NIGERIA, ELECTION 2015 MUST HOLD!

Icheoku says no reason or excuse or explanation or any subterfuge whatsoever, will suffice to abort the much anticipated forthcoming Election 2015 in Nigeria. Any attempt at delaying, deferring or postponing the scheduled election 2015 would be seen and treated by Nigerians as a sabotage and an existential threat to the body fabric of the country and therefore it would be vehemently resisted. Icheoku warns that this embarked course by Team Jonathan, if true, is a course to perdition; from which they must disembark pronto because he who sows a whirlwind must be prepared to be swept away in the ensuing tornado. 

Like 'Aduke' would always let Nigerians know in 'The Masquerade' television drama of years gone by, "NEPA or no NEPA, Aduke is on." So Icheoku says 'defeating Boko Haram or no defeating Boko Haram' and 'writing new Constitution or no writing new Constitution', the election should and must go, because with or without 'President Jonathan, Nigeria will go on and survive. 

Icheoku bemoans that Nigerians have heard this line of argument before where an incumbent president or head of state thinks that he is the panacea for all Nigeria's problem and without him, Nigeria will just evaporate? As a result, they start devising all manners of ruse to hoodwink Nigerians into allowing them to elongate their tenure in office. From Ibrahim Babangida's never ending transition to political governance to Olusegun Obasanjo's third term agenda to the now Jonathan's alleged plans to use the issue of security and constitution writing to further delay a referendum on his style of governance? Icheoku says Nigerians will similarly reject this latest Jonathan's ploy as they did in the past with other former sit-tight seeking leaders. 

Icheoku hereby, therefore, categorically rejects any attempt to defer or postpone or even delay the forthcoming Elections 2015 including the presidency. It would amount to the highest travesty which would be resisted by Nigerians in the loudest and most consequential manner. Nigerians would not stand nor tolerate any version of a third term agenda or for anyone including President Jonathan to surreptitiously hold on to power without due process of an election. If President Jonathan feels that he has delivered enough democracy dividends to Nigerians to warrant his reelection, he should have nothing to fear standing for an election to enable Nigerians decide his grades on this question accordingly. 

Icheoku maintains that Boko Haram insecurity problem is Nigerians' general business and not something uniquely personal to only President Jonathan. As a result, whosoever  becomes the next president of Nigeria would dutifully continue the fight to free Nigerians of this scourge, so President Jonathan does not need to remain in office for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram to continue or to successfully conclude. The war against insurgency in Nigeria started long before President Jonathan was sworn in and would, if need be, linger on long after President Jonathan completes his tenure. President Obasanjo was prosecuting the war against Niger Delta terrorists before President Umaru Yar'Adua came in to finally work out a deal with those river-rine terrorists. Similarly President Umaru Yar'Adua did not ask not to die because he has to first finish the war on Boko Haram? 

Icheoku says what if President Jonathan suddenly drops off from the face of the earth or the dreaded Ebola magically arrests him or something nasty happens to him, does it mean that Nigeria will fold up because the "Messiah Jonathan" is no more? Before him there were presidents and heads of states and long after him there will still be a retinue of presidents and leaders of Nigeria. As the popular saying among the military goes, 'soldier come, soldier go but the barracks remains open.' Icheoku says since Nigeria will not peter out in the absence of Jonathan, no reason whatsoever, therefore, justifies or should be tolerated for not holding the forthcoming election 2015 as and when due. Nigerians will not accept any attempt to truncate their democracy by acts of selfish individuals capable of inciting the polity or force the boots of the khaki boys back out again. 

President Jonathan is not Nigeria nor is Nigeria President Jonathan; he is merely a president, doing his time and it is a constitutionally mandated limited time. If Boko Haram was his priority, he would have long time ago made it so and put all needed resources to get the mission accomplished before now? If writing a new constitution was a priority of his government, he would have inaugurated the Constitutional Conference long time ago in his six year term and by now their recommendations including writing a new constitution would have since been 'mission accomplished' too. So these clever by half plots would not sell nor would they be bought by Nigerians as reason enough why the 2015 election would not hold as scheduled. 

