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, December 7, 2011

PUTIN PUSHING RUSSIANS, STOKING ARAB SPRING IN RUSSIA?

Icheoku says the signs are ominous and Vladimir Putin seems not to get it. He easily forgets that those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable. How a man thinks he is the best thing to happen to Russia since the Bolshevik revolution defies every logic. He has been president and prime minister before and now wants to yet again recycle himself back as president. 

Icheoku says this emerging petty-dictatorship smacks of third world political shenanigans; but Russians are simply too smart and wise to allow such a one man take over of their motherland. Put in another way, Icheoku says that secret agent Vladimir Putin is by necessary implication, gradually but steadily courting Russian's Arab-Spring to envelope Russia and the picture of a dead Gaddafi in the street of Sirte should give anyone jitters. But hey, it is Putin and like every other dictator, it will not happen to him? Gaddafi once entertained such thoughts, once stating that "my people loves me?"

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

DONALD TRUMP THUMPED, DEBATE REJECTED!

Icheoku says it serves him well, the Donald, that is. A showboy blabber-mouth who thinks raising the birth-question was going to sustain a wind underneath his infantile political-sail, has again been shunned by Republican presidential nominees wanna-bes. They (all but just two) declined to honor Donald Trumps debate invitation and told him to stuff it. According to one of them, Texas Congressman, Ron Paul, he didn't know that Donald Trump had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people. Icheoku says what a sarcastic dumping on the Donald who mistakes his straggling hair for pedigree of importance. Now that he has been routed and rejected by Republican presidential candidates wanna-bes, who refused to indulge his ego any further by shunning the proposed debate with the Donald, let see how many friends the Donald still have left. What a loud mouth showboy who has no place in politics and should not be anywhere near and/or around it. Good for him.

NIGERIA ANTI-GAY BILL, PRESIDENT JONATHAN MUST NOT SIGN IT.

Once again Icheoku calls on President Jonathan of Nigeria not to follow Senator David Mark in propagating his anti-humanity inclinations and therefore should not sign the anti-gay/anti-humanity discriminatory bill. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans-genders are endangered species, although very vocal and powerful, with extensive reach into very high places, they should be protected in Nigeria and not suffered or outlawed. To do the latter will put Nigeria in a bad light world-wide and these people can make life tough for Nigeria if they choose to. Like the Jews, they must be protected at all cost and by all powers that be including the Nigerian government except for David Mark. Icheoku says a word is enough for the wise, believing that a PhD holder gets it.

The world's most prominent gayman Sir Elton John, was knighted by the Queen of England and he has access to so many corridors of power world-wide; and so does many other homosexual human-beings around the world such that taking them on, will spell disaster for the Nigerian government. A fact made worst because so many prominent men and women of power world over including in Nigeria, are gays and lesbians or sympathizers of their way of life, admitted they may still be in the closet; so antagonizing them is self-destructive and should be avoided at all cost. Icheoku hopes all those David Marks of Nigeria pushing this agenda to outlaw homosexualism in Nigeria have the best interest of President Goodluck Jonathan at heart; except it would appear they are corralling him into a very tight corner to discredit his government. A smart politician will see such bill recently passed by David Mark's senate as a booby trap and skirt around it with every nimbleness and dexterity he can summon.

Gaydom is not yet a Nigerian most pressing problem and at best, the David Marks of Nigeria can just look the other way by ignoring them; that way these special breed of humanity can enjoy their fundamental human rights including to marry or partner with whomever they choose without unneeded additional inhibition. of a legislation declaring them less human to freely chose who to tango with. Legislation are made to protect a threatened group and not to further complicate their plight in a society that sees and treats them as an aberration or taboo. Like every other minority group, LGBT is a disparate group that needs the protection of the Nigerian state but not their added scolding. Nigeria's problem is corruption and that is what the world expect David Mark to be outlawing and making illegal and not a God's created human-being right to love whoever or whatever is the object of his or her affection. What the world needs is love and not a David Mark sitting in judgment over who is or is not a correct human-being and deciding by fiat who they should fall in love with.

Gaydom is as old as humanity and is long entrenched in Nigeria; so the David Marks of Nigeria should just get over it as some of their friends might equally be gay and even to their knowledge; admitted they would not owe up to it. These people are born this way and it is not a choice but a function of genetic code which makes them go that way - not straight. As if the message that discrimination against LGBT people would not be tolerated is not yet loud enough already for Nigerian government to hear, the United States of America has now attached conditional acceptance of any country's gay population to its foreign aids and Icheoku hopes that Nigeria's President Jonathan is listening. As contained in the United States government latest memo, "The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States' commitment to promoting human rights." Henceforth any foreign aids shall be disbursed with this as a guiding philosophy.'

