ACTING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK AND HIS YANKEE VISITORS?

Guess who came to dinner at Aguda House residence of Nigeria's Acting President Jonathan Goodluck? Former President of the United States of America, George Walker Bush and his former National Security Adviser and Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice. They were in Nigeria over the weekend for a "private" visit and decided to pay respect to the man presently holding forth in Nigeria; whom they assured of world's cooperation and support?

Good and comforting, but who knows what they extracted from Jonathan in return as a bargain for their expressed support? Call it cynicism for all we care, otherwise what changed between a Jonathan Goodluck and ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua since both of them came to office through the fraudulent Olusegun Obasanjo gimmick of an "election" of May 2007? Why was it necessary for the Americans to now show this degree of support for Jonathan when they never cared, but practically ignored Umaru Yar'Adua? It is equally important to note that America has ignored Yar'Adua as long as possible and barely few weeks after Jonathan was bumped up to an acting President position, America's former President and former Secretary of State came calling in Abuja-Nigeria, felicitating with Nigeria's acting president? May be America approves of his acting presidency? Icheoku have no problem with this visit, and prays it marks the beginning of more American involvement and interest in Nigeria's affairs; and not again leave it alone for the British, who have not been very sincere in ensuring Nigeria's growth since her Independence in 1960. Icheoku welcomes the visit of these two Americans!

NIGER MILITARY CALLS JONATHAN'S BLUFF, TOPPLES GOVERNMENT!

Less than 48 hours after Nigeria's Acting President and Chairman of ECOWAS, Jonathan Goodluck declared that it is finished for military adventurists in government in ECOWAS West Africa countries, the military in Niger dared him and toppled the government of President Mamadou Tandja in Niamey! Whether this declaration will be a simple bluster or an action-backed promise lies in the womb of time as Icheoku and the world wait to see what happens next?

Jonathan Goodluck while addressing the 37th Summit of ECOWAS heads of states and governments in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, condemned 'the undemocratic efforts by some elements at carrying out illegal political changes in the sub-region; warning that henceforth, the West African sub-region would no longer tolerate any acts of political mis-adventure by such adventurist juntas? But unbeknowst to Jonathan and other delegates gathered, while he spoke and warned, the adventurists in uniform in neighboring Niger were rehearsing the final stages of their coup which eventually toppled the government of Mamadou Tadja 48 hours later. Icheoku asks, what does Jonathan plan to do now about this political misadventure in Niger or will he wait and watch as his "stern warning" is flouted with impunity in Niamey? It is a popular rule of the thumb that if you must shoot, shoot, don't talk; and if you point the gun be prepared to fire the hammer, otherwise your words will lose its weight and people will take you less seriously.

But what options are, seriously speaking, available to Jonathan's ECOWAS in view of the now unfolding political misadventure of the military in Niger Republic - condemn them; boycott them; sanction them or invade them to restore democracy in Niger? Icheoku says, whatever action Jonathan Goodluck and his ECOWAS decide to take, must be very bold and decisive; and meant to derive home the point that his warning against illegal political adventurism must be taken seriously and not to be flaunted; and that it is really time-over for military adventurism in ECOWAS West Africa countries. Anything short is a no brainier and will be unproductive. Therefore, Icheoku recommends that ECOWAS forces immediately invade Niamey to restore democracy there. Nothing short of an outright invasion will send the required sufficient message meant to serve as a deterrent, since sanctions and boycott or suspension have not worked elsewhere they were applied like in Guinea, Madagascar and Tandja's Niger? Jonathan should give the junta in Niamey 48 hours to quit and follow it up with contingents of soldiers flown into Niamey with express mandate to confront any anti-democratic forces therein, wrestle power from those usurpers and restore democracy.

Admitted that former President Mamadou Tandja invited the military putsch, when he drank the power cool-aid which many African leaders usually drink while in office and refuse to yield power, when he unilaterally elongated his term in office against Niger's constitutional provisions; but the political establishment would have been allowed to resolve it instead? In other words, it is this constitutional illegality of former President Mamadou Tandja that provoked the coup; but we are not sure whether the fact that an illegality of a military coup which confronted an illegality of a budding civilian dictatorship cancels out the illegality? Is such double negatives enough to legitimize the coup and make it acceptable, since it could be argued that the Niger Republic military was only fighting in defense of the democracy in Niger Republic? The right question needing an immediate answer is, would the coup have taken place were it not for the greed and attempted power-grab of former President Tandja, who embarked on an illegality of making himself a life president like the rest of other African despicable 'perpetual' leaders including Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Libya's Moummar Ghaddafi?

So, the middle of the road solution to Niamey's political limbo would be for the military to leave together with former president Tandja; and allow the speaker of the House of Representative or the Chief Justice to be sworn in as interim president, with express mandate to conduct a fresh election within a reasonable short time. Former President Mamadou Tandja should in addition to his removal from office be banned from politics for life, for attempting to hijack democracy and destroy Niger Republic. The former government in Niger Republic without President Mamadou Tandja, should be restored immediately; and the Squadron Leader Salou Djibo led Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy commended for their patriotic duties but asked to return to the barracks forthwith. Elections can be conducted within the next six months by an interim government in order to allow democracy to continue to flourish; but any attempt to tolerate the coupists no matter for how short a period of time will spell doom for democracy in ECOWAS West Africa countries, as it will encourage other waiting-in-the-wing adventurists in other countries to follow suit. The message to the Niger Republic military adventurists should be thanks, but no, thanks! Olusegun Obasanjo bravely once stopped a military coup in Fernadapoo and Principe when he escorted their deposed president back to the country and restored his government. So Jonathan, now is the time to prove that you are a good student of Obasanjo's political bravado?

Regrettably, those soldiers in Niger Republic did not learn any lesson from their Nigerian counterparts on how to patiently wait out the political establishment, to resolve whatever "tense political situation" that existed, which they created? At least they had a president who is well and functioning, but Nigeria's own president abandoned his office for over 78 days without any formal notice of his whereabout, yet the rebranded and now well disciplined Nigerian military waited patiently until the politicians resolved to empower the vice president as Acting President; thereby taking out the fire from the furnace of an over-heated polity. On a hindsight, Icheoku says, may be the military in Niger would have killed President Mamadou Tandja for his inordinate ambition to truncate democracy arbitrarily, instead of capturing him and impliedly allowing him another shot at someday in the future of screwing up democracy again in Niger. Just finish the animal off and send a strong message that such clever-by-half elongation of office as Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo once contemplated with his third term bid, will be resisted and punished drastically.

Finally, as the world awaits the responsive action of ECOWAS to the development in Niamey, Icheoku asks, when the newly constituted Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy will restore democracy in Niger? If not, will Acting President Jonathan Ebele Goodluck of Nigeria going to put his word where his mouth is by denying the military adventures the bounties of their coup or just chicken out on grounds that Niger is a suspended member of ECOWAS and therefore cannot benefit from his new mantra? Just let us know Mister ECOWAS chairman whether you are going to invade Niger to restore democracy there or ginger sanction or whatever you intend to do; but remember that your address at ECOWAS 37th Summit is seating in judgment of you at this time.

ACTING PRESIDENT JONATHAN GOODLUCK'S LIFE, IN DANGER?

The Almighty Lord said, 'touch not my anointed one' and as things stands today in Nigeria, Acting President Jonathan Goodluck might for all intent and purpose pass for that 'anointed one!' It is an acceptable act of faith that all powers belong to God and that he chooses whom he wants to make king or president! Icheoku says, Jonathan's meteoric rise to power within such a short time and without paying excessive dues to get there, is a clear indication that some divinity is closely at work in matters that appertains to him.

