ABUBAKAR ATIKU, A POTENTIAL REGIONAL LEADER - OMERI

"President Jonathan offers a breath of flesh air, a new dawn and a complete break from the past which will ultimately transform Nigeria. What the country needs now is not need a regional president but a nationalist president who has a mission and purpose to transform the entire country; unlike the northern consensus candidate, Abubakar Atiku, who might be inclined to pursue only a northern regional agenda." - Mike Omeri, Director General (Research and Strategy), Jonathan/Sambo 2011 Campaign Organisation.

LEAKED EMBASSY CABLES, WIKILEAKS NOT THE REALLY CULPRIT?

WikiLeaks, a non-profit media organization dedicated to bringing news and information to the public; and which provides a portal for sources around the world to leak information to the world audience, has recently been in the cross-hairs of America, for leaking some vital diplomatic cables. They published the said cables, convinced that it is their ethical responsibility to reveal to the world some hitherto suppressed and censored American government materials which WikiLeaks termed injustices.With just a strike of the enter-key on their computer's keyboard, a total of 251,287 documents, comprising of 261,276,536 words, dating from 28th December 1966 to 28th February 2010 and originated from 274 embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions world-wide, was released to the world for their consumption. Government officials from Washington to Moscow to London to Kabul to Riyadh are crying foul that Wiki-Leakers have done them irreparable damage and governments confidences severely harmed.Icheoku says the indignation and antagonism  expressed and directed against WikiLeaks over this leak may however be misplaced as the real leaker here, the real culprits deserving of  condemnation, is not Wiki-Leaks themselves but all those government officials with access, who were privy to these documents, and who actually leaked them to the leaker-in-chief, WikiLeaks.  WikiLeaks is just a vehicle with which those in government spilled the beans which they wanted the world audience to see for whatever purpose they may have in mind. Had these government officials not sabotaged their government's diplomatic efforts by leaking those documents to WikiLeaks, possibly to undermine the government and ridicule it, Icheoku says there is no way in hell Wiki-Leaks could have had access to those documents; talk-less of publishing them. So the government through the FBI should refocus their effort at the whodunit and investigate those officials who came in contact with the published cables, to unravel who actually poured the water into a basket expecting it to stay put and not leak out. Someone or some people in government circle handed these documents to Wiki-Leaks and these are the real culprits here and not a website that exists to leak things and reveal hidden facts. Icheoku says the American government has the wrong guy in their cross-hairs as  WikiLeaks is not the provocateur/suspect; but those involved government officials!Icheoku is not in anyway justifying or condoning putting the government in Washington DC or elsewhere in any unsavory position by disclosing the processes involved in their diplomatic equivalent of making the hamburger. But if according to these Wiki-Leakers, "the cables show the extent of US spying on its allies and the UN; turning a blind eye to corruption and human rights abuse in "client states"; backroom deals with supposedly neutral countries; lobbying for US corporations; and the measures US diplomats take to advance those who have access to them", then it may be worthy an effort to draw the attention of the tax-payers of America, whose money bankrolls these alleged, to these happenings through their disclosure. However, provided their purpose is to inform the public but not to unduly embarrass the government; it may be in order to somewhat put paid to these double-standards government practices and force the government to practice what it preaches and in the open.According to WikiLeaks, "these document reveals the contradictions between the US’s public persona and what it says behind closed doors and shows that if citizens in a democracy want their governments to reflect their wishes, they should ask to see what’s going on behind the scenes." This looks like plausible argument to make but in the wildlife-world that we live in, it is easier said than done as without all these intriguing happenstances, possibly our standard of living in America would have been akin to those in third world countries. But through all these twists and turns and arm-twisting, Washington has been able to maintain an America that is the envy of the whole world in terms of quality of life. Simple economics teaches that a loss somewhere is a gain somewhere else; and for everything we have some one somewhere was deprived. However long or manner it takes to plug the leaking diplomatic cables, admitted the genie has been let out of the bottle; one thing sprouts out from the incident - the fine-line between right to speech First Amendment constitutional freedom and the need to protect a state from such heinous embarrassment, must be balanced and weighted against the state's overriding security interest and ensure it is maintained without let; and anyone breaching that, including Wiki-Leaks, should be severely dealt with.