Icheoku says the cost benefit analysis is skewered against Nigeria which benefits enormously from such foreign aids and must not act not-smart in order to not disturb the cart. Moreso, since presidents in Nigeria are not elected as in other countries where they must pass some eligibility and electability test by marketing themselves to the electorates, the Nigerian president have nothing to worry about in not signing this bill. He can just ignore it or let it accumulate dust until he serves out his term and let subsequent president worry about it; afterall former president Obasanjo kicked the signing of the FOI bill down the road and waited it out. Moreover, President Jonathan said he is going to be a one-term president and so has nothing to be afraid of such as not being elected to a second term because he did not sign a law to discriminate against a section of his country men and women who just go different direction. Therefore Icheoku calls on President Goodluck Jonathan not to sign David Mark's anti gay/anti-humanity bill that seeks to punish and discriminate against people born that way.

Monday, December 5, 2011

IRAN IS DANGEROUSLY RACING TO THE PRECIPICE.

A popular aphorism has it that those the gods want to kill, he first make them mad; and so it seems with Tehran which apparently does not get it that their cup is almost full. As if they have not provoked the world enough already, their President Ahmadinejad just told the entire mankind to go to hell for all that he cares and that Iran can tough it out alone? 

Instead of apologizing and atoning for its undiplomatic misbehavior, either tacitly or overtly, of invading yet again another country's embassy in Tehran, it is mouthing off its braggadocio. According to Ahmadinejad, Iran will stick to their revolution's ideology at all cost and it does not matter if the entire universe rose up against them? In his exact own words, Ahmadinejad said, "We will stick to our revolution's principles and values with all our power even if the entire world rise up against us." Icheoku says the entire world rising up against any country should be a very frightening situation which no sane country should ever brag of not caring about. With Iran's current unwise stand, it now seems more likely than not that the lighted fuse would certainly make contact with the mother-load. 

Unfortunately though, Iran seems oblivious of this freight-train headed their way and will be made to pay a stiff price in the event a military confrontation results. Iran will be made to answer for all their intransigence over the many years including the hostage taking of the seventies; and they failed to realize that the West hardly forgets or forgives such thumbing of the nose. But it is not yet too late for an about turn mea culpa to starve off an impending payback; but the decision is Tehran's to make.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

OJUKWU, GONE WITH THE WAR MEMOIRS

Icheoku says procrastination has once again cost Nigerians and the world an authentic rare insight into the Biafran war courtesy of the man who lead the three year Biafran effort. He promised the world a true account and memoir of the Biafran war, detailing its causes, prosecution, successes and failures as well as the final suspension of hostilities following his forced exile to the then Ivory Coast. Like William Shakespeare said, the good are often interred with their bones and so has this great forensic expose` into the soul of Biafra, unfortunately, died with the man who was Biafra alter-ego and its chief protagonist. Regrettably many Nigerians alive then and now, as well as future generations, have been robbed of a first hand percipient account of what truly happened during Biafra. According to his former ADC, “there’s virtually nothing that happened during the war period that he didn’t know about. He was determined to get justice for the people of the Eastern region. He laid his life down for our people, but unfortunately, many people did not get to know more about him. He never went to war for personal aggrandisement. At all times during the war, he was concerned about his people.”  


Icheoku says this is what has been missing since the cessation of firearms hostility over thrity nine years ago - an account of the Biafran war by someone who actually knew something about the Biafran war. Unfortunately, the world may never know as death has permanently deprived humanity of such golden opportunity at history. Ikemba Nnewi and DIkedioranma of Igboland, the Peoples General Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu has died with his memories of the Biafra war which he prosecuted without getting the opportunity to chronicle same. He said he was going to write a memoir of the war but never got to doing it; except a manuscript exists somewhere to be published post-humus? Icheoku have noted and is writing an article on the lack of or not readily available chronicled history and/or biography of some very important Nigerians who changed or helped change the course of history in Nigeria while they lived. Sometimes Icheoku wonders what history professors at various Nigerian universities history departments are doing amidst such unexplored wild Alaskan history of Nigerian greats needing exploration? Good professors worthy of their pay and tenure would have produced several books on these subjects courtesy of handed assignments to their students and scholars. Term papers, projects and dissertations on these prominent Nigerians would have been enough with little proof-reading to make up so many books on the lives and history of these great men and women of Nigeria. 


