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.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

OSUN STATE VICTORY, NOT YET UHURU APC?

As Icheoku congratulates the winner of last Saturday governorship election in Osun State, Icheoku would like to sound the alarm bell that it is not yet Uhuru for the APC. They should be circumspect in beating their chest over the victory of their candidate Governor Aregbesola, the circumstance considered? Icheoku maintains that if the PDP's candidate Omisore, with all his alleged baggage, could record such a good showing in the election, who knows what a stellar performance and certainly different result  it would have been, were the PDP to have fielded a more flawless candidate in that election? If an alleged murderer, an alleged failed senator and a man whose tugs allegedly disrespected a high chief of former Oyo State by taking off his traditional cap, could stood for an election and was not defeated landslide, then imagine what a virtuous candidate would have done. 

That being said, Nigerians should not be surprised if the result in the coming Ogun State, Oyo State and even Lagos sways the PDP's way and hopefully the ever-crying APC would accept the defeat and not cry rigging! Icheoku also congratulates the Nigerian security officials for providing a safe environment for the electorates to freely exercise their franchise. Also President Jonathan must share in the success of the election for not putting himself into the middle of the election with a 'do or die' attitude unlike his erstwhile predecessor Baba Iyabo. Then the people of Osun State must be commended for trooping out en-masse to assert themselves. The president, Icheoku says maintained a high threshold of civility by letting Osun voters to vote their choice and allowed their votes to be counted and it counted. That the president and his PDP were magnanimous in the face of APC's provocations was commendable too.

Icheoku says losers in the election include Olagunsola Oyinlola for shamelessly losing even in his own voting booth, despite being the "Prince of Okuku". Like Baba Iyabo who lost his own voting booth in 1999, Olagunsola Oyinlola has shown he is a paper weight with no following in Osun State despite what he would like Nigerians to believe? Also the APC lost for earlier crying wolf of an election rigging but failed to subsequently congratulate and apologize to the organizers of the election for a successful outcome. Femi Fani Kayode also belongs to this category of losers because he had boastfully promised to deliver his home state Osun to the PDP but the result says otherwise and is now a long gone history.

Be that as it may, a win is a win and Icheoku hereby congratulates the APC and their Aregbesola on their victory. Whether the result is a testimony that "Yoruba Obas are useless" or that Bola Tinubu has found his lost mojo, the jury is still out and will remain out until 2015 when other Yoruba Southwestern States will conduct their respective elections. Until then, it is one Southwest State for PDP in Ekiti and one for APC in Osun. Admitted the Southwest is APC's primary turf, their proven grounds; and you wonder if the APC cannot sweep therein, where else outside this their primary constituency can they put up a spectacular showing. Anyway, Icheoku and other Nigerians await the answer in 2015.

Friday, August 15, 2014

EDUARDO SANTOS, IF BUHARI, WHAT WOULD APC/NORTHERNERS DO?

eduardo campos psb eleições 2014

Icheoku often wishes that Nigerians as a people were more civilized and more sophisticated, politically, judging from some outlandish and unfounded allegations and wild claims which periodically emanate from the polity and which often leads to undesired consequences including rioting and needless loss of lives. Just recently Muhammadu Buhari was attacked by Boko Haram and fingers pointed at Aso Rock and you wonder what would have become of Nigeria, had those lunatics succeeded in getting the man they had once nominated as their role model and negotiator-in-chief with the government? Rwanda's civil war between the Tutus and the Hutus, which almost ruined the country, was triggered when accusing fingers pointed towards a particular tribe for shooting down a plane carrying a president from another tribe? 

Today in Santos Brazil, an opposition presidential candidate was killed when his private plane went down in the fog of bad weather during a campaign trip. Imagine the anarchy and ruinous state Nigeria would have descended into were Eduardo Campos, Muhammadu Buhari and the plane was Bola Tinubu's private plane? 

But in Brazil, admitted a third world country like Nigeria, the skies over Rio de Janeiro or San Palo or Santos is not falling down as a result of the death of an opposition presidential candidate because the people are civilized enough to understand that things, including plane crash do happen and can happen without their president causing it to happen or bringing it about? Brazilian President Djuma has done what any president would do by declaring a national day of mourning for the dead candidate and life will go on and is going on as we write this article. Icheoku prays that Nigerians will some day mature enough, especially politically, to understand the limitations of the man or any other person in Aso Rock and not behold him or her as having omni-power, omni-presence and omni-whatever you desire to name, to do or undo as he pleases. Icheoku sympathizes with the people of Brazil and the family of late Eduardo Santos on their loss; Adieu Eduardo.

