OMAR AL-BASHIR TELLS THE WEST TO SHOVE IT, WINS A SIXTH TERM?

Icheoku says when the world was expecting African leaders to now begin to look to Abuja-Nigeria, to enroll into the newly opened President Goodluck Jonathan's school of how to yield power in the interest of peace, Sudan's Omar al-Bashir preferred instead to look to Harare-Zimbabwe, at the school of President Robert Mugabe on how to sit tight, no shaking? This is despite Western pressure and sanctions as well as a long lasting travel restriction and ban from traveling to and within Western countries and their controlled territories at the pain of arrest and trial for war crimes? But the strong man in Khartoum simply ignored them, as according to him, like late Moummar Gaddafi, his own Sudanese people loves him and that is what matters most and should count and controls his decisions and not what some pin-heads Western leaders would like to dictate to him. 

The 71 year old President Omar al-Bashir, just two years younger than Nigeria's president-elect Muhammadu Buhari at 73 years old, and who first came to power in 1989, six years after Muhammadu Buhari's first stab at power in 1983, again stood for election and is now "reelected" president of Sudan and for a sixth term? Unlike Nigeria's President Jonathan, Sudanese Omar al-Bashir knows how to get it done and also thrives amidst opposition - they just don't exist and/or are not allowed to rear their ugly head. They are simply crushed and banished from all lands and territories controlled by the government in Khartoum.  Such was his drastic antagonism against the opposition, many of whom are behind bars if not already decapitated; and not allowed access to any government licensed media operating in his country, talkless of allowing them the unlimited access through which to tell lies and offload fabricated propaganda like President Jonathan did with the "victorious" APC, that many Sudanese voters did not even know of the existence of any opposition whatsoever? As one would be voter, who wanted to vote for somebody other than President Omar al-Bashir, but could not find any,  quipped, "I only see Bashir on TV and elsewhere. It doesn't feel like Bashir has any other contesting against him. The state TV and private channels are all pro-Bashir. I don't know who the other candidates are and what their election programmes are." 

Icheoku says this is how to win elections in Africa and other third world countries - muzzle the opposition, drive them out of town and do not let them drive the narrative. But in Nigeria, lucky were the APC, who not only got a level playing field but an incumbent who loves Nigerians so much that he effortlessly yielded power and without having to shed any Nigerian's blood, engaged in a power struggle. Icheoku asks, could the APC have survived in Omar al-Bashir's Sudan? Your guess is as good as anyone's else who can figure the answer to two plus two. Icheoku says if Omar al-Bashir is good for the Sudanese people, who is Icheoku to query their voting for him? On this note, Icheoku hereby extends congratulatory message to the newly reelected President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan. Hopefully the reelected president, alongside Robert Mugabe and Muhammadu Buhari can now establish a truly  African Council of Elders, with admission strictly restricted to very, very old African leaders. Way to go all despots of Africa and before Icheoku forgets, Cameroon's Paul Biya, who himself has been in power in Younde since 1985, also eminently qualifies as a bona fide candidate for membership of this anticipated council. But hey......

HILLARY CLINTON IS SO YESTERDAY - MARCO RUBIO

"This election is a generational choice about what kind of country we will be. Just yesterday, a leader from yesterday began a campaign for president by promising to take us back to yesterday. Yesterday is over -- and we're never going back." - Senator Marco Rubio, Republican Party's presidential candidate aspirant. 

Icheoku asks where was this guy when his American government backed Nigeria's own version of a very yesterday person, Muhammadu Buhari, to become the newly elected president of Nigeria? Does it mean that what is good for America, cannot be good for Nigeria or that Nigeria is only good for a yesterday's man while America cannot afford to take chances with a yesterday's woman, coming back from the past to pretend to take them to the future? Icheoku queries what type of champion for the working masses does this Hillary want to be anyway which waited till this time to effervescence. But hey, the silly season of campaign politics is nearly here with politicians rearing and ready to go; and pretty very soon America will be inundated by people promising paradise on earth and only to forget they made such promises as soon as they are sworn in. But this Marco Rubio, is a very, very, long shot at clinching the Republican ticket, admitted he stands a chance at a veepee slot. But Icheoku likes his lines though. Salute!

TY DANJUMA MOUTHING-OFF OJUKWU, A SACRILEGE OF THE WORST KIND.

Icheoku says this murderer waited until Ojukwu moved  on to open his mustachioed bloody mouth to spit vile, comparing a circumstantially forced situation, where it mattered to stand up to be counted at an hour of great need, to a mere presidential election fallout? An election outcome which he helped engineer  while pretending to love President Jonathan, the same way he professed his love for Aguiyi Ironsi, before he and his band of jackals, hog-tied him behind an army truck and dragged him to a gruesome death, smashing his body to pieces and scattering the dismembered body on a dirt-road. He pretended to love Jonathan in the day while at night participating in every conspiracy that yanked Jonathan out of Aso Rock and you wonder with a friend like Danjuma does Jonathan or Ndigbo need an enemy? What a mongrel. 

A ravenous jackal provoking a better-forgotten bitter memory and reminding the world the heinous role he played in the two murderous attacks on Ndigbo that caused so much sorrow and sadness? The killing of Head of State Aguiyi Ironsi alongside hundreds of Igbo military officers and first-rate bureaucrats as well as the Biafra war of survival on one side and war of attrition on the other. Look at this mad man bragging that President Jonathan capitulated to his Northern conspirators forces and that he had expected Ikemba Ndigbo to have showed the same cowardice faced with the tyranny of genocide? Anyway it was Jonathan who played into these munchkin's hands, the same way Ironsi played into their hands, thinking that he had trusted people in these hate-filled Northerners, only for them to eat him for lunch. Yet this man has the temerity to open his mouth to spit hate, when he could not even stand up to throw his support for President Jonathan and he is supposedly a christian? So Icheoku asks Danjuma what has Odimegwu Ojukwu got to do with an election that took place several years since he departed if not his deliberate attempt to sneer at Ndigbo for their unflinching support for President Jonathan which did not translate to a second term?

A betrayer of the worst kind, an animal who breached the supreme most trust and alongside his Northern brothers, who have only one interest in a united Nigeria estate,  milking it dry and making out like bandits from its oil wealth, betrayed and murdered their head of state. Look at Danjuma nostalgically waxing that if only Ojukwu had surrendered like President Jonathan and you ask yourself why did the mongrel not start with himself? Why not ask if only TY Danjuma and his band of bandits did not stage the counter-coup of revenge of July 1966, may be a more united Nigeria country would have been forged by now? Why not TY Danjuma ask if only him and his band of ravenous kill-joys did not wage a war of attrition on the defenseless of Biafra, pregnant women and suckling children, and also did not carry out the Asaba massacre, may be the people of former Biafra would be more trusting of his ilk and peradventure be more invested in the drama of a Nigeria country, truly united and collectively looking into a future? 

May be Danjuma should have asked if only he and his band of genocidal bandits had not seized all the monetary assets of Biafrans, refused to implement the Three Rs and have not been waging war of capitulation against Ndigbo ever since, may be the country Nigeria would have Ndigbo  sincerely invested in the successful outcome of that  humpty-dumpty experiment? Icheoku says may be if Danjuma had asked, if him and his Northern oligarchs did not stage the coup that forced Gowon out of power, may be subsequent coup plotters would not have had a bad example to emulate, copy and follow? May be if Danjuma had asked Buhari why he staged the coup that drove away President Shagari out of office, the Nigeria's still crawling democracy would have since matured? Icheoku asks why did Danjuma not ask Babangida why he staged the coup against Buhari, thus engraving coup plotting in the psyche of Nigeria armed forces and thereby drastically weakened the fighting spirit of these brave men and women? 