What WikiLeaks did by these published documents was to pitch nations against nations and one country against another. Now it is suspicion galore amongst countries and who knows who shall ever trust one another anymore or even enough to disclose their truthful opinion on any given world-issues again. WikiLeaks has driven a knife into world diplomatic fiber and their center of trust can no longer hold. Most countries will henceforth be very reluctant to trust another with very sensitive information, doubtful that it will not be kept with the utmost secrecy governing its disclosure.


The United States government especially, shall feel the most heat as many countries would henceforth be very reluctant to disclose to them what they are really thinking or feeling towards some burning world issues. But who knows where WikiLeaks sourced their information from; whether it is from outside sources other than Washington DC, bent on embarrassing President Obama and his team. But hey, until full disclosure through forensic investigation, Icheoku and the rest of the world would just wait and see where the trail will tail off. In the interim, we urge Julian Assange, the face of WikiLeaks, to turn himself in and answer for his alleged sexual-crimes with which he is charged and for which he remains on the run; and cease from remaining a fugitive on the run having been placed by Interpol on its red notice of wanted persons.

POTHOLES-FILLED ROADS, ADDS TO COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN NIGERIA.

 

Icheoku just wonders what it is really that government in Nigeria is doing or what their responsibility is when they allow roads necessary for moving people and goods around to become dilapidated to this degree. Now when goods could not get to their various destinations or arrive there badly damaged; marketers cannot help but increase their prices to make up for this shortfalls. It must indeed be frustrating for those people who daily ply these roads. Icheoku condemns this lack of care for roads by governments in Nigeria as mind-boggling anti-people governance!

THE THREE NIGERIAN MUSKETEERS, THEY SCREWED NIGERIA UP SO BADLY, IT STILL SUCKS!

 

Left to right are Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari; former military despots who severally and respectively ruled Nigeria with iron-fist. Obasanjo in his second coming as civilian president introduced a totally new and very strange dimension, civilian dictatorship, into Nigeria political lexicography. These men are the reason why Nigeria has remained under-developed all these past 50 years of her existence, principally due to their crass incompetence and gross ineptitude. Between the threesome, they have collectively and directly ruled Nigeria for a period of 22years and as proxy-rulers for majority of the other 28years. Their contribution or rather lack thereof to the development of Nigeria is reflected in the parlous state of affairs in the country today and there being nothing really much to remember them for or show for their stewardship. So Nigerians when next you become frustrated about the state of affairs in your country:- dearth of infrastructures, insecurity, joblessness and general despondency cum malaise in the polity, take a serious, good and long look at these three human-beings and you are starring directly at the root cause of your problems. They caused them all; so when next you are mad about what is, remember these men made you mad. Nigeria has problems, IBB, OBJ and Buhari caused Nigeria's problems; therefore Babangida, Obasanjo and Buhari are Nigeria's problem. In mathematical analysis, it is stated as QED - what has been given has been proved.

BRISTOL PALIN, DWTS HEADED THE WAY OF AMERICAN IDOL.

 Regrettably the skewed voting pattern in Dancing with the Stars is fast pushing the daughter of Sarah Palin into winning this season's edition. Tea Party activism at it best are block-voting the Alaskan teenage mother contrary to what the watching audience as well as the judges are seeing live and on television with their eyes. Icheoku says the producers of DWTS should try and find out from those guys at American Idol why their once top show tanked; and the same fate awaits DWTS should the unexpected and inexplicable happen with a Bristol's win. Alternatively, the judges should be allowed to overrule the voting public with majority votes in some circumstances such as the present effort by the Tea Party to rig the votes in favor of the daughter of their alter-ego, Sarah Palin. That she is in the final is to say the least a big SHOCK and DWTS will be shocked-double in the event she finally wins the season. The viewing public will reject such result and follow it with boycotting the show

THANKSGIVING 2010, HAPPY, HAPPY TURKEY DAY AMERICA!

There are so many things to be thankful for this thanksgiving day 2010 in America: - your life, your health, a shelter over your head, some clothes on your back and of course some food on your table or in your stomach. Your family and friends as well as your enemies' good state of health and wellbeing, should also give you joy and reason to be thankful this thanksgiving day 2010. As for Icheoku, we are thankful for all God's merciful and wonderful blessings in 2010; and above all for giving us real happiness and the ability to just lay our heads down and doze off effortlessly and soundly.