Now some sad stories out of Abuja has it that some evil men are hatching their evil-plot to get him out of their way? But by the special grace of the living God whom many of us serve, and who, before Jonathan was even born, knew that he is going to one day become the Acting President of Nigeria, will not let evil triumph and these evil men can never succeed or have their way. Icheoku affirms that it shall not be well with these evil plotters.

We want to believe that this story has no merit whatsoever, but we must be watchful and vigilant since all smokes usually have associated fire somewhere. According to sources, one of the conspirators was caught on tape threatening that 'they will deal with the acting president' for daring to step in their way and stop them from massively looting Nigeria through unscrupulous allocation of oil wells. In an alleged intercepted/surreptitiously recorded statement, the voice at the other end and a co-conspirator was heard saying, "We have to deal with him; we have to kill him"? Icheoku says, and these people are plotting against the head of state and acting president of Nigeria? What an utter madness; this allegation is so very grave indeed that the government need to immediately tell Nigerians what they have so far uncovered; in addition to a full disclosure of the identities of the conspirators, especially the man who owns the voice on the record? This full disclosure will help Nigerians see and know those people that do not mean well for the country. Let us pray that it is not also a set-up to get rid of some people, clear them out of the way and let the new party begin; without fear of any insider and possible a Yar'Adua's spy taking notes for onward transmission to Turai in Jeddah? Also let us hope it is just a cruel joke, otherwise; assuming it were it to succeed, it will be the quickest way to yield the core of Nigeria resulting in the final, total and complete disintegration of the country known as Nigeria! But the good Lord will not let these few disgruntled individuals have their way, as Nigeria marches on to provide the necessary leadership the West African sub-region yearns for and in their own democratic environment where things are settled politically.

Icheoku condemns this plot as evil, devious and capable of causing great mischief throughout the land; destroying whatever is left of the last fabrics of mother Nigeria; hence every person of every persuasion who still desires one strong Nigeria should put his/her hands on deck to help Jonathan succeed. Let Nigerians not allow this distraction take more of the present regime's time in office so that Acting President Jonathan Goodluck can concentrate on his job, which needs a lot of catching up to do. Nigerians should pray that these anti-Nigeria conspirators who want to do harm to the acting president are quickly identified, rounded up and finished off. What they allegedly did is treason and commands the death penalty; so Jonathan, bare your fangs and bring these people in for immediate justice. Please do not be intimidated by these cowardly threats and just carry on governing.

Also remember that now is the time to reconstitute your cabinet for new fresh ideas to come in and in order to disrupt these conspirators and deny them both access and reach. Your constituency in Bayelsa State supports you! Niger Delta supports you! South-South supports you! Southern Nigeria supports you as well as the Nigeria state. So, an attack on Jonathan is an attack on all Nigerians, who their National Assembly voted to authorise Jonathan's new acting capacity. Such a northern Nigerian-perfected subversion of governance will not be tolerated ever again in Nigeria; and this sitting acting president might be the tinder of the mother of all fires which will finally consume Nigeria should the unexpected happen! ENOUGH of this pretence by the north that they have the 'exclusive right to ferment violence,' because they don't and they should be mindful that their veins also contain blood. The north must realise that this is 2010 and that things have since dramatically changed; the days of fear of them and intimidation caused by them is since over. It is a new day in Nigeria as a Ph.D, humble, God-fearing Christian is in the saddle of Nigeria's leadership. Let us pray that Jonathan Goodluck succeeds!

KEVIN SMITH, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES MADE THE RIGHT CALL!

Icheoku is at a loss on the recent umbrage against South West Airlines because it enforced an existing airline policy on obese passengers, by throwing fat-head Kevin Smith off its plane? Or is KS not nearly morbidly obese? It is a standard policy, so it goes against the grain for anyone to say because Kevin is a Hollywood face, the existing policy should not have applied to him; and there lies the crux or rather fork on the road of this argument. In America everyone is equal or at least supposed to be equal, the reason we are a nation of laws and not 'henchmen' or special people; so what is wrong in removing a Micheline tire-man, who could not fit inside a single seat of an airplane, from the airplane? Since when has the name Kevin Smith become synonymous with immunity? Here is a young man who is just 39 years old, stands 5ft 8ins tall and weighs probably 350 pounds; and who once complained bitterly about his ballooning weight, so it is not as if he is not aware of his excessive body luggage? This Kevin Smith also once admitted in 2008 of 'breaking a toilet seat' which could not sustain his massive weight for the short period it takes to do some nature-call; and who also once wrote concerning himself, "Fuck, I wish I was still that thin. I’ve porked the fuck out, man. I’m really, really fat right now."

Icheoku asks, if as all the evidence points to, Kevin Smith is aware of the excessive meat he had packed and is still packing on, and that most airplanes and in this case South West airlines, have a standing policy on obese people, why did he expect to be treated differently? Did he expect the airline to pretend that because he is a recognisable Hollywood fellow, he is no longer fat enough for the policy to apply to him? If anyone ever comes out of this drama looking bad, it should be Kevin Smith for demanding a different application of a standing rule as it affects him, simply because he is a film-director/actor? If he feels so special, why was he not flying in a private jet; and if he does not have one yet or cannot afford one, why did he not settle for first class; and if South West does not offer first class seats, what was he doing flying on South West in the first place? The last time Icheoku checked, several planes out of northern California to Los Angeles area operates first class cabin including Virgin America, United Airlines etc? Is he rather so cheap to fly coach on South West and expect to be treated as a special Kevin Smith, the Hollywood film director/actor? Such will be ridiculous and laughable and he should be ashamed of himself for throwing up all the dust that 'if you look like me, South West airline will not allow you to fly with them' sentimental tweet!

What Kevin Smith really needs is the phone number of the NBC television reality show, the 'Biggest Loser' that he may enter their booth camp towards off-loading all the excess fat he is carrying, towards a healthy size for a man under 6ft tall? Should the 'Biggest Loser' not accept you, hire a private personal trainer and let him transform you into a sizable man - it is healthy, handsome, smart and sexy; and being a fat-head slobby walrus is so yesterday! Also, you can help yourself by quitting junk fast foods; it is given that most obese people are guilty of unhealthy diet indulgence? One problem militating against Americans is the idea of "political correctness" in everything we do and in every word we utter, where peoples' sensibilities cannot be 'offended' and the good old school hard-knock truth are sacrificed on the alter of maintaining the "touchy-feelly", everybody fell good atmosphere, symptomatic of our present day society. Why should it be difficult to tell Kevin Smith to his face that he is fat? A thing which he probably have been telling himself but lacking the will power to get off his arse and do something about it. Icheoku asks Kevin, do you like what you see standing in front of the mirror while starring at yourself or have you removed all the mirrors in your bathrooms? The issue here is not even purchasing two tickets, since that will be one person denied that flight because a fatso is flying on two seats? The issue raised in this brickbat is for Kevin Smith to do something about his weight, lose some weight or better still, go buy a private jet to fly himself around and avoid the inconvenience of flying coach with people starring him and wondering what a fat pig he is? What about the health hazards of being so obese from heart problems to diabetes etc and he is just only 39 years old?