Icheoku ask where was this Danjuma when Sani Abacha overthrew Ernest Shonekan's interim government? Was Danjuma around when Babangida annulled MKO Abiola's election and what did he ruefully say in condemnation? That he was in the government of Olusegun Obasanjo that operated like a barack-regime is equally instructional about the hater, called Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma? Suddenly the mayhem of Zaki Ibiam and Odi, which both took place under his watch as defense minister, are now no longer abhorable incidents? Suddenly, the timid Jonathan was intimidated out of office and power wrestled from his baby-hand and this Danjuma finds the mouth to compare what happened to President Jonathan to the Biafran forced struggle in defense of their existence as a people? Icheoku prays that this man will suffer death and if there is hell, will be guest of the hottest spot therein where he will gnash his teeth in agony and in perpetuity until hell freezes over. 

Look at his mouth, "if Ojukwu did the same after the fall of Enugu when his government fled into exile, if he had conceded victory to the federal troops, it would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed. Icheoku asks why not "if genocidal Yakubu Gowon had conceded to Aburi Accord or even at worst, waged the war if need be with a human face and not the draconic dracula, thirsty for the crimson fluid? Thankfully someone had to stand up to this jackal to push some logic and clear thought into his cranial matter and it is a big consolation. According to Femi Fani Kayode, "Those that say that Colonel Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu should have quickly accepted defeat in the war, like President Goodluck Jonathan did immediately after the election, have got it all wrong. I say this because the former was involved in a full scale military conflict whilst the latter was involved in a mere election. It is easy to concede defeat in an election but you cannot sit back and gladly do the same in a war in which your people are facing mass murder and genocide. In those terrible circumstances you do not give up and concede but instead you stand and you fight to the last man. Whether anyone likes it or not Ojukwu did the right thing. He fought for his people and, if I had been in his place, I would have done the same thing. I would rather be a dead man than a slave. I would rather die fighting than bow to the enemies of my soul." 

Icheoku salutes the courage of Femi Fani Kayode and hereby urges Ndigbo to start reasserting themselves more forcefully once again in Nigeria. Nobody is inferior to any of these uncircumcised mallams that hold sway in Nigeria and therefore Ndigbo should stand up to defend their honor whenever challenged or disparaged. Imagine this vermin deliberately dragging Ojukwu's name into President Jonathan's capitulation to these blood hounds eager to waste Nigerian lives just for power? Icheoku says something is definitely wrong with this man called Danjuma and prays that it shall not ever be well with him, oil wells or no oil wells. What a maga-rabid-dog or rather hyena or even 'kwura' this Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma is.  What an irritant and evil incarnate masquerading an a human being. Away with his nauseating presence!

TINUBU'S GREED, APC'S GREATEST ALBATROSS?

Icheoku says as with every band of bandits for example, the problem often lies with the sharing of the booty as greed and excessive arrogation of more important role played, often pitches parties against themselves.  The recent victory of the All Progressive Congress in the just concluded Nigeria election, although a good development for democracy in Nigeria, may not bring the expected joy to the party and/or Nigerians.  Developing internal wrangling will eventually lead to an internal combustion, ripping to pieces the party and government,  and before Nigerians could know what happened, the newly conceived baby of hope will be prematurely aborted? As with everything involving humanity,  winning the election will soon prove to be the easiest part of the struggle, as the heavy lifting will start trying to fill positions and offices in the government. Now, time to share the windfall of their election victory, all the major gladiators are now readying themselves for a major duel; which will likely see every other one of them pitching battle with Bola Tinubu standing alone as Bola Tinubu? The result might either see Bola Tinubu having his way as usual or implosion of the party following an internecine civil war. 

It is without doubt that the role played by the owner and the man who runs affairs of the APC Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu in securing victory for the party is immeasurable; but he couldn't have done it all alone and by himself without others chipping in. So it goes without saying that when the same man now wants to be the sole decider of all who gets what in the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari, it goes outside every known decency of making accommodation for others in a democracy and tethers on crass avarice and unparalleled selfish greed. Icheoku bemoans if this trajectory of all or nothing tendency of Bola Tinubu, to have it all to himself is not immediately checked by the president-elect, it might be the first salvo towards bringing down the high-flying APC back to the grounds and back into the political doldrums from its current soaring Olympian heights. It might be a very tragic tale of how the man who transformed the APC into a formidable opposition party and led it into the main party, literally single-handily, also torpedoed it. 

Feelers reaching Icheoku has it on strong authority that Ahmed Bola Tinubu is already at war with every other supposed stake-holder of the APC as to filling very key positions of the incoming government. For instance while Olusegun Obasanjo wants Chukwuma Soludo to be the next Finance Minister, Bola TInubu is standing in the way as he has his own anointed candidate to fill the position? Icheoku queries how would Baba Iyabo react to this apparent challenge to his authority by Bola Tinubu and this attempt to whittle his influence over the incoming President Muhammadu Buhari? But the Obasanjo Nigerians know, don't usually shy away from fights and will see to it that he has his way or Bola Tinubu's influence is drastically cut. Conversely, Bola Tinubu equally is not afraid of fights and might have the various municipalities that amalgamated into the APC go their separate ways rather than for any other person including the marginal Obasanjo reap where they did not sow. 

Also there is brewing war between Bola TInubu and the other man from Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi over who will occupy the senate president seat? While Rotimi Amaechi wants Olusola Saraki to become the next senate president, Bola Tinubu's candidate for the position is Benue State's Akume George. Icheoku does not know how this battle for the senate presidency will fare but the Bola Tinubu Nigerians have come to know and now respect as the man who made Buhari president, might dig in. The implication is that the former PDP governors wing of the APC might gang up and start a war to push Bola Tinubu out of power and control of the APC, leading to factionalization of the the party which will go a long way in helping the now traumatized PDP with quicker recovery. Then you have the Ministry of Petroleum resources which many had thought will be used to compensate Rotimi Amaechi for his contribution to Muhammadu Buhari displacing his Southsouth brother Jonathan from Aso Rock; but for which Bola Tinubu has also penciled down his preferred candidate, the Deputy Group Chief Executive of OANDO Plc Omamofe Boyo for the position. 

Needless to add that these are but the iceberg of the many positions that will be filled in the incoming Buhari administration. So query will President-elect Muhammadu Buhari as usual, watch from the sidelines as Bola Tinubu single-handily fills all these positions; and if yes, how will his Miyetti Allah wing of the APC react, seeing their much sought-after government now being run by a Yoruba Southerner once again? As at now, no one can categorically say with certainty what will become of the party when the long knives are forced out, but it sure will not bode well for the new boys in town as their marriage might be over ever before the honey moon even concludes. All because of the avarice and unbridled greed of just one man - Ahmed Bola Tinubu. But hey, Nigerians dey watch to see how this newly minted victory is used beneficially, both to the party and the Nigerian public; but to do this, Bola Tinubu must first have to check his excessive greed.