So as you savor the tasty big birds and associated toppings as well as drinks to wash them down, please be grateful that you can eat and equally have some food to eat. Some people can eat but have no food and so many others have food but cannot eat due to medical discomfitures. Also as you indulge yourself with all the goodies of mother earth, remember that so many people including women and children the world over, went to sleep today without any food in their stomach. Therefore learn to share and be charitable today, volunteer or give alms by donating to some charities.Have yourself a good turkey day, friends!

NB: The facilitator will be out for one week thence - our final vacation for 2010 before it runs out; we shall be back and resume our affair with the keyboard, first week of December.Thank you.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, A CONSESUS CANDIDATE WITHOUT A REAL CONSENSUS?

 

Technically speaking, Abubakar Atiku lost 4-5 in the final vote for a northern consensus candidate; five out of the nine northern elders electoral officers voted against his candidacy including the father of consensus himself, Adamu Ciroma. Icheoku says that with less than half of all the votes cast received by Atiku, it is a misnomer to still call him the consensus northern candidate for president because he does not have a comprehensive mandate. By consensus is meant that all parties have agreed without let that the candidate be declared unopposed as the choice of all aka CONSENSUS CANDIDATE. But Atiku only got minority votes of four and not majority five or consensus of nine; yet he is their 'consensus candidate?'

Atiku also have a lot of baggage and obstacles to contend with to clinch the PDP presidential candidacy talkless of being elected president of Nigeria; including his former boss Obasanjo who swore long ago never to let Atiku become president under his watch. Icheoku says, hopefully those northern elders forum electors gave this Obasanjo's 'No Atiku' stand the serious thought it so badly deserves. Atiku also barely scraped through past the evil genius Babangida, who would have easily been the north's strongest challenge to President Jonathan and therefore the north's best shot.

Anyway Icheoku is waiting and watching; but with just only 4 votes against Babangida's 3 and Saraki's 2; Atiku's consensus is suspect as his votes tally is not highly reflective of a typical consensus candidate's votes. With such a thin margin of 1 against Babangida, Icheoku expected the northern elders to have called for second balloting between the two top vote-getters to see how the nine votes would have been split amongst them. But nay, they are very old and apparently senile to think proactively in the present and in that trajectory. So without a total mandate, Icheoku wonders if Atiku Abubakar could rightly still present himself as the north's consensus candidate and whether the north will even support him in the primaries in view of their elders implied rejection of him at the consensus level.

But like the popular saying goes, beware of what you wish for Adamu Ciroma; as the best your north presented may not afterall be good enough to face and beat President Jonathan. Babangida was the only candidate the south feared was going to upstage Jonathan hence the barrage of attacks on him to shock his being and force him out. But, as always that 'Goodluck' in President Jonathan came to the rescue as the north unknowingly solved Jonathan and south's main headache, Babangida. In his stead, they anointed Atiku as their consensus candidate but forgot that Olusegun Obasanjo is still around the corner and on Jonathan's side?

ATIKU IS IT, AS NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM SOLVES THE BABANGIDA QUESTION!

 

As the Northern Elders Political Forum finally helps Nigeria resolve the Babangida question and consign him permanently into the dustbin of history of a president wanna-be who never became one; and nominates Atiku Abubakar as their choice consensus candidate, Icheoku says what a beautiful masterstroke. With the evil genius and all the nightmare associated with the possibility of his ever coming back to power now finally rested and forever gone, Nigerians no longer have to contend with that heinous option.

Now that Abubakar Atiku has been chosen as the Northern consensus presidential candidate, Icheoku says it is about time for the whole south to also produce their own southern consensus presidential candidate or officially adopt Goodluck Jonathan as that candidate, so that the battle for supremacy between the north and the south can finally begin and be resolved once and for all. Admitted however  that Icheoku would rather the PDP's gentleman's agreement on zoning be respected and President Jonathan not run; but since he has stopped Babangida by forcing the north into this consensus option, we think his job is done and he can now back down and let Atiku reset the Nigeria button. Atiku would have naturally followed after Obasanjo but for the deity of Otta who was not gentlemanly enough to respect an understanding earlier reached. Jonathan can still do it and be the instrument that God used to restore fate in Nigeria oneness and right the wrongs of Obasanjo.