Monday, August 11, 2014

ROBIN WILLIAMS, ANOTHER CRY FOR HELP GONE UNANSWERED?

Icheoku says yet again another American rich and famous person has killed himself; dead by hanging, in an apparent suicide escapism from this world of agony and so much trouble. When the world's millions, especially the have not, are jealously looking at the lives of the rich and famous and praying that they could someday attain such "glorious" status and enjoy what it has to offer, here makes an exit from that privileged world, one of such richly "blessed" persons? Comedian and actor Robbin Williams apparently has had enough of the 'glamorous' life and decided to end it and he  hung himself. Robbin was 63years old.

Icheoku laments the greatest irony known to man called life, which keeps people guessing and misjudging what it is that is really truly important; hence their dissipating of  energies wrongly, in pursuit of an elusive happiness which they think money and fame beget and/or guarantee.  Unfortunately, Robin Williams has once again shattered this myth and put paid to this delusion by taking his own life despite being so richly "blessed" with materiality and fame. Icheoku asks is it not yet another irony that a comedian who makes other people to laugh, could not himself find laughter and happiness in this world? Needless to add that his numerous mansions, exotic cars, fat bank accounts, privileges and access could not provide him the courage to carry on soldiering with this life? 

The moral lesson derivable from Robin Williams' suicide is that no matter one's condition or standing in life, what is most important or should be paramount in life is to find some meaning and fulfillment in one's life and by so doing have a reason to live for. Like Angelina Jolie-Pitt who loves children and is adopting them from everywhere and is also herself giving birth to many, and thus finds fulfillment in doing that, Icheoku opines that people, including the rich and famous, should always find something outside their boxed life to immerse themselves in and by so doing remain positively occupied, and will not have any downtime for depression to creep in. Psychosis, manic depression and/or such other psychological imbalances often times thrive when there is a vacuum in the sufferer's life? A rule of the thumb, because nature abhors vacuum, something will always fill in such fallowed spaces including sometimes mental disturbance. 

Robin Williams now joins other rich and famous American actors who decided to fast-tack their exit from this world this year including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mikey Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott and a host of many others. Icheoku says whether their deaths were ruled accidental overdose or suicide, it does not really matter. What is important is that they achieved their set-out objective which is to put an end to their pain and suffering of living? These 'cornered' people, call them victims if you like, desired one thing and one thing only - to just end their forlorn life of misery and escape their unhappiness. It is also instructive that taking their life is usually not the first option, but it comes after  various addictions could not help them get rid of their monkey; despite the illusion of "happily ever after" Eldorado of happiness and fulfillment which the uninformed world holds of their  lives. 

Icheoku maintains that these "victims" were internally disturbed, they were unhappy, they were lonely and in vain, silently cried out for help which never came and in some cases was a little too late in coming. In short these people were victims of a cruel world which they successfully made happy and which they made to laugh with their creative works, but which world could not and did not reciprocate their infectiousness. As a result, they felt betrayed,  they felt disappointed and they pined and panged away. Their cry for help was drowned out in the cacophony of the limelight and with it the gradual ebbing of their lives until they finally find the courage or cowardice to pull the trigger. Robbin Williams suicide by hanging once again shows that money or riches or fame does not buy happiness; or have you ever seen a happy person who is contemplating suicide? Icheoku says Robbin Williams has regrettably now  joined the annals of such lost souls, may he now rest; may he now find the peace, joy and happiness which eluded him here on earth in the life beyond, Adieu Rob! 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

BAMIDELE ATURU, LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION?


Icheoku says fortunately for him he was pulled off the line when he was on top of his game, the ovation loudest and was a well known happened on the Nigerian stage. From birth when we all enter the world to begin this journey called life, until we make our exit through death, everything in between is but rest stops and detours en-route our final valediction. Icheoku maintains that the entire human race, like a hamster on a wheel, is on a race to no where. They are all on a journey with no apparent destination and are intermittently, serially, pulled out from the line as the maker chooses. The number of Bamidele Aturu Esquire has come up in the home-coming roster and his journey has now petered to a stop. Icheoku says RIP Bam.