OBA AKIOLU WAS WRONG - FEMI FALANA

"Oba Akiolu ought to have realized that the Electoral Act has not conferred powers on any traditional ruler or any other authority to sanction anyone for voting for a candidate of his or her choice in any election conducted in Nigeria. After all, before the just concluded presidential election the Oba adduced reasons why he could not endorse the presidential candidate of the APC, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.). He was not harassed or intimidated for exercising his freedom of choice. Since the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended has banned any form of hate campaign the Oba is advised to withdraw the threat credited to him and apologize publicly to the Igbo people without any delay.” - Femi Falana, SAN.

HILLARY CLINTON MAKES IT OFFICAIL, WHITEHOUSE IN MY VIEW.

Icheoku says that Bill Clinton will be very much around her government makes the proposition rather very more interesting. Moreso if United Kingdom, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, Liberia, Chile and other countries of the world who have welcomed the female specie into their governance could do it, why not the United States of America. Icheoku looks forward to the campaign to make it a happen, a reality; and with this, we say welcome HC and may the campaign now begin. Icheoku is emphatic that a President Hillary Clinton is much closer a possibility today than it was yesterday and it will be another first for America, one would add. So lets make it happen America! 

OBAMA AND CASTRO SHAKES HAND, FOCUS NOW ON THE FUTURE.

Icheoku says what a day this will become in history as time healed all wounds and yesterday's enemies shook hands of friendship in anticipation of a future filled with hopes and aspirations. Icheoku says well done  America and Viva Cuba for finally broaching a path of warmth, peace and reconciliation after such long and many decades of being in the cold. Icheoku says it was very wonderful to see the two former foes mend their path towards foisting a lasting friendship and before an  excited world audience, who watched the historic event. Way to go Presidents Obama and Castro and may history judge you rightly. Bravo!

PAT 'UTOBO' UTOMI, WHO IS YOUR DADDY?

Icheoku berates Patrick 'Okedinachi' Utomi for trivializing and making a mockery of, the threat of genocide by drowning made by the Oba of Lagos against Ndigbo Lagos, as a mere "talks so in jest." How dare this man demean such a horrendous and deliberate threat against a people, whose collective existence in Lagos Nigeria is now seriously threatened in this manner? A people who now live each day in fear of another pogrom, this time by drowning inside the Lagos lagoon, on the orders of the Oba of Lagos who has both the capacity and ability to cause the threatened? An Oba of Lagos, whose goons and 'alaayee' area boys are waiting for their marching orders to visit terroristic mayhem of water-boarding and drowning on Ndigbo of Lagos. 

What manner of 'NWAA-AFOR IGBO' would be so Nero-istic and playing fiddle of "talk so in jest" with such an ominous threat hanging on the necks of his people? Instead of raising hell in protest, this man attempted to belittle the gravity of the threatened terroristic act by suggesting that the man who made the threat was merely JOKING - "talk so in jest?' Icheoku queries if this is what a joke looks like in the jaundiced eyes and unhinged mind of this man, what then would a real joke and real threat look like? Does Patrick "Okedinachi' Utomi need to be reminded that the wife of Michael Henchard once told her husband in 'Mayor of Casterbridge' that a joke is a joke but once too often? At least he should have first called the Oba, since he claims that they both are friends, and find out if indeed the Oba did not mean every scintilla of word that oozed from his terroristic mouth before going in defense of the Oba? What manner of a joke is it that threatens a collective peoples existence and meaningful backed it up with swearing an oath to cause it to happen? 

Which sane Nigerian, especially of an Igbo stork, would after watching the video of Oba Rilwanu Akiolu of Lagos swearing before his forefathers and the Allah which he worships, still come to the conclusion that the Oba was merely jesting and joking? Icheoku says except that this man's Igbo pedigree is somewhat of doubtful origin, otherwise what true son of his Igbo father does not know that it is only the tree that stands still when faced with threat to its life? That any well sired and well raised up 'NWADIALA' uses his brain correctly to know how to deploy his tongue to first count his teeth before publicly opening his mouth on any sensitive matter; and in the tier of sensitivity, threatening to drown an entire nationality inside the Lagos lagoon is as serious as it gets and should not be joked with or so dismissively waved off as 'talks so in jest?'. 

However on further research as to the authenticity of this guy's claimed Igbo pedigree, Icheoku found out that he was born in Kaduna State, primarily schooled in Kano and Zamfara States. So his early formative age was outside Igboland and possibly he lacks the attribute of being adequately inculcated in the culture and mannerisms of a true Igbo person. So being not so properly raised and well brought up as a true Igbo son, with the usual common sense imperative, he spoke like the 'ONYE-AWUSA' which he most likely is, if only DNA test would be ordered? Further, outside his Igbo-sounding middle name 'Okedinachi' and his last name 'Utomi' (whatever that means), and his claim of family to Ibuzo, Oshimili North, Delta State, there is no other information to affirmatively state that he actually knows his biological father and if he is dead, might not even know where his grave is. Whether he even speaks Igbo language fluently, if at all, is also doubtful, talkless of being steeped in Igbo culture and tradition. 

Icheoku says how could this assumed Igbo man so murder sleep by taking side with a now self-proclaimed enemy of Ndigbo and against his own Ndigbo people, assuming he is indeed a true Igbo son as claimed. Icheoku says in our neck of the wood, this man would have been summarily banished and made to atone for his abomination (IKPU-ALUU) before ever being reintegrated back into the community. Failing which, 'UMU-BOYS' would have since demolished whatever home he has within the community as a taboo which the earth must be cleansed of? How dare him and for what price or is he still seriously seeking an appointment from the soon to be inaugurated Bola Tinubu controlled Buhari government to warrant pulling this Judas Iscariot on Ndigbo? Hopefully he will wake up soon enough from his stupor and tender unreserved apology to Ndigbo and ask for their forgiveness, otherwise he should be isolated and excommunicated and no longer accorded or treated as a 'NWA-AMADI IGBO' henceforth. What an EFULUEFU, who possibly was not sired by an Igbo man's sperm. So Pat Utomi, who is your father?

PAT UTOMI'S OFFENSIVE TWEET COMMENT:-

“The arena of politics is a slippery slope. The remarks by the Oba of Lagos are inappropriate but all who know him know he talks so in jest.

“Have known Oba Akiolu for 20yrs. He says worse to me every time we see but I have no doubt he is fond of me. How do you tell outsiders so'

“Typical of Oba as he sees me: Pat go return our land where you built that Lagos Business School. I respond; hold Asiwaju who signed C of O,” he tweeted.

FEMI FALANA, ICHEOKU SALUTES YOUR COURAGE.

Icheoku says it is not where a man stands in times of convenience and comfort that makes a man; nope, it is where he stands in times of great adversity and tribulation. It is where he stands when faced with the choice of biting the bullet for his convictions and beliefs. It is where he stands when pilloried, irrespective of the popularity or otherwise of his conviction and regardless whether he is a minority opinion or the lone voice in the wilderness of cacophony of compromised and intimidated voices of deceit and untruthfulness. That is what makes a man, the id of a man. Simply put, it is the fire in the belly of man that truly makes him a man; which also makes it possible to fearlessly look a king in the face and tell him that there are exceptions where a king can do wrong. It is speaking truth to power and damning any consequences arising thereto, including communal ostracising by the tribe of the king to whom he spoke the truth. Icheoku says in this area of exemplary courage, this particular Senior Advocate of Nigeria extraordinaire, Chief Femi Falana, is overflowing with it; and this is what distinguishes him from the rest of the pack - the proverbial man among men scenario. 

