LAMAR ODOM, WHEN TOO MUCH PARTYING IS BAD FOR YOU?

Icheoku says the news out of Las Vegas Nevada that former NBA superstar Lamar Odom was found unconscious in a brothel is not heartwarming at all. If anything, it yet showcases the drug problems afflicting millions of Americans, majority of who are psychologically and emotionally lonely and looking to drug as an outlet companion. Unfortunately many of these cries for help usually go unanswered until it is too late to intervene and  successfully pull the victim off the ledge of the cliff, before the fatal jump. A case of struggling with one's demons, Icheoku would say; a drug demon which has held Lamar in a stranglehold of 'clean today dirty tomorrow' and for such a long time. Now it is finally threatening to take him out of this world and forever. 

Lamar Odom is in a fierce fight for his life, comatose and on life support; a result of alleged multi cocktails of drugs found in over-doze quantities in his system. Latest information has it that his organs are beginning to pack up and that he sustained brain damage, further decreasing and diminishing his chances of making it out alive and if, not whole. Icheoku wishes Lamar all the best in his effort to stay alive and hopefully if he makes it out alive and well, the scare will be more than enough to forever scare him away from those scary substances to which he could not completely break free of their addiction. What a way to abruptly bring one's life to a screeching halt - in a brothel cavorting with prostitutes and heavily doped to the point of death. But hey, he is an adult and only he can help himself shake off his monkey. What a life we live.

HILLARY CLINTON DEBATES FOUR MEN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY DEBATE 2015.

Icheoku says Hillary Clinton was amicable, jovial, relaxed, in command of the issues and for the very first time in a very long time, came across as an amiable feminine female.  As opposed to her usual Nurse Ratched feminist demeanor, many Americans took a second good look at her and came out with a very warm impression of the woman who wants to be the first female president of America. Icheoku says if she continues in this path, being a female who wants to be president as opposed to a feminist who wants to be president, may be her chances will greatly improve. 

The problem thus far is that many men have a very strong distaste for females who blur the line between femininity and feminism. No one quarrels with powerful strong females; but most people have issues with females who are obtrusively feminists and thus obnoxious. Real men like feminine females, they are pretty and admirable; and this is what has been a great turn off for so many regarding Hillary Clinton; but she morphed into a likable powerful and strong female in today's Democratic Party Debate in Las Vegas Nevada. 

Overall she did impressively well and held her emotions in check, a big plus for Icheoku and all those blue dog democrats who were previously leaning away from her candidacy. Her hair was nice, her make up right and her face showed little to no stress at all; indeed she was relaxed and very present throughout the entire debate. The only issue still militating against her candidacy is whether Americans are getting tired of same name politicians ruling them. Just like the Bushes, Hillary Clinton will be another President Clinton should she win the presidency and one wonders if such would become a quasi-monarchy as opposed to the all-comers democracy which America practices. 

One of her Icheoku's most memorable lines were "I never took a position on Keystone until I took a position on Keystone", in answer to charges of flip-flopping depending on the audience before her. Her "America's best days are still ahead" is equally remarkable. Other instances of her alleged shifting sand positions was her earlier stance against homosexual marital relationships and is now for it; her anti immigration and now for it; as well as her pro trade deals and now against it. But overall, her rebuttals were convincing enough to warrant giving her candidacy a serious second look. She also promised to stand up against NRA towards more sensible gun legislation.

Barry Sanders was also impressive as a man who is assured of where he wants to take the country to and the roadmap to get there. For his age, he was indeed looking good and Icheoku liked what we heard. Icheoku's memorable one line was his was "To take back our government from billionaires and millionaires and create a vibrant democracy for everyone."

Then enter Martin O'Mally, the candidate from Baltimore. Icheoku says he is the most photogenic of all the candidates and somewhat reminds Icheoku of John Edwards. He is tall, he is handsome, he has youth on his side, he has executive experience as a former Mayor of Baltimore and also former Governor of Maryland; in short he looks most presidential. He did not distance himself from President Obama. On the question why 100,000 citizens of Baltimore, a city of 600,000 residents were arrested in one year under his zero tolerance mayoral initiative, he explained that the situation he met then called for such high-handed crackdown. One of his Icheoku's most memorable line was "Lets speak to the goodness about our country" and "America elected a president not a magician" in defense of President Obama's perceived shortcomings. 

Licoln Chafee and Jim Web were practically no-shows at the debate. Chafee's no scandal and good judgment credentials were both positives for Icheoku. However why the CNN debate moderator Anderson did not give him enough comparable time to marshall out his points is beyond  Icheoku's comprehension.

Overall, it was a good issue based and polite debate as majority of the people who watched it came out somewhat satisfied. However, the absence of any minority candidate sort of touched some sore spot amongst those of us who are now used to seeing a black president in the White House and wonder how these candidate plan to supply that missing link. 

Icheoku harps that the beauty of our democracy is in the process that usually begets its leadership. The road travelled to get those who lead us is the key. They have to earn it as of right and not inheritance or born to rule bequeath like Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, who following the example previously set by his predecessor President Jonathan Goodluck, refused to debate prelude to his election. Yet he was "elected", begging the question, how did Nigerians determine he has prepared enough for the office. 