Take a look at the Nigerian landscape and you could hardly find historical books on Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Rotimi Williams, Tunde Igiadgon, MKO Abiola, CC Onoh, Balarabe Musa, Maitama Sule, Wole Soyinka, Tai Solarin, Beko Ransome Kuti, Sam Mbakwe,   Ken Saro Wiwa, Sani Abacha, Muritala Mohammed, Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Obasanjo, Tony Anenih, Theophilius Danjuma, Ibrahim Dangote, Muhammadu Buhari, Shehu Shagari, Alex Ekwueme, Ojukwu, the brains behind Ojukwu Bunker, Ojukwu bucket, Uli airport lantern-illuminated landing strip and such other numerous life-changing events that took place in Nigeria. Such mimeographs would provide insight into these men, their challenges and how they overcame and resolved them and in turn provide a reference point for future generations. Icheoku asks where is the future in Nigeria when the past always dies with their actors without anything ever being transferred to posterity via books of how things were done, who did what,  and why? It is called recorded history and biographies; and Nigerians are not doing well upholding this department of their society. 


So as Icheoku and the rest of the reasonable and rational humanity in Nigeria particularly mourn the loss of the great one, in as much as we shall miss his colossal presence, the thing that will be sorely missed more is that promised excursion into the experience called Biafra which he never realized before he transited. Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu would have done a terrific job educating Nigerians and the rest of the world about the futuristic Biafra as only he could have done; having led that heroic effort. Icheoku says Ojukwu was a man above men who was born before long before his time. He saw in 1967 what is happening in 2011 Nigeria as the wanton killing of Nigerians by their fellow Nigerians has not abated but is still taking place in Jos Plateau State Nigeria. What a man with audacity who called the bluff of the Northern bloody marauders,  committing ethnic cleansing of the Igbos in Northern Nigeria and defended his manhood to protect his people. Icheoku states, without being immodest, that every Igbo man and woman, including the minorities of present day South-south, owe their freedom which they enjoy today to the bravery of the man who stood up to be counted when it mattered most. Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu looked into the eyes of genocidal Yakubu Gowon and told him, the SLAUGHTER OF THE IGBOS MUST STOP and went to war to stop it. But for his bravado, Igbos would have either become extinct or conscript Allah-worshippers in Nigeria today. However all his war exploits are, but for few excerpts, forever lost due to his inability to get to the promised war memoir before death denied him the opportunity to truly and correctly state the case of Biafra. What a best seller this book of the Biafran War, a true account; from the man who should know, having led the effort would have been. 


Anyway, the Ikemba is gone and with him, his Biafra War memoirs; but his spirit lives on in the hearts of millions of his admirers.  The consolatory news is that the cloud of his death shall someday lift  to reveal the way forward for Igbos of Nigeria without their beloved Ojukwu. After rain comes sunshine, dawn follows dusk and the Igbos shall survive the death of their beloved Ojukwu and emerge stronger. They are now made aware of their place in the entity called Nigeria as Ojukwu revealed to them what it means to be an Igbo man in Nigeria. The apostles survived the death of the risen Christ; the Yorubas survived the death of their Papa Awolowo and history is replete with such historical larger than life personalities that shaped and molded opinions, whose death to their beloved people, sounded like the end of the world. But from their death-ashes, rose a phoenix of a more dogged and determined people, championing the course which was imbibed in them by such their departed heroes. Igbos of Nigeria shall survive and have survived; and it does not matter what the genocidal Yakubu Gowon thinks or that the Otta deity shall wait for eternity for an apology for Biafra which shall never come or that the Theophilus Danjumas of Nigeria are mad that Ojukwu died a natural death and not a violent one as they would rather he did. Icheoku says it simply does not matter what any of these munchkins think, as Nigeria has become a joint project for all, with Igbos fully participating and going no where soon any longer. Nigeria is now Igbos own country and they will do better for am. So long, Dikedioranma of Igboland. 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

PUTIN AND MEDVEDEV, HOLDING RUSSIA HOSTAGE?

PUTIN AND MEDVEDEV, HOLDING RUSSIA HOSTAGE? Icheoku once again reiterates that mother Russia is simply too big and too advanced to be held captive by these two men. It does not matter how good they are or how well intentioned they might be; but for them to subject the Great Russia to their whims is indeed regrettable. 