Like few other Nigerians with conscience who came before him, Bamidele came, Bamidele saw, but regrettably Bamidele did not conquer the many societal ills and decadence pervading Nigeria before he took his final bow; admitted he kept fighting till the very end. Gani Fawehinmi preceded him; likewise Tai Solarin; then there was Beko Ransome Kuti's effort which also failed; Chima Ubani gave it his all but also did not succeed; ditto Ebami Eda Fela Anikulapo Kuti just to mention the prominent VERY FEW. Now Bamidele Aturu has also joined the list of this select few Nigerians who desperately wanted and tirelessly worked to affect change in a polity that considered their breed very threatening and thus frustrated them. Icheoku says all these people shared a common passion - they frowned at the decay that is the Nigerian society and set out to do something about it. 

But unfortunately, it is usually very difficult to lit a candle in a dark, dank and daft society where more than 99.9% of the populace prefer to maintain the status-quo and obstinately refused to be mobilized to help change the society for the better. Icheoku says these humanists did not fail for lack of trying or for not pushing hard enough. No, they failed because a septic society in which they unfortunately found themselves was not ready or willing to change. Instead, they turned against them, branded them radicals and socialists and communists who must be stopped at all cost and thus became very hostile and full-throttled in their resistant to their noble effort. Icheoku says this apathy on the part of greater Nigerians is the primary reason why these few well intention-ed Nigerians, who shouted themselves hoarse for a new order but were ignored, often died unfulfilled, downcast and broken-hearted. This is now the lot of Bamidele Aturu as he joins his fellow past travelers, who traversed through the Nigeria unforgiving terrain, a terrain populated by impervious to change human-beings.

Bamidele Aturu allegedly died from 'fatigue and stress' related health complications? Icheoku have always wondered how so many Nigerians survive the pressure-cooker of an environment that is the Nigerian society? Admitted that some locals might attribute his death to "remote controlled" African magic, but Icheoku is certain that acute 'fatigue and stress' could trigger such convulsive pressure on the human physiology that the heart or even the brain is forced to shut down due to some catastrophic trauma resulting in instant death. A brain aneurysm or arterial blood clot which cuts off blood supply to vital organs, resulting in massive stroke, could also be the culprit in his death? Ebola virus disease also sometimes manifests in similar instant shut down of vital organs resulting in instant death and possibly could also have been implicated in his death? However, Icheoku must move on from all these unhelpful speculations and defer to pathologists' autopsy to uncover the actual and conclusive cause of Bam's death. 

Icheoku says what is done is done and instead of hopelessly moaning Bam's loss, let those still walking the grounds of Nigerian find a way of prolonging their own lives through concerted regular medical check-ups and improved lifestyle; and then in memory of the dead, try to continue the good work he did while he lived. Icheoku says the best way to immortalize Bamidele Aturu is to carry on with the fight and struggle for a just and better society which he lived for and courageously fought for in his quest to enthrone a better, improved and "re-branded" Nigerian society, where the rule of law reigns supreme. By doing this, Bam would not have died in vain and this will go a long way in showing that he died fighting a worthy cause worthy of emulation.

However Icheoku disagrees and rejects Femi Falana's assertion that 'Bamidele Aturu's death is unbelievable' because every mortal was born to die and Bam is a mortal and therefore this needless doubt was mere pandering. Life is but an indeterminate journey, wherein individuals are accordingly plucked out as the maker deems fit and whenever He chooses. Although death at a relatively young age may be 'shocking' to those who do not believe in Rapture's teaching of suddenness of end of life, but for all those others who truly understand that there is no stipulation as to longevity, whenever it happens, it is always acceptable without question as a Divine's will. In other words, waxing philosophically, Icheoku says that there is nothing like "untimely death" or "sudden death" or "death come too early" as with any journey, it ends when it ends, period. This affirms the teachings of Master Jesus when he admonished mourners not to mourn like unbelievers and that they should leave the dead to bury themselves. Translation, let the dead move on and now allowed to rest while the living continues with their own journey, carrying their cross of staying alive until they reach their own end too. 