Like Kevin Smith rightly asked in his twitter, "I know I'm fat, but was Captain Leysath really justified in throwing me off a flight for which I was already seated?" Icheoku answers, yes, you betcha ya the captain was damn justified in enforcing an existing policy on flying gluttons, since elephants do not even fly, whether or not on two seats? Yes, you broke an implied regulation not to be excessively over-weight and your size is a safety risk since you might fall asleep and roll over on a fellow passenger? These are possibilities and anything and everything is possible. Even the oxygen your massive body will require will excessively depreciate those available for the rest of the passengers and crew? Talk about your rapid laborious breathing and obstruction of the view of a back-seat passenger? What if there is an emergency requiring fast exit from the plane and your fat-arse is on the way inhibiting prompt exit - such will endanger fellow passengers who are behind you from leaving the plane speedily and safely? These are possibilities and everything is possible? Did you think about such hazards, Kevin? Just in case you are living a lie and in denial of your obesity Kevin, Icheoku affirms that you are not only "way fat" but also already there and since a very long time ago! Your saying that you are 'not there yet' is delusional and a false consolation; the earlier you wake up from this slumber party of yours and face the reality starring you on the face, the better for you.

Icheoku reiterates that it is ok to eject people who look like Kevin Smith from airplanes on account of excessive poundage, and if that is the wake-up call they need to do something about their weight, so be it. The apology of South West to Kevin Smith should not have been tendered admitted business backlash may have influenced it; and if it made Kevin mad that he was deplaned, then let him take the pounds off. All the outcry is about empty empathetic emotions, since South West did nothing wrong but merely enforced an existing airline policy which was never made for or specifically targeted Kevin Smith? It was a good policy meant to check excessive human poundage akin to the excessive luggage requirement. Finally, Kevin Smith should know that the days of "super-size-me" are since over; and now, lean is in and very sexy; as all gluttons are headed to boot-camps to offload excessive mass! Get it Kevin Smith, call the "Biggest Loser" today.

LADY GAGA, WHY SHE DID IT?

She performed practically naked during a show watched by millions of Americans and the world at large, including children. But no major hoopla was raised about her indecent exposure, or the fact that she was publicly displaying her female genitalia on national television, why? Janet Jackson, during a once Super Bowl half-time show, exposed one of her mammary gland with the nipple fully covered as required by law, yet they called for her head for in their words, 'shamelessly "defiling" children's sensibilities?' Janet was called all sorts of names and accused of all manner of things including exposing children to pornography; yet children suckle on their mother's breasts while weaning? Icheoku asks, between a breast and a vagina, which one is more 'adults-only' to warrant a superior caution and protection from children? Which of the two female body-parts if wrongly showed, would mostly and more offensively, constitute an indecent exposure?

Lady Gaga, appeared at the last American Grammy Award 2010 dressed in an outfit with a bikini-like bottom that could almost pass for a thong? It showed her fully shaved vaginal parameters walls, and barely covering her labials; which led one commentator to 'eulogise' the striptease display as 'exhibiting her "beautiful vagina?'' In a piece titled 'Lady Gaga gender rumors debunked once and for all', posted on February 2, 2010 in the Huffington-Post, the author, glorifying Lady Gaga's bare-bottom nakedness wrote, "Just in case there was any residual doubt that Lady Gaga was harboring a penis under her glittery stage-wear, photos from her amazing Grammy performance indicate she's all female. Last summer at a concert in the UK, an upskirt snap of Gaga showed what looked like a tiny penis. Gaga was the subject of widespread hermaphrodite rumors and embraced as a post-gender icon before she defended her "beautiful vagina."

Icheoku asks what is so beautiful about Lady Gaga's vagina to warrant such flagrant indecent exposure of it before millions of world-wide viewers including children, who have been wondering and sometimes asking their mothers, where babies come from? What is so beautiful about a drab-looking piece of flesh except the imagination of driving into its hot volcano? What is so sightly about a slab looking female genitalia that any writer could find comfort in defending its crass exhibition by anyone, including Lady or rather Stripper Gaga? If not that vagina serve as a conduit to bring babies into this world, what else is so beautiful about the vagina especially this one under advisement? Icheoku says, vagina is beautiful so long as it is hidden and difficult to see and reach; without effort being made to reach and unravel it, there is no beauty in it. Simply put, it is the road traveled to reach the destination that commands the respect and admiration of vagina; but not when it is flagrantly thrust upon everyone's face, in at-your-face-like manner, as Lady Gaga just did? Such exhibitionism makes vagina cheap, nasty, ugly and uninviting; and Lady or Stripper Gaga should have known better and covered up a little bit more.

Why write this piece since I am not an anti-female sexuality chauvinistic pig or have anything against eroticism or its exhibition? I write because the feminists of America called blue murder when Adam Lambert simulated eroticism during his appearance in last year's America's Music Award; and the same group of people are now maintaining a certain disquieting silence and ironically, praising Lady Gaga's exhibitionism, as trail-blazing and a testament to the beauty of the vagina? Double standards? What an arrant nonsense by a sexist feminists dominated society, gradually trying so hard to emasculate all their male counterparts and put away their masculinity in testicles-lock boxes; with due respect to the owner of that phrase, Rush Limbaugh!

Why should Icheoku mind, afterall Lady Gaga is an adult and can do with her body whatever she pleases? Yes, but not before a world-wide television audience with a lot of children watching? Moreso with the selectiveness of what is decent or not, depending on who don it or who was wearing what? If a black girl, wrong? If a male of whatever race, wrong? But for a white girl, there must be an explanation as she could be just showing off her "beautiful vagina" to debunk suspicion of being a travesty or hermaphrodite? Really? I don't get it, I won't get it, and I refuse to get it that it is ok to appear on a stage for a world-wide performance in "bikinis," which barely covered her vaginal lips? No, it is not alright, or proper or appropriate; Lady Gaga and her minders should have known better and acted otherwise, but instead they did not and surprisingly the media is carrying her waters that it is ok - the lady who can do no wrong was simply defending her "beautiful vagina?"

During our research for this article, we came upon a postulation that Lady Gaga came out partially naked on a world-wide stage just to prove that she has no phallus underneath; and that since it is being rumoured she is a man performing as a female, there was a need to publicly disprove that! Admitted that many people including this writer have wondered and theorised about the gender of the Madonna-on-steroids of this age; but that does not make it ok for such display as was put up with those offensive outfits. It is equally instructive that some people even likened her to the South Africa track-sensation, Caster Samanya and seriously questioned if Lady-G is a gender-fraud? We believe that such rumours got to her ear or that of her minders before they decided to put it away in a perpetual crypt; but how? She waited for the night of the Grammy's, when she knew that it will make much impact and off she went to the stage, clad in 'bikinis' like someone in a private beach in the Caribbean or Hawaii? I once watched her interview with Babara Walters wherein she admitted being a female who has sexual attraction for both sexes; ok, since being bisexual is somewhat being sexy and experimentation with matters of sex is not illegal. Lady Gaga could have in that interview gone a step further in clarifying her sexuality and quenching the rumoured hermaphrodite and/or dyke character; instead of the Grammy forum and in the manner she publicly "proved" it? The fact that her back-side looks too muscular and not very appetizing, sexually, did not deter her; but that may constitute some future discussion.

Our beef here is three-dimensional:- what she wore, the forum she wore it to and the lack of condemnation by the American public, particularly the media which saw nothing wrong in a Lady Gaga displaying her "beautiful vagina" and hard-knocks 'steroidal' arse in this vagrant manner?

It is very outrageous that such a warped explanation has now be invented for the biggest wardrobe malfunction of all times; which in hindsight, made the Janet Jackson's covered nipple 'accident' a child's play? This is one reason why people are very cynical and despondent with today's mass media, which they shamelessly and without caution tend to propagate a certain template as news/story, depending on who dunnit? Icheoku says, were it Beyonce or Rihanna that dared come out to that or any other stage for that matter, with their butts and/or vagina exposed in similar manner as Lady Gaga's, what would have become their fate? May be they would have been labelled 'whores', 'strippers' and not good for the children of America? A career-ending media blitzkrieg would have followed, activated with the sole objective to deliver a final blow to their careers; but no, the culprit here fits the acceptable color-scheme, and lo, she was only defending her "beautiful vagina?"