How dare Vladimir Putin and Dimitry Medvedev think rather arrogantly that without them there would be no Russia or that they are the best thing to happen to Russia after Vodka? Icheoku says it does not make sense for these two men to be playing ping-pong with Russia as there are millions of capable hands in Russia to pilot the affairs of the motherland. It is called democracy and it has no place for recycling or switching seats. Such joke is reserved for third world countries; except they are telling us that Russia has fallen so low?

Friday, December 2, 2011

HILLARY CLINTON'S NEW LOOK, TRIM AND RESPLENDENT.

Icheoku says we don't know about you but the United States Secretary of State is sure spotting a new fresh look. During her recent visit to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, Hillary Clinton looked a million dollars in her pulled back hair and well tailored blue suit as she met the democratic symbol of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. Icheoku commends the terrific job Madam Secretary of States is doing globally and readily votes her the most successful Secretary in President Barack Obama team. Admitted other Secretaries  are pulling their respective levers well too, but so many happenings in the world including the Arab Spring made Hillary a permanent fixture on our minds as we prayed for her to successfully navigate through the maze of those cascading challenges. 


Madam Secretary, Icheoku likes the new look - younger, smarter and more appealing or should Icheoku confess, more appetizing. Hillary Clinton actually looked royal and queenly. Keep it up Madam Secretary as "HILLARY 2015" is almost around the corner to usher in the first United States of America female president. How about that HC? Before Icheoku forgets, her host did not look bad either and Icheoku commends her for being prepared to pay the price for her unabridged freedom. Well done Aung; your courage inspires millions world-wide. 

OJUKWU WAS GIVEN NO OPTION - SENATOR GANIYU SOLOMON.

“The Ikemba was a source of pride for those who had the opportunity to experience him, and he stood tall against elements of injustice, segregation and oppression, his death is “a monumental loss not only to his family, the Igbo land and Nigeria but also to the entire African continent at large. Ojukwu took up the responsibility as a leader of his region at the time he did, when it was necessary to do so, and it was the only option at the time he could have taken." -  Senator Ganiyu Solomon (ACN, Lagos), Senate Minority Whip. 

Icheoku says 'bee~eni' and only hopes that other Nigerians could be this courageous to speak up and admit that the Biafran war was forced on the peoples of the former Eastern region and that Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu only stood up like a real man to answer the challenge. Icheoku says thank you Senator Ganiyu Solomon for pointing out this much glossed over fact that Ojukwu was not the rouble-rouser some elements in Nigeria paint him to be, but a real patriot who said to the feudalistic north, ENOUGH, NO MORE SLAUGHTER OF MY PEOPLE. 

What a sad commentary it is that several decades after the Biafran genocide, that the same genocidal Yakubu Gowon's people of Jos Plateau State, who led the onslaught against the people of Biafra, are today at the receiving end of the butcher's knife; it is now their turn to taste the bloody dish they served on peoples of Biafra. A GOOD KARMA one may say? Anyway, may the restless fighting soul of the peoples warrior and real hero, Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, now find rest in the bosom of the Lord. Ikemba was what every man should be or at least aspire to be. He was simply a giant and a selfless one indeed.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

BOASTFUL NEWT GINGRICH, THE NOMINEE?

It is deja vu once again as the revolving chair of Republican Party's presidential nominee wanna-be front runner status has yet again shifted. The erstwhile Speaker and the man so mean as to divorce his cancer-stricken wife on her sick bed, Newt Gingrich of Georgia, is now the latest prince on the saddle. Icheoku says how long his reign will last is anybody's guess; but no one should underestimate the man who rebounded after his entire campaign team left him in the middle of the water this summer and  nearly drowned his presidential nomination bid.

From Mitt Romney to Michelle Backman to Rick Perry to Herman Cain, this mercurial and constantly changing very ephemeral front runner status has now foist on Newt Gingrich. Icheoku says what an early Christmas gift this would be for President Barack Obama and the Democrats should Newt not be displaced within the next few weeks and goes ahead to secure the nomination. A man with such a trailer-load of baggage that even a novitiate Democratic candidate would make a mince meat of his candidacy, is now occupying Republican Party's presidential nominee status and may for the sake of discussion, magically win? This accident of winning possibility is what is principally driving Newt Gingrich despite the obvious fact that his chances of being elected president of the United States in a national election is nearly second to zero.  Also it would appear that Newt Gingrich developed amnesia and have simply chosen to forget his ethical violations, marital infidelities as well as complicity in the lobbying industry; foibles which do not bode well for the electorates. Anyway Icheoku dares the Republican Party to hand President Obama a swift victory in 2012 by nominating Newt Gingrich as their presidential candidate. 