Icheoku says the Constitutional Conference was a Nigerians' affair, carried out by Nigerians and not President Jonathan's personal matter. Therefore their recommendations are that of Nigerians and any future Nigerian president is duty bound and obligated to follow it through. Icheoku therefore admonishes President Jonathan and his kitchen cabinet to beware and to jettison any idea whatsoever geared at aborting the forthcoming 2015 elections. 

No president ever finishes or completes all his stated goals while in office, the reason governance is a continuum as the next government almost always builds on the preceding government. Whatever is left by an outgoing government would be completed by the incoming government;  therefore President Jonathan must not and should not fly this ominous kite of an apparent illegal tenure elongation  through the back channel by reason of "fighting Boko Haram" or "writing a new constitution?" 

Icheoku warns that an attempt by the Jonathan's government to doubt Nigerians absolute resolve to vote their conscience come 2015, will result in possibly having no Nigeria left to use such a new constitution. The good news for President Jonathan however is that as things currently stands, the APC has no viable presidential candidate to pose any real threat to Jonathan's victory come 2015. Icheoku repeats, unequivocally and without mincing words, that both Abubakar Atiku and Muhammadu Buhari are politically too damaged to constitute any serious challenge to President Jonathan's reelection victory in 2015. Icheoku concludes that Election 2015 must go on and as scheduled, with the ONLY acceptable exception being the skies over Nigeria tumbling down and completely annihilating and obliterating the entity called Nigeria! Icheoku says to hell with any form of tenure elongation, in ELECTION 2015, we trust!

BUHARI OR ATIKU, APC'S ALBATROSS CATCH 22?

Icheoku says like the proverbial two knives in the household  of a poor person, wherein one knife is sharp but has no handle and the other knife has handle but is not sharp, the APC is stranded between two not so good choices in the declared presidential candidacies of Muhammadu Buhari and Abubakar Atiku. Icheoku says ordinarily no political party would want or prefer such a situational limbo in choosing who flies their presidential flag, especially in an election cycle many consider as the opposition's to lose? But regrettably though, this seems now the sure fate of destiny that awaits the APC as their choices have drastically and threateningly narrowed to just two detestable, much loathed and highly unelectable candidates, Buhari and Atku. 

Icheoku says both candidates, having repeatedly ran for the office and now literally morphed into presidential candidates emeritus, have somewhat become very desperate and dangerous or at least are now perceived as so? Icheoku says such craving-desperation by both Muhammadu Buhari and Abubakar Atiku for the office of Nigeria's president forebodes of something sinister. So it is very safe to assume that both Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar are driven not by their altruism, but by some other ulterior motive, including obtaining a platform to take  out vengeance as well as the power to do evil. They should therefore be stopped, prevented and avoided.

Icheoku says considering the dearth of other credible potential presidential candidates in the APC and the near-desperateness of this two already irredeemably damaged presidential candidates Buhari and Atiku,  it is increasingly becoming obvious that the APC is running on empty in their quest to snatch from President Jonathan, the keys to Aso Rock in 2015? But cruel fate has apparently boxed the party into a corner with this two leprous candidates, non of who would nor could yield them their desire to form the next government at the center. Icheoku maintains that except a miracle is pulled off the hat of Bola Tinubu in giving Nigerians a presidential candidate they could vote for, the APC's dream of shoving Jonathan out of Aso Rock in 2015 might remain a hollow pipe dream and at best an illusionary nightmare. 

