GADDAFI SHAKES OBAMA, WHEN THE GOING WAS GOOD!

His love for the "African president of America" was bountiful that he went as far as urging that Obama stays president forever. When asked why, he retorted that is the yearning of the world and the world will forgive America of all its atrocities so long as President Barack Hussein Obama is still the president. Icheoku queries now that things have fallen apart for Gaddafi and his once "beloved son of Africa" is going tough on his administration which he has declared "illegitimate", what must Maummar Gaddafi be thinking of President Barack Obama now? This becomes imperative as Gaddafi sees the revolution as sectional and al-querida sponsored; and is doing everything within his authority to put the enemies of the state down; afterall when Glen Beck and the Tea Party people marched in Washington demanding to have their country back, President Obama never resigned or quit his office. So Gaddafi reasons that what he is facing is not an uprising from the peoples of Libya but certain disgruntled elements of the society under the influence of some narcotics. Day 15 and marching on, could Gaddafi have survived the insurrection since the Libyan army is still on his side? Anyway, the jury is still out but there are signs that the Libyan strongman's strong-arm is working to upturn the tide, at least for now. But is it a trite position to take that the devil one knows is better than the unknown alternative; go figure!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, COASTING HOME TO VICTORY IN APRIL 2011.

 

Icheoku says welcome the hardest working and most campaigning presidential candidate in Nigeria 2011. Icheoku has been wondering where other presidential candidates are since they are no-show everywhere one looks; forcing people to wonder what their game-plan is towards winning the presidential election.

Everywhere one looks, it is PDP presidential candidate President Goodluck Jonathan who is traversing the land from South-West to North-East to South-East to South-South to North-Central and to North-West; and except the opposition are banking on the courts to stop the election or to annul the result, Icheoku does not see how they plan to pull it off based on the effort the incumbent is putting, seriously campaigning to sell his candidacy to Nigerians. The PDP already have an edge both of the incumbency and the Governors Forum, so show Icheoku the options left for th opposition. Icheoku says the opposition parties in Nigeria lost the mojo when they failed to reach an alliance presenting one common front and candidate against President Jonathan. As a result, it is now an assured victory for President Jonathan as the PDP will most likely retain the presidency, admitted not by the same margin the Otta deity rigged the party in 2007.

Icheoku says President Jonathan will win all South-South, South-East and North-Central; and also at least two states in South-West, three states in North-East and one state in North-West, thus securing the needed number of votes to retain the presidency. Icheoku is being modest with the allocation of states especially in North-West and South-West acceding Buhari and Tinubu some commanding presence in their only catchment areas. We also agree that ANPP will likely retain its two North-Eastern states and that there will be a few other toss-up states in play. So plus minus, President Jonathan wins convincingly in 22 states out of the 36, the remainder of which will be split amongst the other three parties ACN, CPC and ANPP; thus giving him the victory. Icheoku says, Nigerians welcome your president for the next four years, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan! Icheoku is not a fan, but agrees that President Jonathan has worked and campaigned hard enough to earn his honors as president; so Nigerians, VOTE for JONATHAN

NUHU RIBADU, WHY HE WILL NOT WIN.

 First of all he looks so gaunt and not presidential enough. He looks mean and hungry and Julius Caesar admonishes that such men are dangerous. He lacks experience. He is not President Obama, admitted he feels good comparing himself with that young charismatic American president. Above all Mallam Nuhu RIbadu lacks principles and convictions otherwise what explanation does he now offer for cavorting with Bola Tinubu, a man he once described as the numero uno financial and economic criminal in Nigeria?Icheoku queries, if Nuhu Ribadu could be so cheaply bought by Tinubu; who knows how bended his back will be when heavy hitters of the world come calling. Icheoku's beef with the mallam is that he appears to have swallowed his vomit on Tinubu by accepting his campaign sponsorship from him and you wonder what epiphany sanctified all the sins of economic and financial crimes his EFCC said Tinubu committed. Like Richard Akinjide rightly posited, it is very insulting for a man who has never held any position in his life other than being member of the Nigeria police force to arrogantly feel that he is experienced enough to rule a complex country like Nigeria.The gist of the matter is that Mallam Nuhu RIbadu lacks the experience to rule Nigeria; and even his strongest suit - anti-corruption credentials, now appears compromised with his dalliance with Bola Tinubu, a man with no stellar records. The good news however is that ACN is a Yoruba regional party, ran by Bola Tinubu as his personal estate and lacks national acceptability in Nigeria. To make matters worse, Nuhu Ribadu choose a fellow political no-body as his running mate and you wonder the God President Jonathan serves that so paves his political path with such diamonds. Away with Nuhu Ribadu, a puppet of Bola Tinubu who would run affairs were Ribadu to miraculously win in a nightmarish scenario; but thankfully enough, his chances at winning is akin to hell freezing over. Icheoku calls on Nigerians to simply say no to the man behind the scene, Bola Tinubu, by rejecting his minion, Nuhu Ribadu.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, A VOTE FOR HIM IS A VOTE FOR SHARIA LAW IN NIGERIA!