Ndigbo of and in Lagos are facing imminent threat of extinction by drowning, following a threat by the Oba of Lagos to drown them in the Lagos lagoon. While many other notable voices in Nigeria, including the now seemingly deranged Wole Soyinka, were murmuring in hush-hush tones about what the Oba said being reprehensible, this indefatigable legal mind rose up to the occasion to be counted, as the person who refused that the man in him will die faced with tyranny. He spoke out to condemn what Oba Akiolu threaten to do to Ndigbo, calling for an apology to Ndigbo from the Oba. Icheoku says this is what true courage looks like and it is not the first time, Femi Falana had risen in defense of a cause involving the Igbo person. Recall that when Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime allegedly imprisoned his wife Clara Chime inside Enugu Government House, it was only Femi Falana that rushed to her rescue, thundering illegality by a sitting governor and summarily secured her freedom from her forced imprisonment. Needless to add that some Igbo lawyers who were consulted prior, chickened out as they were too timid to go up against a sitting governor. 

Icheoku says fear is the greatest weapon of mass destruction in the arsenal of oppressors and until a society overcomes their fear of their oppressors, they can never indeed be truly free. Icheoku prays that Nigerians will learn something from this erudite lawyer, who has once again displayed that truth is like light which vanishes darkness and usually shames power into doing right by the people and for the people. For courageously and boldly condemning the threatened annihilation of the entire Ndigbo population in Lagos, infringing on their right to life abridging their freedom to choose of who governs them in Lagos; and also calling for an apology to Ndigbo from the Oba of Lagos, Icheoku hereby crowns Femi Falana the new peoples advocate-in-chief of Nigeria. Icheoku prays that other Nigerian lawyers could summon enough courage to thread on this lawyer's path towards securing the freedom of every Nigerian against the power shareholders of Nigeria PLC. Icheoku says thank God that there is another Gani Fawehimni-like personality still existing in Nigeria. Icheoku says thank you Falana for speaking up and may you continue to provide the much needed guide for Nigerian lawyers, who tremble in fear when faced by these oppressors and you wonder who will then protect and defend their clients, if they are this too cowardly to face down these threats.  

Here are excerpts of Femi Falana's statement condemning  Oba Akiolu's hate speech and call for genocide against Ndigbo of Lagos:-

"The Oba’s diversionary threat is totally unacceptable as it is a mockery of the political objective of national integration, a violation of the fundamental right of thousands of citizens to life.

In the case of Director-General of State Security Service v Olisa Agbakoba (1999) 3 N.W.L.R (PT 595) 314 it was held by the Supreme Court that ‘It is not in dispute that the Constitution gives every Nigerian citizen the right to move throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof. It also guarantees to the citizen the right not to be expelled from Nigeria nor be refused entry or exit therefrom.

Since the residency right of every citizen is constitutionally guaranteed the Igbo people in Lagos should discountenance the threat of Oba Akiolu. Indeed, the human-rights community has always kicked against discriminatory policies and ensured that all victims of human rights abuse are defended and protected regardless of their ethnic identity.

Oba Akiolu ought to have realized that the Electoral Act has not conferred powers on any traditional ruler or any other authority to sanction anyone for voting for a candidate of his or her choice in any election conducted in Nigeria. After all, before the just concluded presidential election the Oba adduced reasons why he could not endorse the presidential candidate of the APC, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.). He was not harassed or intimidated for exercising his freedom of choice. Since the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended has banned any form of hate campaign the Oba is advised to withdraw the threat credited to him and apologize publicly to the Igbo people without any delay.”

OBA AND ALAAYEE-IN-CHIEF AKIOLU OF LAGOS, SIMPLY PSYCHOTIC?

Icheoku laments that this is not a case of a king or queen who can do no wrong; no, this is a case of a ruler of Isale Eko who did a very heinous wrong to a whole nationality of bona fide Nigerians who merely chose to domicile in Lagos, an integral part of their country. Those Igbos living in Lagos have equal right of residence in Lagos as the Oba, who himself is not even a native of Lagos in the strict sense of that word. His ancestry is traceable to Bini Kingdom and technically he is as a "stranger" in Lagos as those Igbo people he is trying to exclude therefrom and deprive of their rights to life by drawing them in the lagoon. So by necessary implication, the Oba is rather in a forcible occupation of the stool of Kabeyesie of Lagos and traditionally not a rightful person to be the Oba of Lagos.  Equally, his candidate Ambode is not from Lagos but Ondo State and so has as much right to domicile in Lagos as those Igbo people living there too. Ditto is the APC owner and general commanding officer and former governor of Lagos Bola Tinubu, who himself was born in Osun State. So the Igbo person similarly has the right to also aspire to the governorship of Lagos State like this two "strangers" too; hence the Oba has no prerogative to claim exclusive ownership of Lagos in adverse of any other Nigerian who chooses to call Lagos home. 

What was said is very menacing and the manner it was said, very condescending and demeaning too. A master and overlord dismissively giving express warning to his underlings and subjects to do his bidding or they would be drowned in the lagoon? Even Orwellian Animal Farm was not this brazen and impetuous. What manner of a father, be it royal or biological, would so threaten his supposed children - that they would be water boarded until they drown and then their bloated bodies dumped into the lagoon? And then to add insult to injury told them further that it is a willy-nilly affair as he is not begging them but telling them? Really, and Nigeria is still a free country and practicing democracy; and this high chief had the temerity to want to abridge other peoples' freedom to choose who they want as their governor? This man made his choice by selling for his candidate but now wants to deprive and deny other fellow citizens of their own right to make their respective choices and someone calls this a free country? 

Why did Nigeria become a republic in 1963 if not to shave off the British monarchy overbearing influence on Nigerians? Or was it a case of substituting one white colonizing overlord for another internally colonizing black one?  If by the Yoruba tradition, the Oba has authority over the Yoruba people within his Isale Eko domain, does that mean he can now extend and dictate to every other people who live in every part of Lagos, a part of their country, too? is it okay therefore for the Imam of Lagos to equally decree or pass a fatwa that every person in Lagos must become a Muslim or be drowned in the lagoon? Ditto the Christian leaders thereto? Did this Oba not know that Igbo people are very republican and are not given to one central authority called king and why did he think he can now impose his kingship over this special breed of Nigerians? 

The other thing many commentators are missing out or mixing up is the mindset that uttered such horrendous hateful statement? A mindset that once rose to become an AIG in the Nigeria Police Force and you wonder how he scornfully treated and did not promote or recommend for promotion people from Igboland who passed under or through him? Icheoku recalls it was this same Oba Akiolu who forced President Jonathan's hands to fire then IGP Ogbonna Onovo, due to an existing feud both men had while they served in the police force? The Oba disrespectfully rejected the Commissioner of Police the then IGP Onovo posted to Lagos, forcing a showdown that eventually saw the COP reposted elsewhere and which was followed soon with the firing of IGP Onovo himself. So what we are seeing here is a pattern of hatred and avid anti-Igbo very antagonistic sentiments, being continually expressed by this  paramount ruler. The same Oba once quipped that when the Igbo people came to Lagos, they did not carry any houses from their homeland in the East to Lagos but are now buying up the entire Lagos? Icheoku asks, what else is needed to find this man the hateful anti-Igbo man he is; as the only thing that changed this time is that it was captured on smart-phone, hence this brouhaha. 