What a baloney of an explanation, and you wonder why the discordant tunes in race-relations continues and getting stronger in today's America? Icheoku for once, wished that Kanye West was around on that day to go up that stage and cover Lady Gaga's nakedness with his jacket; or better still, vocalize what many Americans felt was an indecent outfit to wear and perform in a Grammy's! We are not that conservative or hate some little teasing; no, our objection is the venue and the apparent "much ado about nothing" treatment it has thus far, received from the American mass media. Lady Gaga should not have worn that bikini-like outfit to the Grammy's and now that it is a fait-accompli, should acknowledge the impropriety of that outfit and apologise herself to millions of children and to some of us who would rather see some feminine body? The FCC should consider sanctioning the television station that failed to censure Lady Gaga's bikini lines and her rock-hard stocky buttocks; at least CBS was fined $500,000 for Janet Jackson's' wardrobe malfunction? Icheoku says, it ain't right; and without a reprimand through a strong disapproving statement of a hefty fine, one day, Lady Gaga shall push the envelope of indecent exposure all the way and appear for a performance, in her all natural outfit, the type the biblical Eve wore in the garden of Eden before the fall of man!

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, THE SUICIDE?

I went to church yesterday and sat through the service, listening, as the pastor delivered his homily for the Sunday. The theme of the preaching was the nothingness of life and how sometimes, life becomes so meaningless, having lost its meaning that the livers just end it for lack of any future aspiration or something else to push them on? In other words, there is nothing to live for? Life thereafter becomes a burden and off-load it, they must; as they end it albeit by suicide.

The preacher then pivoted to the death by suicide of the British world famous designer, Alexander McQueen. In introducing the subject of McQueen's death, the pastor said, "Last week a British designer committed suicide; he is the designer who designs for Lady Gaga!" If you want to have an idea of what Lady Gaga's outfits look like, right here under is what she wore to the last America's Grammy Award 2010 - N U T S? Call it whatever you like, but this 'thong-flying' outfit definitely does not qualifier as an Icheoku's approved good creation; hence, whosoever idea it is, is equally N U T S !

The congregation erupted in a somewhat sympathetic approval cum disapproval applause for both the loss, the manner of the death and the Lady Gaga's outlandish fashion sense. It was then that we decided to do this commentary on Alexander McQueen's death by suicide, since as a matter of policy we do not usually glorify such crazies who chicken out from the challenges of this world by taking their own life. Admitted we have no opinion on people wanting to end their life of misery, provided of course they do not forcibly take others along with them, through a mass-murder or suicide bombing? If you must jump and wants to jump off, hey jump; but please just leave the guy next door who still have reason to live, alone!

Now who is Alexander McQueen that Icheoku or the Reverend Father should bother making him a subject of discussion for a commentary or a homily? For a little snippet and the most direct insight into this designer from out of space, when a design is very unusual, that is Alexander McQueen's signature creation staring you on the face! When a fashionista is so strangely dressed that she looks like a masquerade or some alien from Mars, it is Alexander McQueen's fashion sense being displayed? Alexander McQueen by definition is a 40 year old multi-millionaire British fashion designer, who became so despondent and distraught on the loss of his dearly beloved mother that he killed himself to be with her? A coward of the country who could not deal with the reality of death, including that of someone he dearly loved and cared for? This forces the question, are there other mental issues involved here to preclude a grown up 40 year old man from understanding that death is an inevitable conclusion to everything alive and living including his deceased mother?

Icheoku used the word coward because Alexander McQueen was not man enough to face what fate had thrown his way and decided to skirt through it by choosing the quick and easy way out? His mantra probably was, 'life has lost its meaning so lets just end it?' He put his head through a noose and hung till his bluish-body was found later dangling from the ceiling of his plush London flat?

His money was not enough to save him? His fame was not enough either? His power and influence was not enough too? His contacts in so many high places was also not enough? Availability of alcoholic beverages, models and superstars whom he cloth as well as various mind-numbing drugs were equally not enough either? None of these could keep him from going down the drain or sustain him through a massive depression which he could not come out of and which eventually made him take his own life? Many pundits blamed his suicide on a son's love for a dead mother, which the designer could not cope with the idea that death could spring a wedge between his mother and himself - the popular mama's boy?

Icheoku is not buying it that love was all it took to cause this havoc, admitted that William Shakespeare sold us the tale of Romeo and Juliet; and asks that investigators probe further to see if there were other factors that accelerated this suicide? Was Alexander McQueen in an ending love affair which proved unbearable for him that he opted for the easier way out? Was Alexander McQueen a druggie who went on a binge and couldn't come out it that he died in his exhilarated euphoria? Was there some monetary issues involved here that would have taken his fashion empire down the toilet that he couldn't fathom the idea of losing this his alter-ego and sense of being, that he decided to just end it? What about a possible scandal of his life which is threatening to blow up or just any other thing else? But Icheoku finds it incredible that a 40 year old man, old enough to even be a grand-father, would just end his life simply because his old mother passed away, knowing that death is a natural thing that will come whenever it comes?

Whatever be the case, Alexander McQueen is dead and the fashion industry would move on without him just like it did with Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, and other fashion-moguls that their business empires survived and went on flourishing long after they passed. Until the investigation into his death completely rules out any other possible triggers of death by suicide, Icheoku will conclude that the preacher in Ecclesiastes was right that 'vanity of all vanities, all is vanity;' as a multi-millionaire fashion designer could not find meaning in all his earthly acquisitions, accomplishment and millions of pounds in the bank that he decided to just end it.

That a 40 year old man would so much love his mother to once reveal that his greatest fear was that she would die before him is not ordinary. It is such an aberration of a statement that one is forced to ask oneself if this guy's faculties were firing alright in all the cylinders? That he would even entertain the idea of preferring to predecease his aged mother, Joyce McQueen, is the smoking mirror here that all was not well with Alexander McQueen's cranial content? True to his words and intent, he took his own life barely a week after his mother died and one day shy of her funeral, and technically "predeceasing her"? What a tragic tale of a love for a mother gone over the board, which in Shakespearean era, would have provided William Shakespeare enough writing material for another tragic tale, this time of a son's love for a mother gone awry? Joyce McQueen is seen right hereunder seating with suicide son Alexander McQueen.

Once married to a filmmaker George Forsyth, the suicide Alexander McQueen admitted just recently to dating one Mr. Stag? According to one analyst, Alexander McQueen "lived and breathed to make his mother proud of him. Everything he did was done to please her, like a 'Look, Mommy, look what I did.' He was very, very attached to her. And when she died last week, I think he felt, 'What's the use of anything anymore?' Icheoku says, what an analysis to the money, by someone who really read him through.

Were it is possible, mother and son would be united now to continue their cherish for one another; but in the hereafter the bible tells us there is no family or mother and son relationship recognition? Moreover, Alexander McQueen committed suicide, which the scripture told us is a mortal sin, so he will surely be headed to hell-fire to spend eternity with the devil herself; while his mother, believing that she lived a Godly good life while she lived, will be marching on with the saints in heaven. As between the chasm between heaven and hell, the scriptures told us too that is is infinite? So now suicide Alexander McQueen, tell Icheoku why you did what you did; or was it simply to go share a place in hell with your mentor, Lady Blow, another suicide; since you cannot ever see your beloved mother again, not anymore; and she cannot be proud of your girlie-man cowardly act of taking your own life! What a shame, Alexander McQueen!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, ICHEOKUANS!