Buoyed by his current front runner status, Newt has gone into overdrive, declaring that he is going to be the nominee and Icheoku wonders what a too full of himself, very arrogant man, this overweight Georgia man is. In his own words, Newt Gingrich said, “I’m going to be the nominee. It’s very hard not to look at the recent polls and think that the odds are very high I’m going to be the nominee. And by the way I don’t object if people want to attack me, that’s their right. All I’m suggesting that it’s not going to be very effective and that people are going to get sick of it very fast. And the guys who attacked each other in the debates up to now, every single one of them have lost ground by attacking. So they should do what they and their consultants want to do. I will focus on being substantive and I will focus on Barack Obama.” 

Icheoku however beg to advise Newt Gingrich not to savor his polling victory just yet as we have seen so many other candidates occupy that front runner seat before his current ascendancy and where are they now? What a funny phony this man is; except of course, he is trying to psyche Mitt Romney out the competition, being the newest man on the block in the nomination process. Icheoku once again admonishes that the Republican Party does not have an electable presidential material this nomination season and would by default of any of these candidates nomination, hand President Barack Obama a second term. If only they have listened to the advise of Bush's brain, Karl Rove, and stayed off the tracks; but hey, their respective ego is more than ordinary hence the jostling. Oh Newt, how do you plan to secure the nomination and how are you so sure that you will be the Republican Party's presidential nominee?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

OJUKWU WAS A REAL MAN, ICHEOKU MOURNS HIS DEMISE.

“Ojukwu will remain in the heart of every Igbo man or woman and even those yet to be born and that is the greatest immortalising anybody can live for. Monuments can’t make anybody’s memory eternal but what that person stood for. The Bible says, to live in the heart of those who love you is not to die. So, Ojukwu has not suffered death in the hearts and minds of Igbo people. In a hundred years, in two hundred years the Igbo people will continue to feel a sense of loss because Ojukwu lived and died an Igbo man.” - Chief Victor Umeh, APGA National Chairman. Icheoku agrees intoto with the high chief and adds that Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu was a man who truly lived like a man and stood up when it mattered most, guided by his unwavering convictions. 

The Igbo nation will dearly miss their only true son and proven leader; a man who mortgaged his very comfortable and uber upbringing and went to the mats to secure the dignity of the people of the then Eastern Region of Nigeria especially the Igbo people of  the Southeast. Icheoku says Ojukwu was not just a fair weather Igbo man or Igbo leader when convenient; Ojukwu was not also an Igbo leader contractor propagandizing for LPOs; no, Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu was the embodiment of the Igbo race and its alter ego extra-ordinaire. His wasn't about convenience but conviction. His kind is no longer made and cannot be found in Igboland as the Almighty patented and retired the mold with which he made him. Put in another way, Ojukwu is simply irreplaceable. Adieu Ikemba.

OJUKWU IS DEAD AND GONE WITH BIAFRAN WAR MEMOIRS?

Icheoku says unfortunately, procrastination has once again cost Nigerians and the world a rare insight into the Biafran war and the soul of the man who lead the three year Biafran war effort. He promised the world a true account and memoir of the Biafran war, detailing its causes, prosecution, successes and failings, as well as the final suspension of hostilities leading to his forced exile to then Ivory Coast. But like William Shakespeare said, the good are often interred with their bones and so has this great forensic opportunity into the soul of Biafra, unfortunately, died with the man who was Biafra's alter ego and chief protagonist. Dikedioranma of Igboland, Ikemba Nnewi Dim Chukwuemenka Odumegwu Ojukwu is dead and gone with his memoir of the Biafran experiment. Icheoku says may his courageous soul now rest in peace and may the spirit of Biafra never rest nor die. 

Regrettably many Nigerians alive then and now, as well as future generations have been robbed by his death of this promised first-hand's percipient account of what happened and may never know exactly what truly transpired during that Biafran war of survival. Icheoku had noted and is writing an article on the lack or not readily available chronicled history and/or biography of some Nigerian greats, and you wonder what history professors at various Nigerian universities are doing when they could have handed various assignments to their students and scholars to memorialized certain Nigerians history. You take a look at the Nigerian landscape and you hardly could find books on people like Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Rotimi Williams, Tunde Igiadgon, MKO Abiola, Emeka Ojukwu, CC Onoh, Balarabe Musa, Maitama Sule, Wole Soyinka, Joseph Tarka, Aminu Kano, Mai Diribe, Adaka Boro, Tai Solarin, Beko Ransome Kuti, Sam Mbakwe and the brains behind Ojukwu Bunker, Ojukwu bucket, Uli airport lantern-illuminated landing strip etc. 