Icheoku says, just don't do it Nigerians except you want your body parts to be chopped off one part after another depending on the offense you committed under an Islamic Republic Sharia Nigeria. His northwest catchment area is already 'Sharia-ed" so do not encourage the spread throughout the rest of Nigeria with your vote for the Chief Imam.

Please do not buy into the hype that a leopard can change its spots and that Imam Muhammadu Buhari is now a pro-democratic man as a despot always remains a despot. Buhari is despot extraordinaire and a known Muslim fundamentalist of Boko Haram mold and cannot easily change so old in his life. Just in case you are still wish-washy with your decision or have forgotten, advise yourself of the following:- 1. Which Muslim country is bankrolling Buhari's campaign or don't you know that presidential campaign is a multi-billion Naira project? At least Ribadu is being sponsored by Bola Tinubu and President Jonathan by Governors Forum but no one knows which Muslim countries are sponsoring Buhari's campaign and he claims he is not rich? 2. Who murdered Bartholomew Owo, Ojuolpe and Ogedengbe - three innocent Nigerians killed by Buhari based on a retroactive decree for an offense which was not a death-penalty offense when it was committed. 3. Godfatherism or godmotherism is Buhari's stock in trade or does the name Major Jokolo not ring any bell in your ear? The Buhari ADC who smuggled 53 suitcases filled with currencies during the currency exchange in 1984 with Buhari's tacit approval? 4. Who overthrew a democratically elected President Shehu Shagari's government in December 31, 1983? An anti -democratic credential Buhari still carries with him till date just like a snail does its shell? 5. What was the purpose of Decree 4 which harangued journalists and emasculated freedom of the press in Nigeria that was authored by Buhari? The problem with Nigeria and Nigerians alike is their very short non-retentive memory, otherwise who in his right senses will be craving a Buhari's second coming - Obasanjo did it; Babangida tried it and now Buhari is attempting to do it with the strange support of some Nigerians; hope you are not part of that group. Anyway the good news however is that Buhari will not win as he is simply too extreme for Nigeria. Please Nigerians wake up and smell the coffee that Buhari is just an old wine that was simply poured into a new keg and that does not make him a NEW man. Muhammadu Buhari SHALL NOT win and if he "wins" SHALL NOT rule Nigeria. GET IT Buhari supporters so don't waste your votes, jump off the train to Shariaville NOW that there is still time! Muhammadu Buhari is an extremist Islamic religious fundamentalist not good for a secular Nigeria. DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI

2015 IGBO PRESIDENTIAL DREAM IS OVER - KANTI BELLO.

"The agitation for an Igbo president in 2015 is a mirage, the whole arrangement went up in smoke with the emergence of Jonathan, a southerner. In 2015, it will be free for all. Anybody from anywhere can go for it because we have said bye, bye to zoning in 2011. I don’t know what is wrong with Nigerians; you can’t blow hot and blow cold at the same time. If zoning is bad in 2011, it cannot be good in 2015.” - Kanti Bello. Icheoku asks where are all those Igbo leaders of thought now that a need to make a counter-affirmation of the Igbo Project 2015 has arisen; and to tell all these Hausa-Fulani oligarchs that they do not necessarily determine who rules Nigeria and that Igbos can still pull it off with or without them. Icheoku urges these Igbo leaders to unequivocally affirm Igbos resolute determination to produce the president of Nigeria of Igbo extraction in 2015 and this position is not subject to negotiation.