Icheoku says at least Bam lived and in the process left some imprints on the estate called Nigeria which he called home. Like many real activists, he was born an activist, he was a natural, a streak which manifested very early in his life. Bamidele's first noticeable thunder of activism was way back during his NYSC passing out parade when he refused to shake the hand of a military governor because he represented a military institution that is undemocratic and anti-people. Also Bam's ideas were revolutionary and he had the courage to push them regardless of the pains he suffered or the inconvenience they caused him. Unlike some later day mushroom activists, Bam was not a publicity seeking pretender to human rights activism in Nigeria. No, he was the real deal activist; he was as genuine as it gets and the real-estate of Nigeria attests to that. Whenever there was a noticeable flagrant abuse, he shouted, he litigated, he mobilized and he even marched on the streets in protest, refusing to be intimidated by the tear gases and cudgels of the oppressors of the Nigerian state. He did not do it because it was easy or convenient, he did it because it was the right thing to do and he did it without wavering; neither did he scurry away with tail tucked in between his legs when the heat became unbearably too hot and he did it until the end. His struggle against June 12th annulment and mobilization for restoration of democracy in Nigeria was of general knowledge. 

Like William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar said through Mark Anthony of Brutus, here was was a man, Icheoku says Bamidele Aturu was a human right activist extraordinaire. He was fashioned in the mold of Gani Fawehimni, admitted he was no Gani Fawehimni whose true likeness there is no fellow in the firmament of Nigeria. Bam also added value to law practice and the legal profession in Nigeria with some very insightful legal thoughts which were published in various Law reports as well as Newspapers; wherein he espoused and expressed valid opinions on how certain things could be done and made better, except that he preached to a deaf society which refused to listen. Icheoku says his foremost effort to affect a change in lawyers' garb in Nigeria, stopping lawyers from adorning wig and gown in a very hot climate, was frustrated by the same lawyers he was trying to help, many of who steadfastly believe that without the hood there is no monk; and that the wig and gown makes them different or enable them stand out from the commoners and ordinary Nigerian general populace. 

Icheoku laments that the dress-code which is still fashionable among lawyers in Nigeria has since been discarded in many civilized societies that has freed themselves of this British colonial vestige. A bequeath which makes lawyers' appearance rather 'too solemn and overtly drably encumbered' than advocates of the law, freely prying their trade unfettered by weighty dark gowns and scratching breached horse-hair wigs? The only good news is that such revolutionary idea often takes several eons after their thinker is gone to come to a general acceptance - the reason why some people are said to have been born ahead of their time. Icheoku is hopeful that like many other great ideas in life whose conception were initially resisted, the now departed Bamidele Aturu's questioned desirability of lawyers wearing wig and gown in such a hot climate as Nigeria, will one day come to a head with Nigerian lawyers asking themselves what have they been smoking all these years, garbed like melancholic undertakers? A purveyor of beautiful idea often die without experiencing the beauty of what he propagated come to fruition and Bamidele Aturu will not be an exception. So with Bam now gone, can the rest of us all who are still walking the walk learn to live our lives as if we will someday also die and pray it will be peaceful and less painful. Rest in Peace BAM and may your ideas live long and thrive, Adieu! 7/27/14

Thursday, July 17, 2014

OYEGUN CRIES WOLF, KETTLE CALLING POT BLACK?

Press conference by APC chairman John Odigie Oyegun, Abuja, Wednesday, July 16th 2014 (attached as comment) - a response.

Icheoku says in the selective-amnesia pattern that is the trick of trade of very deceitful people, of remembering ONLY what they choose to remember, this man has forgotten how he was imposed on the APC by Ahmed Bola Tinubu's fiat? Instead, here he is, unabashedly, calling President Jonathan a dictator while feigning ignorance that the man he accepted the gift of APC chairmanship from is not a DEMOCRAT? Icheoku is baffled at how a man who parades himself as a man of God, Pastor Oyegun, could so vilely complain about a speck in another man's eye while ignoring the Iroko log in his own eye? According to this man, Bola Tinubu, the man who OWNS, OPERATES and DICTATES for everyone in APC is not a dictator but Jonathan is? Icheoku says if Jonathan is the face of dictatorship, then every country in the world that has seen and known dictatorship, including Nigeria during the heinous military regimes as well as the last Ota deity's regime (1999 - 2003), must demand an apology from the APC Chairman Pastor John Odigie-Oyegun for ridiculing their horrific and harried experience. 