Icheoku asks where is the future of Nigeria when the past  of Nigeria dies without anything transferred as handouts or notes therefrom of how things were and who did what and how. It is called recorded history and biographies; and Nigerians are not doing well upholding this department of their society. So as Icheoku and the rest of the reasonable and rational humanity mourns the loss of the great one; and in as much as we shall miss his colossal presence, the thing that will be sorely missed is that his promised opportunity to take the world into the experience called Biafra is now also gone with the wind. 

Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu would have done a terrific job educating Nigerians on Biafra as only he could have done. Having led that heroic effort that called the bluff of the northern Hausa/Fulani bloody hounds and their collaborating marauders, people bent on dipping their Koran in the Atlantic Ocean beginning with the ethnic cleansing of the Igbos principally in Northern Nigeria, he is  the real insider as it gets. Icheoku, without being immodest, states that every Igbo man and woman owe the freedom they enjoy today to the bravery of the man who stood up to be counted when it mattered most. Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu looked into the eyes of genocidal Yakubu Gowon and told him, the SLAUGHTER OF THE IGBOS MUST CEASE AND STOP, no more! What a best seller this book of the real Biafran War story would have been; a true account from the man who should know, having personally led the effort. According to his ADC, "there is virtually nothing that happened during the war period that he did not know about. He was determined to get justice for the people of the Eastern region. He laid his life down for out people but unfortunately many people did not get to know more about him. He never went to war for personal aggrandizement. At all times during the war he was concerned about the people." Icheoku says this is exactly what is missing - a real account of the Biafran war by someone who actually knew something about what happened, an insider''s insider. Unfortunately, his death has permanently deprived the world of such a great opportunity and forever. Anyway, the Ikemba is gone but his spirit lives on in the millions of his admirers and other Biafran protagonists and apologists. So long Ikemba, Dikedioranma of Igboland Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, rest in peace, Adieu!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

CASCADING STORIES WHILE WE WERE GONE.

Icheoku was in a situation this past few days from November 25 through 29; hence couldn't bring you our take on some fast developing stories. Please we shall endeavor to update our library sometime within this week and as soon as we fully recover from the blues of what intervened in our life program. However be informed that the long comatose Biafran war Lord, Chief Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu has lost his battle for life as he died November 25 at a London hospital. Paradoxically, this is his second lost battle in life - the first being to the Nigerian federalist soldiers as leader of Baifra. Anyway may his soul rest in peace.


Also Nigeria is now an anti-gay country as the legislature there have outlawed and banned same sex marriage; making it an offense punishable with ten years imprisonment. Icheoku says lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans-genders, beware as you may be locked up in Nigeria for professing your love to same sex partner. What a retard of a legislation by a do-nothing senate; which senate, if passed through scrutiny of a lie detector test would cough up so gay men and women still shivering in the closet. Icheoku condemns this legislation as intolerant and none progressive and hereby urges Nigeria President Goodlucky Jonathan not to sign the bill into law; in similar manner as President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda.

Herman Cain love for white trash bimbo is once again in the fore-front as another white-washed white woman alleges a thirteen year sexual orgy with the Republican Party's presidential candidate wanna-be. Ms Ginger White knowingly was screwing Mr Herman Cain exclusively for money and other favors; fully well aware of Herman Cain's marital status. Icheoku says this slimy conduct, by necessary implication, aptly qualifies Ms Ginger White a whore - trading sex for favors. However this another "lying" woman did it for Icheoku as we hereby call on Mr Herman Cain to stop torturing his docile wife any more and quit the race. Enough is enough and all these women could not all be lying and piling up on just Herman Cain at the same time. Now is time for the damage control and try pacifying his disrespected and dutiful wife; moreso since Herman stands no chance in hell of ever becoming the Republican Party's presidential candidate, whats the point hanging in there? Herman Cain, Icheoku asks you to just leave and NOW

Monday, November 28, 2011

PRETTY AND CUTELY SEXY?

PRETTY AND CUTELY SEXY?