Admitted that love should be a year round affair, observed 24/7; but like birthdays, it is ok to set aside a special day to formally celebrate it. February 14th is that day and today, ladies and gentlemen, turn to the one in your life and tell him or her, how much he or she means to you. Tell that person, you love him/her and that you appreciate all that he/she do to make you happy. Therefore, to our numerous readers and the millions who have visited our website since inception about two years ago, Icheoku says, H A P P Y V A L E N T I N E ' S DAY TO YOU; W E L O V E Y O U ! ! !

ACTING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK, SOUTH SOUTH MUST ALLOW HIM TO GOVERN!

The people of the South-South must avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of the north, which has unduly polarised them against the entire south and which has politically, pitched the north against everyone else in Nigeria. Nepotism, tribalism, regionalism, religionism and sectionalism; these are some of the not-so-good nor palatable words still populating Nigerian lexicon today. A country that wants to remain as one definitely does not need any of these divisive words currently and prevalently pervading its vocabularly space!

A one-Nigeria as envisaged by the Great Zik of Africa is what should be preached by each groups within Nigeria in order to build out of Nigeria a nation that could be great. Therefore, the people of South South must understand that the Acting President Jonathan Goodluck, acts on behalf of Nigeria and not parochially only for the Niger Delta or South-South of Nigeria?

Further, they should remember that they did not make Jonathan an Acting President and that it was the National Assembly that empowered him to so act. Even some reports out of the South South and concerning the people therein from, has it on good authority that they tried but failed to sabotage Jonathan's succession to Acting Presidency, a bid which they woefully lost in the ensuing battle for the hearts and minds of Nigerians regarding the way out of a medically indisposed President Yar'Adua's woods; and what to do in his over-extended absence without leave. Also they should that the whole Nigerians will be watching them meticulously, to see what the South-South makes out of this God given opportunity to preside over Nigeria; and that posterity will not forgive them should they bungle it or force the pundits to equate them to the power-drunk northerners - who craves power; who holds power and yet do ot seem to know what to do with power to better the peoples lot? Why this, Icheoku, on may ask?

In answer, Icheoku says, barely less than 72 hours after the miracle of the National Assembly surmounting all pressure to do otherwise, and summoned the courage to empower Jonathan Goodluck to act on behalf of the ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, the leaders of the South-South so called, are now beginning to mount unecessary pressure on the Acting President to bare his fangs, dissolve the cabinet and consolidate his hold on power? By saying this, they forgot so soon, the reason why the north was at first very reluctant and too afraid to acquiesce to Jonathan's ascendancy? They also forgot that Jonathan Goodluck is merely holding the presidency in trust for the ailing President Yar'Adua who could miraculously be healed tomorrow, only to come back to Nigeria and reclaim his mandate; with a call for the rendering of account. The people of the South South also forgot that it was this type of crass-pressure on holders of public offices in Nigeria that primarily alienated the north from the rest of Nigerians, who perceive them as being too greedy with power that they never want to let go of it.

What is Icheoku saying in essence; that the leaders of the South-South should back-off and allow Jonathan to govern without added undue pressure of office from his people of the South-South. Icheoku believes that Jonathan will not forget his people of the South-South and at the same token, the people of the South South should realise that Jonathan is not theirs alone but is acting President of Nigeria and will take other Nigerians' interest at heart. Just in the few months Jonathan will serve to complete Umaru Yar'Adua's first term in office and this amount of pressure is already being brought by the people of South South on his day three in office? Such avarice for power is capable of scaring Nigerians into resisting any Jonathan's attempt at continuing and completing their tickets' second term, thence 2011. The people of the South-South should therefore be very pragmatic with fanatically identifying with Jonathan's acting presidency, and instead put pressure on their militants who are terrorising the oil companies into full surrender. This will serve as a welcome gesture to their son, Jonathan Goodluck being empowered as acting president of Nigeria; by a duly constituted National Assembly comprised of Nigerians from all over the map, from north east, north central, north west, south west, south east and south-south.

Please Icheoku begs of you, in the name of Adaka Boro, Ken Saro-Wiwa and other respectable men and women, both living and dead, who mean anything to you to please tread softly and let Jonathan function uninhibited by parochial concerns induced pressures. A good starting point would have been for the people to pay him a solidarity visit? Then reconcile him with Peter Odili, James Ibori, DSP Alameseigha, Lucky Igbinedion, Atta and such other former governors and political power-brokers from the South-South and let the kubaya begin. Thereafter, they should reach out to Olusegun Obasanjo and thank him for not only facilitating Jonathan's rise to power but for particularly triggering the tornado that finally blew President Umaru Yar'Adua's government off the reservation. It was Obasanjo's admonition that 'a man of some honor who could not work as his employment, selection or appointment demands ought to throw in the towel.' What followed is better left for historians; but that bullet once it left his barrel was irretrievably dispatched and only the end result threw up Jonathan to the exulted seat of power. At least President Umaru Yar'Adua was humble enough to send his mother to Otta to thank Obasanjo for making her son president!

In the offensive statement, the people of the South-South, through its leader Chief Edwin Clark, asked "Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately dissolve the Federal Executive Council in order to stamp his authority on the government?" Icheoku says such a statement is capable of igniting some trouble in Nigeria as his consolidation of power was not one of the envisaged reasons for the clamour for Jonathan's stepping up to an acting president position. The primary reason is to enable Jonathan hold steady, the hitherto drifting Nigeria's national ship, until President Umaru Yar'Adua recovers and returns from his hospitalisation in Saudi Arabia. Using such words as "stamp his authority on the government" is capable of scaring the north, whose "turn" it is now to be president of Nigeria into thinking that it was a coup that Jonathan staged and not a mere filling in for their sick Umaru Yar'Adua. As always, most wars are started by careless choice of words or wilful words of mouth geared to produce the hostility result or an intention which was lost in translation for being not properly communicated; and therefore Icheoku expects Chief Edwin Clark to clarify his statement further or otherwise deny it.

It is simply not productive to start at this infant stage of Jonathan Goodluck's acting presidency to make the people of Nigeria, especially the northern stock, feel so jittery that they have lost out in the power structure that they may engineer a coup de`tat to reclaim what they presume is rightfully theirs at this time. Nigeria's leaders should fan less the embers of discord, of division, of dichotomy, of sectionalism and of regionalism so that Nigeria can move on to greater things. Enough of these tribal chiefs pontificating a vision of their parochial Nigeria which has since expired and no longer tenable in a so much integrated Nigeria that the idea of regional and different Nigeria is so yesterday. From Sokoto to Calabar, from Maiduguri to Lagos are Nigerians who have become so mixed up through inter-marriages and other cultural exchanges and domicile that even if Nigeria were to separate today, it will be a near impossible task to set them apart? This is despite the intermittent loss of minds of those northern Nigerians domestic terrorists who wantonly spill the blood of innnocents.

The South-South's denouncing or demeaning Olusegun Obasanjo's role in bringing about an Acting President Jonathan Goodluck is also very nonsensical. It lacks in truth and veracity; and is contrary to what is of generally wide knowledge that Obasanjo made Jonathan politically. Otherwise, who imposed Jonathan as Bayelsa deputy governor? Who removed Governor DSP Alamaseigha to make way for Jonathan? Who single-handedly imposed Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan on Nigeria as president and vice president respectively? Who threw the comatose President Umaru Yar'Adua under the bus, by telling-on his near permanent incapacitation; before the dogs of war went in to finish off whatever had remained of his beleagured presidency? Who did the leg works, organised nocturnal meetings and made phone calls, nudging, ordering and cajoling the people that matter in Nigeria that it is game-over and time for Yar'Adua to go? Who is presently counselling Jonathan on how to be presidential and effectively preside? Icheoku says, Obasanjo! Obasanjo! Obasanjo. So Chief Clark, now tell Icheoku why the sudden re-write of a history which many Nigerians watched unfold; or do you plan to now take credit for what you definitely did not do?