But hey, whatever works for any country; but for the United States of America, if you want to lead, you must prove that you have what it takes to lead - sort of pass your interview for the job which starts with the primaries. Whatever happens and whether it is going to be Hillary Clinton or Barry Sanders or even Martin O'Mally that eventually emerges as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, it is going to be a memorable battle with whoever emerges from the Republican Party. Icheoku cannot however wait to see how the debate will match up in a probable Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump; admitted it is going to be a very long shot permutation. Icheoku says all the best candidates and may the best person secure the nomination. 

SALEM AND SELMA, TWO AMERICAN CITIES UNITED IN UGLINESS?

Icheoku says never in the history of mankind have two cities, with nearly similar sounding names, spelt exactly with the same number of alphabets and of the same two syllables, co-existed in the same country. The cruel coupling irony of the two cities is that both shared the past ugly exhibition of man at his worst. Both cities represent the height of man's cruelty against fellow man, a situation somewhat comparable to Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps, admitted on a lower scale. For their infra-dignity,  Salem and Selma are permanently etched in infamy for the atrocities which they visited on a section of their very own populace and will forever be remembered for it. 

Salem is the notorious Massachusetts city, made infamous for its persecution of its citizens who were branded witches; and regardless, once the little girl calls one out as being a witch, the witch must then of course be put to death. So it became a trial by ordeal and sorcery where the accused 'witch' is thrown into a well and whether or not the accused sinks or floats, it does not matter as a witch deserves not to live. A Catch-22 sort of situation wherein if the suspect floats, he or she must be killed for being a witch because good non-witch people do not float in wells. Conversely, if the suspect drowns, then it was mission accomplished because he or she drowned because he or she was a witch. A sort of bloody cleansing to satisfy a naughty child's indulgence and people tolerated that and for too long, costing so many lives. 

Selma on the other hand is an Alabama City made notorious when Martin Luther King led protesters therefrom intending to march to Montgomery to protest the inhuman racists of the deep south America which denied blacks voting rights. but were stopped on the Edmund Pettus bridge. On that day in March 1965, they were met with brutality of the worst kind for merely demanding that they be recognized as full humans beings deserving of some dignity and with rights to vote and be voted for in a democracy.  But Governor George Wallace thought otherwise, unleashed his hound dogs with police dogs, mounted horses, water cannons, horse whips, tear gas, live bullets and all sort of unprintable repression gadgets. At the end of the day, many lay dead, dying and mortally wounded and the march was aborted. This is the only significant thing which any one remembers of Selma.

Icheoku says what is in a name one may ask, especially when that name contains six letters A, E, L, M, S and belong to two cities, both of which turned out to be reprehensible memories of America's not too distant past. But thankfully witchcraft and sorcery was outlawed and so also was racial servitude and superiority of one race over another; as well as the right to vote and be voted for which became instituted. This shows that every freedom of today was purchased with sorrow, tears and blood of men and women who once stood up in the past to say never again. But do today's beneficiaries of such selfless sacrifices appreciate and treasure these past sacrifices, you decide.

HEAVEN OR A COOLER PART OF HELL, YOU DECIDE?

Icheoku says should humanity really be striving for the biblical heaven or just work hard enough, to be good enough, to be placed in a cooler section of hell upon final judgment?  This becomes imperative as it appears the benchmark and threshold for making heaven is rather too stringent, beyond reason; and somewhat humanly unattainable. An apparent near impossibility of some sort, suggesting that potential candidates for heaven are but striving in vain. The bible itself says this much too, when it harps that making it through the gate of heaven is a very arduous task that is nearly, completely impossible. Except for those, who in their Pharisaic self-righteousness, have chosen to ignore the black letter law encapsulated in the bible regarding this and would rather delude themselves that they are "Christian-enough" to be admitted to heaven, Icheoku says they are probably but trying in vain. 

In Matthew 18:3, the bible says "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells a man who is desirous of making heaven to 'Go sell everything you have and give to the poor and then come back and follow me and I will guarantee you heaven.' In Matthew 19:23 - 24, Jesus continues, 'It is hard for the rich to go to heaven as it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for the rich man to make it to heaven." Then add Exodus 20:1-17' provisions of the Ten Commandments which decrees that if you want to go to heaven, you must love God and if you love God, you must keep his commandments. With these and many more other bible provisions and/or requirements for making it to heaven, it certainly appears that a very strong bar exists, which makes it very difficult for anyone to cross the gates of heaven. To this effect therefore, one is forced to wonder if anyone really stands any chance of eventually getting past through that gate and are we all but laboring in vain? 

Therefore is it not arguably a better effort for humanity to work hard at having their respective sentences in hell reduced, rather than continuously wasting their time seeking to make the unattainable heaven? In this way, humanity will be forced to cut their enthusiasm about the the place of bliss and peradventure not to be disappointed on that very day.

Icheoku says since different categories of sin would naturally command different punishments, by working hard at reducing our sins or the degrees of our sins, we can actually earn a place that will not be too hot.  Lesser sins or smaller sins cannot be expected to be punished as other more heinous sins which the intolerable, searing and scorching heat of the center-pit of hell would be reserved for. For instance a petty thief cannot be expected to receive the same punishment as hardened criminals such as killers, armed robbers and other highly corrupt government officials; otherwise where is the fairness? Many churches are in agreement with the proposition that hell and heaven have categorized levels. For example, a church like American Mitt Romney's Mormons, The Church of Latter Day Saints, believes that there are different tiers of hell and heaven; but that both do exist here on earth? Even the pope very recently expressed some doubts if any physical heaven and hell do exist somewhere out there? 