2015 IGBO PRESIDENCY NOT NEGOTIABLE - GOVERNOR THEODORE ORJI.

"If it leaves the South-South. it should come to the South-East. We have not tasted it. The North has tasted it. The South-West has tasted it, so is South-South. The South-East is the only zone that has not tasted it. We have not produced any President, so they should give us the chance to produce one. They (North) can afford to wait." - Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State. Icheoku, while agreeing with the principles enunciated by the governor, implores Ndigbo to be prepared to fight to finish to secure the presidency if need be; since power is never freely given but taken and forcefully if it boils down to that. 2015 is an important date with history for Ndigbo in Nigeria politics and the presidency must not elude them, not that time. 2015 Igbo presidency MUST and SHOULD be none negotiable and Icheoku agrees that the North can wait. That way real rotation can finally take place from South-West to South-South to South-East then to North East, North-Central and then North-West before heading back to South-West. What a seamless, smooth, orderly clockwise rotation it will be. Give it up to the Governor Alusi-Okija of Abia State

MOUMMAR GADDAFI, ONCE MINGLED WITH WORLD'S HIGH-UPS.

Icheoku says how times changes that the once all powerful strongman of Libya, a toast for oil and anti-terrorism effort, Moummar Gaddafi, is now suddenly a pariah being called illegitimate and asked to QUIT? But one thing all Westerners are forgetting so easily is that Libya is not Egypt and that Gaddafi is not Mubarak and that Gaddafi can only quit dead, period. Moummar Gaddafi sees himself as the embodiment of the 1967 Libyan revolution and the potentate "King of Kings of all Africa"; so asking "King Gaddafi" to abdicate his Tripoli throne is tantamount to asking Queen Elizabeth of England to turn in her crown. "King" Moummar Gaddafi of Africa can only quit stretched out in a pine-box cold and without any breath left in him; and any other suggestions to the contrary is a nonplussed.

Icheoku however believes that as soon as the oil price hits $150 per barrel, the whole West particularly Italy will make a sudden u-turn on the matter of Gaddafi and seek a quick way out of the imbroglio that Gaddafi's attempted ouster has caused in Libya, which has skyrocketed the world oil price. It is all about permanent geopolitical interest and not necessarily their love for Libyan desert dwellers that is fueling the sudden "Gaddafi must go sentiments from the same people who once dined and wined the same Gaddafi not too long ago. Gaddafi was then what Gaddafi is today, yet they could care less provided the spigot was kept open and running. But life happens and it is what it is - full of intrigues!

NEWT GINGRICH, PROMOTING A 2012 PRESIDENTIAL RUN?

Icheoku says wonders shall never end as some people feel so too self-important that they convince themselves, even if somewhat delusional, that they are simply indispensable? Newt Gingrich, former speaker and thrice married  Republican, is one of such person that it was not totally a complete surprise when he launched a website NewtExplore2012.com, promoting his likely presidential candidacy for 2012.

Icheoku rebuts that Newt Gingrich's effort is out of his concern for the future of the country or  concern for the children and grandchildren of this country; no, his planned run is fueled by an over-bloated ego on steroid. Anyway it does not matter how important Newt feels of himself as to so much covet the presidency; but just before he runs, he must be prepared to give America's voting public unequivocal answers and explanations to his numerous catalogued infra-digs. However, Icheoku alerts that a man who was so heartless as to divorce his cancer-stricken and dying wife on her hospital bed cannot love Americans more and should therefore not be allowed to preside over their affairs as president. Simply stated, Newt Gingrich lacks the moral grit to be president; admitted nothing bars him or anyone from dreaming; but Americans will reject his candidacy, which is DOA anyway!

SHAHBAZ BHATTI MURDER, INTOLERANT PAKISTAN CONTINUES TO KILL CHRISTIANS!

Icheoku asks when will Western Christian civilization finally answer the Islamic world's challenge for the crash of civilizations? When will the Western world stop observing the biblical '70 times 70' injunction turning the other cheek, when their way of life and religious beliefs are constantly being attacked each day by the Islamic world? When will Westerners begin to also "assassinate infidels non-Christians", who are living amongst them and openly practicing their religion and worshiping according to their beliefs? When will Western Christian civilization start to enact and enforce their own blasphemy laws, making it a "death-penalty offense by stoning" to say anything against Jesus Christ, the Papacy or even Christianity?

These questions have become imperative, eliciting immediate answers, in view of the latest dastardly murder in Islamabad, of the only Christian serving in the government of Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti, the Minorities Affairs Minister.  Icheoku says Bhatti's murder was made more gruesome as it took place just within the driveway of his mother's house, whom he had just visited and was leaving for a government meeting when three assassins laying in wait, emptied their high velocity bullets into him shattering his car's windows and piercing its body. The result, another high profile murder of a Christian government official, following shortly in the heels of the murder of the governor of Penshawar, Salman Taseer just a few short weeks ago.  Icheoku asks when will enough be enough with these senseless killings going on unabated in Pakistan as it continuously seems like the government is either not doing enough to stem it or are indifferent to the plight of minorities in Pakistan, being too afraid to confront those Islamic extremists.

The other mind-boggling question with this latest assassination is that it could have been prevented were the government in Islamabad proactive enough and functional; afterall there were several threats preceding the assassination and the slain official even requested for bullet-proof vehicle which was never honored? So any investigating process into the murder must include ferreting an answer to why a bullet-proof vehicle was not provided to the slain official when it was requested, the security imperative considered. Also who tipped off those assassins on Bhatti's movement and his where-about at the time they struck or was it his driver this time? Icheoku is aware that the government of Asif Ali Zardari is very weak and that they are not completely in charge in Pakistan; but for them not to do something about the situation in Pakistan is to embolden these fanatics who will stop at nothing but to continue to terrorize the people of Pakistan, killing and maiming them at their whim. Icheoku asks whatever happened to reciprocity such that whenever these animals kill someone for insulting Islam, some other people could also kill some of them for also insulting Christianity or the pope?

The 42 year old Roman Catholic Bhatti seem to have foreseen his death; but said in a prerecorded video that he was not afraid of those terrorists trying to silence everyone. According to him, he was ready to die for his beliefs and principles that religious minorities in Pakistan should be free to practice their beliefs just like in other civilized societies of the world. Strangely enough, they got him as al-Querida and Pakistan Taliban have since claimed responsibility for the killing of the "infidel Christian?"

Further is it a safe argument to make that Shahbaz Bhatti "deliberately" brought about his end by asking his police and paramilitary guards not to accompany him as he visited his aging widowed mother? Except that it could also be argued that Bhatti possibly got spooked by security guards when a guard assigned to the slain governor of Penshawar Taseer was the one who killed the man he was supposed to protect? Icheoku hopes that Shahbaz Bhatti's killing will not finally make it possible for "the Taliban to impose their radical philosophy on Pakistan and threaten or kill whoever stands against their radical philosophy" as predicted by the now slain minister. May the religious soul of Shahbaz Bhatti now rest in peace with the Lord as does every soul that dies in the Lord. Shahbaz Bhatti has fought the good fight and died heads-high, holding his beliefs in tact. He did not cower in the face of deadly threats nor tried to deny Jesus like Peter but he stood up straight like a real man proclaiming salvation in Christ. Icheoku says may all those other believers and peoples of faith coming after him, have the courage to continue the fight for freedom of all those oppressed religious minorities of Pakistan. Adieu Bhatti.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, FIRE ADVISER ABBA AJI NOW!

Icheoku calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately fire his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji, for breaching protocols in making inciting comments that can be attributed to the presidency. First the adviser said that the president will not sign the much anticipated and long-awaited Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) and now seem to have finally put his foot in his mouth by saying that the 2015 Igbo presidential agenda shall not be realized. Icheoku says a presidential adviser is sufficiently close to the president to know what the president's thinking and/or position on some issues are and could be safely assumed to be speaking on behalf of the president. Hence, when such adviser comments on national issues, it is safe to assume that he was just venting the president's inner recesses and speaking on the president's behalf and behest. So Icheoku calls on Nigerians to be aware that President Goodluck Jonathan does not intend to sign into law the FOI and the Igbos should also know that the president does not ascribe to their aspiration 2015.

If the president refuses to sign the FOI, then Nigerians will know who the real anti-people politician in Nigeria is and will conclude that the president is only paying a lip-service to his anti-corruption gimmickry. But why would any reasonable president refuse to append his signature to such a transparency-geared legislation? Anyway, that is an issue for the president to deal with, but faced with millions of Nigerians and their representatives who strongly believe that such a freedom of information bill will help reduce corruption in Nigeria, Icheoku does not think that President Jonathan has a choice but to consent to the FOI with his presidential signature. Although the Otta deity, Olusegun Obasanjo, refused to sign the bill when previously passed during his government because of his own so many skeletons which he did not want unearthed; but circumstances have since changed and Icheoku strongly believes that President Jonathan will sign it into law. The president will have no choice but to sign the FOI bill into law as soon as the Senate consents to it as is expected, following in tandem with the House of Representatives.