That Jonathan might not be an easy push-over or a robotic puppet in the hands of Obasanjo is a possibility; afterall Yar'Adua who benefited more by being made the president later turned against his political godfather and mentor Obasanjo and took refuge inside the Katsina good old boys network? But he forgot that Ngige did it in Anambra State and was kidnapped; that Fashola tried it in Lagos State and today his days as governor is numbered since the attempt at reconcilliation has failed and his impeachment assured, which may come before the year ends. So Umaru Yar'Adua possibly suffered the same fate as all men who renege on their promised loyalty and decided to bite the finger that fed them. Also regarding the pledge by Jonathan to fight corruption to a standstill, Icheoku asks Chief Clark if he will guarantee that EFCC going after James Onanefe Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion etc will not splinter the South South Niger Delta solidarity and whatever remains of their militant terrorists? Will the high chief assure Jonathan of his South South people's full cooperation and support, instead of fueling the militancy which the chief recently admitted is approved and being financed by many Niger Delta henchmen and political authorities?

Icheoku equally, categorically denies the assertion by Chief Clark that "Obasanjo actually wanted the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili for the job of the veepee"! This is because no one in Nigeria ever understands Obasanjo enough to know exactly what he is thinking or actually wants. Being such a draconian ruler, he had his way with easy and did whatever he wanted including removing three senate presidents, five PDP chairmen as well as abducting governors and forcing one to flee the governor's house in Bayelsa. Obasanjo also massacred Odi and Zaki Ibiam people; as well as other unsolved political murders that happened under his watch, including that of his Attorney General Bola Ige. Therefore, a man with such bone-shocking resume` as Obasanjo is beyond Chief Clark to understand enough, to know who he actually wanted for veepee? Obasanjo afterall hand-picked Umaru Yar'Adua and who is Umaru then, to challenge Obasanjo's choice for his his vice, afraid that Obasanjo can change his mind on his own presidential candidacy. Why does Chief Clark want to bequeath Yar'Adua with such a mighty honor of choosing Jonathan? Maybe Yar'Adua chose Jonathan from his then hospital bed in Germany, from where he told Obasanjo on a speaker-phone that he is not yet dead when Obasanjo was ceremoniously campaigning for the absent candidate.

Anyway, enough of this never-retiring politicians who have been occupying Nigeria political scene since the sixties. This high chief should consider stopping his speaking on behalf of the Niger Delta South South people, to avoid some unintended consequences of speaking before thinking. What is it with the "traditional resource control cap" that Goodluck must put it on during his visit to Aso Rock Presidential Villa. Why must Jonathan always adorn Niger Delta garb when he is not theirs exclusive; - why not mix it up a little with some Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa etc outfits; that way other ethnicities and tribal groupings i Nigeria will stop seeing him as a Niger Delta acting president and really identify with him as one of their own. The same dress code applies to all of them in Abuja; and not just Jonathan; but his "resource control cap" was implicated in Chief Clark's speech hence the address. Icheoku asks, who was occupying Aso Rock and calling the shots and marching orders then before May 2007? Obasanjo! Obasanjo! Obasanjo!

Lastly, the people of South South should back off from their fixation on former Attorney General Micheal Kasse Aondoakaa; he has already been punished enough with his demotion to Special Duties Minister. Please do not push Jonathan too hard that he appears vindictive and thus turn him an enemy with the Tivs, Benue State and the greater Middle Belt North Central of Nigeria. Icheoku says, a person with some honor being so demoted would have instead resigned, except that in Nigeria, the word honor has since taken an out-bound flight, never to return. It is possible the use of 'vice president' to address the Acting President by Mike Aondoakaa is a slip of the tongue; moreso that has been Jonathan's designation until just the last few days requiring time for it to fully register and settle in so many minds. Imagine the stressed mind of 'an Attorney General who was a field marshal in the rusticated President Umaru Yar'Adua's inner circle, now on limbo about what his antagonised former Veepee will do to him now that he has become the acting president? Who will not be filled with contempt at a supposed 'enemy "usurper" of his boss's former presidential powers and an apparent nemesis of the old guard? So people of the south-south, instead of throwing feat at Aondoakaa, please forget his language of "insubordination and contempt for constituted authority” and concentrate on how to make the south-south a lesser headache for Jonathan and let Jonathan govern.

THIS IS CRAZY, AN EVIDENCE THAT SOME AMERICANS ARE REALLY NUTS?

But hey, that is why we are the land of the free and home of the brave, a land where freedom of speech reigns; otherwise what is there to miss? But not when you are the one who put the 'Miss Me Yet?' former President George Walker Bush's billboard, overlooking Interstate 35 in Wyoming, Minnesota or an admirer thereof? It looks like a job Glen Beck would pay for and possibly paid for, otherwise why keep the identity of the people or person/s who paid for it secret? A hatchet-job, may be, by the Obama-will-destroy-America-crowd; who have no capacity to logically think for themselves before following their "guiding-lights" talk-radio hosts to Armageddon!

Obviously the nay-sayers, the no-to-everything-Obama-crowd who will never find anything positive from "that one", the colored boy who is occupying their White-House, cannot stop at nothing to show their disapproval of him and this is amplified with such subliminal message as appeared on this billboard. Now they are longing for and feeling nostalgic about the infamous Bush administration and you wonder why someone as dumb as Sarah Palin had a shot at the presidency, being a vice presidential candidate to a septuagenarian! It is a particular mindset which only attracts and sees color of the skin, erroneously believing in the superiority of a particular color, period! Icheoku says, as far as this band of people are concerned, the presidency is tainted by the color of the skin of the occupant; and so it does not matter whether he is a saint or trying as hard as he could humanly try to reposition our great country and solve the economic problem, as well as keeping us safe from terrorists, while fighting two wars and respecting the rule of law; he is black and therefore an aberration, period!

It is equally instructive that President Obama did not cause the economic melt-down nor did he start any of those wars or in any other way, contributed to where we found ourselves today. But these band of 'Mayflower pilgrims', "who owns America," cannot tire nor despair until they wrestle back and reclaim their White House from the 'negro, and it does not matter the degree of the derogation since to them, the end justifies the means.

Icheoku has long since concluded that with regards to President Barack Obama's administration and these band of nay-sayers, the problem is not in the message, but the messenger himself in whom they see an irregularity and a perversion of the occupant of "their White House". Former President Jimmy Carter was right when he shone the light on racism as fuelling the mounting opposition to President Barack Obama's governance; but political correctness did not allow that angle of explanation to be explored further. Anyway, except you have dementia or you are suffering from selective amnesia to have forgotten so soon the experiences of the previous eight years of former President GW , please just tell Icheoku what it is about the previous administration that is now worth missing or a cause celebre` to fuel such nostalgic longing for that government. Oh well?

ACTING PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN OF NIGERIA, WELCOME!

A president is a president irrespective of the manner in which he came to office or the capacity in which he exercises the office? He remains a president whether acting, deputising or standing in for the real president who is currently unavailable and intubated in King Faisal hospital intensive care unit, in the Kingdom of Saud. Icheoku appreciates the fact that Acting President Jonathan Goodluck is pseudo, albeit only holding fort, since he was not elected or voted for as one. He will only hold the office in trust for and pending the arrival of the main custodian of the office, President Umaru Yar'Adua, and when he recovers fully enough to resume his office.