But one thing which is not disputable and which majority of faithfuls do agree on, is that humans are very sinful and are usually unrepentant at the time they die and could not have had time to ask for forgiveness and/or attain salvation. So what becomes of these people and would every sinner's sin be ball-parked as same or would they be judged based on the gravity of their respective sins? If the later, it necessarily follows that they will be similarly punished differently according to the magnitude of their sins. Conversely, if the former, then there is certainly a miscarriage of justice as the punishment could not have been commensurate to the sins and thus inequitable. But the good Lord is a God of equity and would not unduly punish his children who strayed just a little as he would those who strayed mightily. 

Icheoku says so dead in sin and if the Bible's account is true, every sinner will automatically proceed to hell? This will definitely leave majority of human-beings jammed in a highway to hell, holding just a one way ticket. But it does not make sense nor is it justifiable that every sinner will be published equally; hence it cannot be a one pit of fiery inferno burning people alive. There must be some category of hot, hotter and hottest in hell otherwise fairness would have lost its meaning. Regrettably, barring any consideration as to weighted sin and weighted commensurate punishment, hell will certainly be an over saturated place with the over 99.7% of humans who are most likely destined to hell. However, Icheoku is leaning towards the school of thought and belief which suggests that all sins cannot be punished equally. Further that each sin will have its commensurate punishment, depending on its gravity; thus eliciting different levels of hellish punishment including the length of stay therein as well as the degree of radiation by heat. This is Icheoku's position and adds that since no man is infallible, may be human-beings should be striving to be punished fairly and according to their transgression, rather than making the heaven utopia. But for all those still bent on heaven regardless, Icheoku prays for a good tailwind underneath your wings.

KUNLE SONAME, NIGERIAN BUSINESSMAN BUYS PORTUGUESE CLUB.

“Last Friday we effected a transformation of our club through the sale of part of the capital to our new partners, Tavisstock Global Resource Ltd, led by Mr. Kunle Soname. We wish all the stakeholders the best and believe it will be a lasting partnership that would bring great sporting success to Clube Desportivo Feirense.” - Portuguese Clube Deportivo Feirense.

“It is a great thing to have achieved this. My sincere gratitude to God and everyone involved in the take over process. Securing Clube Desportivo Feirense was the next step in the right direction for me. I love everything about the club: the organization, the philosophy and the fans I have no intention of changing anything in the club because I am satisfied with their operations. Rather, I want to ensure the progress of the club through promotion to the Portuguese Primera division. Having been involved in Nigerian football over the years by running Remo Stars Football club, I felt it was time to further develop the team. It would also bring benefits for Nigerian football through players transfer, training for officials and administrators, who have proven they have what it takes to succeed in Europe. I still have my commitment to Remo Stars FC; it is the beginning of all I have achieved in football and I will keep improving the team to get it to the greatest heights." - Kunle Soname.

Icheoku says with those two statements the ownership rights were transferred to Kunle Soname who is now officially the new owner of the club. Icheoku says congratulations and that leaves Aliko Dangote still out  and waiting for Arsenal to deal. 

ENYEAMA'S FORCED RESIGNATION, OLISEH FUCKED UP BIG TIME.

Icheoku says it was the late literally giant, Chinua Achebe, who once quipped that 'one of the truest test of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised'; and on this note, Icheoku commends the former Nigerian Eagles goal-tender, Vincent Enyeama, for resigning from the national team rather than being made 'to look like a slavish beggar.' Nothing is worth losing one's honor for; as without honor, no life is worth its living. Therefore rather than take the recent double whammy maltreatment of being demoted from the captainship of the Eagles and also being forcefully removed from the Eagles' training camp like a destitute  criminal, Vincent Enyeama was right in simply walking away from the team while still retaining whatever was left of his honor in the service of his fatherland. 

Icheoku agrees with former Eagles captain Christian Chukwu that as a captain, Vincent Enyema deserved some respect. That regardless of whatever shortcoming he might have, the greenhorn coach of the national side, albino Sunday Oliseh, should have handled both incidents in a more matured, civilized manner that would have avoided the ruckus just generated. But to simultaneously demote Enyeama from the captainship of the side and also physically instigate his forceful removal from the training ground was simply too much for anyone with any modicum of honor to bear. The treatment was rather too over-broad and was not done in good faith, but rather to humiliate the goal-tender. Query, why invite Eneyama to the national side training camp only just to humiliate him in this manner, asking security men to physically remove him, tearing his clothes in the process. A man who has dutifully served the country for so long as to become the most capped player of the national side, at least, deserves better. 

Icheoku says Nigeria, not Vincent Enyeama, would be the biggest loser of this development. Vincent Enyeama is doing greatly, Vincent Enyeama has done greatly and Vincent Enyeama will do greatly in the future, however long that future might last. Vincent Enyeama is a good goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama is a very patriotic Nigerian and Vincent Enyeama is committed to the national team. It is only albino Sunday Oliseh who knows what his beef with Vincent Enyeama is, that would so recklessly force this issue to such a head, leading to the goalkeeper's resignation from the national side. Icheoku says Vincent Eyeama will be just fine, with or without the Oliseh managed national side; and being not a beggar, should not be made to look like one. To Vincent Enyeama, Icheoku says, all the best with all your future endeavors; and thank you for your service and for being man enough to walk away rather than allow yourself to become anyone's shriveling slave to be subjected to such a demeaning treatment. To Sunday Oliseh, Icheoku admonishes that you got this one really screwed up big time; and for triggering the resignation of Vincent Enyeama from the national side, SHAME ON YOU. 