But should his advisers egg him on and Jonathan persists, he might loose at the convention since Atiku is a more astute political player than the greenhorn Jonathan. Atiku sure do have some fence-mending to do with a lot of people on his way to Aso Rock such as Obasanjo, Orji Uzor Kalu, Jubril Aminu, Muritala Nyako, all Obasanjo boys, and the Hausa/Fulani people of Northwestern Nigeria who always look down on Atiku's people of Northeastern Nigeria as bastards (hausa-bakwais) - a mountain of obstacles for him to surmount in order to get into Aso Rock. Icheoku knows for certain that it is going to be one heck of fight to finish, a tag-team sought of fight with Team Obasanjo/Jonathan led south battling it out against Team Babangida/Atiku led north. Icheoku can't wait for this mother of all fights to finally determine who really controls Nigeria to begin in order to see if the Nigerian question could be somehow resolved too just like Babangida's.

The battle as pitched now between the north and the south-south will only be won with the help of the Middle-belt and the Southeast people, who now have and control all the aces; and will also make the best and most beautiful brides of 2011. The north has a presidential candidate in Atiku so Sambo's vice presidency might no longer be of special interest to them. The southwest will sure go ACN barring any major rigging since it has been their tradition to sustain the opposition once they are not in charge. The south east has no dog in the fight presently likewise the Middle-belt. Jonathan is from south south and Sambo is from northwest while Atiku is from northeast. It is a fight that will be determined largely by who lands the vice presidency of Atiku, whether Atiku will agree to do one term and what he is offering the Igbos for their support, including support for their 2015 presidency. Once the north do their home-work and give the vice presidency to a notable Igbo person, it will be deja vu 1978 all over. President Jonathan has proved that he cannot be trusted with power and such opportunist might not be a preferred partner needed for the Igbo project 2015; but what is Atiku bringing to the table?

In the final analysis, if Atiku wins the PDP primaries, he will have Buhari to content with in the final election 2011; but the odds always favors the party in power except an angry loser incumbent decides otherwise. If Jonathan scratches a victory, then it is going to be a real tough up climb for him against a formidable Buhari in the north with a possible running mate in Bola Tinubu from the southwest. Luckily a northerner is the INEC chairman so who knows where he might align himself at the opportune time; as politics is always about interest and not loyalty. One other good thing coming out of this northern consensus thing, aside of burying Babangida aspiration is that it shows the political maturity of the north, who faced with a motley of candidates managed to come together to resolve the issue amongst themselves peacefully. Icheoku hopes the Igbos of southeast will copy this example when it comes their turn in 2014 to chose their candidate. To Jonathan and Atiku, Icheoku says let the battle for the hearts and minds of PDP delegates begin and begin in all honesty! But one more thing, there should be a meeting and agreement between Jonathan and Atiku's team to respect the outcome of the primaries and support whoever wins and eventually fly the flag of the party in the general election.

HENRY OKAH, MEND LEADER AND TERRORIST, DENIED BAIL!

"Your bail application is denied, your evidence failed to convince the court that you are not the leader of the movement for the emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). The most damning evidence is that in a letter written in her handwriting the applicant's wife refers to him as being the leader of mend." - Magistrate Hein Louw said while denying Okah's bail application. Icheoku says in as much the Niger Delta terrorist and master-mind of the Nigeria Independence day celebration bombing in Abuja deserves the firing squad for his atrocious killing of innocent Nigerians; he should have pleaded President Goodluck Jonathan's own admission and exoneration of MEND as a defense. It does not make sense and defies every logic that a leader of a group that have been absolved of any complicity in a crime should be singled out for prosecution for the same crime. It therefore necessary follows that if MEND is not a terrorist group and also not responsible for the Abuja bombing as Nigerian President Jonathan proclaimed, that its leader should equally benefit from the presidential absolution and not be held so responsible. But not in the case of Okah who is facing charges for the same crime for which his group has been given a clean bill of records by the president of Nigeria himself. Does this make sense, go figure. But Henry Okah, who are your lawyers?

IRAN UNDERMINING NIGERIA, SHIPS TWO EXPEDITIONARY DEADLY CARGOES!

Icheoku says the fact that two highly dangerous and illicit cargoes from Iran came into Nigeria within just the last few weeks is not any ordinary coincidence. It is a methodical, well calculated and carefully orchestrated Iranian state policy out of Tehran geared towards destabilizing Nigeria; or at least force the authorities in Abuja to pay greater attention to the Persians. First there was a large consignment of arms which was shipped into Nigeria from Tehran but which the Iranian authorities initially, tried unsuccessfully, to deny knowledge of once the dreaded Israeli MOSSAD unmasked them. But facing mounting of incontrovertible evidence of their culpability, the Islamic state relented and later put up a feeble claim that the discovered arms cache was meant for Gambia; which country when faced with Nigeria's diplomatic pressure caved in and denied ownership of them. Iran has since accepted responsibility for the lethal cargo shipment to Nigeria but is yet to convincingly show the whence and purpose of these weapons; and diplomatic moves had gotten into high gear to investigate the shipment and punish Iran if need be; the matter is presently with the United Nations.

However just as investigation was continuing into this shipment, another unfriendly cargo came ashore in Nigeria from Iran through the same consignors that brought in the previous one. This time, it was large quantity of heroin, carefully concealed with motor spare parts and shipped as the later in a 40-foot maritime container; and as crack-heads would confirm, those gluey substance are more dangerous than firearms. So which friendly country that means well for another would permit or allow these life-wasting materials to leave her shores for the others without alerting the recipient country and so clandestinely? Were such cargoes to have originated from some freer countries and not such a religious, highly conservative closed country as Iran, then it would be possible to say that it is the handiwork of a criminal gang. But not when it is from Iran where no bird could fly without first securing the state's approval of its right to be airborne. Icheoku therefore is of the opinion that both firearms and drugs were shipped into Nigeria with the blessing of the authorities in Tehran as represented by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or the Ayatollahs religious council; which begs the question, why? What is the state objective of Iran in trying to sabotage Nigeria or undermine its government's effort to crackdown and rid the society of crimes and criminals? Why would Iran export ammunition and drugs to Nigeria concealed as building materials and vehicle spare-parts?

Hopefully investigations will provide some answers to these burning questions and Icheoku urge the Nigerian authorities to go for the jugular in this matter with Iran since Nigeria can do without Iran, their joint OPEC membership notwithstanding. The aggressor here is Tehran and Nigeria did not in anyway provoke this their action; except of course it is Islamic based because Nigeria currently have a Christian president who is not receptive to the tele-guiding influences of those Middle East  and Persian Gulf Islamic countries. Whatever reprisal action that may be taken by Nigeria, including a recalling of her diplomatic personnel from Tehran, will be understandable both by the rest of the world as well as Nigerians because what Iran did amounts to a declaration of war or at best very hostile action. As Icheoku together with the rest of the world await the outcome of the UN investigation into the arms shipment, we urge Nigerian authorities not to relent in pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion in order to send a strong message that such Islamic undermining of secular countries will not be tolerated by Abuja. The other time it was Libyan Moummar Ghaddafi who was advocating for Nigeria's breakup and now another Islamic country is shipping arms and drugs into Nigeria, covertly, trying to undermine the country's structural integrity and cohesiveness.

Icheoku condemns the Iranian action in its totality as unfriendly, provocative and unbecoming of a supposedly friendly country. Thirteen containers of arms and ammunition covertly brought into a country suffices as an attempt at insurrection or causing serious mayhem and anarchy within the host society. In fact it should be treasonable felony for those Nigerian collaborators who aided and abetted or connived with the shipment and attempt at clearing the deadly cargo. It even gets madder to learn that it was the same shipping company that brought in those weapons that also brought in the subsequent drugs and Icheoku asks, is this company still operating in Nigeria with their government issued license? As Icheoku congratulates Nigeria security agencies for not sleeping on duty this time around or glossing over necessary tail-tale signs that led to these impounds; they should also be further aware that other dangerous cargoes possibly are on the high seas en-route Nigeria from the same Iran and should remain on eagles alert. To Iran, Icheoku warns that your jihadist intentions against Nigeria will not succeed as Nigerians are smarter and more united when their country is involved in any skirmish with another country; not withstanding the often acerbic political jaw-jaw and intermittent shedding of the blood of one another prevalent in the country. Tehran must therefore cease and desist forthwith from further acts of aggression against Nigeria as Nigerians will resist them, being too sophisticated to bite their bait to trigger a consuming conflagration which will be detrimental to her existence. Icheoku says, enough Tehran!

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, TREADING ON THE PATH OF FLIPPANCY?

'It is now GAME OVER for militants in the Niger Delta' so said President Jonathan while assessing the latest (in)security situation in the Niger Delta. Icheoku says just because some encampments in the creeks of the Niger Delta were overrun by the Nigerian army now makes it a game over, militants-free zone. Lifting a line from al-Queida statement to 'foreign invaders' that 'we live here but you guys will someday pack and go back to your countries,' Icheoku queries Mr President, for how long does his military plan to encamp in the Niger Delta?

Just last month, the same President Jonathan emphatically told a surprised world, ever before any investigation started, that 'the Abuja independence day celebration bombing was not carried out by MEND.' He took a step further to somewhat completely exonerate those MEND anarchists, claiming that 'MEND is not a terrorist organisation?' Icheoku observes that the military did not just go into the Niger Delta this time to flush out al-Queida or Boko Haram, but the same MEND urchins who the president had earlier absolved of being terrorists; but practically deemed them Nigeria's Mother Theresa(s)! Anyway it is only Mr President who knows or should know what he is actually talking about, but Icheoku worries that he is beginning to sound like someone without any real knowledge of the happenings around his surroundings.

Analyzing some of his recent utterances, it appears that the president is steadily exhibiting and manifesting his lack of actual knowledge about the real situation of things in the country he is supposedly in charge of and running? We hope that the disagreement between his lips and his thoughts is not an early warning signs of something more ominous and sinister such as a medically out of sync neuron which has gone rogue on the president. We are however comforted that it may not be anything to worry about since the president is not the only Nigerian in a leadership position whose mouth precedes his/her thoughts. However, just like Lai Mohammed advised the other flipping top party official, lets hope too that President Goodluck Jonathan's utterances do not soon start becoming irrelevance and the butt of jokes among Nigerians, which would not bode well and will sure see the roof crashing on those revelers at Aso Rock!

DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL; WHY DO YOU CARE?

 

Straights banter about their wives and husbands all the time and sometimes even carry their pictures around in their pocket-wallets. Some of them even fashion them into wearable pendants and rockets won as their personal lucky charms. 

Celibates also brag about their healthy sexless lifestyle, unperturbed by the peril and burden of commitment; and the unceasing associated high blood pressure caused by constant worrying about your spouse cheating on you. But whose business is it anyway who any person chooses to love or share his/her life with. Icheoku says any legislation or policy which unduly discriminates against a group is an unjust attempt by man to treat another man as inferior, thereby diminishing their human-value.

Whose duty is it anyway to decide who should not and cannot do as he pleases in a country of the free? Discrimination of any kind is inhuman including the 'don't ask, don't tell military policy and therefor should be repealed for general psyche wellbeing of all the service personnel. Icheoku therefore calls on the Senate to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell now as it serves no useful purpose being kept around. If the so called "crooked" could wear the uniform and die for our country, they should not in anyway be limited, restrained or in any unfairly restricted on how or with who they want to enjoy their life with; including their right to brag about their love interests. These Americans reserve the right to love one another including the right to brag about them, while openly gay, and still serving their country. JUST REPEAL THE DARN THING NOW, US SENATE; the heavens will not fall.

NANCY PELOSI BALKS TRADITION, REFUSES TO FALL UPON HER SWORD!

Icheoku has been accused in the past of being a chauvinistic portal and that we unfairly pile on women; so as we hold-out Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not following tradition and disemboweling, we are fully aware of what could be headed our way as a result. Despite that, Icheoku will proceed with the commentary as a speaker who lost control of the house refusal to make way is a topical issue and we pride ourselves in rendering our opinion on such issues.

Historically speakers of America House of Representatives follow in the tradition of Japanese Samurais and their generals who upon losing a battle will fall on their sword and die. They resign the speaker-ship and often times outright resignation from the membership of the house generally follows. This principally is in order to save face and party, as well as take responsibility for their party's poor performance in the midterm election. They also do this to help their party reorganize and strategize; and to get its house in order for the next election. 

Last November 2, 2010 American voters developed amnesia and voted back in Republicans as the majority party in the House of Representatives. Like former speakers Newt Gingrich and David Hastert who respectively presided over their Republican party's loss of the control of the house and went into retirement, people expected Democrat Nancy Pelosi to follow suit. But lo and behold she proved herself the woman she is and clawed and scratched to retain the leadership position of the new minority democratic party. Icheoku asks, why did you not respect tradition Madam soon to be former speaker and quit or is there something in the water of power that is so intoxicating and difficult of many incumbents to just do the honorable thing? Does this clinging on power by Speaker Nancy Pelosi typify what would happen in the event a woman becomes president of America; would such madam president change the constitution and demand for a third term?

In her acceptance speech, she refused to take personal responsibility for her party's loss last November but instead blamed it on a stubbornly unemployment situation in the country. Icheoku asks Madam Speaker, on whose desk does the buck of fixing or solving the unemployment problem in America stop but the formerly democrat controlled house presided over by Madam Speaker. Icheoku likes madam Speaker a lot; but we are not love-struck on her speaker-ship as to not to call her out on this her adamant refusal to take responsibility for her party's loss of control and step aside or even quit the scene for a rebuilding of the party. Now she had to condescend, stepping down from her former high perch to displace natural minority leaders; which denudation continued, sweeping away the only black man in the power structure of the house, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina; admitted that a ceremonial new House No.3 Democrat position was created to assuage some black hurt-feelings. Icheoku asks the democrat, why  must it always be black democrats being asked to make way for their white counterparts - Governor of New York, Senate candidate Meek of Florida, President Obama at one time and now Jim Clyburn.

Icheoku however appreciates those 46 free-thinking democrats, especially Madam Speaker's only challenger Representative Heath Shuler of North Carolina, who voted their conviction in the 150-46 fall in line votes that secured the minority leadership position for Nancy Pelosi. It is the right thing to do by these democrats who truly voted as majority of them thought but lacked the balls to go the whole nine yards. It is this diddling by democrats that led to their trouncing by the more vociferous Republicans who goes to the jugular not minding obstacles on the way. it is still mind-boggling that democrats lost the last November election despite what they have been able to accomplish; judging from where things were when they took the baton from President G.W Bush and company. Election have consequences and Madam Speaker should have left the scene to make way for new leadership to emerge and steer the party back to relevance.

Having been in power for the past eight years as house leader, madam Speaker finds it very difficult to just give up all the perks and power that come with such high office; but is justifying her  position as the person to lead democrats back to majority status. Icheoku however disagrees with Madam Speaker that she is the only one that could lead democrats back to majority soon enough. Madam Speaker was one of the main reasons why democrats lost in the first place as people voted in protest against her, even when she was not on the ballot in several states, against the running democrat. But hey, democrats love their 70 year beautiful grandma Speaker and soon to be new minority leader and Icheoku wishes them well. Anyway, congratulations Madam soon to be minority leader.

EVA LANGORIA AND TONY PARKER, "UNTIL HEIGHT DIFFERENCE DO US APART.'"

 

For those realists amongst humanity, it was no surprise as it was long in the coming, there being no chemistry between them. But unfortunately so many people in this world are delusional and fantastical with residences in the land of make-believe. They often mistake infatuation and star-struck for love; and the result as always is the same as the assured fate of a house built on sandy foundation. She was smitten and telephones calls were made between agents leading to the fairy tale nupital, nothing more. So it is very easy to see how the wheels came off the bus so soon and within such a short period of time since they lied to each other, "until death do us apart?"

May be Tony was finally tired of having to bend down every time to kiss his petite wife when he cannot scoop her up in one arm or there is no stool around for her to perch herself on and decided to solve the problem the only way he knows best. Or could it be that Eva was expecting too much from a black-man NBA star who is the toast of so many superior and taller damsels world over; otherwise which man doesn't play an aside once in a while. Eva should have been happy that his Tony was caught only texting or what would Ellen Nordgren Tiger Woods do; may be jump off the bridge? It is a trite saying that winners don't quit and quitters don't win; so as emotional-weakling Eva now moves out to make way for the other stronger woman to move in, Icheoku asks who is the final, biggest loser.

$46 MILLION PINK DIAMOND, AN EYE-POPPER FOR MILLIONS OF GRAFF-GIRLS!

If it is a truism that diamonds are girls best friend, then London based diamond dealer Mr. Laurence Graff must have 46 million girls now swooning over for his affection, no matter how shallow and trifling. Mr. Graff just doled out $46 million USD for the mother of all diamonds - the 24.78 carat Fancy Intense Pink diamond; a sort of heirloom from 60 years ago when it was first sold by American Harry Winston into a private collection.

The pink diamond, sold and purchased at a rare gems auction held in Hotel Beau Rivage, Geneva, Switzerland by Sotheby's; is graded as 'Fancy Intense Pink' by the Gemological Institute of America. It is classified as type IIa diamond and regarded as the best there is - flawless, purest and the most coveted of all diamonds in the world; which explains the jaw-dropping amount of money that changed hands as bargain for its ownership. It comes from a genre of diamonds that make up only two percent of world's diamond population which makes it as rare as they come. The ladies magnet numero uno was described by David Bennett, chairman for Europe and the Middle East at Sotheby's international jewellery department as "a stone that has huge character and appeal." 

But regrettably no one ever told the world the origins of the diamond, where the diamond originally came from; whether it was from India where pinkies were first discovered or from one of the numerous mines in Africa which have been exploited over the many years fueling ceaseless and needless blood-letting in the continent; which the movie, 'Blood Diamonds' tried to shine light on. Like the story of America, with history books replete with Christopher Columbus as discovering it and intentionally glossing over the facts that the Indians were here long before Columbus was even borntalkless of setting sail; so this diamond's history began 60 years ago when an American jeweler Winston sold it? Icheoku asks, why was the mine from which this diamond was harvested not mentioned for historical perspective or did America's Mr. Winston mine the diamond from underneath his ranch in Wyoming? We are talking about giving due credits here, people! 

'Pinky bling' was described by the Sotheby's as "exceptionally rare and truly magnificent pink diamond of the purest, vibrant hue." Enough encomiums to melt souls were stones animated and put millions of daughters of Eve into a tizzy as they profess their undying love for the diamond, masked as for Mr. Laurence Graff; the gemstones connoisseur who now owns the only very one stone which any connoisseur would die for just to get their hands on.Icheoku asks, how about that for bragging rights for Mr. Graff and also for being the payer of the most money for any diamond or jewelry or gemstone ever sold in an auction; shattering all records with his check? Finally as Icheoku says congratulations to this gemstone collector extra-ordinaire for his prized stone; we must add that millions of girls world over must be swooning at the thought of ever getting close to Mr. Graff, whether as a friend, acquaintance or 'just having any form of relationship with that man, Mr. LaurenceGraff!

SEX MAKES MEN LIVE LONGER!

Wives, girlfriends, guys and ladies, you now know; if you want him to stick around longer then do what the researcher ordered - give him limitless sex. Some Italian medical researchers, led by one Emmanuela Jannini, have determined that a healthy sex-life prolongs the life of men. According to their findings, good sex greatly reduces cardiovascular problems and is also a great fat burner; two ingredients necessary for longevity. It also produces more testosterone which decreases depression and improves metabolism in men. Icheoku queries does this mean that women who outlive their husbands starved them of sex; and if so and because of their great number, so many men must be going without getting some. Further how does this finding explain the fact that many women are usually more depressed than men since it takes two to tango! But hey, an Italian did the research and who knows if Uncle Berlusconi paid for the final report

ONE BILLION WORLD MUSLIMS, HAPPY SALLAH!

Clever Saudi Arabians as they have figured out a permanent source of foreign revenue; so even in the unlikely event the oil wells were to magically and calamitously dry up or disappear today, they will still be very liquid. Imagine Muslims all over the world required to make the Hajj at least once in their lifetime; translation - one billion people plus and counting who are expected to make the Hajj. So plus or minus this number, coughing out some hard currency to visit Saudi Arabia in their lifetime, is not a mere drop in the bucket foreign exchange earner. 

Flight, transportation, lodging, shopping, dinning and drinking whatever they are officially allowed to drink - that's tons of money that Las Vegas would salivate for. Anyway, that is evidence of Saudi-smarts and two million adherents just poured into the Kingdom to observe the Haji and with it came some foreign currency. Who said the kingdom never figured out all these things long before time and Icheoku asks when would the Vatican and Jerusalem follow suit; afterall religion is politics. But lest Icheoku forgets, what about those who cannot afford Mecca or Hajj? What is the fate of all those beggarly Muslims, too poor to go to Hajj or would they not make their paradise upon death? Anyway to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, both rich and poor as we do not discriminate, Icheoku says Happy Sallah to you!