Now that the politics of succession or who takes over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria following the long hospitalization of President Umaru Yar'Adua is seemingly finally over, President Jonathan Goodluck should start presiding over the affairs of Nigeria immediately since there is no more time to waste in their presidency which is nearly 3/4 over! First he must tweak the cabinet to re-position it to suit his idea of an effective governance machinery; fire some old hands that are inhibiting his government's program and hire some fresh ones to re-invigorate the team and effectively see through his government's agenda. Icheoku says, the first order of business is to fire Attorney General Micheal Kassie Aondonakaa for giving the government a wrong advise that 'President Umaru Yar'Adua can rule Nigeria from any where of his choosing in the world?' May be by remote control or the Internet, wrong; except that such 'misleading theory of governance' was coming from a notoriously very corrupt Attorney General of Nigeria, whose middle name would safely pass for a bribe-taker? Disposing Aondoakaa is the right to do and it will be popular among Nigerians who have been clamouring for his removal from office. Moreso the Chief Justice of Nigeria is also a Tiv man from Benue State and Nigeria cannot afford to have the two chief law officers of the country coming from just one tribe out of the over 250 tribes there is in Nigeria! It neither just nor fair to concentrate both offices within one tribal grouping; so Aondoakaa should go.

Next to go or be redeployed is the Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe because he does not seem to have a real grasp of what is required of a person in his office. He seems to have a very old mindset about today's diplomacy and has never been an effective communicator of Nigeria's foreign policy directives? Nigeria needs someone that could at least force or drive a conversation about Nigeria and for this, Icheoku mentions Professor Dora Akunyili as a good fit for the position. In addition to her other admirable attributes, she is also very passionate about what she does and Nigeria requires a proactive 'nationalist' to project her image abroad and market Nigeria from mountain tops, as would a good commodity? That Ojo Maduekwe's office spent over $2 billion naira last year alone without any derivative beneficial returns for Nigeria leaves much to be desired of a Nigerian foreign affairs minister. Such profligacy is mind-bogling and he should get out of the foreign affairs ministry immediately, even only on account of this. Dora comes highly recommended because she is one of the few ministers who is so excitable about Nigeria that she took it upon herself to give Nigeria a better image by single-handedly trying to re-branding it? It is worth mentioning too that Dora Akunyili is the only one in Nigeria who seriously believes that Nigeria still have a chance to be better and great; and such a person will be a good saleswoman for Nigeria and hence has all the potentials to be a great foreign affairs minister for Nigeria. Alternatively, deploy her to the Power ministry or Petroleum Ministry to fix whatever is broken therein. As a challenge, if anyone including Acting President Jonathan Goodluck thinks that providing power to Nigeria is an impossible task, Icheoku asks, have you given Dora Akunyili the task? It is all about a can-do spirit and Nigeria will enjoy uninterrupted power supply forever!

Further President Umaru Yar'Adua's man-Friday, Agricultural and water resources minister Sayaad Abba Ruma should be redeployed or fired immediately to safeguard Jonathan's presidency and/or lessen his power, influence and hold on the presidency. So also should Special adviser Tanimu Kurfi be asked to proceed on indefinite leave of absence pending his master's return back to office. However in going after these two men, Jonathan Goodluck should be mindful that the ailing president might not find it a comfortable decision and will see it as a kick in the gut and a foundational challenge to his position. The better suggestion is to keep them at bay while consolidating a power base to ensure smooth governance. Last but not the least is to try to reduce the influence of Kano people in the government by revisiting those appointments that were made only to their benefit, not taking into account that the north is not just north west or Kano and Katsina alone? Just re-distribute those appointments among the whole northern Nigeria to give every person a sense of participation and not concentrated in just Kastina/Kano axis? Finally, Nigeria cannot afford another 'Slow-man' President Jonathan, so Goodluck must start immediately to do his job as president.

To refresh, the Nigeria National Assembly by resolution, and taking general notice of the widely available information that President Umaru Yar'Adua has now become indisposed, gave the all-clear for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to fully assume the office of president, albeit in acting capacity. In an interview granted to BBC by the sickly President Umaru Yar'Auda on January 12, 2010; the president admitted that he is sick and hospitalised; and that he would return back to work when his doctors say so or give him a clear bill of health? It has now been 78 days since Nigeria waited for this clearance but nothing was coming from the said doctors; leading everyone across the polity to complain and agitate that the vice president should act for the ailing president pending his recovery. It was an all inclusive agitation which cut across Nigeria, from the ordinary Nigerians on the streets to the clergy, civil society, leaders of industries, opinion makers, politicians, trade unions etc. But Section 145 of the constitution requiring the president to intimate the senate on a transfer of power to the vice president held up everything since the president was too sick to write as required. It would appear that the president is in such a debilitated vegetative state to even lift a pen talk-less of being in the necessary right frame of mind to author a cohesive letter of absence? However he was not too sick to grant an interview to BBC, a decision which on hindsight he may be regretting today as it was based on that interview that the national assembly have now acted.

In waiving the issue of notice as required by Section 145 of the constitution, the Senate President David Mark, said, the essence of the said section is to affix notice of the president's indisposition to the national assembly. Under the circumstances of inability to write as required, the Senate will adopt and so adopts the president's BBC interview as providing the necessary notice of his incapacity as required under the said Section 145. In the words of the Senate President, 'The BBC interview granted by the president is as good as the letter envisaged in the constitution"; therefore it shall be adopted as a tacit transmission of notice in satisfaction of Section 145 of the constitution that he is on medical vacation.' In the resolution making him acting president declared, "Goodluck Jonathan shall henceforth discharge the functions of the office of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Acting President. Jonathan would cease to discharge the functions of the office of the President when Yar’Adua “transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in writing that he has returned from his medical vacation?” Icheoku asks, why not dispense entirely with the requirement of giving a notice in writing, and in its place institute a panel of three eminent persons to sit over such happenstance when a president becomes so incapacitated that he could no longer function as one. What if the president returns tomorrow in a life-support ambulatory service or is forcibly brought back by Turai and the Cabals just to frustrate Jonathan's acting capacity? What if the president being so brought back still cannot articulate his thoughts or is incapable of similarly writing or giving a notice as required? Anarchy or double presidency or co-presidency or what; that will descend upon the land? Icheoku would rather this writing requirement is completely done away with to provide for a situation where a president is too incapacitated to write or is held hostage by some interest groups which would not allow or prevent him from doing the right thing!

Icheoku concurs with one observer that empowering President Jonathan Goodluck is a “triumph for the Constitution as well as a triumph for the rule of law. It equally shows that Nigeria has untapped capacity and potential to grow out of the petty smallness holding it down; and shall one day rise up to the occasion to start seriously its nation-building; provided all those tribalists, religious-zealots and sectionalists who milk the current north and south divide completely die off and exit the stage. Just like the MKO Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe two Muslims ticket once attested to, as well as the current southern christain Jonathan succession of a northern muslim, Nigerians really do not care about what anyone worships or the section of the country that produced i'ts leader. All the average-Joe-Nigerian wants is the provision of basic infrastructure to enable him go about his daily business of providing for his family without molestation, in peace and in secured environment. Icheoku commends Senate President David Mark's statement that “The fact that we have resolved the logjam democratically is a measure of the depth that democracy has attained in our polity. This is not the time for winners and losers, but the time to remain united as a people because as a nation, our voyage is on the same tide and we cannot afford a drift.” However we beg to disagree that Nigeria's democracy has attained or will attain any meaningful depth, until elections begin to matter, cast-ballots counted at the polling centers; and real democracy enthroned starting with the PDP which needs to institute an internal democracy within its own political establishment. May be the recent Anambra State election which the PDP failed or were unable or refused to or did not hijack shows that something good is afoot in Nigeria's political clime; admitted the jury remains sequestrated until the almighty 2011 elections are decided.