BUHARI'S MINISTERIAL SEAT ARGUMENT, INORDINATE?

Icheoku says the argument being made by President Muhammadu Buhari as reason why he wants to, in addition to his presidency, also appropriate the petroleum ministry, is to say the least unfounded and very hollow. First as the president and commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, he is the numero uno of the government; and by extension, automatically the de-jure head of all the ministries.  His surrogates, the ministers, are only there to assist him and help him run the government and they also serve at his pleasure. The president has the power to appoint, assign, reassign and even dismiss his ministers as he may deem fit and from time to time so determine. Hence, the president has the supreme right to deploy to the oil ministry his most trusted minister, who will directly report back to him and through whom he can still run and direct affairs of the ministry as he pleases. 

Therefore begging the question, why does President Muhammadu Buhari still wants to be specifically directly in charge of the Petroleum ministry? If a president has a marching order for any minister, the minister will not flaunt it or risk being dismissed. So a more rational President Muhammadu Buhari could have, in the same manner he appointed his inner caucus officials, similarly choose another one such person and deploy him to the Petroleum Ministry with specific directives on how he wants him to run the ministry and instruction to keep him timely posted on developments therein. Also the president could appoint a  personal assistant as a liaison between him and such a minister and who would report back to him on hourly basis on developments therein the ministry if he so prefers. Icheoku is therefore at a loss when the president said that it was because he wants to directly supervise reforms in the petroleum sector,  that is the reason he wants to be directly in charge of the sector as the substantive minister thereto. 

The president is already in charge of every ministry and running the whole gamut of the governance in Nigeria as an elected chief executive, with the people's mandate to so do. His ministers are not elected executives nor do they have any direct express mandate such as the president's. These ministers are but mere underlings who are only helping the president execute the duties of his office. They owe their offices to the president and will remain therein as long as they continued to enjoy the president's goodwill. Therefore the president, unto whose desk the buck stops, literally is the one running the whole ministries by proxy of his appointed ministers, who are duty bound to carry out directives of the president as he may spell them out to them.  

The question then is, why does the president, despite this truism, still wants to run the oil ministry personally by himself? Why not in the same vein or rather buffoonery argument, run the whole country as a sole administrator since the reason he adduced for coveting the petroleum ministry are equally implicated in all other ministries. Afterall they all need reforms, so why just single out the Petroleum ministry as the only one the president wants to double as the minister in charge? Icheoku is not buying into the argument being made by the president and so should every Nigerian with some thinking in his or her head. By doing that, he will in addition, be depriving a State its slot in the Federal cabinet. 

Further the president has not shown thus far that he has the capacity to successfully run both the office of the president as well as the petroleum ministry; hence he should do a serious rethink on this his plans to so do. Query, what would a President Muhammadu Buhari who is also doubling as Minister for Petroleum differently do in the oil ministry which a President Muhammadu Buhari who is confined only to his presidency, not be able to do through his appointed  Minister of Petroleum? Icheoku says there is possibly nothing the president could not do by proxy of his appointed minister who is somewhat an extension of the president. It is just like an octopus with several tentacles, each contributing to the business of keeping the body alive and well. 

Icheoku maintains that the president, just like he argued as justification for his skewed earlier appointments, should be in a position to find just one more of his very trusted friend to put him in charge of the oil ministry.  But it is indeed very tasking of a reasoning intellect for the president to hijack the oil ministry based on a none existent need. Icheoku deplores this latest effort as another one of President Muhammadu Buhari's attempt at self elevation as the only saint in the hell called Nigeria. Icheoku says it is very condescending and rather arrogant of the president to so cockily see himself as the only chaste Nigerian that can successfully supervise the needed reform in the oil sector. Icheoku does not buy into the myth of his infallibility and urges Nigerians to demand that the president starts trusting the people he is governing; instead of his present attitude of being above everyone in the department of moral uprightness. 

President Muhammadu Buhari, Icheoku says relinquish the Petroleum minister's portfolio and let a State use it to fill their constitutionally mandated slot in the Federal Executive Cabinet. The president should just put one of his man-Friday in the ministry and dictate directives to him as he may deem wise. The president should remember too that he has the prerogative to summarily fire any minister and replace same whenever he desires. Icheoku is convinced that this should be the best route traveled, as the appropriation of the oil ministry in addition to his  presidency is but a greedy nonsensical, based on an empty none existent premise; only meant to foist his will above all Nigerians. Icheoku admonishes this is not the way to go Mister president. 

Finally, Icheoku laments that President Muhammadu Buhari disappointed majority of Nigerians, whose expectation that the president took his time in selecting ministerial candidate because he was simply getting the best there is, was dashed. To say the least, none of the listed candidate is a wow personality and they failed to trigger the explosion in the excitement that was built up preparatory to their names' release. A matter made worse with the inclusion of a very old man who was once a minister in 1981 and you wonder whether no Nigerian especially from Audu Ogbe's constituency ever matured enough this past 33 years to fill their allotted slot. Then factor in the inclusion of a former Lagos State Governor Fashola who spent 78 million Naira on a private website, yet the president is fighting war on corruption? Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State also made the ministerial list despite petitions about missing billions of Naira during his governorship which are pending against him and speaking about war on corruption? Anyway, only President Muhammad Buhari knows why he is playing games with the Nigerian people with these many promises breached and/or not kept. But hey, he was elected and so he can do whatever the heck he likes. SAI BUHARI.