But on the issue of 2015 Igbo presidential agenda, Icheoku says it is a sacrilege for President Jonathan to crush the Igbo dream in this cavalier manner; and the only way the president can reassure Igbos of the South-East that Abba-Aji does not speak for him and that he, the president, will not stand in the way of realizing that Igbo 2015 dream is to fire Senator Abba-Aji now for embarrassing his government. Anything short of sacking the presidential adviser is tantamount to Jonathan condoning anti-Igbo elements in his government; except Jonathan is one of them. Admitted that so many northern politicians including Bamanga Tukur have voiced their anti-Igbo opposition to Igbo 2015 presidential agenda and Icheoku respects their opinion to say whatever they like. But for another northerner, who happens to be very close to the president to recklessly mouth such a diatribe against the Igbo 2015 agenda, asserting further that Vice President Namadi Sambo is the official 2015 presidential candidate in waiting of the PDP is an affront and a smack on the face of millions of South-East Igbos, who have since thrown their support for the President Jonathan-Sambo 2011 ticket. Icheoku says any attempt by anyone including the president through his adviser, to sabotage or try to deny the Igbos their long awaited 2015 shot at the presidency is unacceptable and will result in some unbargained for consequences.

This mallam presidential national adviser even went forth to insult the entire polity of Nigeria, including the president, by asserting that President Jonathan's 2011 presidency will be counted as South-South's turn? Icheoku says, if that were the case, it then means that the president will continue in office after 2015, since the South-South is equally entitled to a two term of four years each in office. So if Icheoku were to walk on the pathway now being charted by Abba-Aji, it means that in 2015; not even the north will have a shot at the presidency as no vacancy will then exist, since the South-South will still have four more years to complete its eight year tenure. What Senator Abba-Aji is saying by necessary implication is that President Jonathan intends to continue in office in 2015 contrary to his promise to serve one term and thereby calling the president a liar? In Senator Abba-Aji's own decrepitude words, "It is very clear, Vice President Sambo will step in, as soon as Jonathan finishes. Jonathan is serving  the South–South ticket, after that it will come to the North and when it happens, we  will want the institutional memory to be there, we don’t want  too many dislocation that will set us one step forward, two step backward and all of that. So when Jonathan finishes, it shall be Sambo for continuity." 

It is very clear that Abba-Aji was not definite about when President Jonathan will finish his term but cleverly only said "as soon as Jonathan finishes," which is an open-ended  phraseology. While Icheoku agrees that it is a good idea for a vice president to always succeed a president for continuity of policy; but the 2015 succession bid will be far too complicated than imagined. The Igbos want the presidency in 2015, Vice President Namadi Sambo would like to stake his bid thereon and the greater North would also want to have the presidency returned back to the north; so where would such a contentious scenario then leave the Igbos and their quest to produce Nigerian president of Igbo extraction? Icheoku foresaw such a jigsaw situation long before the nomination of President Jonathan for president and warned of the implication of Jonathan's run; as we fiercely advocated for a northern president to complete President Yar'Adua's Northern unfinished turn instead. Such a northern president would have overridden these nightmarish scenarios now popping its head everywhere as to who will succeed President Jonathan in 2015. Also the question of whether President Jonathan is serving the South-South turn and what becomes of Vice President Namandi Sambo in 2015 would have both been solved with a northern president. Icheoku concedes however that either way, it will be very complicated and will drastically task the political body-fabric of the country in a Catch-22 like fashion, with no proverbial silver bullet to fix all the problems.

However, pending how the problem is eventually resolved when the time comes in 2015, Icheoku calls on President Jonathan to solve an immediate problem that has reared its ugly head NOW and there is an immediately available solution. President Jonathan should fire his Adviser on National Assembly  matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji NOW, for recklessly overheating the polity, especially among the Igbos of the South-East, with his unguarded statement dashing the Igbo's 2015 presidential dreams. President Goodluck must distance himself from such a crushing anti-Igbo comment of his adviser Abba-Aji and reassure the Igbos that they, like other Nigerians, reserves the right to aspire for the presidency. Icheoku says to President Jonathan, the Igbos are waiting!

HERMAN CAIN, TEA PARTY FAVORITE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?