Icheoku says never in the annals of Nigerian political engineering has two frontline presidential candidates of a major political party, especially the opposition, come this laden with weighty putrid baggages. The two presidential   candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and Abubakar Atiku, both come heavily laden, heavily handicapped and heavily damaged with political barbs the APC wish they never carried or have to deal with. Icheoku says this is the dilemma of the All Peoples Congress Party as they search for an acceptable and credible candidate to fly their presidential flag this 2015 election season in Nigeria. Unfortunately, with Buhari and Atiku, their search remains a work in progress that requires more concert and grit. Call it the conflict of abstractions of two opposites or the lack of a fulfilled cause in a given quantum or a choice with no real choice or the compound dilemma. A complexity of complexities of some sort, that in either candidate, the party is not satisfied nor fulfilled that they have a winning candidate. 

Icheoku maintains that the candidacy of either Buhari or Atiku would be an insurmountable problem for the APC to solve or try to sell to Nigerians in the 2015 presidential election. Neither Buhari nor Atiku is the "IT" candidate and none of them is the much needed magical silver bullet to 'shoot' Jonathan out of Aso Rock in 2015. 

First Muhammadu Buhari, the austere one, although  disciplined enough to lead Nigerians is rather too fundamentalistic or at least perceived as such by Nigerians. Icheoku laments that unfortunately his handlers are not helping matters or doing enough at solving this his image problem which is hounding him and heavily militating against his electoral chances. Muhammadu Buhari is also too mean-spirited, lean and dangerous. As William Shakespeare observed of Cassius through Julius Caesar, such men should be feared and Nigerians have been put on notice. It is also arguable that Muhammadu Buhari might be more disposed to solving Nigeria's intractable corruption problem; but there is increasing fear in some quarters that he might not be able to put his money where his mouth is once the wheeling and dealing of election is done and he is sworn in, especially with Bola Tinubu calling the shots. 

In recent past, Muhammadu Buhari had threatened to reveal the type of corrupt NNPC and Nigeria's oil industry the duo of Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo ran respectively? He never followed through, but instead  made a b-line and backed down under pressure? Muhammadu Buhari also not too long ago, visited the Kano State and at the grave site of Sani Abacha, extolled him as the best head of State Nigeria ever had? Icheoku bemoans how a man like Abacha, who committed untold atrocities on both the physical and psyche of Nigerians, and who stole Nigeria blind to the tune of over three billion dollars, with some of his loot still being repatriated back to Nigeria, could be qualified by any sane Nigerian talk less of one who wants to be their president, as the best leader Nigeria ever had? 

Icheoku adds that any mind or brain that could arrive at this judgment or opinion, about the despicable midget of Kano, and despite the myriad of evidence and facts of consequence at everybody's disposal, is a mind-demented, a mind-troubled with reality or one simply delusional as to what is or what was? Till date and over thirty one odd years after, Muhammadu Buhari has also not been able to satisfactorily explain to Nigerians the circumstances surrounding the 53 suitcases that his then ADC Jokolo smuggled into Nigeria during the currency exchange in 1984? Icheoku says it is simply difficult, if not impossible, for such a mind as fore encapsulated, to be compatible with a mind that is seriously anti-corruption tinged or that would successfully lead Nigerians out of the woods and into the promised land. 

Icheoku says that Muhammadu Buhari is a very mean person  and has succeeded in alienating himself from decent and sensitive Nigerians is equally obvious. Buhari has been on the stage before and his records then was not stellar. Buhari  has killed innocent Nigerians before and would do it again? Buhari is also finding it extremely difficult to understand or accept how repulsive and abhor able an act it is to carry out the sentence of death on anyone based on a retroactive decree? Buhari is also finding it difficult to appreciate why civilized Nigerians are mad as hell at him for murdering those three innocent Nigerians whom his junta accused of drug peddling? Icheoku says no man with a good soul would kill innocent people who did not break any death-sentence law or arbitrarily carry out a sentence of death on them  just to prove that he is a blood-thirty monster that should  be feared. Icheoku says Buhari needs to understand that what he did was not only wrong but violates every sensibilities of a civilized behavior and must make atonement for them. Icheoku says humans do not just kill people just because they can and Buhari, except his habitat is in Serengeti, needs to apologize to Nigerians, particularly the families of those deceased three, and ask for general forgiveness. 