Icheoku says this Oba has by his hateful utterance lost every reverence which he holds by reason of the office which he occupies; and is now susceptible to all manners of attacks, including those which otherwise would have been considered not edifying or dignified. By his utterance  he has made himself a mouse and every cat is now free to strike their luck, jabbing him. How can a sane public fatherly figure so isolate a people and condemn them to death by drowning, especially when they committed no crime to deserve the punishment. Just listen to this raving man pouring his heart out on his disdain of a people who are merely struggling to keep themselves afloat in a country which has continuously marginalized them and for too long. According to Oba Akiolu, 

"On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against the Ambode I picked, that is your end. If it doesn’t happen within seven days, just know that I’m a bastard and it is not my father who born me. The one you have done before, he’s my son. Jonathan is my son and I speak to him every day. But, this Saturday, by the grace of God almighty Allah, I am the owner of Lagos and the owner of this…for the time being. Listen. Because this is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead, the living and those coming in future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God almighty Allah, goes against my wish that Ambode, insha Allahu, will be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water. I’m not ready to beg, appeal to anybody o. And that’s why Asiwaju and the governor said, I said that is your own. Even the two of them they cannot disobey me. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi (Agbaje) is my blood relation and I told him in a plain language he can never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody to go, but you must not, I repeat… what you people cannot do in Onitsha, what you cannot do in Aba or anywhere, you do here in Lagos. If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosper for you. If you go against it, you will perish in the water. Finish.” 

Icheoku is raving mad at the excuse proffered by the leader of those traders who went to the Idungaran palace of Oba Akiolu as to why they did not react as expected following the threat; and berates him and his delegation for not immediately walking out on the Oba in protest. How can any true blooded Igbo man be present where such a threat to his people were being made without being highly offended, regardless of whether or not they were being courteous inside the Oba's palace? It is very offensive and offends every sensibilities of every Igbo man and woman that such an insult and affront and threat on Ndigbo was not immediately reacted to by those traders who were in attendance. This is why they are not the authentic Igbo leaders but mere traders interested in protecting their shops from being looted and vandalized by the Oba's controlled and directed notorious area boys street urchins.  What a pitiful pity party these traders are that indeed courted this decrepitude. 

Unfortunately, according to Yoruba tradition, an Oba cannot apologize or withdraw whatever he has said, but at least his underlings can do so and also refuse to drown those Ndigbo who live in Lagos inside the lagoon? This is imperative because directive to enforce an illegal order can be refused and Icheoku expects those area boys to refuse to obey their king on levying genocide on bona fide members of the Nigerian society who call that part of Nigeria home. This is the natural thing to do under the circumstances - distance themselves from the illegality as any other contrary disposition will force the hands of Ndigbo to defend themselves and there will be no other better definition of anarchy than an incensed Ndigbo turned loose in Lagos.  But regardless, Icheoku insists that only an unreserved apology and retraction from the palace would suffice in this circumstance. What was said was horrendous and can only be a by-product of a deranged and demented mind or one heavily burdened by the influence of drugs and other hallucinatory substances and cannot be otherwise excused.  No sane royal father of ALL who reside and domicile within their domain should so discriminate against a section of his supposed subject in the manner the Oba has done. Icheoku says to the Idungaran Palace, Ndigbo deserves and demands an apology for the vituperation of your ruler and NOW.

DAILY SHOW'S NEW HIRE TREVOR NOAH, WILL THEY LET HIM SUCCEED?

Icheoku is very skeptical that the American television viewing audience would let him succeed or thrive, as they are not usually very well disposed to foreign-born media personalities playing a lead role on their televisions and sometimes even in movies. A one-time CNN anchor-man Pierce Morgan tried in vain to woe the American television audience but hurriedly returned back to the United Kingdom when he could not take the heat of rejection anymore; admitted some critics had it that he was summarily fired by the Cable News Network. Icheoku is particularly aware of his challenges then, especially when he descended into the turf with the NRA over weapons control in America, a fight everyone knows he was not going to win. Eventually Nancy Grace of the same CNN's Headline-news led the final putsch that saw his gig come to an abrupt end when the said anchorite championed that the British Pierce Morgan cannot come here in America to preach to us, Americans, about guns control or our right under the constitution to bear arms; alleging that it was Pierce Morgan's people, the British, thievery that first forced Americans into arming themselves to protect their properties from those Brits? 

So who knows the next line of war-cry for freedom from 'these foreigners coming here to tell Americans how to live their lives' that will herald and trail Trevor Noah, in his newly acquired gig at the Comedy Central hosting the Daily Show? South African born Trevor Noah, hired by Comedy Central as a replacement to Jon Stewart, to host the Daily Show, will have many challenges to overcome in order to succeed. Icheoku says it has already began with talking heads of the conservative right-wing including Rush Limbaugh questioning if Trevor Noah lives America enough or hates America or rather if he is an anti-American mole like the other black African in hostile occupation of "their" White House? Peradventure his sojourn as the successor of John Stewart might even end sooner than it started, as pressure is already mounting from both the Jewish community as well as the women feminist wing of the American polity, many of who are dredging up past tweets and posts made by Trevor Noah as evidence of his politics which they surmised may be anti-Semitic, anti-women and anti-America? 

One commentator quipped "it does seem that Trevor Noah believes that Israel is an inherently belligerent country?" Another wrote "we hope he will not cross the line from legitimate satire into offensiveness with jokes calling up anti-Semitic stereotypes and misogyny. And we hope that he and Comedy Central will make a conscious effort to ensure that 'The Daily Show' remains funny and irreverent without trafficking in bigoted jokes at the expense of Jews, other minorities and women." Another commentator put it this way, "Mr Noah's tweets poses a challenge for Comedy Central and its prestige show, The Daily Show; and raises the question of why his Twitter account was not more carefully vetted before he was named as host of "The Daily Show', a program with a world-wide audience of fans as well as detractors." While another talking-head even out-rightly accused him of comparing America to Apartheid South Africa, stating that it shows he does not love America and should therefore not host such an American darling show? Icheoku says it is instructive to note that when Jon Stewart was hired to host the same show, none of these do not cross boundaries were proffered or suggested, and that Jon Stewart is himself a Jew did help smooth matters a lot. But now a black nigger is coming to sit on a revered seat of host of a major American television event, and low and behold, a litany of 'dos and don'ts' are popping up and filling the air. But hey, it is our grand America and we all know how things roll therein, as some people can never do right by any standard imaginable and must always walk the fine-thin line, regardless. 

