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell pictured below right in cap and wearing a t-shirt with "got love" written on it; refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple Beth Humphrey, 30, and Terence McKay, 32, pictured here below left, both of Hammond Louisiana. In his attempted insane of an explanation, JP Bardwell said, 'it is my experience that most interracial marriages do not last long; which forces Icheoku to retort, is it mono-racial marriages that lasts long? This is simply a holier-than-thou attitude which has been proved wrong severally in the past. It is the same warped theory which preaches against gay couple raising children, but yet do not find anything wrong with a woman marrying severally and sometimes up to five times, forcing her children to tag along into several step-fathers' homes in the process; and same goes with some men. Further, Mr. Bardwell claimed his refusal to marry the couple was out of concern for their children's place in America?

Continuing, Mr. Bardwell said that he came to the conclusion that 'most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does the white society!' Icheoku yields to this point, since such children are usually accused of either not being black enough or too tanned for comfort?' Recall that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had racially referenced the Obamas as "tanned"?

This is the truth about America and anyone pretending otherwise is being very economical with the truth. Admitted that President Barack Obama is a living example of a successful bi-racial child, and an ambassador of racially mixed marriages; but that alone does not completely wipe out the attached 'stigma' as neither race accepts the 'product-child' as a bona-fide member of their group. Actress Hale Berry has done well for herself too, but how many Hallie Berrys are there in the American society? Admitted that there are mixed marriages and mixed couples practically everywhere, but society still stares down at them as an aberration. Like Rush Limbaugh, JP Keith Bardwell has now also braved a thorny issue, although politically incorrect, but is the real situation in today's America where the color of the skin still matters a lot and makes most, if not all the difference.

The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson was so frustrated with what was going on with race relations in America that he sarcastically tried to find motivation in it with his song "black or white"? The singer had sang "it does not matter if you are black or white;" but Icheoku says, sure it does really matter and greatly too! Now the Justice of Peace in Tangapahoa parish Louisiana, Keith Bardwell, right, has once again proved according to his fellow travelers in days of yore, that "slavery had its merits?"

Continuing, Mr Bardwell said, "there is a problem with both groups (black and white) accepting a child from such a marriage; I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it." In other words, Mr. Bardwell refused to be an instrument used in bringing children to be touted, discriminated against and rejected by a society of color, which is still heavily prejudiced, admitted it is now mainly subterranean. Icheoku says, anyone claiming ignorance of the fact of racism or pretending that "it is so unbelievable" or that "it's not something you expect in this day and age;" is simply speaking with a forked tongue and in denial of the obvious truth prevalent in our society till date.

It is also rather regrettable that this 'no-mixed marriage' decision is happening in America's 2009; forty-two years since the Supreme Court ruling in the 1967 case of Loving vs Virginia, which held "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry?" In the courts own ruling, it said, "Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the state." Icheoku says, it is and will not be the first time people have circumvented a valid subsisting ruling of the Supreme Court in one way or another; as Board of Education vs. Brown has been subverted by private and public schools systems - one for the affluent white majority and the other for blacks and minorities living in the hood?

Mr. Bardwell, who has been a Justice of the Peace for 34 years, concluded "I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it." Sounds logical, it depends on who is judging the judge! "I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves. I feel the children will later suffer." Icheoku queries, could this JP's expressed concerns be genuine, in an American society which is still color phobic? May be, but we find it contradictory, the assertion of Mr. Bardwell that he 'treats everyone as equal.' If this is the case, why not simply marry the "equal" black and white couple or was he saying they were unequally yoked in love? It will be recalled that Tangipahoa Parish is as white and monolithic in racial distribution as you can get with over 70 percent white and 30 percent black and other minorities. But does these facts give Mr Bardwell the right to dictate who one marries? Icheoku says, we don't think so; but he correctly argued his position that he merely declined a service but never barred the couple from marrying!

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, A PRE-EMINENT BANK-DEBTOR?

It is not surprising that Alhaji Abubakar Atiku was among the leeches of Nigeria, who are seating on billions of Naira, unpaid Nigerian banks assets. According to a Central Bank of Nigeria's released report, the former vice-president and now, turned political charlatan, Atiku Abubakar is among those Nigerians who took out various bank loans which they did not intend or planned to pay back? Bank-debtor, Atiku Abubakar owes the sum of 111 million Naira ($730,000 or £450,000) to the banks; and until he pays back this outstanding debt with its accrued interest in full, to the creditor banks, Atiku remains a debtor extra-ordinaire! For trying to hold up a Nigerian bank and refusing to pay back his loan obligation, Icheoku hereby declares Atiku Abubakar a 'debit-daddy emeritus' of Nigerian banks!

It is not surprising at all that Atiku made the bank-debtor list; what is indeed surprising is the name missing on the final published list of politicians and businessmen, behaving badly and using Nigeria's money to feed their gluttonous greed. They have the access and the connection and the power, and they corruptly took advantage of it; enriched themselves by pressuring bank executives into making-out loans they did not intend or plan to pay back; and without properly securing it with adequate collateral. The ways and means of Nigerian men of power; which, were it a civilized, functioning society would have found them wanting, rounded up and put on trial for corruption and abuse of office?