Further Buhari's overthrow of a duly elected President Shehu Shagari's democratic government is equally an albatross on his neck. Icheoku says Buhari cannot be allowed to probate and reprobate on an issue. So a denier of democracy cannot be allowed to turn around and seek to be a beneficiary of the same democracy he previously spurned and disparaged. Then add Decree 4, the muzzle-decree, that forbade any criticism of his junta regime and you see a man running amok with absolutely laboring to control every facet of life of fellow Nigerians. 

Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari's baggage is too plentiful, it hurts his chances so much.  The Buhari then is the same Buhari now and there is no evidence that he has seriously walked himself back into the minds and hearts of decent Nigerians. Icheoku therefore maintains that an APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari is not sellable to Nigerians,, despite some fanatical following in certain  quarters of the country. Buhari's despotism is still there, although arguably latent, but would surely bubble back to the fore in the event of his getting back to power.  

Icheoku agrees with Mohmmed Abdulrahman that although "Buhari may be a good person and can also be a good leader but he will never "rule" Nigeria again. Buhari was and still remains a dictator and has no business analysing political processes and direction. Buhari was a die-hard dictator who executed those three drug carriers unlawfully and jailed the newspaper men, who exposed the truth. Buhari cannot be President of Nigeria again. It takes more than being a good person to be President of Nigeria, considering other factors, like quality of being humane as in humanity, ethnicity, religion as well as other factors."

Abubakar Atiku on the other hand, is a much more amenable of the two candidates to all the different disparities in Nigeria. Atiku is more liberal with his religious views and inter-personal relationships with other Nigerians who do not knock their forehead on the ground in prayerful supplication to their "God or Allah or whatever nomenclature that suits?" However, Atiku's worst leg-chain is that the is eminently very corrupt. Put in another way,  Icheoku says Abubakar Atiku could be described as a personification of corruption or the human face of corruption in Nigeria. It is on record that till date Atiku is yet to accept Baba Iyabo's challenge to travel to the United States and be arrested for corruption? 

Nigerians are aware that Atiku Abubakar is a fugitive on the run from justice in the United States of America on account of multiple  corruption one of which was implicated in the case that sent US Congressman from Louisiana William Jefferson to prison. It was on account of this that Baba Iyabo, Olusegun Obasanjo, sarcastically remarked "I dey laugh" when the issue of Atiku's first attempt at running for the presidency was broached. It is also on record that Atiku Abubakar has nothing to show for explanation as the source of his stupendous wealth, other than that he worked for the Nigerian Custom and Excise and then went into politics?  

Icheoku says if Bola Tinubu ever settles for any of this two candidates, he will have some serious explaining to do for Nigerians on why they should trust their destiny in either evils?  But the man who owns and runs APC PLC will first have to inform Nigerians in APC, why they should choose a very mean-spirited Muhammadu Buhari over a very corrupt Atiku Abubakar or vice versa. 

Icheoku says that both men have unsuccessfully made the same bid for Aso Rock, on two occasions in the past and each time came miserably short of the goalpost, does not bode well for this repeat attempt. Icheoku harps that nothing has changed since their previous presidential runs, both in their like-ability factor and their campaign performance/strategy, to warrant or suggest that this time the outcome is going to be anything different? None of the candidates have developed any wow factor or mesmerized Nigerians enough for them to suddenly fall in love with them and fall in line behind them. 

But until APC decides or settles on which of the two unelectable candidates, Icheoku wishes them luck in their effort at displacing the man already occupying Aso Rock, President Goodluck Jonathan? An occupant who would have ordinarily been easily beaten due to non performance and Nigerians disenchantment with his governance thus far, but the lack of any credible alternative would force Nigerians to go to the poll with their noses covered and reluctantly cast their ballots for Jonathan and the PDP in 2015. As the saying goes, the devil one knows is still far better than the strange but possibly bellicose angel. As between the deep blue sea that either Buhari or Atiku choice represents, and the hard rock which the non performing government of Goodluck or rather "Hardluck" or "Badluck" Jonathan is, the bet is that survival chances are better with the hard rock than ending up as dinner or lunch in one marine mammal. 