Icheoku says whoever this gal is, she sure looks good. She is damn sensual and in every sense and inch adorable - look at her mouth region, the puffy lips and white enamels. Check out her dreamy blue eyes but Icheoku does not know if she is wearing contact lenses. Her cheek tribal marks compliments her high cheek bones and Icheoku noticed the nasal piercing too. Anyway she is invitingly appetizing and appears to be possessed of a good heart too; but you never know? Anyway, does anybody know who she really is or is she just an Internet cloned damsel or an avatar? If she is human and a Nigerian, she is likely to come from either Ishan Edo State or Kano State and Icheoku would guess her name is Binta? Even those pimples on her forehead couldn't tarnish her appeal.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

FARIDA FIRED!

The eagerly awaited, much anticipated and long overdue relief from duty of the Nigeria Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairwoman, Farida Waziri, is finally here. It would appear that finally, the over-deliberative Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan has come around full circle and summoned  enough courage to let the EFCC-madam go. 

Icheoku expected the hamstrung chairwoman to have resigned long time ago, but she fell victim to the Nigerian cultural shackle which does not permit the emergence of brave public servants of conscience, who could stand on principles but just tagged along just to get along. She took it both front and back, honestly thinking to persuade a society that was not listening, that somehow magically her commission would do their job; and was in this suspended state of euphoria until her unceremonious kicking to the gutter. How could anyone worthy of his or her weight in law enforcement operate under such a stringent condition where she was  constantly scornfully derided and ridiculed as a toothless bulldog? Under her soft-touch, touchy-feelly EFCC, so many high profile corruption cases including the corruption charges against former speaker Oladimeji Bankole just stalled without more. Anyway, good riddance and hopefully her successor Ibrahim Lamorde will be courageous enough to do what is required to turn in results. Icheoku hereby calls on Aso Rock to without delay confirm Mr Ibrahim Lamorde as a permanent chairman as that would make him a more dedicated and committed hands-on chairman, without creating a situation where he will be thinking "whats the point," since soon they will also relieve him of the post as they did before. 

However the symbolic changing of guard at the EFCC alone will not cut it or do the magic, as what the commission is facing is a contemptuous society which is so neck-deep corruption and fights bullishly to be left alone and undisturbed in their debauchery. Icheoku says, how about a committed judiciary to help put away these corrupt officials being indicted every day by the EFCC without any one of them ever going to prison? How about special legislation to fast-track some of these corruption proceedings through the courts? How about special courts and tribunal being created to deal with EFCC generated corruption cases only? How about procedural law being specifically tempered and tailored to deal with EFCC corruption trials only? How about the Nigeria Bar Association making commitment to help EFCC deal with these prosecutions without unnecessary delays on technicalities used as a clever ploy to frustrate prosecutions? How about judges handling EFCC corruption cases being made to take special oath not to compromise themselves and security agencies put on their trail to ensure they upheld their commitment? 

Icheoku says Madam Farida Waziri did not fail EFCC or Nigeria; but was simply frustrated out from doing her job by a society which did not want her to succeed in the first place because they loath her commission. In the former EFCC madam Farida Waziri's own words, "the best a law enforcement agency can do is to properly investigate cases and file charges; the frustrations faced by law enforcement agencies within the tedious common law process must be avoided." So there is really not much such a conscript agency can do in the circumstance and the Nigeria Chief Judge was heard to say that plea bargain would be abolished? Also an agency without full authority to decide its prosecutable cases and the best possible choices faced under unique circumstances, but is amendable to the wishes of the Attorney General, is to say the least, encumbered. 

On a lighter note, how about President Goodluck Jonathan just firing himself for not being at par with the duties of his office or is it just only Farida Waziri who could not do her job - wiping the corruption slate clean and had to be replaced? It is all political and seemingly an attack of a soft target - the womanhood, firing a woman corruption czar, otherwise why just her? This reminds Icheoku of the shoving off of the other previous Madam NAFDAC and later Information Mommy Dora Akunyili, who is considered a rabble-rouser and simply too much of a headache to be left around the corridors of Aso Rock? The headline of United States' Washington Post newspaper which reported of the EFCC chairwoman's sack was quite instructive on President Jonathan's ironical position. It wrote "President of graft-prone Nigeria suddenly fires head of anti-corruption agency." 

What a pun at the president, who could not or have failed to tame graft in his country, yet is firing an innocent woman who was doing her best to confront a ferocious glacier of highly corrupt and powerful people of Nigeria, who it appears finally had their way as they did her in? Icheoku says if according to President Jonathan's spokesman, "the removal of the chairwoman is part of President Jonathan's determination to revitalize the fight against corruption," how about removing IGP Ringim to revitalize the police force and some other security agencies to revitalize the fight against Boko Haram and other terrorists? If actually President Goodluck Jonathan was serious with giving his commission needed teeth, he would have begged Muhammadu Buhari to fill the position. Best of luck Ibrahim Lamorde and hopefully Aso Rock will make your occupation of the chair permanent.