Whatever happens, Icheoku will keep a close eye on this guy and follow every step of his in his ascendancy to the throne of a major America broadcast media. Icheoku prays that he will succeed where many other foreigners have failed or were not allowed to succeed; admitted that if the pressure continues to mount the honchos at Comedy Central might consider him too-hot a potato to have around and would readily drop him. The possibility of his marriage to 'The Daily Show' coming to an abrupt end even before the honey moon is over, is a high probability, judging by what drives everything media here in America - ratings and revenue. So if the ratings take a dive or advertisers pull the plug, he will become toast asap. Icheoku will be fixated on this union, an unusual marriage of some sort,  to see how it eventually pans out. The fact that he looks so gay might be a help for him in a Los Angeles California, American Log Cabin controlled media market. So if in the event the conservative far right wing decides to go into a tizzy, the moment he is confirmed and out of the closet, they will not successfully persuade his removal, provided the gay community says yes and signs off on his hosting the Daily Show. Until then, Icheoku says all the best to Trevor Noah and uses this opportunity to say welcome to the American media market.

GOODLUCK JONATHAN SACRIFICED, A JESUS WHO SAVED NIGERIA?

Icheoku says as Christians of Nigeria join other world believers to celebrate the sacrifice made by Lord Jesus Christ to save mankind from eternal damnation, it is good for them to also specifically remember the sacrifice made by Goodluck Jonathan to save Nigeria from a bloody conflict from which they might never have recovered from. Icheoku is emphatic that without this selfless sacrifice, there will be no Easter to celebrate in Nigeria as the country would have since March 29 been in flames, engulfing every tom, dick and harry therein. So this particular Easter, it should not only be about the Jewish Jesus Christ of Nazareth, but also the Jona of Otuoke, who gave it up in order to save Nigeria from an eclipsing conflagration, the end of which no one could have safely predicted or projected. Possibly Nigerians were saved from the American predicted disintegration 2015 by the awesome sacrifice made by this man and for this reason, he should be remembered by all with bountiful gratitude as the man who saved Nigeria. 

Yes, you heard Icheoku right that but for the magnanimity of President Goodluck Jonathan, who faced with international and domestic conspiracy to torpedo his second term ambition, which ambition was both within reach and realizable if he stubbornly wanted it that badly enough, decided not to fight it but to walk away. A sacrifice no known Nigerian would have readily made, but which only a man of peace, whose love for country and country men and women supersedes the allure of power, could make and made. It is a well know refrain of his that no office or ambition in the land is worth the shedding of any Nigerian blood and he walked his talk when it mattered most, putting his money where his mouth is. The result, this Easter, Nigerians are celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in relative peace and tranquility,  a situation made possible by President Goodluck Jonathan, who had the power and opportunity to say no to all those Nigeria-hating conspirators who wanted him out of Aso Rock by all means necessary; but instead he said nothing bad should happen to his country and country citizens and ponied up his second term presidency in order for peace to prevail. 

Therefore since the story of Jesus Christ was founded on sacrifice, the reason for this season, it is appropriate to similarly also acknowledge in this season, any other person who similarly made great sacrifice for the love of his people as Jesus's, for his love of the world. At least Jonathan  could have consequentially stirred the hornet nest but chose not to; and for Nigeria's safety and in order to preempt all those vultures wishing Nigeria ill, some of who had predicted a disintegrated Nigeria by 2015, he surrendered and walked away. He boldly decided to quench the needless tension, purposely generated by these fifth elements and which kept Nigerians guessing and panicking until the last minute.  Regardless of what pin-head haters of the president might wish to say or delude themselves with, a sitting president can cause much harm if he decides to and Nigerians have seen it happen before and nothing could have stopped it if he wanted. So today as the world is acknowledging the president's sacrifice, Icheoku prays that Nigerians would equally accord it the highest honor it deserves. Like Jesus resurrected in three days, Jona of Otuoke shall rise again, may be in three years time, prelude to election 2019 to lead in some fashion. So, admitted it is presently finished for his second term presidency ambition, but Nigerians and the rest of the world have not heard the last of the man from Otuoke, who walked away instead of plunging the country into eternal conflagration and this message is imperative this Easter. Happy Easter to all those celebrating and who believe in the story for the season.

ROTIMI 'JUDAS ISCARIOT' AMAECHI, NOW WHAT?

Icheoku says if indeed the bible is true and not a history of the Jewish peoples' wandering life, devised as an instrument of colonization by the white people and successfully used to brainwash the colonized peoples of this world, turning their thinking upside down in the process; and that the account of Judas Iscariot performing his role in the playact of salvation is equally true, this man here pictured must be exactly what Judas Iscariot looked like. Pictures don't lie and untrustworthy people always look alike - stooped in their treachery with sunken eyes vacantly starring at nothing as they contemplate the evil they are planning to execute. Icheoku asks after the great betrayal, what next Rotimi Amaechi? 

A man who choose to take sides with others in their conspiracy against one of his own and please somebody tell Icheoku there is nothing wrong with such a person? If not, then Judas Iscariot must deserve a better placement in the act of salvation and not merely treated as the one who betrayed his master. So Rotimi Amaechi, now that you have helped them wrestle away what belonged to your people of Niger Delta, do you think Niger Deltans will ever forget your Brutus stab? How are you feeling knowing that you played a pivotal role in depriving your people their first placed position in Nigeria power structure? Why do you prefer to be a servant rather than a master and answer to people who should rather answer to you? What came over you and overwhelmed your conscience to the extent that you made such unwholesome trade? The good news however for the people that you betrayed is the staying power they have over you, as generations yet unborn will be told someday how a Rotimi Amaechi took side with the enemy against the family, his own people. 

Icheoku maintains that if Don Michael Corleone in The GodFather could whack his brother Fredo for such anti-family activities, imagine the fate which awaits your sorry arse in the event it becomes necessary to ask you for the rendering of account of your stewardship? Like most traitors, sooner or later, if you don't commit suicide like your biblical avatar, you might end up running mad; but certainly no sinner ever goes unpunished and you have sinned against your people big time. Icheoku says Rotimi Amaechi will be forever remembered as that son who sold off his people back into the slavery and servitude they thought they have escaped from. If the presidency of Nigeria is good for the Hausa/Fulani Northerner why not a Niger Deltan Ijaw Southerner? If a Yoruba Southwest president of Nigeria can do two terms of eight years in office, why not a Niger Delta Ijaw Southsouth president of Nigeria? That you sabotaged this effort is without doubt and while the people of Niger Delta may be prepared to forgive others who participated alongside with you, they will not show mercy to a son who worked against their interest and in favor of an outsider.

But peradventure, those outsiders know what a traitor looks like and because you perfectly fit the bill, they hooked you up like a fish. A perfect match for the job at hand and you did even not collect thirty shekels of silver for all the effort? Instead, you additionally ponied up your peoples resources to be used in betraying them in addition. Today, the clever of those outsiders has paid off big time  and your Niger Delta brother-president is on his way out of Aso Rock and out of power; and you call yourself what and your action honorable? Icheoku says for your role in aborting Niger Delta's second term presidency, the land of Niger Delta, upon which you stand and walk on, will never forget nor forgive you; but will surely ask you some searing questions. Nigerians are waiting to see how you navigate out of what is coming your way, as Icheoku prays you will also have the fortitude to stand and stare it squarely on its two eyeballs with a meaningful explanation as to what you did to deny your people what was theirs as of right. What a traitor. 

JONATHAN MAY BECOME BIGGER OUT OF OFFICE?

icheoku says like many very important personalities in life who became much bigger long after they die, the outgoing President Jonathan might have joined this group of people as he is likely to become much bigger and very much  respected out of office. Even Jesus became bigger in death than while alive, ditto MLK etc. Feelers around the world suggest the president will be recommended and rewarded heavily and plentifully for the peaceful manner he conducted himself during the last election, losing and accepting defeat; and without demeaning himself into becoming a sore loser. 