Top on the list of missing person on the bank-debtor list is former Atiku's boss, Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo! He had previously admitted obtaining various bank loans with which he turned around his hitherto moribund 'Obasanjo's Farms'; from a near-bankrupt company with net worth of just about 20,000 Naira in 1999 into the multi billion Naira conglomerate it is today? Icheoku will like to know whether Olusegun Obasanjo has amortised the various debts he owes to some banks; and if yes, how he sourced the money within such a short period of leaving office? Except of course they were proceeds of corruption, which his government, reputedly took to a dizzying heights, becoming 'corruption-incarnate' in the process. So, the news would have been that Olusegun Obasanjo owes banks 100 billion Naira and not that Atiku Abubakar is owing a "misery" 111 million Naira?

Atiku Abubakar was a very corrupt vice president serving alongside an also, very corrupt then president Olusegun Obasanjo. When Gbenga Obasanjo tried to warn Nigerians that Atiku was pawning off Nigerian assets to himself for a pittance, nobody believed he was telling the truth due to the problem existing between his father, the then president Olusegun Obasanjo and his then vice president Abubakar Atiku. Icheoku is not particularly shocked at the amount being owed and outstanding, and by the same man who wanted to rule Nigeria at any and all cost possible? Thanks to the dogged stubbornness and determination of Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo who insisted that 'the Atiku he know cannot, must not and should not be allowed to rule Nigeria because he is very corrupt and might appropriate the entire nation to himself, given the opportunity?' Icheoku usually do not agree with Olusegun Obasanjo, but in this case, says, may be the medicine man of Otta was right in stopping Atiku at the door to Aso Rock!

Therefore Icheoku demands that CBN and EFCC come clean on this man, Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo; and let Nigerians know what kind of person he really is that would visit such magnitude of mayhem on the people of Nigeria? Whether he is also a bank debtor or so corruptly enriched himself that he had no need of any bank loans would have made a better headlines? Icheoku says, if according to reports, this marks the end of the forensic audit of Nigeria's 24 banks and financial institutions; then that would imply that Olusegun Obasanjo is debt-free? It must then be a magic or the end has not been conclusively and thoroughly reached; except President Umaru Yar'Adua is protecting his benefactor! The good news however and which will keep hope alive that possibly Olusegun basanjo will be held accoutable is that the debts to WemaBank, have not been revealed. May be then and only then will Icheoku comment again on this ugly episode of the mess called 'Nigeria financial scandal of the century.'

It is our position that if ever Olusegun Obasanjo comes out of this Nigerian banks scandalous saga, clean like a wind-driven snow, then something must definitely be wrong somewhere; and we shall stand bemused and so will even his most lenient critic. Given that behind every stupendous wealth, there is always a crime; Icheoku says, these billionaires feeding fat on bank money should not be allowed to continue to enjoy the proceeds of their "bank-fraud!" They should pony it up or be locked up; and their assets confiscated and auctioned off, to pay for whatever balance they may still owe with accrued interest, where they fail to pay up as demanded. As a last resort, they should be made to face arrest and trial for their activities? This is the proper thing to do and now is the time to do it; with the fearless prince of Kano still at the helm at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Icheoku appreciates your bravery, taking on these greedy vultures of Nigeria who have been feasting and leeching-off a drowsy sleepy Nigeria and for too long! Kudos to SLS!

FYI:- President Umaru Yar'Adua should consider firing his Culture Minister, Adetokunbo Kayode, for bringing odium to his government; being one of these defaulting debtors implicated; and who refused to meet up and pay back their outstanding loan obligations to these banks.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, AXED!

Hunkered down behind 'the EIB golden microphone with half his brain tied to his back,' KKK poster-man and spokesman extra-ordinaire, Rush Limbaugh, operates as the most divisive and incendiary figure in today's America! He is an epitome of pre-civil rights America Jim Crow and as racists as you can get!

So it was no surprise when NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell said, 'he would not tolerate "divisive" comments from an NFL owner," like the one Rush Limbaugh made about Donovan McNabb in 2003? Denigrating the abilities of McNabb as 'equal opportunity', Rush said, "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well." Icheoku says, possibly Commissioner Goodell has not been listening to the talk-show host-from-hell, otherwise he would have known that Rush Limbaugh is the reservoir of hate speech in America; and has said far more worst things, including against President Barack Obama? With Rush Limbaugh, slavery would have continued till date, since according to his warped deranged thinking, "slavery had its merits?" Icheoku says, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs are the unrepentant and unapologetic faces of racism in today's America; and they sure look like over-riped pumpkins or better still, over-fed pigs for the slaughter!

I plead guilty to listening to Rush Limbaugh over the years now; admitted he has a mastery of the language and have passion for what he does best; but his hatred or aversion for minorities especially blacks is rather too confrontational. Sometimes, one wonders if Rush Limbaugh forgot that before Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the new world that Indians were inhabiting this land; and that the crew and passengers of Mayflower did not obtain any visas or entry permits from the native Indians before their landing. But now he would like to exclude everybody not Anglo-Saxon from the United States of America; and as far as he is concerned, any none European and/or not so paled-skinned person could be shipped back to Africa and wherever nook and crannies of the world that produced them? That is Rush for you! This is a man who would not have none of the good efforts at racially integrating America fully and completely that he once praised slavery as having some merits? And if there is one thing sports was meant to do, it is to help smoothen relations amongst the divergent races involved therein through their constant interactions; but here comes 'Mr. Divisiveness' desiring to buy an NFL team? Icheoku asks, was he planning to fire every person of color involved with the St. Louis Rams or deal with them through proxies of less hating white surrogates?