JONAH UKADIKE ESQ, AN OBITUARY.

It is with sadness but gratitude to God for a meritorious life well spent that UNEC LAW Class of 1989 announces with regret the passing away of one of their own, Senior Magistrate Jonah Uchenna Ukadike. 

Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Jonah Uchenna Ukadike, who rose to become a Senior Magistrate in Imo State judiciary was a course mate in University of Nigeria Enugu Campus Law Class of 1989. He died on September 24 2011 after a brief illness, aged 48 . 

His Worship Jonah Ukadike was survived by wife and children as well as many classmates. May his magisterial soul now rest in peace; hopefully he has ascended up there to preside over some time-sensitive very important cases, not just for anyone but Jonah, the reason the On High had to recall him this early in life. We mourn his loss and treasure his memory; he was a good classmate indeed - ever jovial and ready to render a helping hand or head as the case may be.

Signed
UNEC LAW'89

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

SUICIDAL IRAN INVITES ATTACK, MAY THEIR WISH BE COMMANDED.

To the boastful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Senior Commander Amir-Ali Hadjizadeh, Icheoku admonishes you to beware of what you wish for. Soon and pretty very soon, your wish might come through and it is going to be devastatingly so convulsing that you will not know what hit you. Instead of toning down the rhetoric as a necessary baby-steps towards creating enabling environment for a more peaceful resolution of their nuclear weapons pursuit generated world tension, the Islamic Republic is adding more insult to injury by pouring gasoline on a flaming fire. As the world fidgets and fiddles on what to do about Iranian's atomic weapons, Iran is yet again escalating and exacerbating the situation; and mouthing off acerbic threats in defiance of world opinion.


Now they have threatened to drop "a nuclear or dirty bomb on Israel;" otherwise what other weaponized 'energy source is capable of consigning a country to the dustbin of history?" In the mullah's very own words, he said, "Our (Iran) greatest wish is that they (Israel) commit such a mistake (attack Iranian nuclear weapons sites). For some time now there has been a hidden energy we hope to expend to consign the enemies of Islam forever to the dustbin of history." Who this threat is meant for and directed at is without doubt, the Jewish State of Israel and it technically qualifies as a formal declaration of war. Therefore, no person or country should blame Israel if they took this direct threat to obliterate them literally and go on the offensive this moment to preempt Iran's threatened annihilation. Israel reserves the right to defend their right to exist and actual existence; and also to preemptively guard against being turned into a powdery desert. The best defense is an intrusive offense and if not now, when?

Monday, November 21, 2011

EGYPTIAN MOHAMMED ELBARADEI, WHERE IS HE NOW?

As Egyptian Arab Spring revolutionaries, who drove Hosni Mubarak out of power last February, suddenly realizes that they traded a dog for a monkey; and that between Mubarak and the military they still have a four-legged animal running the affairs of Egypt, Icheoku asks where is Mohammed ElBaradei NOW? 

Icheoku remembers watching on television as the former IAEA boss marched alongside other revolutionaries, denouncing Mubarak and emphatically criticising Mubarak's September 2011 offer of a handover. Icheoku also recalls how Mohammed ElBaradei as well as many other Egyptians complained that Mubarak's September date handover was rather too far and before that time, so many democracy-struck Egyptians might die longing for democracy? They demanded to have their democracy and have it they must, NOW(then). 

Suddenly the September promised date raced by; came and went yet Egyptians have neither democracy nor an elected government. Instead the military that sired Mubarak, strictly speaking his catering primary constituency for all intent and purpose, are still firmly entrenched in Cairo and running things. It would appear that suddenly Egyptians had an epiphany and realized that Mubarak may still be very much around and could also possibly be calling the shots behind the curtain of his incapacitation? They would have none of that, so once again they trooped to Tahir Square to demand that the army help them finish and complete their revolution by stepping aside and allowing a free election to elect the government.

The army, not used to civilians telling them what to do, sent twenty four protesters to their early graves as a warning shot across the bow that resistance is futile. The world watched and is still watching to see what becomes of Egypt's answer to democracy. Icheoku is also wondering whether Mohammed ElBaradei and his cohorts are now suffering some buyer beware remorse and on hindsight, regretting why they did not take Mubarak on his September offer to cede power to a democratic government? May be, by now, Egypt's transition would have been three months long completed and leading the way of democratic transitions in the Arab world.