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, TAKING NIGERIA FOR A JOY RIDE?

“So what sense does it make that I said you are thief for 16 years, I have come to correct the wrongs that you did and now I am calling you the chief adviser in order to right the wrongs that you committed. Does it make sense? We are waiting to see how they will come out of this.” - Ibrahim Shekarau. 

Icheoku says only those gullible Nigerians who bought into the snake oil that is President Muhammadu Buhari, will be disappointed at the unfolding events in Nigeria today. The promised change has since changed for the worse and only God will help Nigeria.

DIEZANI MADUEKE'S ALLEGED CRIMES, SHAKESPEARE WAS RIGHT.

Icheoku says but for William Shakespeare who had warned the world through Duncan, speaking in Macbeth, that 'there is no art to find the mind's construction in the face,' the latest travails of former Nigeria Minister for Petroleum, Diezani Allison Madueke, in faraway England, would have been mere dreams, her very innocent looks considered. But at last the former Nigerian Madam Petroleum Minster was arrested and indicted for financial crimes of money laundering and racketeering running into several hundreds of millions of pounds sterling of stolen Nigeria resources. 

Icheoku says like Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, she is sure to be convicted and imprisoned following a trove of evidence including seized cash. Coincidentally both of them are from Bayelsa State and one wonders if pilfering state resources runs deep amongst the people of the state? Icheoku says Diezani Allison Madueke looks innocent, harmless, pretty and beautiful; but could all these alluring qualities be just ordinary facade beneath which lies a criminal mind of steel? If these allegations of fraud and corrupt enrichment are proved, then what a mask of Zorro this woman probably, deceitfully wore throughout her supervision of the Nigeria oil ministry. But hey, Eve, Delilah, Lady Macbeth, Jezebel, Bonnie (of 'and Clyde) are all women, so the look of Diezani might afterall have simply been a decoy, just a mask. Icheoku says except that she is standing trial in England, otherwise which Nigerian judge would after salivating on her face still have the guts to send her away to prison. What a woman. 

ITS MINE, AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE?

Icheoku says a lion and its kill, a kudu, pictured in South Africa. This is what a celebration of victory indeed really looks like. The lion seems to be saying it is mine and am loving it.

WHAT THEY TOLD ME ABOUT BUHARI - OBASANJO?

Icheoku says Olusegun Obasanjo is a very despicable person who is up to no good. As with his pattern of conduct, his current romanticization with President Muhammadu Buhari will not end well and will sooner than later, fizzle out and peter out. Nigerians have seen this before and will soon watch a sequel that affirms the Ota Deity does not believe that anyone else knows anything other than him or better than him; and in any event that every person must see the world through the Obasanjo paradigm and prism in order to be considered good enough to be in his good books. Would President Muhammadu Buhari indulge him, massage his ego and for how long? 

Olusegun Obasanjo is once again singing the alleluia and praises of another Nigeria president, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the gullible Nigerians are listening to him. A Nigerian people who so easily forgot that it was just a few short years ago that he similarly sang the praises of the late President Umaru Yar'Adua; and just few months ago, that of the now voted out of office Jonathan of Otuoke. Icheoku says whether the current unofficial spokesman-ship for President Muhammadu Buhari will last depends on how much control of his government the president is ready to cede to the former president and Baba Iyabo of Nigeria. The latest of his antics is his claim of what former United States of America President Bill Clinton and former dull Prime Minister Gordon Brown of United Kingdom allegedly told him about Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Obasanjo's narrative, these former leaders gave President Muhammadu Buhari a good thumbs up, of so far so good; having been favorably impressed thus far by him. 

Icheoku says no one was there who overheard the alleged conversation to collaborate what was said, by whom and to whom? So no one is in a position to effectively doubt the tale of the man who told of how he easily killed the lion. Olusegun Obasanjo is known to embellish stories; Olusegun Obasanjo is known to make it up as he goes, all in his vainglorious attempt to paint a picture of an Obasanjo different from the very Obasanjo known to Nigeria and the world. Olusegun Obasanjo is also known to have his own peculiar facts which however is usually free of real facts. Admittedly, Olusegun Obasanjo is not the first or only Nigeria public figure known to make up stories or who has been caught making up a feel good story. The zoo-candidate in Edo State government house in Benin, Adams Oshiuomhole, similarly once told of how an American official confided in him that a former President Jonathan Goodluck official stole six billion dollars. However when he was confronted by the American State department to validate his claim by naming the official who so told him, Adams Oshiomhole coiled back into his shell in shame; having been caught pants down trying to sell a dummy as no one ever met or told him anything about the alleged fraud. 

But regardless of the validity or lack thereof of the latest claim by the Ota Deity, Icheoku says of what use is it anyway that men who are out of power in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America are the ones giving testimonials about Nigeria's President Muhammad Buhari? What use are these testimonials anyway when the current men in power in both countries have not vouchsafed for the Nigeria president. One wonders what Olusegun Obasanjo is trying to achieve by telling Nigerians that one of the worst Prime Ministers Britain has ever known, the dull and uninspiring Gordon Brown, who himself could not even win a reelection, gave comforting assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari? Now a Bill Clinton too, who could not even give a convincing and acceptable impact statement to the American people in order to help save his wife's floundering campaign, is also one of those allegedly  vouching for President Muhammadu Buhari? Icheoku says a more credible validation would have been the one Obasanjo got from President Barack Obama and/or David Cameron; but not those two former and out of power leaders of Britain and America. 