However Icheoku would have loved to see how this hateful-relationship worked out; with Rush Limbaugh forking out his money to pay the same 'niggers' he constantly derided as thugs, gangsters and druggies? Could he have possibly accepted a bear-hug from any of the 'nigger-player' following a win or worst case scenario, assuming the Rams were to miraculously pull off a championship win and on a victory visit to the White House, would Rush have excused himself from meeting his number one foe, the person he hates most in America, President Barack Obama?

But we may now never know how these different scenarios would have played out; may be the NFL Commissioner did Rush Limbaugh a great deal of favor by forcing his axing now, from the potential buyers of the Rams! Rush, Icheoku says, how about that for science; may be you can celebrate this your firing as a victory, that the world never got the opportunity to see the true racism in you! But if Icheoku had the call, we would have allowed him to buy into the Rams so that he can really feel it - the blackness of American sports! As far as Icheoku is concerned, the worst thing you can do to a hater is to force him or her to share very close quarters or intimate surrounding with his despised. That way you force him to vomit and swallow back his puke; you force him to internally combust and this would have been the best treatment to mete out to Rush Limbaugh.

And so it was that conservative radio talk-show host, Rush Limbaugh was dropped from the group seeking to buy St. Louis Rams. In the words of the chairman of the group leading the effort, St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts, "Limbaugh's participation had complicated the effort; so the group will move forward without him." Icheoku cries holly-macro as Rush Limbaugh has been spared a ton of bricks which his ownership would have landed upon him, by this pronouncement. He would have been allowed into the tigers cage for a feast of red meat! To Rush Limbaugh, Icheoku says, this is not about effort to destroy conservatism or to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative. No it is a rejection of racism, divisiveness, mocking of the sick and infirm, segregation and crass hatred of people of color; as Rush Limbaugh has displayed unabashedly and for so many years now! One wonders how FCC has permitted the venom oozing out of his mouth, over the airwaves and for this long; and continuing? Rush Limbaugh is, simply put, polluting the airwaves and needs to be bottled up and shut off! America is moving forward but the likes of Rush Limbaugh are tugging it back; and this ought and must stop! Yes, Rush Limbaugh's rejection is about the future of the United States of America and the kind of country we're going to have; a country where everyone is treated with respect as full human-beings without regards to skin pigmentation!

Rush Limbaugh had thought he could talk himself out of the tight corner, where his past collided with his present desires to box him in, but not this time! Overwhelming evidence said 'NO'! Trying to pull a hare out of his hat, he said, "I'm not even thinking of caving, I am not a caver. Pioneers take the arrows. We are pioneers. It's a sad thing that our country, over 200 years old now, needs pioneers all over again, but we do."

Rush, Icheoku says you overestimated yourself and underestimated the tenacity and resolve of your opponents, for which you have taken the boot in the rear now! One of the biggest mistakes people with such bloated sense of self make, is being too cocky-sure they are just that good and too good to fail. Rush made that mistake by not taking a fall, apologising for his past intrasigencies as a harmless show-business induced diatribes, which were just for ratings sake; and not a true reflection of himself? He would have sold a dummy that even his assistant Snugly is a black-man, which shows that he does not hate black people that much; but no, instead he tried to justify what is unjustifiable; and in some cases even tried to deny he ever said what are on record as his uncontroverted statements. In the words of one leading face of black-activism in America, Al Sharpton, "it is a moral victory for all Americans — especially the players that have been unfairly castigated by Rush Limbaugh. This decision will also uphold the unifying standards of major sports."

It is gratifying that Rush Limbaugh has once again failed, having failed several times in the past and even very recently. He cost Republicans their mid-term elections in 2002; again in 2004 and the final whammy in 2008, when they lost all three governments outposts of the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives which they hitherto held. He also pushed the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney and he failed woefully; he adopted the air-head of Alaska Sarah Palin and she cost John McCain the presidency. So in a way, America have understood the buffoonery of this racist pig and no longer take him seriously, being the hateful clown he is. Now he has become one heck of an ignominious loser! One thing bad with losers is that nobody wants to be associated with them; and very soon Rush Limbaugh's chickens will come home to roost; but may be then it would be too late for him to change course! Icheoku says, what an irony that Rush Limbaugh who just recently called for the segregation of school buses, now wants to buy a desegregated National Football League's Saint Louis Rams? Surely, this is a man at war with himself and who challenges his destiny by pushing the envelope too far!

FYI:- Icheoku thinks Rush Limbaugh looks better in his former exploding 'Michelin-tire man' image. Whoever advised him on this new trim-look does not know what Rush stands for, as his former 'Snowball-piggish' look suits him better for his Klan image. So Rush, go back to chowing down more steaks, chips and potatoes; downing them with beers of all sorts. For Rush Limbaugh, gluttony is better!

MARIA SHRIVER-SCHWARZENEGGER, BREAKING THE LAW?

Her husband is the governor of California, so? She is a Kennedy, and? She broke the law and that is the gist of this moment. A law brought into being, courtesy of her husband's 'governator' signature! Should she be held accountable, you bet; at least as a poster-lady for driving while talking on the cellphone without hands-free set! Yep, that is the malady her husband's signed law was meant to checkmate and look who is not in compliance, the first lady of California, Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger.

Courtesy of the trail-brazing celebrity-watchdog, TMZ, Maria SS was caught with her pants down, holding and probably talking on her cell phone with one hand, while pushing a 3-ton beast, a Cadillac Escalade SUV, with her other spare hand? It is just not right, it does not show a good example; admitted no CHP or other police officer was there to pull her over and ticket her, she should do the right thing, pony up a fine? Icheoku says, in the spirit of the letters of the law signed by her husband, Arnold; and as a role-model for her many fans and admirers, as well as her 'subjects', the people of California and their visitors, who are supposed to obey the law under advisement, Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger should send in her check for a calculated penalty for driving without a hands free-set, to the appropriate agency.

It is the right thing to do and her not being caught, should not provide her an excuse for escaping the penalty. At least TMZ caught her and even on tape. She is California's first lady and a Kennedy, that alone makes her a role model to so many Californians and therefore she should show leadership by example and pay a calculated fine. Icheoku says, Arnold's threatened 'swift action of going to ask his wife not to hold the phone while driving' is not what the law said. The law said do not drive and talk without a hands-free set; and that is exactly what Maria SS just did, so she should be held accountable for breaking the law, period!

According to the law, effective July 2008, California drivers shall use a hands-free device when talking on cell phones when driving. Could it be any more elaborate than this, Icheoku does not think so; and the over 150,000 citations already issued by the CHP and others from local police; the offenders fines of $20, $50 and other additional fees already in the kitty should not be in vain or sacrificed on account of Maria SS. It is also instructive that her Brentwood Los Angeles place of infraction even ups the fines to $93 for the first ticket and $201 for the next one. If as alleged, this is her third time of breaking this law, then she should be owing about $495 to her husband's nearly broke State of California? So as a good citizen and role model, as well as the First lady of California, Maria SS should send her check for $495 or as may be otherwise calculated to the appropriate state agency in fees and charges for her infractions!

Icheoku says, if Maria and Arnold's 16 year old daughter could be threatened that she would hop on buses, were she to ever violate the law; may be Maria SS will equally be a good sight for tourists, perched on one corner of a city transit bus while running her errands? Call it one heck of making a statement, if you like? Further, since Maria Shriver-Schwarzenegger is now a 'repeat-offender,' and in view of California's three strikes law, this being the third time she was caught breaking the same law, may be the privileges of her yapping on the cell phone should be suspended, albeit temporarily? Three strikes and you are out, so MARIA SHOULD BE OUT! Alternatively, she should drop the phone or get a driver or take the limo!

MABAYOJE, A US BASED NIGERIAN HELD ON GUN-RUNNING CHARGES?

He kills wild-life for fun; morbid fun, that is; and he is a medical doctor who is supposed to save lives? Provided of course, those lives does not belong to the crocodiles of the Zambezi River or their hippopotamus neighbors; or the elephants and wildebeests of Serengeti national park; or the gazelles, wild-boars and zebras of the African wild life? This animal poacher, Dr. John Olakunle Mabayoje, hates animals so much that he gleefully kills them just to satisfy his lust for blood? A Dracula-vampire fetish of some sort for animal blood, may be? It is our position that any human-being capable of wantonly wasting such huge wild-life, is capable of anything, including gun-running and weapons smuggling?

It would appear that the luck of this animal poacher ran out when a 40-foot container of "weapons" he allegedly shipped to Nigeria was nabbed by the Customs at a Lagos port? Dr Mabayoje, from Oyo State Nigeria, an alleged United States of America based physician is now telling the world through an on-line media, SaharaReporter that the said container were filled with sprinklers, rubberised boat, sandbags and sundry stuff? Icheoku says, really and has the Nigerian Customs become so 'blind' by incompetence that they cannot differentiate between "sundry materials" and weapons cache? Who could it be told that Nigerian customs no longer knows what a weapon cache is? Simply tell that to the marines as every Nigerian knows that gun running has become such a lucrative business that it is very tempting; otherwise how did the surrendering Niger Delta militants get those arsenal the world witnessed them turn in during the just concluded amnesty gimmickry? Probably just a one-side of the story of an arrested medical doctor, who kills animals for hobby; and now a likely gun runner?

This medical doctor, who is supposed to heal, finds joy at wasting such wonderful majestic wild lives; which would soon become extinct, thanks to his ilks' fascination with animal morbidity? It is our position that any killer of such huge games such as elephants, elks, zebras, wildebeests, crocodiles and hippopotamus might as well be a gun runner for all that we care? How dare this man find such a glee in just killing off harmless and innocent animals who were similarly put on this planet earth as this morbid doctor from Oyo State Nigeria? However, Icheoku.com will reserve further judgment in this case of gun-running until the Nigerian Custom completes its investigation; but suffice it to say, that not even in the remotest part of this earth will a sprinklers and sundry devices be mistaken for weapons or a device used in its manufacture? We hereby call on SaharaReporters to follow through with this investigation with a visit to port of shipment, interviewing the shipping agent to ascertain the real content of this container. They should demand to see the manifest of the container before becoming an apologetic mouthpiece of a medical doctor, an self confessed and admitted animal killer; who is now a suspected gun runner?

A 40-feet container filled with "arms and ammunition" cannot easily be mistaken for any other thing else and we shall keep our eyes focused on this case to its logical conclusion! Objectivity should not be murdered on the alter of finding fault with everything and anything done by a disagreeable person or one one of his agencies. Icheoku says, that many Nigeria-bias e-media are opposed to President Umaru Yar'Auda's government, should not be enough grounds to brand the Nigerian Customs as too naive to know the difference and thus able to distinguish between weapons and sprinklers?

Investigations carried out by our team so far, using all available resources including drscore.com, piple.com, all-doctors.com and vitals.com suggests that this very Dr. John Mabayoje is possibly operating under the radar; as scantily to almost zero information exists on records about him and/or his activities? This animal-killing doctor, in our opinion need to be further investigated to determine what he actually does and where his operational base in the United States of America is?

It is a requirement that all professionals like doctors be registered and their licences renewed periodically, but our efforts at tracing this 'wild-life nemesis' has not succeeded in revealing the man behind the mask. The last available records of this doctor, who loves to watch animals die agonising and painful death, shows that he is a native of Oyo State Nigeria; that he graduated from University of Ife, Faculty of Medical Sciences in 1980. That he subsequently travelled to the United States of America where he enrolled at Brooklyn college of medicine in New York, graduating in 1986.

He was soon-after listed as a family practitioner but shortly thereafter, everything concerning his records trailed off into the cold dark night. In a letter dispatched to certain media outlets, this animal-killer only said that "I am a Nigerian physician practicing in the United States of America. I am an Emergency Room specialist as well as having specialization training in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine. I have never been convicted of a crime in the US, Nigeria or any other country or jurisdiction". However he did not disclose where he is practising his medicine in the United States for verification? Not even a Tell City Indiana 1 Hospital Road 47586, telephone number (812) 547-7011 lead checked out, as our telephone call to the hospital did not turn up any such name on their staff list? We also put a call to the moving company the doctor mentioned as being responsible for freighting the now "contraband" container, Soft Touch Moving & Storage of 1607 S Rogers St Bloomington, Indiana 47403 with telephone number (812) 333-4755; but we are yet to get their confirmation? We are also following up on Safari Club International and Precision Shooting Magazine to confirm his references? We shall keep you posted as soon as there is further developments on these leads.

There is no additional or other telephone number/s or address on file listed under his name? His current activity was listed as not classified or not stated; which begs the question, what does this guy actually do? However, no matter how the current case with the Nigerian authorities is finally resolved, one thing certain is that this Dr. John Olakunle Mabayoje might not after-all be who he said he is, or pretend to be? How can a medical doctor, trained to save lives be so impassioned to gleefully kill all these wild-lives in the name of his morbidly hobby? Icheoku says, it leaves much to be desired.

It is our opinion at Icheoku.com that anybody or person capable of killing such big games as exhibited in these pictures; animals which shall soon become endangered if their activities are not checked, the only thing still around that buttressed the fact that those once existed dinosaurs were real, is capable of anything including gun running and weapons importation! How can this man have such a gory hobby, mowing down and killing for joy, such majestic animals as are found in African wild life? Could the world be witnessing a male-version of former Alaska's governor Sarah Palin, a male Sarah Palin of Nigeria, who would just kill harmless animals for joy; a sadistic joy, that is! Like everyone else, Icheoku will maintain a tab on this story as it develops.

A NIGERIAN KILLER, SENTENCED!

A starry-eyed 'wild-beast' killer who stabbed a budding Nigerian boxer to death in November 9, 2005 was sentenced to 12 years in prison today! The ragamuffin, Michael Chambliss, 51, pictured right was a former Las Vegas city planner and longtime political activist. Icheoku says, judging from his scruffy looks, may be Michael is a candidate for a lunatic asylum and not a prison yard; as he looks like an act on Cuckoo's Nest?

His victim was a 26-year-old Nigerian, Vincent Ekeoba Moses who was working at a 7-Eleven store on Torrey Pines Drive, near Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, United States of America until Micheal Chambliss decided to take his life over a woman? The vicious attack was captured on CCTV (close circuit television) which forced Micheal to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon last June?

Like all male species, the two were 'fighting' over the ownership of a female, Jocelyn Nixon! According to the narrative, Jocelyn Nixon was two-timing both men and was with Moses at the store when Michael trailed her there. He arrogantly gave Ms. Nixon an affectionate bear-hug in front of Moses, infuriated like any male in the circumstance, he had to defend his woman? But it would appear that Moses forgot or ignored his boxing trainer's advise that, "If you have a street fight, just walk away, as it's better to be a coward walking than a brave man dying."

The story continues that it was a male-testosterone jealousy that started the fight. Vincent Ekeobi Moses, pictured here left, who worked at the 7-Eleven store had a romantic relationship with the store's owner, Ms. Jocelyn Nixon, who in turn was herself romantically involved with the killer, Micheal Chambliss? A love tryst gone wrong? Moses had caught his lover red-handed on November 9, 2005 hugging affectionately Micheal Chambliss, and demanded to know from Ms. Nixon whose side she is on; but as always the case with deers caught on the headlights, she fidgeted and lied that they (Micheal and herself) are 'just friends?' Moses then accosted the trespassing he-goat now turned killer, over what was going on, but as cold and calculated killer he is, he would not open his lips to answer 'this African?'

Infuriated, Moses smacked his woman on the head with an open right hand knocking off her hat to the floor, which led to Michael's intervention; but he was shoved out by Moses. Feeling depleted, Michael longed at Moses with a knife to defend his masculinity and stabbed him several times and then nonchalantly washed dying Moses' blood off his hands in a nearby sink? Moses was rushed to the county hospital where he died the next day. Icheoku says, admitted it is quite disrespectful to watch your woman 'being made out with' before your own very eyes; but is any piece of pink-flesh worth dying or killing for? And who knows who Ms. Nixon is with today, now that her double timing antics led to Moses death? Probably she now moans for yet another man, a prospective future victim or may be she is waiting for Michael Chambliss to come out of prison to continue from where she stopped?

Not necessarily a man of straw, killer Micheal Chambliss has been a paid political consultant. He managed Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates' 2004 campaign and is a member of the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board. He is a past member of the Civilian Review Board, which investigates complaints about Las Vegas police conduct. He was a 19-year employee of the city of Las Vegas and worked with former Assemblyman Wendell Williams and current Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas.

He also worked for a quasi-city agency, CETA (Comprehensive Employment Training Act) a program through which the city dispersed federal grants to social service providers that assisted with employment needs in minority communities. The relations he developed through CETA opened the door to his hiring by the city in June 1985 as a city planner. When the Neighborhood Services Department was created in 1996, Chambliss moved over to that department. Chambliss also involved in numerous projects important in his American black community, has been a community monitor of the Metropolitan Police Department's Citizen Review Board, an advisory board that investigates claims of officer misconduct. He was also the treasurer of his church, First Christian Methodist Episcopal, and is executive director of the group Black Elected Officials.

Michael Chambliss, had initially mounted a feeble explanation of self defense? Icheoku says, 'you do not stab a mad that viciously and repeatedly for six times, in self defense as that defense operates only to force the attacker to back off! More-so the silent witness showed that Moses did not attack Chambliss, hence defeating the self defense argument. Admitted that one of his political beneficiary said that, "anyone who knows Chambliss knows he is a decent, honorable man. There must be some extenuating circumstances, it is my understanding he was trying to defend a woman from being abused. He's that kind of guy?" Icheoku says, really; and what was he doing carrying a pocket knife around and at the same time Nixon was visiting her paramour in his place of work? But it would appear that Chambliss political connection got him a slap on the wrist with his initial bail amount, as the judge had set his bail at a meagre $200,000? Icheoku says, may be just another case of a foreigner living in America, whose life is always worthless and under-valued?

It is also instructive to note that Moses who came to the United States from Nigeria around 1995 was working for Ms. Nixon both as lover and as a clerk at her convenience store? What a strange irony that he found a sugar-mommy in Ms. Nixon and gave up his life because of her? His boxing records showed a pro record of 4 wins and 16 losses? Icheoku says, so much for a boxer? His boxing coach, Tapia described his training habit as poor and in his own words said, "Moses was a lazy boxer, but a very nice person."

Moses had nicknamed himself "The Bible" and sparred with everyone from former cruiser-weight champion Vassily Jirov to the man who is widely considered the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Moses during his lifetime, had also met and posed for photographs with former heavyweight boxing champions, both the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir. It would appear that Vincent Ekeoba Moses is from Akwa Ibom or Cross River area of south eastern of Nigeria? In as much as we highly disapprove of the 'thing' that led to his death, we pray that by this sentence his soul will now rest in peace! Adieu Macho Moses!

PRESIDENT'S CUP, TIGER WOODS' BIRDIE BRINGS FINAL VICTORY!

With those well chiseled arms, crouching Tiger Woods provided the 9-foot birdie on the 13th hole, that propelled the American Team USA to victory at the Presidents Cup in San Francisco's Harding Park.

But in his usual ever humble self, Tiger Woods described it as a team's effort, stating, "We won, and that's the name of the game; the fact that we won, that's the No. 1 thing. We came here to win as a team, and we did it." The American team led by Fred Couples, won 19 1/2-14 1/2, over an over-matched International team.

In one observer's remark pertaining to the quality of the American team, "They are just one hell of a team, we have to pretty much go back to the drawing board, because they are a pretty well-oiled team, and it's hard to beat that kind of team." Icheoku says, the way a winning team should be and they were handsomely rewarded with a well deserved and earned victory. International golfers came from countries including Britain, Colombia, Canada, Japan, Argentina, Australia etc.

And to add extra impetus to his game, Tiger Woods 'disemboweled' the South Korean flash-in-the-pan, Y.E. Yang, who had once in the past, rallied round in the last round, to beat Tiger Woods. In Woods words, "He got me there, and I figured I could get him here." Icheoku says, congratulations to the United States of America golf team on their victory at the 2009 President's Cup!

BARACK OBAMA, A NOBEL LAUREATE!

And the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner is, President Barack Hussein Obama! Surprised like many, but our congratulations to President Barack Obama for this remarkable achievement, an evidence of America's return to the heart of the world. Icheoku has always known that America is the most beloved nation on earth, the reason why everyone wants to get to 'God's own country' and by all and any means possible! But the antics of the fringed flag-draping loonies, who fan the embers of "the world hates America's exceptionalism", try often very hard to keep this truism hidden.

However, the symbolism of this award is great as BHO is now certified the authentic leader and spokesman of the world. The world through the Nobel Prize committee said, "YES WE CAN" make him our peace ambassador and the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner he became. With this latest accolade, President Barack Obama now joins the league of Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore and select few other privileged laureates who the world has recognised for their efforts at improving the lot of humanity. President BHO also makes history as one of three other American Presidents Wilson Woodrow, Theodore Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter; as well as a Vice President Al Gore to win the award. Icheoku says, congratulations to President Barack Obama on this one of a kind honor. In fellow laureate, Desmond Tutu's own words, "It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope"

It is about expectations; but some detractors in Afghanistan, represented by the Taliban said, it would have been more appropriate to call it a "Nobel Prize for Violence" given what they have to take every day with American drones and other weapons of war? One congressman from Florida said, 'those right-wing Americans dissing the award are agents of American military industrial complex which is smarting that 'if President Barack Obama is allowed to succeed in making and achieving world peace, it will remove a lot of pie from their table; as less wars will be fought which will spell drought for their weapons sales and killing business? In his assessment, it is just a crazed out crowd who can never be pleased with anything Obama does or did not do, or wins or losses? And if our memory is still right, it was just last week's Friday that the same deranged anti-Obama crowd were chiding him, for now being rejected by the world who refused to award him the Olympics? For them, everything is personal irrespective of whether it involves the American public's interest or city of Chicago; no, none of that is important - it is Obama land, Obama's America!

To those people who deride the award to Barack Obama as being too pre-mature, Icheoku says, remember during the Democratic primaries when some wanna-be presidents also chided him for being too ambitious and admonished him to wait for his turn? That it is not yet his time to run, but BHO defied them and today his defiance paid off big time as our 43rd President. Now his Nobel prize win is "too early"? Icheoku says, those detractors should just suck it and quit being HATERS! A man of destiny, BHO; his ilks are usually unstoppable and cannot be stopped until they rendezvous with their destiny! Like William Shakespeare once wrote, it is in their stars!

A confessional however, we initially called the award too patronizing, until we realized it could be awarded for efforts geared towards the direction of peace! Now we know and since it was awarded for his effort so far and to spur him on, we believe it is well earned and deserved. What an additional feather to such a young cap of our dear Nobel Peace Laureate! But one thing is assured, he now has his global work cut out for him, from trying to rid the world of its nuclear weapons, to forging an enduring, comprehensive Mideast peace, stabilizing Afghanistan and tackling climate change/global warming? Republican Senator John McCain correctly articulated the higher bar now set by the award when he opined, "He now has even more to live up to."

Our research revealed that contrary to popular believe that Nobel prize for peace is only awarded for bagged accomplishment/achievement, it is equally awarded to encourage and goad on a momentum for peace as was the case here with President Barack Obama. A former West German chancellor Willy Brandt became a recipient in the early stages of his policy of peaceful engagement with then communist East Germany. Yasser Arafat and Rabin were also once so encouraged regarding their effort at Mideast peace process? The Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland, articulated it properly when he said, "I hope it will help him, Obama is the right man at the right time, and that's why we want to enhance his efforts." And as if taking a cue from the consternation of the watching world as to his deserving of the award judging his "meagre accomplishment", President Barack Obama, while accepting the award said, "I will accept this award as a call to action; this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity." Icheoku implores you to note the two operative words here, "call" and "strives", which explains the humility of the man of the moment's full understanding of his call to action!

Icheoku says, as scant as President Obama's contribution to peace so far is, his very young administration taken under advisement, for him to be, in the words of the committee, "the person to contribute the most to peace in the last year" shows that the world was sitting on a keg of gunpowder, waiting to explode and within few precious minutes to destroying itself. According to the committee, 'his multilateral diplomacy reduced tension more than the last eight years of unilateral military actions;' therefore, "it was unavoidable to give the prize to the man who has improved the international climate and emphasized negotiations and dialogue.” In one other commendation, the committee said that "Obama has achieved a lot already" which begs the question, was he the present day "messiah" that saved the world from a complete annihilation; again judging the infancy of his administration? Maybe his "doing too much, all at the same time" as he was accused by right wing detractors, has paid off big time? But since 'a prophet is always without honor in his own country,' may be it took the intervention of the Nobel prize committee to tell Americans that they have the greatest president on earth in President Barack Hussein Obama. But would Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and other far-right fringed lunatics change their ways; no, not until they recover their White House from that "nigger"!

But the sterling gist of the award is that the Nobel peace prize committee wanted to strengthen Obama’s hand and encourage him in the direction of peaceful dialogue and negotiations; which shows that President Barack Obama is headed in the right direction. We pray that Almighty God shall help him get to his destination. And on your prize money which you intend to donate to charity, Icheoku advises that you set up a charity of your own and make the donation to it if permissible. May be something akin to and which will complement Bill Gates malaria charity or Bill Clinton's food or Jimmy Carter Habitat of Humanity. Lets have a 'BHO Human Rights and Laws Reforms' charity with focus on Africa and other democracy-suppressing countries of this world. Once again, congratulations Mr. President Nobel Peace Maker!

SILVIO BERLUSCONI, STRIPED NAKED?

Now he is vulnerable and the predators are surely smarting to take a bite out of Italy's richest man and prime minister, poster-boy for men behaving badly, a certified playboy, Silvo Berlusconi!

But can Mr. Fix-It fix the present choke-hold, put on his neck with the lifting of his immunity from prosecution? The Italian Constitutional court in a 9-6 split decision lifted the Teflon of immunity hitherto encapsulating and protecting the office of the Prime Minister from prosecution? The Constitutional Court ruled that an immunity law he introduced last year, shortly after being re-elected, was unacceptable because it contravened the principle that all Italians should be equal before the law. According to the court, such an immunity violates the cardinal principles of Italy's constitution of equality of persons under the law! Icheoku asks, with such exposure of Berlusconi's under-belly, can he survive his traducers?

Berlusconi, a man who became so wealthy and powerful that he thought he was invincible, has be denuded by the courts of Rome? They took away his immunity thereby rendering him "a common Italian" and subject to prosecution for any or all criminal infractions while in office? The allegations and charges are probably numerous but whether they are provable is another subject for some other day's discussion. A man given to unapologetic expression of self, who was once scolded by the Queen Elizabeth of England for being too excited? Who twice referred to President Barack Obama as being "tanned?" Who was stood up German Angela Merkel waiting while he bantered away on his cellphone at a world war commemoration/NATO event and/or meeting in Germany? Berlusconi who once referred to himself as the "the Jesus Christ of politics?" A man who dismissively said, when asked about possible conflict of interest of his many media businesses with his office as prime minister, "If I, taking care of every-one's interests, also take care of my own, you can't talk about a conflict of interest?" Really?

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi allegedly once paid $600,000 dollars in hush money to buy a witness, British Tax-lawyer David Mills' silence? He also was waging an economic war against the mafias with a proposed bridge project from Sicily to the mainland, which will take away so many ferry businesses owned and controlled by the mafioso? Icheoku asks, in the battle for the soul of Italy's business between Berlusconi and the Mafia, who is now winning; as the tentacles of the Mafia could be very far reaching. His wife Veronica recently in May 2009, filed for divorce, alleging a philandering husband incapable of letting go of small girls, young enough to be his grand-daughters? And Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is just 73 years old!

Bella Noemi Letzia pictured left, is one of such girls allegedly caught in Berlusconi's fishing net? The divorce taken a turn for the worst, turning into a messy affair; and a scorned woman is deadlier than a viper snake. So where is Uncle Berlusconi's problem really coming from? Was his cup full and waiting for this ruling by the Constitutional court to put the drive-shaft cranking? We shall soon find out in coming weeks as the prosecutors' office in Rome decide whether to go after Uncle Berlusconi while in office? But who appoints people to this office and could there be a quid-pro-quo, arm-twisting backroom dealings here to frustrate the intention of the ruling? Icheoku has no insider information but the hovering cloud of suspicion is gathering momentum for a stormy day on Italy's politics?

So far, Berlusconi is all out, firing on both cylinders; dismissing his corruption charges as "laughable?" Icheoku asks, but is anyone in Italy's prosecutor's office laughing with this over confident, self-immolating and egotistic Berlusconi, after the court revoked his immunity from prosecution; which will now open two previously suspended cases against him? But in his usual characteristic self, Berlusconi quipped, “The government will forge ahead calmly, tranquilly and with even more grit than before because this will be absolutely indispensable for freedom and democracy in this country. The two trials against me are false, laughable, absurd … I will defend myself in the courtroom and make my accusers look ridiculous and show everyone what stuff they are made of and what stuff I am made of." Italy's 84 year old President Giorgio Napolitano was not spared the venom of Berlusconi, as he accused him of taking sides with his detractors, those Left-wing parties? Yet unapologetic, he maintained that he does not care 'what the head of state says, as he feels like being made a fool of.'

The immunity from prosecution law which the Constitutional court over-turned was otherwise known as the Alfano law. It shielded holders of Italy's four top political jobs, prime minister, president and speakers of the two houses of parliament, from prosecution while in office. According to one commentator, the ruling finally brought to an end, a 15-year legal tussle between the Italian billionaire media-mogul and the Italian judiciary.

Icheoku says, in the final analysis, it is important to note the reason the court threw out the Alfano law, because under Italy's law, 'all animals are equal;' but unlike in Nigeria, where 'Animal Farm' rules supreme! How the current constitutional and political crisis developing in Italy is finally resolved will depend on series of intriguing, power play, wheeling and dealing; and will prove conclusively, whether Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is a political chess-master, or just an Italian rascal, who found fortune, fame and power but lost it all to some self-elating missteps!