In the words of Mo Ibrahim, founder and sponsor of Mo Ibrahim Foundation that rewards African leaders who leave office without much blemish, 

”The news from Nigeria today is wonderful. Africa’s largest country has concluded a peaceful election process. Furthermore, the incumbent has already gracefully conceded and congratulated his successor – a first for Nigeria and a benchmark for other African countries to follow. Today, we Africans are all proud of Nigeria and President Jonathan. Thank you Mr President. If you are seeking a legacy, you have definitely achieved it.” 

Icheoku says it speaks volume and it is currently resonating throughout the world. Now Baba Iyabo must be madly jealous that the Jonathan he tried to destroy has now outgrown and outshone him globally as the first and only president of Nigeria who successfully transferred power without much rancor and acrimony.  In the word of Mo Ibrahim, "it was a first for Nigeria and a benchmark for Africa to follow." Icheoku queries what more is it then to add but to say congratulations to President Goodluck Jonathan for his elevation out of office. Now, he has become a global citizen and even Aso Rock is no longer big enough for his current status. Who needs Aso Rock afterall?

INDIAN INTERNET SCAM, 909.575.1008 VOIP TELEPHONE NUMBER !!!

Icheoku says when their fellow country men and women are making waves throughout the world from heading Microsoft to other Fortune 500 companies, some of their misfits are busy either raping seventy-seven year old nun or trying to scam people over the Internet using a voice over the Internet protocol number (909) 575 1009. But such is not surprising in a country of over 1.3 billion human-beings as in every twelve there is bound to always be a Judas. This scammers had left a message on the answering machine with specific instruction to call them back as they are in the process of commencing a prosecution over some unnamed matter on behalf of the United States government. 

When called back, Icheoku nearly had a heart situation listening to this Indian accented munchkin threatening thunder and brimstone and purporting to be working for the United States government. However when Icheoku pointed out that his allegations have no way in hell of crystallizing, because they are baseless and only exists in his imagination, he said not to interrupt him as he reeled out "criminal charges" which according to him are contained in a writ that would see Icheoku doing a hefty time. Being an area not within practice knowledge, an expert was consulted who immediately concluded it must be a scam as the United States government does not approach persons so threateningly. However, he conducted a little search online only to confirm his hunch as the VOIP number used in placing the call and which was answered too, has since been flagged on the Internet as belonging to some Indian criminal gang of scam-artists. 

But relieved, Icheoku was, as no one easily fights any government successfully, especially a United States government with limitless resources. So as a public service, Icheoku decided to key in this ALERT so that you should be wary, just in case they get your number and decided to try their luck with you. It is a scam, so either you do not answer it or you can place the number in your 'do not receive calls (block calls)' list or just pick up the phone and tell them how you really feel about scumbags. The number once again is (909) 575 1008 and their accent is so INDIAN you can literally smell curry oozing from their gaddam mouth. But hey, this is not to disparage the good and well behaved Indians, but it is good to always isolate the bad apple before it contaminates the rest. Icheoku says may be Prime Minister Narendra Modi should add stopping these bad Indians in his to-do list before they soil the good reputation of his people; admitted it is going to be one very heavy lifting for a man already bursting at the seams in his gargantuan  task of trying to sanitize India. What a shame!

PRESIDENT-ELECT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, CONGRATULATIONS.

Icheoku says congratulations to Nigeria's President in the waiting Muhammadu Buhari. Like America's Abraham Lincoln, Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari is today another living testimony that perseverance pays off and that if one is committed to his or her dreams and does not give up, something nice usually awaits down the pike. Three times beaten and fourth time won in presidential contests, is quite an impressive record indeed. Icheoku says Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election handsomely and convincingly; and anyone begrudging him that honorable accomplishment is but a linguine-spined truth-denier who should be simply ignored. 

Now that the election has been won, the task at hand must indeed truly begin as expectations of Nigerians from the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari is to say the least, many and very great. Needless to add that the soon to be new occupant of Aso Rock generously made a lot of promises himself and Nigerians will hold him to perform on fulfilling all of them. PE Muhammadu Buhari must deliver on this expectation to justify the clamor that led to his near landslide victory, especially over an incumbent that was literally railroaded out of Aso Rock by amalgamated forces, both foreign and domestic, and beyond anyone's imagination. So deliver, he must and no excuses whatsoever will satiate the yawning Nigerian people who came out in droves to usher him into the presidency. He also has much to prove to all those others who did not believe he is the medicine needed for Nigeria's ailment and peradventure make them to start believing.

But as far as Icheoku is concerned, we are neither impressed nor moved thus far; especially since he has not yet apologized for those three innocent Nigerians he murdered for a non death-penalty offense. It is nothing personal; but Icheoku strongly feels much violated that these three lives were needlessly wasted and still PE Muhammadu Buhari has not found it in his heart, a fit and proper thing to do, to say he is sorry for depriving these Nigerians their right to life. But regardless, Nigerians adjudged otherwise and have given him a second chance to prove himself of deserving their trust. Icheoku says he earned it and we join those millions of Nigeria in welcoming him to Aso Rock. Icheoku will be watching the incoming  government like a hawk watches a chic and will be laser-focused to ensure that his feet is held to the fire in fulfilling all those campaign promises he made. 

During the said campaign PE Muhammadu Buhari promised among many things to look forward and not be vindictive with past governments. Icheoku says this is good politics and hopes he supremely lives through the promise with avid determination to move Nigeria forward. Also, he promised to stabilize world oil market and while others mocked, Icheoku fiercely defended him, hoping that his contacts in the Middle East especially the House of Saud will help him see this through. Further PE Muhammadu Buhari promised to equalize the Naira to the dollar and millions of Nigerians will like to see this promise kept too. Icheoku hopes that his  White House minders and sponsors will help him walk this talk too since they have successfully imposed their will on Nigerians. Needless to add that they will likely very soon invite him to visit and might equally follow it up with their own official first visit to Nigeria in solidarity? It is also likely that the branded "mean-spirited" Nigerian military will soon be re-baptised "angel-like" and all their military needs met and supplied, even free of charge. Icheoku understands the name of the game - it is, "do what we tell you and you are in our good books", quick pro quod.

So while wishing PE Muhammadu Buhari all the best in his administration's promise to right all the wrongs of the past decades, including the infra-dignities of his first time around, Icheoku hopes he learnt a lesson or two from his soon to be predecessor President Goodluck Jonathan as follows:-  
Lesson number one:- President Jonathan showed how it is done by graciously conceding defeat and did not cause the "blood of baboons and dogs" or rather "jackals and hyenas" to flow; as he kept his promise that no ambition including the presidency of Nigeria is worth the life of any Nigerian. 
Lesson number two:- that no matter what Miyetti Allah or other Hausa/Fulani power blocks might say or try to hoodwink Buhari into, that he never forgets the man who made him president and remember to keep him very close. Whatever the case, that Buhari do not ever repeat the past mistake of President Jonathan who was misled into falling out with his own godfather and he paid dearly for that because he forgot that he who made someone can also unmake that someone. 
Lesson number three:- never allow the overbearing influences of his wife to affect his governance or allow her to literally take over his government and determining who becomes friends or enemies of the president. 
Lesson number four:- please always dress nationally and never allow his traditional babaringa dominate his outfits and turn him into a regional champion or northern president as that hat unfortunately turned Jonathan. Other nationalities constitute Nigeria and they always feel isolated when their supposed president only identifies with only a particular tribe or nationality, forcing them to query, is he really for us or against us?

Finally, if PE Muhammadu Buhari finds the grace in his heart to work to earn the trust of the people of the former Biafra, by making them inclusive in his government and keeping his election promises to them, that will go a long way in endearing him to them. This is imperative so that during a  second term run, at 77 years of course, the people will have the opportunity and reason to reciprocate the love with their compound votes. Admitted that at 81 by the time of finishing his second term, Nigeria will be on record too as having had the oldest president in Africa if not the world, second only to Zimbabwe and their 91 year old Robert Mugabe. Why not, if not; and just for the records, Icheoku together with many other media operators will surely put to the test President Muhammadu Buhari's pledge that he is now a converted democrat and that he will not muzzle the press but govern with deference to rule of law; that decree 4 will not be reincarnated under any alias whatsoever. Good luck and all the best Mr President-elect; and please remember goodluck is just a wish and not the outgoing president. Congratulations President-elect Muhammadu Buhari. 

BOLA TINUBU, THE IMPERIAL AUDACITY.

Icheoku says move over everybody, hello and big welcome to the now Nigeria's most powerful man and the man who makes president. When many Nigerians thought his political wizardly and mettle is restricted to making governors of men he randomly picked and chose, now the man who owns and runs the All Progressive Congress, Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has taken it to another level; he has added another feather to his cap of a political mathematician and now makes president. Icheoku says bravo and congratulations to ABT as not only did he trample where angels feared to tread, but he also ensured the resounding defeat of a sitting presidential incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan and thus brought his second term dreams fast crashing down. Another first in Nigeria, except if one adds the Muhammadu Buhari's military coup de'tat that ended President Shehu Shagari's second term. 

But unlike Muhammadu Buhari who plotted, contrived and conspired in secret with his unseating President Shagari,  ABT publicly declared ahead of time of his intention to unseat the president, meticulously plotted and assiduously worked his magic until fruition. The result, a man who had unsuccessfully ran three consecutive times for the presidency of Nigeria and who was drafted yet again to run for the fourth time, is today an elected president of Nigeria, courtesy of ABT. Ahmed Bola Tinubu once again worked his magic and the nearly perpetually unelectable Muhammadu Buhari is today, Nigeria's elected president in the waiting. The task of making anyone president, especially someone like Muhammadu Buhari president of Nigeria, is much more difficult than pulling a tooth without anesthesia. So any benefactor who could pull off such is worthy congratulating; as it literally required turning a pariah into an adorable hero and becoming the very successful and enviable salesman who sold sand to desert dwellers.  ABT is that man and benefactor in chief who has now bequeathed Muhammadu Buhari with his elusive  presidency of Nigeria; and therefore, now officially the new acclaimed godfather of Nigeria politics.

Icheoku is not a fan of Bola Tinubu, but this his latest feat has surely enamored many of his previous critics including Icheoku to semi-admirers of his. What a man, a political tactician extraordinary in whom  the Yoruba race must now be well pleased and salivating that they produced and gave to Nigeria. His petite size notwithstanding; which goes to show that the heart makes a man and not the framework skeleton. The Yoruba race has now officially minted an affable political wonder-worker in the person of Bola Tinubu and they surely deserve all the encomiums coming their way as a result of this resounding victory he carefully plotted and flawlessly executed against a sitting incumbent president of the most populous country in Africa and who belongs to the "largest" political party in Africa. A party which had repeatedly touted Nigerians that they will be in power for the life of every Nigerian currently alive - a whopping six decades (60 years)? But luckily, the political surgeon-general Bola Tinubu has just sliced off 44 years therefrom and still managed to keep Nigeria alive. 

Icheoku as well as many Nigerians who were particularly offended by this 60 years span idiotic pronouncement, first uttered by then chairman Vincent Ogbulafor, are glad that this ABT intervention has saved Nigeria from such a long hallowing one-party envisaged control of the country, admitted we would have wished it come in 2019 and not this 2015. But hey, life must go on with a Nigeria which has moved on with a new elected president in the waiting. Peradventure, Bola TInubu will play a major role in not only filling respective positions in the incoming government but will somehow partake directly in government in some capacity, either as chief political adviser to the government or even chief of staff. But boy would Icheoku like to see what becomes of this new man in town participating in governance at the center and in his no nonsense manner. Ahmed Bola Tinubu succeeded where others failed and against all odds has made the unelectable Muhammadu Buhari an elected president of Nigeria. Muhammadu Buhari tried on three previous occasions including the last one being in 2011 with a Yoruba Pastor Tunde Bakare but failed, so it was not his Pastor Osibanjo co-ticket that wrought the magic, it was Ahmed Bola Tinubu. So to the merited, the tribute goes. 

Now that ABT has cemented his authority not only in Yorubaland but in Nigeria as the political numero uno player, he should seriously consider using the opportunity of the incoming government to abolish all those "useless Yoruba Obas" who have since outlived their usefulness?  If they could be this roundly routed by the Jagabon himself throughout their kingdoms, what use are they and their authority anyway, if not useless? If after all their pontifications of support and endorsements, President Jonathan still lost in Yorubaland, leading to the conclusion that there is certainly a new sheriff in town named Ahmed Bola TInubu, what the heck good are they remaining in authority any way? How can these Yoruba Obas, Afenifere, OPC, Council of Elders, Oduduwa this Oduduwa that collectively endorse or pretended to endorse President Jonathan, yet the president managed to scrape by votes from their region? It is either they deceived the president or their power and influence in the region have so much waned and withered down that it is almost irrelevant. So to Bola Tinubu's assertion that "Yoruba Obas are useless", Icheoku would like to add and so is OPC, Afenifere, Oduduwa this and Oduduwa that; as well as every other collection of human beings presently cashing in under whatever subterfuge in that region. So ban them all, ABT; Icheoku ascribes.

Icheoku's one last appeal to the now proven doyen of Nigerian politics, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is to lock the gates of the APC tightly shut against all the would be PDP carpet-beggars who would soon be drooling in droves to become members of the APC, in their shameless "any party in power just give me contracts" loveless show of pretended love and affectation. These people should be told to remain in their PDP and help rebuild that humpty-dumpty which their avarice and lack of respect for the man at the helm of affairs helped bring this laughable outing in this presidential election. Good enough, Bola Tinubu is a no nonsense despot of some sort and knows what needs to be done to keep this bunch of political jobbers at bay. He should also maintain zero tolerance ruthless rule in the APC in order to avoid the fate which befell the PDP and in the manner he told off Momodu Sheriff to take a hike, be prepared to show any unruly member the exit door. He should clobber every existing APC member into becoming real party-men and women, showing unalloyed loyalty and obedience to party structures and hierarchy; with no room for any unruly behavior or rebellion and any such display or inkling should be summarily punished with a dismissal or the offender asked once again to take a hike. Icheoku says to Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, you got the touch and you got the heart, the can-do spirit which distinguishes the man among the men; you lead and others follow you, this one is for you, hearty CONGRATULATIONS!