So of what utility is this names droppings, one may ask? Therefore, until Olusegun Obasanjo is allowed access to 10 Downing Street and the White House, in audience with both David and Barack, his latest attempt to assert himself as a personality whom world leaders come to when they want to communicate something to Nigerians, should be ignored and dismissed as simply an effort at egotistic self gloating. 

Icheoku says one of the most important validation of President Muhammadu Buhari which Obasanjo would have communicated to Nigerians would have been the one from his estranged daughter Iyabo Obasanjo. What did Iyabo tell her own disowned father about President Muhammadu Buhari's integrity, but regrettably, Olusegun Obasanjo is not telling? What did the Nigerian Diaspora tell Olusegun Obasanjo about President Muhammadu Buhari's style of governance, except that opinions of these Nigerians do not matter to this supposed Nigeria leader? What did home-domiciled Nigerians tell Olusegun Obasanjo about President Muhammadu Buhari's crawling government, except that Olusegun Obasanjo does not care what these home based Nigerians have to say? What did the people actually in power as opposed to those two people who are out of power in those two countries, United Kingdom and the United States of America, tell Olusegun Obasanjo about their impression and opinion of Present Muhammadu Buhari, but Olusegun Obasanjo is rather dumb on this question? 

Icheoku says it does not matter whether or not Bill Clinton has favorable impression of Muhammadu Buhari or that Gordon Brown has a good impression of President Muhammadu Buhari, what is important is the impression the  president will leave with the Nigerian people, his primary constituency. So until President Muhammadu Buhari makes believers out of Icheoku and millions of other Nigerians who do not believe he is the messiah Nigerians are looking for, whatever alleged impression of the president which this fading world leaders may or may not have about the president is indeed immaterial and irrelevant. Until President Muhammadu Buhari so convinces his naysayers and critics alike, nothing will change. They will remain pessimistic in the outcome of his governance, regardless of whatever opinion Gordon Brown and Bill Clinton might have or express. As for Olusegun Obasanjo, only a demented slimy society accommodates such a decrepitude person and still listens to whatever the f++k he wants to or has to say. So President Muhammadu Buhari, the jury is still out on your presidency and the onus is on you to prove the naysayers wrong.

WORLD WAR THREE FINALLY AFOOT, SYRIA THE TINDERBOX STAGING GROUND?

Icheoku says is the world on the brink of a war that would finally prove to be the mother of all wars; apologies to Saddam Hussein who boastfully taunted those words in his braggadocio bluff against an amassed world's army led by the United States of America during the Iraqi invasion. Icheoku says except that these white people will never kill themselves again after the carnage that was the first and  second world wars, otherwise it would be a good fight-scene, watching the United States of America and Russia finally go at each other and once and for all, determine who indeed is the real the lone super power left in the world. But unfortunately, these white people are very smart and would cleverly avoid any miscalculation that will see their armies charging against each other, never again. 

They smartly dodged the bullet over Eastern Ukraine and while Putin wanted war, the West seemed to have no appetite for another large scale, well balanced-out war with Russia. The West lacked the liver necessary to take casualties and huge losses which a war against Putin's Russia over Ukraine would have certainly inflicted on both their manpower and treasury. They thought they outsmarted Putin by not yielding him his wish in Ukraine, but rather than for Putin to retract back to Kremlin, a rather more emboldened Putin has now thrown another gauntlet at the West and dared them to pick it up if they are indeed man enough and have two balls. Icheoku says by entering and taking over military responsibilities in Syria, Vladimir Putin is practically stating a claim that Russia has finally arrived back on the international arena and is ready to throw its weight around and that if America does not like it, too bad. 

Vladimir Putin's Russia by moving its army into Syria seems to be goading America to throw its hat in the ring for a smack down of all smack-downs between the two permanent foes. A case of when two elephants fight, the grass suffers scenario, that will be unleashed on the rest of the weakling world, one would say? But will it happen? Will the West led by America take the bite? Will America come charging into Syria to put an end to this Russian instigation? Will America accept the challenge now publicly thrown by Putin's Russia and say not under our watch? Only that not doing that will be the only thing that will effectively checkmate what is threateningly to be the genesis of an Armageddon. A third world war conflagration that will possibly consume the world in a mushroom cloud that will make Hiroshima and Nagasaki seem kindergarten in destructive power comparison is certainly threatening. But the question remains, whether the war weary West is ready and able to take on the Putin's challenge and fight the mother of all wars to finally determine who the real last remaining super power of the world is. 

Whatever happens and however the current face off in Syria finally resolves itself, one thing is given, Icheoku as well as billions of world's humanity are cautiously watching the development in Syria. Icheoku prays that common sense initiative will prevail to avert this major confrontation and that the current Syria crisis will be resolved like the Cuban missile crisis; otherwise, the world may have finally reached its tipping point with America and Russia engaged in a real hot war as opposed to their long running cold war. The good news however is that these white people will never fight themselves again after the bitter lessons that were the two previous world wars. At worse the crisis in Syria will become a stalemate, mired in covert operations,  with both countries spy agencies engaged in a clandestine war that will see them being bogged down and for so long.  It will eventually take one of them with the longest lasting staying power to declare victory. 

Like with the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan in the eighties, where a CIA created, armed and financed Taliban gave the Soviet Union a bloody nose and eventually forced their retreat, America might equally settle this time for similarly bleeding Russia into beating it in Syria. The only snag however is that unlike Afghanistan, Syria is not terrain challenged and so it will be much easier for Putin's army to maneuver and carry out recognizance and equally outflank any would be hit and run militias. Also satellite based ordinances will quickly and more efficiently lay waste all such clandestine activities unlike the stone age weaponry and ordinances that marked the Afghanistan invasion and attempted occupation. So in short, things have so dramatically changed since the eighties that the equation will be much better balanced now to deliver the worse and more potent confrontation if ever it gets to that. 

But unfortunately, Putin seems so determined not to remain any one's pushover; not anymore and might push the current Syria's crisis into a tipping point full confrontation with America and the West. Putin has since stepped up his game and with several weapons and men now already deployed in Syria, with air strikes already ongoing, it is only a matter of a slight miscalculation on the part of Russia or America, to force the issue to snowball into a global confrontation. Iran has also moved in thousands of men and large catchment of weaponry into Syria, so it is now for America and the West to stamp their claim by similarly moving in men and weaponry into Syria and then we have a recipe for actual shooting confrontation. Icheoku says that a crisis never before witnessed or seen, fought with modern weaponry and technology, is certainly afoot is no longer a far fetched proposition. Only God will help humanity avert a threatening cataclysmic  plunge into a bottomless pit of sulfuric fire. What a world on a brink and between the two protagonists, America and Russia, who will blink first. Only a few weeks if not days but certainly not months will tell if the world is plunging into yet another world war. 

THE CHANGE WE NEED, WAI IS THE ANSWER.

“Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring CHANGE about. We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.’’ - President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's Independence anniversary speech.

Icheoku agrees that Nigerians have to be the change they want to see in others. The problem with Nigeria is lack of self discipline and until they self-discipline, all this noisy war against corruption will remain what they are - hollow jingles and soundbites. But a President Muhammadu Buhari, desirous of ridding Nigeria of corruption, must first reintroduce his famous War Against Indiscipline (WAI). He will then need to reeducate Nigerians into becoming a more circumspect people, who will shun greed and avarice and then learn to put country first and above self. Once this is done, it will be a bye-bye forever to corruption. To this effect therefore, Icheoku implores President Muhammadu Buhari to bring back WAI and jointly prosecute both wars as both are correlative and sacrosanct to each other. A disciplined society will definitely shun corruption.

HILLARY CLINTON'S FLOUNDERING CAMPAIGN, BILL CLINTON TO THE RESCUE?

Icheoku says what a man can do, a woman can do better; except of course campaigning for the United States of America presidency where Hillary Clinton has just discovered that it takes more than a shrill voice or darting eyes to connect with the American public. It unequivocally affirms that there are certain limitations among the sexes and as with the Clintons, a remarkably differentiating factor, clearly hoisting the one with the magic touch above the other wanna be. Now that she has solicited the best political salesman in America, her husband and former two term president, Bill Clinton, to put some much needed blood transfusion into her nearly bled out highly anorexic campaign, lets hope America will see some bounce to the ounce. 

Icheoku has no beef with the Clintons; neither does Icheoku not want to live to see the first female president of America named Hillary Clinton; but her current campaign is a shadow of what a winning presidential campaign ought to and should be. Therefore it is welcome relief to see the drafting of President Bill Clinton into her campaign effort; indeed it is a highly laudable come to the rescue mission effort. Hopefully Hillary will let Bill be Bill and not get too jumpy when his charisma begins to eclipse her and allow Bill make her president. Icheoku has only recently called for Bill Clinton to come to the rescue of his wife's fit-starts lackluster campaign and Icheoku is glad that we correctly called it. 

Whatever happens going forward, the stars never lined any better for Hillary Clinton in her effort to become the first female president of America than the present attempt where she has no apparent formidable challenger within the Democratic Party; a matter made better by the lack of interest so far by Vice President Joe Biden to join the race.  Icheoku wishes the Hillary Clinton's campaign well and like one commentator said that voting for Hillary will be like buying one and getting one free in Bill Clinton; Icheoku looks forward to a Bill Clinton's joint hands on the rudder. Icheoku however insists that the American people deserves better and requires more from the intending first female president of their country. So Hillary Clinton must man-up or rather woman-up, come clean with the American people particularly concerning her Server-Gate scandal, with further assurances that no shoe is waiting again to drop off her other feet. 

Icheoku is still following and listening to her campaign; but as  a blue dog democrat, if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination and picks his vice presidential candidate correctly, preferably a minority and particularly a blackman, may be Ben Carson, Hillary Clinton will need to do more to pull Icheoku out of the Trump wagon. But in any other event, Icheoku is leaning Democrats and with Bill by her side, Hillary will sure make a good president. 

KELLY GISSENDANER EXECUTED, SHE DESERVES TO DIE.

Icheoku says murderer Kelly Gissendaner did not show her murdered husband, Douglas Gissendaner, mercy and therefore should receive none and thankfully did not receive any.  Her execution tonight by the State of Georgia was a deservedly good riddance of a bad female rubbish who grossly stained her womanhood and made Jezebel look saintly. She could have divorced him; she could have had him thrown out of the house; but no, she choose to have him murdered and by the hand of another man with whom she was cheating and committing adultery while still pretending to love the man she said "I do, until death do us apart" to, in her marital oath of fidelity. Icheoku says such a piece of human excrement does not deserve to share nor partake of any descent society's existence and therefore was rightly dispatched to where she now belongs - the very pit of hell. 

She conspired with her lover who waylaid her husband right inside their home, forced him at knife point to drive himself and in his own car to his execution ground. A remote area, so distant from his home, where he was then frog marched into a wooded area (a forest, not Boko Haram's Sambisa), and stabbed severally until he died of his many knife wounds. He suffered untoward pain, pleaded in vain for his life to be spared but eventually suffered a slow painful death. He was killed, his life taken in the most brutal way, with his wife, the woman he had married and planned to spend his entire life with, signing off on it. This animal of a wife and woman, lied to authorities that her husband was missing when she fully partook in his murder and the attempt to cover it up, destroying evidence too. Her culpability was not in doubt as she voluntarily confessed of her role in her husband's murder. 

Icheoku says if any homicide ever deserves to be severely punished, this one squarely fits the tab and therefore Kelly Gissendaner was duly served her dish of death. Anyone expressing contrary view should please inform Icheoku and other stunned observers how else such a heinous crime should be punished? Not when this savage beast spent close to 17 years in death row at the expense of Georgia's tax payers while she never gave similar opportunity to her murdered husband. Icheoku is not an avid fan nor supporter of the death penalty; but sure the case of Kelly Gussendaner could not have deserved any less punishment. Such a death penalty will definitely send a message to all other would be killers that the killed also deserve and will get some justice; and in this case, justice was rightly served. 

Icheoku notes that even the pope's intervention could not persuade the State of Georgia not to carry out its lawful duty of seeking justice for the injured and murdered of their state. Recall that this will not be the first time the Holy Sea has unsuccessfully pled such a death row inmate's cause. Late Sani Abacha of Nigeria similarly ignored a papal plea when he went ahead anyway and executed activist and Biafra hater, Ken Saro Wiwa, for alleged treason. Icheoku says may be the Vatican could do themselves a whole lot of good and save face from all such embarrassments by just staying focused on their primary mission of evangelizing for Christ. They should be laser-focused in their mission of saving souls and avoid this periodic dabbling into political matters of states which often sees them always coming up short. Anyway, Kelly Gissendaner killed her husband and now the state of Georgia, on behalf of her dead husband, has killed her too; so both parties are now equally redressed. A good case where the death penalty was well served. 

CHRIS BROWN AUSTRALIAN BAN, SIMPLY OVERREACHING.

Icheoku says Australian officials were out of their minds when they decided to re-litigate a matter that has since become functus officio in the matter of Chris Brown and his altercation with erstwhile girlfriend Rihana. Chris did what he did and has paid a price for it and there should the matter rest and be left rested. But when overzealous Australian officials decided to dust it up again in order to have a manufactured reason to deny Chris Brown entry to their country, they certainly crossed the line and Icheoku calls them out on this. Who never made a mistake, which led to our Lord Master Jesus to admonish those who have not sinned to cast the first stone. 

Chris made a mistake, he faced punishment and castigation for it, including a criminal prosecution in the court of law and he has since atoned for it, including publicly apologizing for what he did. Riri has since accepted his apology and forgiven him, so what is the stake of those Aussies in dabbling into a purely domestic affairs to deny him an entry visa based on this. 

Icheoku says those Australians cannot tell the world that all domestic violent persons in their country including aboriginals as well as white settlers have all been banished from Australia or that all those Muslims bombing places there have been all removed from their country. With Chris Brown, nobody died and in as much as Icheoku is not condoning domestic violence of any kind, says it will amount to an overkill double jeopardy for those Aussies to still punish Chris Brown for a matter which has since been prosecuted and punished duly both by a court of competent jurisdiction and that of public opinion. 

Moreso why deny and deprive those millions of Australian fans that will be greatly entertained by his performance, the opportunity presented with the planned concert. Icheoku says anyone who does not want to attend the concert in protest, should be allowed to voluntarily boycott the concert; but the planned general blanket ban of the concert by the government is simply too broad and therefore should not be allowed to come to fruition. Icheoku therefore urges the officials in Canberra to rescind their planned decision to ban Chris Brown from performing in their country. It is too much punishment and those millions of Aussie fans should be allowed to get their dose of happiness because a happy people are a more productive and effective people. So let Chris Brown perform.

NIGERIA'S FAULT LINES, SMPLY TOO DEEP - OSINBAJO.

“Our nation is sharply divided and has been divided for so long. Our nation is divided along religious lines; our country is divided along tribal lines AND the word of God says in Mathew 12:25 that a kingdom divided against itself shall be left dissolute, it also says a city that is divided within itself can not stand. It does not matter whether that is a nation or a city." - Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria. 

Icheoku says then why not let the word of God come to pass? Why continue to sabotage God's word by preventing it from coming to fruition? Why become an obstacle to God's words by continuously, forcibly holding the disparate peoples of Nigeria together; peoples who are unwillingly yoked together in the humpty-dumpty that is Nigeria so called? As a Christian, shouldn't Yemi Osinbajo rather be the one fighting hard to have God's word in respect of a Nigeria divided be fulfilled and to the glory of his father who is in heaven? Anyway, it is usually a matter of time before God's word eventually finds fulfillment; and as with the case of Nigeria, before the inevitable happens.