Peradventure, the APC might settle for an entirely and surprisingly new candidate, possibly of previously unknown quantity, but who would be credible enough to be accepted by Nigerians. If such candidate emerges and provided it is not a candidate just to replace an already in place Christian president or displace an already in place South-south candidate or simply for power shift back to the same Northwest, then APC might stand a chance at forming the next government in 2015. Nigerians are disillusioned at the government of President Jonathan inability to have real traction on the firmament and would gladly welcome a better option for a change but this option must not and should not include either Muhammadu Buhari or Atiku Abubakar. Icheoku emphasizes that unless APC makes to Nigerians an offer they could not refuse nor resist with a viable Jonathan's alternative, the 2015 race will be President Jonathan's to loose with either Buhari or Atiku flying their presidential flag. In that case, Nigerians would rather vote against either Buhari or Atiku and thus elect Jonathan by default as a preferred evil. Until then, Icheoku alongside millions of other Nigerians, will join Baba Iyabo in saying "we dey laugh o" at the declared presidential intention of Abubakar Atiku and Muhammadu Buhari's based on their antecedents and their electability question. 

IGBOS HAVE NO STRATEGY - IGBOKWE

"They allow their flanks to be infiltrated for a mess of porridge. It is money for hand back for ground. It is give me money and I kill myself (Inyem ego egbuom onwem). The truth is that Igbo has been left behind in matters of Nigerian politics. There is no strong presence in PDP and no strong presence in APC, the two major parties. Igbo politics worries me to the bones!

But is it a hopeless case for Igbo? Things can get better if we sit down to discuss strategies and think properly. If you do not know where you are going, nobody can help you. If you do not stand for something, nobody will take you serious. If you do not love others, they can never trust you. If you do not show some seriousness in anything you do, nobody will take you serious." - Joe Igbokwe, APC Publicity Secretary Lagos State. Icheoku agrees that Ndigbo should do better to reposition themselves politically in Nigeria and find a more meaningful way to re-strategies in order to take the process of their true emancipation forward.

GOVERNORSHIP ENDORSEMENTS, THE IRONY OF UNLEARNED LESSON?

Icheoku says each of these governors busily running around with endorsing their successors were respectively themselves endorsed by someone, their predecessors. But can someone please tell Icheoku which of them, except for Lagos State's Fashola and very few others, who did not eventually fall out with their so called endorser? It is on record too that even Fashola tried to declare his independence but was ruthlessly subdued with threat of impeachment engineered by the man who made him governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall Enugu State Governor Chime and former Governor Nnamani; Abia State Governor Orji and former Governor Uzor Kalu as well as Akwa Ibom Governor Akpabio and the State's former governor, just to mention a few examples of governors who were brought into office by their predecessors but who since fell out and do not see eye to eye with their former benefactors. 

Icheoku asks what then is the use or expected benefit that these new endorsers expect would accrue to them by embarking on similar fruitless exercise, trying now to handpick their own successors when it never worked out well in the past? Icheoku maintains that except the saying 'what goes around comes around' is no longer trite, these new endorsers  would themselves reap the fruit of their own whirlwinds as they will similarly be banished on exile, away from their respective home states, by the same people they are now pushing to succeed them. They did it to their predecessors, so what is wrong if their successors also do it to them? It is the way of the world but regrettably and unfortunately, it remains a great irony of life that humans do not necessarily learn from historical experiences.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GEORGE CLOONEY, FINALLY SAYS "I DO?"

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

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

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

SHEKAU DEAD, THE UNENDING TALE OF KILLING HIM OVER?

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

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

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

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

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

STRONGER AT THE BROKEN PLACES - LINDA & CHARLES BLOOM.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"A" WORDS THAT STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS - AIDY THOMAS

FLEECING NIGERIANS IN THE NAME OF GOD - GABRIEL OMOH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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