Icheoku says once again the Republican Party's soul, Tea Party, is playing another fast one on unsuspecting Americans. They have just endorsed in a straw-poll, a "Nigger" as their favorite  Republican 2012 presidential candidate? Icheoku says this is deja vu Michael Steele, the 'Nigger" who was once made Republican Party chairman just to help neutralize the effect of President Barack Obama's 2008 turning-point election. The circumstances surrounding Michael Steele's removal from office and even the fact that his hectic tenure was fund-deprived by Republican donors is there for the records that he was never welcomed nor at a home in the Republican Party. Now it is Herman Cain for president? Icheoku says never has flattery been this unabashed and unashamed; as these Tea Partiers who are mad that a "Nigger" is occupying their White House, are now mockingly endorsing another "Nigger" for president. It is as laughable as it is ridiculous!


Now as 2012 approaches and there being no viable Republican candidate to challenge President Obama on an issue-based campaign, the smart-by-half Tea Party members are now flying the kite of a possible black-man running against another blackman President Obama in the 2012 presidential election. Anyway, borrowing the famous admonition of former President GW Bush, "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me;" so America will not be fooled again by this peoples' antics such as this endorsement from the blues of Herman Cain for president. Nobody in America will take a bite on this Herman Cain bait as the motive of the Tea Party is obvious and their intent so glaringly discernible that only a person who had called Mars home these last three years will not know the hatred they have for people of different skin pigmentation. So Icheoku wonders the love these Tea Partiers really have for any "Nigger" to make one their Republican presidential candidate in 2012, when they summarily threw another "Nigger" who was their Republican Party chairman, Michael Steele, under the bus despite winning back the House for the Republican Party. Republican Party's  major donors conspired and withdrew their donations, hence starved him of necessary funds with which ti run the party, just to frustrate his administration and in order to have a reason to take their Republican Party back from the ordinary folks and in this case, those ones! Finally, Icheoku says the endorsement of Herman Cain for president by the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party is one huge April Fool's joke, admitted it is not April 1, yet.

MALLAM NUHU RIBADU IS NOT A SAINT - an article by SIYAN ADEOLA

Politics as usual makes strange bedfellows. The Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), has at least demonstrated its lack of depth by fielding Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as its presidential candidate. Few people would have imagined they would ever see the day when Ribadu and Czar of ACN would ever walk the same side of the political divide. But desperate and drowning individuals always need company.

Just four years ago, it was not always so. To the proprietor of the ACN and his associates, Ribadu was once regarded as public enemy number one. In due course it will become apparent why and how the Action Congress and Ribadu are trying desperately, attempting to rewrite history. For now the most urgent task is to present the unwritten stories of Ribadu’s summersaults and deliberate concealments of extremely important matters involving public interest. Because most Nigerians are very forgetful and because the Jonathan/Sambo administration has been magnanimous, Ribadu is walking about Nigeria today declaiming about corruption even when he still has the problem of accountability and transparency hanging on his neck at the EFCC which he left without being courteous enough to summit a handing over note till today, in a flagrant disregarded for the ethos of public service everywhere in the world. Nigeria will recollect the valiant, but futile, effort of the current EFCC Chairman, Mrs. Farida Waziri, to get Ribadu to come and render the account of his stewardship. He left some unresolved riddles which started to unfold in 2007 and remain with us till today.

Perhaps in his bid for re-appointment to a second term, the government of Olusegun Obasanjo led us to believe that the EFCC under Ribadu recovered $5 billion. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was so delighted with the “achievement”, it made that achievement part of its campaign in 2007. But, soon after the sleight of hand, Ribadu went on record, after the elections, to announce that only N53 billion was recovered. Given an exchange rate of N130/$1 in 2007, $5 billion would have meant N650 billion. The discrepancy between N650 billion and N57billion remains N579billion. Till today, Ribadu had never taught it fit to tell Nigerians how much was actually collected. That was bad enough. Worse still was what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), told Nigerians. Fortunately, Professor Charles Soludo is still alive. He was then the Governor of the CBN, he revealed a truth which should have stunned Nigerians, if we were not totally immune to shocks, that the apex bank had not received a kobo of either $5billion or N53billion. That should have prompted the National Assembly to institute an inquiry into where the loot was/is kept. The law prescribes that all moneys collected on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria must be paid to the CBN.