Icheoku agrees that this political solution of “doctrine of necessity,” should be given a chance in order to move Nigeria forward; as the alternative of an outright invocation of Section 143 impeachment clause will rather be too strong, unkind and unfeeling for a president who did not cause or bring sickness upon himself. Let Nigerians not stir the polity or unnecessarily stoke it any further since 2011 is already around the corner and new elections will usher in a fresh team to carry on, carrying on. As we have always maintained and now as being reinstated by some legal minds, "Jonathan does not require anybody's authorisation or a Senate resolution to act as President, he was duly elected alongside the ailing president as the vice president or president in the waiting and should immediately upon his indisposition step in as acting president". Yet it does not hurt for the Nigerian population as represented by the national assembly to add impetus to this by their resolution; so it is still a welcome idea.

Icheoku agrees with Acting President Jonathan that there should be no more excuses for failures and adds, this zero-some tolerance for failure should not be exclusive the Nigerian police; but must transcend the entire gamut of government:- executive arm in its entirety, the legislature, the judiciary and the man on the street. Like the creed of MAMSER, if you are a tailor, tailor well; if you are a teacher, teach well, if you are a farmer, farm well; if you are a politician, politic well, if you are a governor, govern well and so on and so on. Also Icheoku agrees that the war against corruption should be prosecuted more firmly, more resolutely and more robustly. It needs reinvigorating and if it means breaking some bones to get the job done, so be it. To satisfactorily do this, Acting President Jonathan Goodluck should consider rehiring Nuhu Ribadu to continue with the good work he was doing before the corrupt powerful men of Nigeria swept him out of office and hounded him into exile. Let the free hand to be given to the anti-corruption agencies to prosecute the anti corruption war include allowing them to go after know corrupt Obasanjo's men as well as former governors James Onanefe Ibori and co. As of the many infrastructures mentioned, only two are most important to help jump start Nigeria's economy which is sputtering into comatose:- power and roads! Finally what is in a name one may ask, as a man named Goodluck Jonathan became a deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and God knows what next; all within what many will consider very short political pupilage/apprenticeship? But only fools question the gods or controvert their destiny! Congratulations Acting President Jonathan Goodluck and let the policy directive flow!

A NEED FOR A SHADOW GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA - an article by Chinedu Akuta.

Damn our “leaders” if they like it, damn them if they don’t, the people have spoken. Enough of power vacuum, near constitutional crisis, and over heating of the polity all due to the fact that the ruling party (PDP) does not trust the Vice President (Jonathan Goodluck) to formally act as President until President Yar’Adua recovers from his illness. There is no choice other than to respect the wishes of the Nigerian people, power belongs to the people. Cracks have clearly emerged with the Executive Council of the Federation and the National Assembly due to the pressure from the people. Shadow government will be such that should coordinate massive public pressure (people’s power) to counter bad governance.

This was an idea I recommended in my Christmas message to Nigerians. It simply means forming a government in waiting by the opposition parties. But in the Nigerian case, the shadow government should be formed by opposition parties and representatives from the following; Political Groups, Non Governmental Organization, Civil Groups, Community Groups, Faith Organizations (churches, mosques, etc), Retired Civil Servants, Opinion Leaders, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Labour Unions/Leaders, Students Union Leaders, Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, Nigerian Medical Association, Bankers, Nigerian Bar Association, Members of the Nigerian Press, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Cultural Groups and any other groups, corporate groups or individuals that might wish to join.

Shadow government/cabinet is in operation in the United Kingdom where opposition parties have shadow cabinet members in all the existing ministries, For example Secretary of Defense (Minister of Defense) by the ruling party (Labour Party) has a shadow Secretary of Defense by the opposition parties (Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats etc). The British opposition parties are alive and strong, they provide tough checks and balances on the ruling party (Labour Party).

There will be nothing wrong to domesticate this method (shadow government) and apply it to the presidential system of government that we are practicing in Nigeria . It can be our own home grown democratic system. I have heard past Nigerian leaders talk about home grown democracy. This can be one of it. However, political theories of previous centuries (presidential system, unitary system, federal system, feudal system, theocratic system etc) can be adjusted, amended or combined together to fit in the Nigeria of 21st century, so long as it enhances good governance.

The essence of shadow government in Nigeria is to create a formidable opposition to the government in power. Opposition parties/groups are an important part of every democracy. In nearby Ghana , the opposition party (National Democratic Congress of Ghana) won the ruling party. In both Zimbabwe and Kenya , power is being shared between the opposition parties and the ruling parties. During the Babangida and Abacha era, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) formed a credible opposition to the military. They fought gallantly till the country was returned to civil rule. Presently our opposition parties/groups need a shadow government/cabinet structure hence my suggestion.

My other reason for recommending so many groups to join the shadow government is because, I agree totally with what former French President Charles de Gaulle said, “Politics is too serious a business to be left for politicians alone”. Shadow government will be able to critically examine every government policy and come up a better alternative for the Nigerian people. Where money is to be spent on projects, the shadow government should be able highlight how and who can do such projects better and at a lesser cost to the Nigerian tax payers. Shadow government will provide a training ground for future leaders. The benefits will be enormous to the Nigerian public.

My suggestion of a shadow system of government is such that, we will have shadow president, shadow vice president, shadow cabinet members, comprising of shadow minister of education, shadow minister of health, shadow external affairs minister, shadow minister of agriculture, shadow minister of finance etc. The same method (shadow government/cabinet) should be created or formed in 36 states of the federation and the 774 local government areas in Nigeria . In the case of states, there should be shadow governors, shadow deputy governors, shadow commissioners. Whereas, in the case of local government councils, there should be shadow supervisory councilors in all departments.

Since we have a bi-cameral legislature (The Senate and House of Representatives) at the federal level, it will be in order, to have one shadow senator from each senatorial zone and a shadow House of Representative member from each federal constituency of the federation. Same should apply to the states and local government areas.

Appointment or Selection Processes: Appointments or selection methods should be strictly by merit and through transparent processes. There will be no issue of putting round pegs in square holes, like what the past and present governments have been doing. I will suggest Option A4 system for selection process. I will also suggest that professional groups should be allocated to relevant shadow ministries, for example if medical personnel’s decides to join the shadow government, they should be assigned to the shadow ministry of health under a shadow minister of health.

Shadow government can commence now and terminate by May 2011 when the tenure of this present government will end. However there should be a transition plan for the shadow government that will start from May 2011. Politicians and people interested in this project can start working out the remaining modalities. Campaigning for different positions should also start. Nigerians in Diaspora can participate actively in the appointment, selection, and the shadow government itself. They can take part from wherever they might be. I will also use this medium to urge the various pro Nigerian groups in Diaspora to come together irrespective of their organizational differences. There are a lot they can achieve by coming together. Joining or co-starting a shadow government will be a good starting point.

The shadow government can start online or partially base online. President Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain relied heavily in online strategies during their campaign. During the last French presidential election, the two top contenders (Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal) generated the highest level of net activism. In Australia , their Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) has continued to use online presence to keep electorates aware of his government’s activities.

Finally, I wish also to appeal to Nigerians to participate and join the fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria .

Chinedu Vincent Akuta is an activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK.