GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: FOR WHO THE BELL TOLLS NEXT.

Just five people shy of Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting incident that claimed 26 lives, the Uvalde Texas Robb elementary school mass shooting at 21 victims, now ranks among the highest grossing gun carnage in America. It is sad that such frequent blood spilling has tragically become part of our culture as a society. May the souls of the killed now rest.

25th AMENDMENT: ITS NOW ALL CRICKET.

Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi once questioned former President Donald John Trump's fitness to remain in office due to what she claimed was his declining mental capacity. Does anyone know what Madam Speaker presently thinks about the incontrovertible case which America is now saddled with? Just curious!

WHO WILL REBUILD UKRAINE?

The West should convert frozen Russian assets, both state's and oligarchs' owned, into a full seizure and set them aside for the future rebuilding of Ukraine. Like the Marshal Plan, call it the Putin Plan.

A HERO IS BORN.

I am staying put. I will not run away and abandon my people. The fight is here in Ukraine. What I need are weapons and ammunitions, not a ride out of town like former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani - President Volodymyr Zelensky.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

"There is too much hate in America because there is too much anger in America." - Trevor Noah.

WORD!

A life without challenges is not a life lived at all. A life lived is a life that has problems, confronts problems, solves problems and then learns from problems. - Tunde Fashola.

NOW, YOU KNOW.

When fishing for love, bait with your heart and not your brain, because you cannot rationalize love. - Mark Twain.

JUST THE FACT.

In our country, you can shoot and kill a nigger, but you better not hurt a gay person’s feelings - Dave Chappelle

DO YOU?.

“What you believe in can only be defined by what you’re willing to risk for it." - Stuart Scheller.

HEDGE YOUR CRISIS.

Never get in bed with a woman whose problems are worse than yours. - Chicago PD.

PROBLEM SOLVED.

'The best way to keep peace is to be ready to destroy evil. If you Pearl Harbor me, I Nagasaki you.' - Ted Nugent.

OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

Empathy is at the heart of who we are as human beings. - Cardinal Matthew Kukah.

WORDS ON MARBLE.

"Birth is agony. Life is hard. Death is cruel." - Japanese pithy.

REPENT OR PERISH - POPE.

Homosexuality is a sin. It is not ordained by God, therefore same sex marriage cannot be blessed by the church - Pope Francis.

CANCEL CULTURE IS CORROSIVE.


FOR SAKE OF COUNTRY.


MAGA LIVES ON: NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER!

TWITTER IS BORING WITHOUT HIS TWEETS. #RestorePresidentTrump'sTwitterHandle.


WORD.

"If you cannot speak the truth when it matters, then nothing else you says matters.” - Tucker Carlson.

#MeToo MOVEMENT: A BAD NEWS GONE CRAZY.

"To all the women who testified, we may have different truth, but I have a great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all of the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country. You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and now there are thousands of men who are being accused and a regeneration of things that I think none of us understood. I’m not going to say these aren’t great people. I had wonderful times with these people. I’m just genuinely confused. Men are confused about this issue. We are going through this #MeToo movement crisis right now in this country." - Harvey Weinstein.


RON DELLUMS: UNAPOLOGETICALLY RADICAL.

"If it’s radical to oppose the insanity and cruelty of the Vietnam War, if it’s radical to oppose racism and sexism and all other forms of oppression, if it’s radical to want to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, and other forms of human misery, then I’m proud to be called a radical.” - Ron Vernie Dellums.


WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE - STEVE JOBS

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me. God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth. Memories precipitated by love is the only true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on. The most expensive bed in the world is the sick bed. You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life. Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well. Cherish others.” - SJ

EVIL CANNOT BE TRULY DESTROYED.

"The threat of evil is ever present. We can contain it as long as we stay vigilant, but it can never truly be destroyed. - Lorraine Warren (Annabelle, the movie)


ONLY THE POOR WISH THEY HAD STUFF?

“I’m not that interested in material things. As long as I find a good bed that I can sleep in, that’s enough.” - Nicolas Berggruem, the homeless billionaire.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

NIGERIANS VOTE FOR ANYBODY BUT BUHARI.

Icheoku reminds Nigerians that a country with progressive ideals do not vote for a rustic past leadership; so a vote for Imam Muhammadu Buhari is a vote to take the country back to dark ages. War against Indiscipline is not enough nor sufficient, standing by itself, to qualify Buhari for Nigeria's president. Moreso Julius Caesar warned us that lean and hungry looking men like Cassius are dangerous and Buhari is the Cassius of our time. Nigerians, please think the future, do not vote the past. Reject Muhammadu Buhari's candidacy; say no to an Islamic Sharia presidency in a secular Nigeria and save your limbs from being chopped off for trifle offenses. In April 2011 presidential election, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI; vote for anybody but Buhari!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

MUHAMMADU BUHARI HATES THE STATE OF ISRAEL, QUERIES VISIT?

MUHAMMADU BUHARI HATES THE STATE OF ISRAEL, QUERIES VISIT?
Imam Muhammadu Buhari who is running for president in Nigeria is an anti-semitic Boko Haram member Muslim zealot who plans to Islamize and Sharia-nize Nigeria if given the opportunity. This mullah while military head of state disgraced and humiliated two Nigerian Majesties, the Emir of Kano Ado Bayero and the Ooni of Ife Sijuade because they visited the Holy land, the State of Israel. According to Imam Muhammadu Buhari who is also a Hamas sympathizer and aligns himself with Hezbollah, Israel does not deserve to exist. It is being rumored too that he plans to severe ties between Nigeria and Israel if elected. Icheoku has it on strong authority that his presidential campaign is being sponsored by Iran, Libya and Sudan; and wonders what the West and Israel is waiting to come out strongly against his candidacy. Nigerians please do not fall for the bogus tale of a reinvented democrat as leopard does not change its spots and old dog do not take kindly to being taught new tricks. NIGERIANS PLEASE SHUN BUHARI'S CANDIDACY, it is leprous!

Monday, March 28, 2011

THINK ABOUT OBASANJO, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI.

THINK ABOUT OBASANJO, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUHARI. Icheoku warns Nigerians not to make the same mistake twice. You can't teach old dog new tricks as it is set in its ways and so is an army man who retired as a general. Moreso coup plotting is a treasonable crime and Nigerians should never allow a coup plotting army man back in the presidency. Olusegun Obasanjo was a nightmarish example and he showed that leopards do not change their spots. Muhammadu Buhari is not good for Nigeria, he is simply too extremist for a secular Nigeria.

Further his days are long past and he has no fresh ideas to move Nigeria forward. Icheoku says, a forward-looking people do not regurgitate a spent past leadership to take them to the future. Buhari was once a head of state in 1983 and 28 years later in 2011 he still wants to become president again? Such amounts to recycling of leadership and Nigerians should tell the Imam that 150 million people is more than enough pool of people from which to pick one smart person to lead the country into the future. Icheoku says Buhari is not that person and Nigerians should therefore not vote for BUHARI. Nigerians deserve better and BUHARI is worst. Nigerians deserve a democrat and BUHARI is a dictator. Nigerians deserve a moderate and BUHARI is an extremist. Icheoku says, Nigerians say no to BUHARI, please do not vote for BUHARI.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

MOUSSA KOUSSA, A LIBYAN TRAITOR?

MOUSSA KOUSSA, A LIBYAN TRAITOR? Libya's Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa betrayed the trust of Moummar Gaddafi as he defected to Britain; leaving the former strongman hold on power drastically weakened. Icheoku says as long as this world exists, there will always be amongst us, Judas Iscariots and Moussa Koussa has now become one as far as Moummar Gaddafi is concerned. For forty-two years, he tagged along and did not see anything wrong with Gaddafi's dictatorship until now?

Icheoku adds, what took this man this long to realize that Gaddafi is a dictator and has been in power for just too long - 42 years; or is it another case of a fair-weather opportunist who jumped ship when it started taking in water? Lockerbie PA AM bombing, Berlin night club bombing as well as thousands of Libyan dissidents - their blood flowed by the hands of this animal but suddenly Gaddafi is not good any more? A kettle calling pot black? Icheoku hates such traitors as this animal and wish Libyan agents can get to him before he takes in further sympathy or absolution from the world! All traitors deserve to hang and Moussa Koussa is such a candidate!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

BUHARI IS NOT WHAT NIGERIA NEEDS AT THIS TIME OR ANYTIME.

PROPRIETY AND LEGALITY NOT JUST ENOUGH, SAY NO TO BUHARI PRESIDENCY.


“I have had the fortune and privilege of managing national resources in various capacities - as a military commander, as a state governor, as a minister, as head of the Petroleum Trust Fund and as the Head of State of this great country. And in all that I have been and done, I have never touched a Kobo of public funds. If elected, we shall challenge vested interests and erase unearned privileges. Propriety and legality will be our new watchwords" - Muhammadu Buhari, CPC presidential candidate. Icheoku says in as much as Buhari's WAI was inimitable and well-intentioned; but all other antecedents of his considered, he is not just good for Nigeria. Muhammadu Buhari is an extremist religious fanatic who will implement fringe-sect Islamic Wahabism SHARIA-law in Nigeria if elected. Nigerians, remember that lean and hungry-looking men like Buhari are dangerous and please do not fetch the firewood with which you shall be roasted, do not vote for Buhari. Also Buhari has not told Nigerians who is sponsoring his campaign and whether the allegation that some Middle Eastern Muslim countries are bankrolling his campaign is true. Icheoku finds it just difficult imaging a Buhari presidency in Nigeria in 2011, not after all the things he did wrong and illegal as a military junta in Nigeria.

NIGERIA DESERVES BETTER AND COULD DO A LOT BETTER THAN A BUHARI PRESIDENCY!

“The grounds on which Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naive. History matters, records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future.Canvassing for Buhari's presidency based on his supposed records is one of the most depressing argument that I ever encountered from people placing a political noose around the nation’s neck with a Buhari's presidency." - Professor Wole Soyinka. Icheoku says the same Nobel Laureate told the world that the man dies in him who keeps silence in face of tyrannyand Wole has again chosen to keep the man in him alive by speaking out against an impending anomaly of a possible Buhari election as president of Nigeria. Icheoku loves the bravery of this Wole Soyinka and quips where is Buhari's WIFE?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

ELIZABETH TAYLOR WAVES HER FINAL GOODBYE TO THE WORLD!

She took out the band in husband. She made a joke of the institution of marriage. She made a fool of men; used and disposed them at will in fulfillment of her lustful pleasure. She possessed of some charm which many a man found irresistible and fell for her bait severally. She is somewhat and in many ways comparable to the other Hollywood lecherous daughter of Eve, Marilyn Monroe. Her name is Elizabeth Taylor, better known by her acronym Liz Taylor and Liz Taylor is no more - dead at 79 of "too much good life" related infirmities of congestive heart failure.

Liz Taylor went through seven marriages and even married one of her husbands twice; and was planning on the eightieth marriage before death decreed otherwise. Icheoku says what a "good moral authority" on marriage this Madam Hollywood was indeed; hopefully when she gets before God, she will explain to HIM what all these men did to deserve being used and dumped severally and respectively as husband-specimens. The good news however is that according to the scriptures, there is no husbands or wives in heaven; but who knows what the situation is in hell, admitted Icheoku  is not implying that Liz is hell-bound. Anyway, so long Liz and may your creator reward you according to your works. Adieu Madam divorcee extra-ordinaire!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

NUHU RIBADU, HIS MANY SINS.

NORTH HIJACKS ACN FROM THE WEST, PUSHES TINUBU OUT.

ACN presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has admitted that his northern people have wrestled ACN from the Yoruba Southwest and that Bola Tinubu is no longer the owner of the party. In his own words, Nuhu Ribadu said, "ACN today is a northern party because I am the candidate.” Icheoku says now that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has descended into tribal politics, Nigeria will now see him for who he is - a ranting northern tribalist masquerading as a national leader. Good enough his legs have been brought out and is now crushed. Nigerians Icheoku calls on you to remember the admonition of Julius Caesar in Shakespeare that "lean and hungry looking men like Mallam Nuhu Ribadu are dangerous;" so do not take unmitigated risk with your vote on such a confessed tribalist. Just say no to the mallam - Nuhu Ribadu! 


NUHU RIBADU LIES AGAIN, ABSOLVES BOLA TINUBU OF CORRUPTION?
"There are areas I can never compromise. I can assure you I will not be corrupt and I will not allow corruption in my government. I will not allow anyone close to me to be corrupt, if you cross the line, you will face justice" - Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ACN Presidential candidate. Icheoku says, except that Bola Tinubu is sponsoring his presidential campaign and couldn't be any closer to Nuhu Ribadu!

Monday, March 21, 2011

SLEEPING NIGERIA LEADERS, WHAT DID THEY SMOKE?

Icheoku asks what was probably "infused" in these peoples drink or food that they all dozed off during a presentation at the last bombed-out 2010 Nigeria independence day anniversary celebration in Eagles Square Abuja? The above picture taken at the event shows past Nigerian leaders, from left to right, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Muhammadu Buhari, Ernest Shonekan and Abdulsalam Abubakar as they dozed off during the event? Anyway, it somewhat validates the allegation that these men only slept while on duty, during their respective tenure in government serving as heads of state and presidents. Leaders under the influence of something? Now reader, still wondering why Nigerian economy has been comatose ever since her independence in 1960, especially since the regime of the genocidal Yakubu Gowon declared in the 70s that he does not know what to do with Nigeria's surplus money? 

Sunday, March 20, 2011

MALACHY UZENDU TAKES TITLE - "NWA-CHI-NA-EMERE NA ABUJA!"

He is one of the upcoming, upwardly mobile, dynamic, young and ebullient Igbo pillars of light in Abuja. A journalist extra-ordinaire and current Deputy News Editor of Champion Newspapers Nigeria, chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists Abuja chapter, a dear friend of mine and former high school classmate, Malachy Uzendu, has been recognized for his industry by his people - the Igbo people of Nigeria resident in Abuja and they have honored him accordingly. They conferred him with a chieftaincy title, "Nwachinaemere N'Abuja' - translation, 'a child whom the god helps of Abuja'. Icheoku says congratulation, Chief Malachy Uzendu!

The honoree pictured above, is seen kneeling with his wife as they received some royal blessings from the "King of Igbo people in Abuja, Igbo 1, the Eze Igbo Abuja, HRH Eze Nwosu Ibe; who placed his royal hands on Malachy's shoulders, as supporters and well-wishers look on approvingly.

We wish Chief Malachy Uzendu well and pray that the recognition bestowed on him will serve as additional wind underneath his sail, as he continues to excel in his chosen profession and carry the torch of Igbo people of Nigeria especially those resident in Abuja. Once again congratulations classmate and may the gods of Igboland continue to guide and protect you and your lolo, our dear 'Nwachinaemere n'Abuja.' Malakai is now a red-cap high chief, hurray!

LIBYA NO FLY ZONE OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN, THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE?


Icheoku queries, if Muammar Gaddafi complies with the United Nations resolution today and ceases hostilities as well as pledges to  protect Libyan civilians or even takes a step further by withdrawing his troops to their position ante the march to Benghazi, would he have met the benchmark necessary for him to remain in power?


If not and regime change is the ultimate goal of those coalition partners, what then is the incentive for Muammar Gaddafi to comply with the resolution rather than fighting to finish and possibly dying in the process? But if following his withdrawal, it will then be okay for him to remain in power in his Tripoli enclave, does it mean that by necessary implication that Libya has been divided into two and that Benghazi and Western Libya will then constitute itself into a different country? Unfortunately, those pushing the withdrawal failed to take into cognizance that the whole territory of Libya was once under Gaddafi's control, hence their demand that he withdraws from the rebel held eastern part amounts to taking side in the conflict and peradventure dividing the country.


Conversely though, if Muammar Gaddafi complies and withdraws to his Tripoli post, at a later future date there will also be demand for him to completely go, failing which, there will be further military action against his regime to forcibly remove him from office. Thereafter, he may be tried and hanged like his Iraqi counterpart Saddam Hussein, alongside his sons; and there goes the whirl-wind story of the evolving power struggle in Libya. Either way, Icheoku could care less but the urgency of the United Nations in taking sides in the Libyan crisis is questionable in view of their wilful indifference to the ongoing carnage in Ivory Coast, preceded by Darfur and so many other black African countries. May be the urgency to remove Gaddafi is fueled by some hurt feelings and bruised egos of some European leaders now trying to use this opportunity to pay back Gaddafi for some perceived insolence and arrogance? Icheoku asks why did Sarkozy and Berlusconi not resign from office when faced with similar protests by their citizenry; especially Berlusconi who has in addition been accused of sexual molestation of an underage girl? Even America's Barack Obama was similarly called upon by the Tea Party protesters to quit; yet did he quit?


Icheoku asks, why is it that it is only in Africa that leaders are ordered to step down by these Western countries, who themselves nobody tells what to do; and which order they cannot extend to Russia, China and even Iran? Why was there no similar resolution in Iran during the democracy protest or in China during Tienanmen uprising or Russia during the Chechnya massacre? Gaddafi probably made a mistake in not acting fast to take his country back and may pay dearly for it and possibly with his life. A fast-thinking person would have sped up the counter-offensive and since taken back Benghazi so that whatever resolution to give anything back would have become moot. But no, he dig-dallied and his loquacious son boasted how they will go door to door in search of those rebels and drew the ire of the coalition partners who peremptorily bombed Gaddafi's forces to protect Libyan civilians?


Icheoku asks, what then is the use of Russia and China to their allies when they can only stand hands akimbo while the army of their fan number one, Moummar Gaddafi of Libya, is being decimated; awash of tons of useless weapons supplied by the same Russia and China? Why are they afraid to raise their voices in protest; at least if they will not fight, let them complain loudly in opposition; afterall Israel gets away with all that it pleases because America supports it totally and completely and without equivocation. So why can't Russia and China support Libya's Gaddafi with similar conviction and let the world's standoff begin! But more seriously speaking, Icheoku asks why is it not okay for a duly constituted government of Moummar Gaddafi to defend its Libyan sovereign territories from pockets of armed insurrection? Icheoku have seen other revolutionaries in Tunisia and Egypt and they were not armed with big guns and rocket launchers. These Libyans rebels might as well be what Gaddafi called them - al-Queida operatives; and by the time this coalition of the willing will realize it, it might be simply too late as al-Queida would have firmly established an operational stronghold in Libya. Until Gaddafi goes or Libya is divided, the guessing game continues but Icheoku says, double standards by the world elite countries is simply not rational.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

BABANGIDA ALIYU ASKS BUHARI TO FORGET ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY!

1201F01.Aliyu-Babangida.jpg-1201F01.Aliyu-Babangida.jpg
“Nigerians must jettison ethnicity, religious bigotry and other divisive tendencies capable of subverting peaceful co-existence and national unity as the race for the presidency hots up. Obasanjo became head of state in 1976 as a result of the death of Murtala Muhammed. Goodluck Jonathan became the president as a result of the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. That was done by God. It wasn’t designed by anybody and if God gives somebody such powers, what we can do is to complement and then wait for the appropriate time. But where some people think it is theirs and they use every opportunity and every sentiment to make it look like it’s their legitimate right, we must fight it. We must resist it so that every child, no matter the circumstances of his birth, can aspire to become the president of Nigeria. Our nation is passing through one of the most challenging phases of our socio-political developments. We must therefore sit up and move away from lip service and loose talk about national unity. We must individually and collectively act in the appropriate direction by promoting activities that will engender mutual respect, trust and understanding for continued peaceful co-existence." - Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State. Icheoku says this doctor spoke well and articulated the thoughts of majority of fair-minded Nigerians. May be he should be the president of Nigeria whenever next, it becomes the north's turn at producing the presidency.

Friday, March 18, 2011

JAPANESE TSUNAMI, WHEN WHALES FIGHT BACK?

JAPANESE TSUNAMI, WHEN WHALES FIGHT BACK? Icheoku is just wondering if the seas just had enough and decided to fight back the Japanese for killing their "gods and goddesses" - those whales? Whaling is one practice the Japanese have resisted the moratorium placed on it and for a very long time, and continually savor taking the lives of these majestic and humongous sea mammals of the world.In some cultures whales are worshiped as gods while some other cultures regard them as mermaids or the guardian of the seas. But the Japanese could care less, hence the harpooning of the whales that goes on regularly within the Japanese society such that Icheoku wonders if these gods have had enough and decided to take their revenge and pound of flesh on the Japanese people; washing away thousands of Japanese own people in retaliation? Just asking, because as the Japanese tsunami has shown, when nature fights back it could be very devastating; so humanity must endeavor not to disturb the equilibrium and peace of a world jointly owned by them and other creatures. Icheoku calls on the Japanese people to please observe some moratorium on their whaling in order to make peace with the seas in accordance with the Tokyo governor that rightly advised that the gods are angry and should be appeased. Japanese people, Icheoku calls on you to please stop killing those whales so that the seas will leave you alone!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

GOVERNOR OLUGBENGA DANIEL REGRETS APOLOGY, KNOCKS OBASANJO?

"By the special grace of God, we will hand over the mantle of leadership to people that you are going to be proud of. I don't know who but God knows. There are a lot of people who want to go in through the back-door; they are the people who have gone to get kangaroo judgment. There is no doubt that there was a lot of thunderstorm in Ogun State. Not many people believed that we are going to be here till today. Even, as I stand before you, those people are not relenting." - Governor Olu Gbenga of Ogun State dissing Olusegun Obasanjo over their fight for the control of Ogun State politics.

Icheoku says this u-turn of a statement probably now makes OGD a liar as he recently admitted that 'he had begged Baba and will continue to beg him', as well as recognizing Baba's candidate army man Tunji Olurin as Ogun State PDP's choice? Further Gbenga asserted that he understands what the Yoruba culture stipulates in matters of disputations between the young and the old which made hebeg Baba Iyabo; but this does not seem to be the case now with the present about-turn or could OGD have so easily forgotten the said Yoruba traditional etiquette? Finally the current statement of OGD shows that the alleged make-up between OGD and OBJ was just for the cameras and in order to enable President Jonathan conduct his campaign in a 'unified' Ogun State. But now things have fallen apart so soon after and the salvos have started flying once again.

Icheoku says when OGD fully recovers from the trauma of his under-pressure begging of Baba Iyabo, he should endeavor to apologize to Ogun State people for bringing their governor's office to such a new low as would prostrate before Baba-Iyabo; and must also denounce the apology he earlier tendered to Baba as not of his free will or act. What an irony and political volte-face that a man who once was on all his fours begging for forgiveness has now recharged, found his voice and is now fighting back. Icheoku supports OGD in the resumed fight to retain control of his state as well as the right to decide who will succeed him; afterall every other PDP governor did, especially those who doubled as President Jonathan's election zonal chairmen. But with the Otta deity still very much around, may be Gbenga has to wait a little much longer for the expiring or retiring of the army man, do or die acting politician.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN, WHO IS HIS POLITICAL ADVISER?

Icheoku is curious that in a political quicksand of 'Ali Baba and the forty thieves' scenario that Nigeria politics is, that President Goodluck Jonathan could afford to so naively trust his reelection bid in the hands of the north, a people who are so miffed at him for his audacity and are still smarting that he hijacked their turn at the presidency? Even while he was still the vice president to the then gravely sick President Umaru Yar'Adua, the north pressured Yar'Adua to sideline him and turn over power to the secretary of the Federal government Saleh? But now President Jonathan seem to have forgotten so soon the loath this people have for him and have put in their hands his reelection bid?

A more astute and much savvy political player would not take the chance or risk of allowing two northerners, Professor Attahiru Jega and Dr. Haliru Mohammed, in such powerful positions as could determine his fate in the coming April election as INEC chairman and PDP acting chairman respectively. What if they conspire against his candidacy? What if they are surreptitiously working for Arewa's common cause? What if they have a northern agenda and have a preferred northern candidate? What if they have a predetermined election result and only waiting to embarrass the president? What if Haliru Mohammed is tepid in his support of Jonathan's election campaign; hence not pulling all the stops to elect him president? And so many other what ifs.

If Icheoku were President Jonathan's political adviser, our advise will certainly be different - don't do it; trust but verify and please do not carry all your political eggs in just one northern basket.

In a functional society nothing is bad with any such arrangement or entrusting one's campaign in the hands of any person/s or group of persons. But in Nigeria, only a dreamer will permit such a situation, fully aware of the overriding effect of primordial allegiances that trumps over any other supposed loyalty that may exists; or believe that some "outsiders" shall be more catholic than the pope in championing one's cause or carrying its water. Nigeria is not a nation of one but an amalgamation of nations, where each fiercely compete among each other to protect their own butt. A much smarter Jonathan would have known that a disgruntled north will not have his interest wholly and instead relied more heavily on other similarly situated minorities of Nigeria and/or those without a dog in the fight this 2011 presidential election like the Igbos. Jonathan's trust on the north might backfire since Imam Muhammadu Buhari and Cassius Nuhu Ribadu are also running for the same office, added to the painful loss the north suffered in the PDP primaries. What about a PAY BACK TIME Mr. President since the north always remains the north in matters of politics? President Jonathan, Icheoku asks you to please wake up and smell the coffee before your presidential runs into the mired murky waters of a northern conspiracy, pursuant to their Plan B option of "any northerner but Jonathan?" May be it is even too late now to alter the equation with a more triangulated power base including an Igbo party chairman to counter-balance the forces? Anyway, goodluck to you Goodluck Jonathan; Icheoku still strongly feels the election is yours to lose!

MOTHER NATURE HAS LOST ITS MIND, PARKS CAR ON ROOF-TOP?

MOTHER NATURE HAS LOST ITS MIND, PARKS CAR ON ROOF-TOP? When you think that the worst has been heard of mother-nature, then comes the parking of a care on a roof-top instead of the garage. One of the crazy things the Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Tsunami accomplished as it rampaged through the land is to mistake a roof-top for a garage. Our hearts goes out to the people of Japan in this time of great tribulation and we pray they pull through it in defiance of mother-nature who seem to have served them a quit notice from their land?

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

NIGERIA'S POWER PROBLEM SOLVED, USING JAPAN MODEL?

NIGERIA\ Icheoku says the intractable power problem in Nigeria afterall have a solution - the Japanese way. Ten privately owned and operated electric companies providing power, from generation to distribution as well as supply to their delineated areas of the country. They are divided into ten sub-nationalities electric power companies of Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Chubu, Tohoku, Tokyo, Chugoku, Okinawa, Kansai, Shikoku and Kyushu.

The authorities in Japan had since figured out that because each area of the country has certain peculiarities, with varying climate and geography, it would be foolhardy and unproductive for one company to manage the entire country's electric supply. Therefore since supplying energy to each region has its own special characteristics, they reasoned that in order to meet each local requirements, different companies has to operate as independent generators and suppliers, forging close relations with local entities towards each regional development. These companies also "cooperate with each other to ensure a stable and efficient nationwide electricity supply;" which transcends their allotted service areas for the benefit of the entire electric power industry in Japan. These companies collaborate among themselves to exchange electricity, to provide power efficiently, to cope with emergency situations such as power outages or failures or to meet peak-hour demands such as during heat-waves. To ensure the smooth operation of power exchange amongst these various providers and suppliers, extra-high voltage transmission lines connect the entire country from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. These companies similarly partake in the cooperative development of electric power technology and the sharing of resources. 

Icheoku says, Nigerian government this one is for you to adopt in order to solve the lingering problems of the power sector which has defied every solution thrown at it in the past. Just emulate the Japanese, divide up the country and farm out each division's electricity requirement to different companies respectively. The Japanese have shown it can be efficiently done, so why not replicate same in Nigeria. Each contracting company will decide how best to generate its own electricity from nuclear to hydro to thermal to wind to solar and/or gas turbines. So with the problem solved, no one will ever complain that PHCN or NEPA has struck again or shout for joy each time light comes on. Nigeria is almost twice the size of Japan landmass although both has practically about the same population; so it makes for perfect replication for Nigeria to hug the Japanese way. Electricity is almost at par with fundamental human right in so many functional countries run by reasonable and rational human-beings; but in Nigeria, such officials as would make this possible are in the back pocket of generator mafias who profiteer from selling noisy polluting generating sets in Nigeria. It requires a president with some back-bone but Icheoku is afraid President Jonathan might not be able to stare down on these peddlers of death and dry their swamp by solving Nigeria's intractable power generation and distribution problem once and for all.

NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST IN JAPAN IMMINENT, USA ORDERS EVACUATION OF CITIZENS!

NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST IN JAPAN IMMINENT, USA ORDERS EVACUATION OF CITIZENS! Icheoku says the alarm bells have tolled and Armageddon is nearer today than it was yesterday in Japan otherwise America will not order the evacuation of her citizens from Japan. Icheoku says there must be something the Americans know about the exploding nuclear facilities in Fukushima Japan which the rest of the world has not grasped yet.Only fifty kamikaze nuclear fire-fighters who have pawned their lives trying to save those of millions of other Japanese and foreigners alike is what is the only thing standing between it at present. First was 8.9 earthquake, then a murderous tsunami and now a nuclear meltdown - all waging war of attrition on Japan. The gods must be angry at something the Japanese did to have sent these cataclysmic events all at he same time. Please dear god, call off these merchants of death waging wars of destruction on the Japanese!