The most important questions then and now remain the same. Where was/ is the money kept? If in banks, other than CBN, on what terms? Lack of accountability and transparency is itself the beginning and the end of corruption. Any man with real as opposed to “media”, integrity, should have answered in 2007 the question raised, but then, Ribadu was an untouchable in 2007 and the frenzy of election allowed him to get away with what was probably a major dereliction of duty – if not an indictable offence. Everybody should also recollect Ribadu’s roles in the Chief Bode George saga. First, Ribadu announced, with the usual fanfare that the EFCC had filed multiple charges against George. Later, Ribadu, with less publicity, quietly withdrew the charges. When challenged by the media, the former EFCC chairman asked anyone who had any evidence against George to come forward with it. What then did he take to court in the first instance? The story developed another twist when the new EFCC chairperson re-opened the case and obtained a conviction.

Ribadu, from far away United States, sent a statement to news media in Nigeria claiming credit for the result. Haba! Can anyone tell us where the integrity in this is? On March 26, 2009, Ribadu, in a hand-written witness statement submitted to the London Metropolitan Police accused Bola Tinubu of diverting the proceeds of the sale of V-Mobile shares belonging to Lagos State. Tinubu was forced to take out advertorials in several newspapers to defend himself. Clearly, somebody was lying. Did Bola Tinubu Fiddle with Lagos state money by diverting funds from shares sales or did Ribadu submit a false deposition? Either way, something stinks.

Yet, these are not exceptions to the rule. On the contrary, they represent a fair rendition of what the Ribadu years at the EFCC were all about. The real Ribadu and media Ribadu was a mirage foisted on the public. These are irrefutable facts which demonstrate that “Mr. Integrity Ribadu” is probably the greatest myth ever created in this country. But, let us end by reminding our people of one incident forgotten so soon. The Federal Government in 2007 allowed appointed officials occupying government houses to buy them. The former EFCC chairman, like others, applied to buy his own official residence. There is nothing wrong or questionable in that. Questions, however, arose, when it was discovered that the building carried a price tag several times what Ribadu has earned as a police officer. The last we heard before Ribadu absconded abroad, was that a relative gave him a “loan” to buy the property. On the surface, that would appear to be an adequate answer. But, it again raised questions not answered till today. A man who wants to be handed the Nigeria treasury should at least answer those questions.

SHOOTING THE PRESIDENT, A GRAVE MISTAKE!

"Who's going to shoot President Obama" asked a supporter of Rep. Paul Broun from Oglethorpe County Georgia during the congressman's political event. It is to be noted that Representative Broun (pictured) did not condemn either the question or the questioner during the event, which evidences his tacit support and approval for such a wicked act. 

Icheoku says that this will not be MLK 1968 assassination and it does not matter who does it; if it ever happens, America will boil over.

Enough of all these threats by racist rednecks and some righteous White Americans who are still indignant that a nigger is occupying "their" White House. America is the land of the free and home of the brave and we practice democracy here. President Obama was duly elected president of the United States of America through the ballot box and can only be removed through the same constitutional means of ballot box barring any impeachable offense. So GET OVER IT RACIST WHITE AMERICA, the fact that his skin tone is off-white notwithstanding, President Barack Hussein Obama is the president!

BODE GEORGE RELEASED FROM PRISON, ADMONISHED BY PASTOR.

“If you are involved in any shady deal; if you are found anywhere elections are rigged; and partake in any form of manipulation, it means you have not learnt anything from your experience. Real power belongs to God. It does not belong to PDP. It does not belong to any president. As from today, you are expected to represent Christ. You are an ambassador of Christ. Never again will the name of God be soiled through you. Shun thuggery. Shun violence. Shun greed. Shun rigging and whatever that can cause trouble.”  - Pastor Venantus Tayo Aduloju admonishing the freed ex-convict Bode George, during a thanksgiving service held in his honor to mark his completion of prison term. Icheoku says a word is enough for the wise; but with the keeping of the company of people like Olusegun Obasanjo, Bode George can at best hope to return to prison as it is simply too late now to teach that old dog some new tricks. Moreso, he is a politician; and politicians are not consistent people but are always shifting their position like quicksand provided there is something in it for them? Simply stated, Bode George will overdo and outdo himself on these vices, prison or no prison experience and pastor or no pastor admonition. He is a Nigerian politician, period!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, THE HARDEST WORKING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

Icheoku queries why other parties and their presidential candidates are not traversing the land campaigning or are they waiting to later charge that elections were fraudulent and then head to court? PDP presidential candidate President Goodluck Jonathan is the only one who have visited all the 36states including the Federal capital Territory, visiting some of them twice and even thrice marketing his candidacy. Regrettably when the did is done and he most likely wins in a land-slide, some of these presidential candidates will start alleging election malpractice; but until then, Nigerian you got yourself the hardest working presidential candidate, working hard to secure your votes. Icheoku wishes Jonathan well and prays that he will work that hard for Nigerians the next four years when elected president. We shall see!

JULIAN ASSANGE, LETS WATER-BOARD HIM FIRST BEFORE WE EXECUTE HIM?

Icheoku says water-board the leaker from hell before executing him for daring to take up arms against the United States of America. Arms is arms and it does not matter whether his weapon of choice was cyberspace. The important thing is that he freely and conscientiously made that decision to wrestle with America and he should not be heard now to say he is the victim? His leaks went beyond fair exposition of information and crossed-over to the realm of an arrant attempt at sabotaging the world, especially the United States of America and its way of doing business. Every action has a reaction and every offense has a deterrent and so should Julian Assange be maximally punished to avoid future Assanges of this crazy world.

Even some school of thought has it that the political earthquake presently ravaging the Arab world is partially a result of Assange's exposure of Egypt's Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah recommendation to the United States of America that the snake's head be cut off in Iran. Consequent thereof, Iran is carrying out preemptive strikes on his Wiki Leaks exposed enemies, using their own tired and frustrated people as readily available tools - fighting to cut off the heads of their enemies first before they got their wish come through. So Icheoku asks what would be an appropriate punishment for such an illegal exposure by basket mouth, Wiki-Leak's Assange Julian; and what would be the best way possible of punishing him for this intransigence and maximally now that he is on his way to the United States of America via Sweden.

Icheoku says a time like the present Assange's calls for the "fond" memory of the tenure of Dick Cheney and GW - men who would have gleefully supervised the water-boarding of this Australian turn-coat as a prelude to his execution by lethal injection. For all Icheoku cares, Julian Assange possibly could be working for those enemies of the United States of America who wish her ill, such as Osama Bin Laden. Also the argument could be made that both Julian Assange and al-Querida share a common objective to either bring America down or at least cut her to "size"; hence he deserves similar extinction-geared treatment as is being meted to al-Querida operatives the world over. Icheoku says Assange is al-Querida and al-Querida is Assange or at minimum, their mole; and deserves to be summarily dealt with.

Icheoku is delighted that the British judge is wise and would not be easily misled by a rapist who was too cowardly to face his accusers in the country where he committed the alleged sexual crimes and threw so many curve-balls to pervert justice and prevent his extradition to Sweden. As the judge ordered Julian Assange's extradition to Sweden to face justice, Icheoku says that is one log removed on the way to his final place of retribution - the United States of America; where he shall face American justice system for leaking thousands of classified American documents. Icheoku says if there is one time and on one point we ever agreed with the Alaskan airhead Sarah Palin, it is now and on the matter of Julian Assange, that he should be neutralized by the US as if he were himself a terrorist. Icheoku agrees and says yes he is a terrorist - a cyber terrorist! Like those other terrorists who strap bombs on themselves and fly planes into buildings, Julian Assange's terrorist weapon of choice is the Internet using the instrumentality of his Wiki Leaks. Like all terrorists whose terrorist acts lead to loss of lives, Julian Assange deserves the death-penalty to teach him a lesson that no one messes with America and its values and he should not be an exception.

When Assange published what was allegedly said by American officials, it is one thing; but for him to disclose the location of some vital national and international interests of America, especially during this time of war with terrorists, crosses the line. It is an affront on our national security as he provided Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist al-Querida network immeasurable intelligence on where to mount their future attacks. Julian Assange's Wiki Leak's leaks is condemnable and Icheoku condemns both the thought, the act and his silly attempt at now defending an indefensible provocative act of terror against the United States of America. But like the Godfather made us to know, revenge is best when served cold and all years for Assange and now is time for America Justice system to take care of business. Guantanamo Bay, here comes your latest inmate, condemned espionage criminal Julian Assange! There is simply no sympathy for a terrorist and Wiki-leaker Julian Assange deserves none..

SHUTTLE DISCOVERY MAKES ONE LAST FLIGHT INTO SPACE.

 

Behold the pride of America's ingenuity as it makes its last flight into space. It is retiring; what an awesome piece of science that this flighty cylinder is. The world and America will miss its grandeur but life goes on and who knows what comes next? So long Discovery! FYI:- Discovery is the shinning star in the middle with its two separating launch rockets and their orange after-burners on either sides. It is all about mathematics and physics combined aka rocket science!