Further, in the usual characteristics of the Almajiris Peoples Congress, typified by the now impeached Muritala Nyako's malicious accusation that President Jonathan is levying genocide on Northerners, Pastor Oyegun is now making another unfounded and unsubstantiated allegation against the president, of using financial inducements, running into several billions, to achieve the outcome that was Adamawa State Governor Nyako's impeachment? Icheoku says it is a trite rule of law that he who alleges something as a fact has the onus of proving or establishing the alleged; and we hereby call on Pastor Oyegun to produce irrefutable evidence of this financial inducement or eat his shoes in shame for deliberately misinforming his "flock" and trying to mislead them. Unfortunately this pastor forgot what the Lord said concerning intentionally misleading a people that looks upon certain persons as their guide, that it is preferable for such persons that a grinding stone be tied on their neck and weighted down the lake. 

Responding to another frivolous accusation of Pastor Oyegun, Icheoku says if any person or party is destroying or trying to destroy Nigeria, it must be the Janjaweed ideology party and its dictators that does not see anything wrong in imposing persons on the party as well as on their controlled states' offices? Icheoku says the destructive element in Nigeria is the Almajiris Peoples Congress that is malevolently scheming to field two MUSLIM presidential and vice presidential candidates in a pluralistic secular society like Nigeria. Icheoku is emphatic that it is the Bola Tinubu's owned and financed party, APC, which is crying fire in a movie theater and crying wolf where there is a mere sparrow. Icheoku says if anyone is trying to rain havoc on Nigeria, it is APC's Buhari who promised and is relentlessly carrying out his threat, by proxy of Boko Haram, to make Nigeria ungovernable. Yes, you heard Icheoku right - the destructive forces trying to pull the Nigerian house down is the APC and its dictatorship. Icheoku says the APC is what is trying, albeit fruitlessly, to throw spanner into the works that is Nigeria marching on. So Pastor Oyegun must reverse gears and rather look inwards to find the Grinch that is trying to steal Nigeria's joy. 

Pastor Oyegun finds fault in the government's adequately securing an election through the use of the military, so that the electorates could freely express their preferences; and this rather major commendable feat by a government too often known for its sloppiness, is perfidious in the judgment of Pastor Oyegun? Icheoku says if so empowering the people to freely exercise their right to vote and ensuring that no eligible voter is disenfranchised by intimidation of thugs and through election fraud is what perfidy looks like, then hell has no utility again and deserves to be shut and closed down. Icheoku says he who has nothing to hide is never afraid nor does he run away from the police or complain and protest when security agents are around. Therefore the only deductible reason why the APC is complaining about the high security presence in the last Ekiti State's election would be that it forestalled all their rigging plans and eventually produced the result witnessed. Icheoku recalls that Bola Tinubu had made a "rig and roast" threat before the said election and no responsible government, anywhere, would like to see any of her citizen roasted just because an election was rigged. So Aso Rock did the "needful" to prevent rigging and guaranteed that no one roasted; YET instead of commending this harm-free and zero-death election, Pastor Oyegun is complaining that security for the election was too much? Icheoku says please give me a break Mr Pastor. 

Icheoku says Pastor Oyegun's questioning the integrity of the armed forces is one such misdirected step taken too far that needs to be retracted. Irrespective of partisanship or other loyalty and ideological differences - whether Janjaweed or Western, anyone can say whatever they want BUT questioning the integrity of the Nigerian armed forces is an unacceptable step into a no go area. Icheoku maintains that the Nigerian armed forces is still very nationalistic; that the cord holding them as a force of one is still in intact and very strong, otherwise the hump-dumpty that is Nigeria would have since gone into history. So Pastor Oyegun ought to apologize to these uniformed men and women for causing to their unity, this untoward violence; and must subsequently watch such his utterances so that he does not talk himself into a dangerous corner from which an extraction might prove very difficult, if not impossible. 

In conclusion, Icheoku bemoans the fate that has befallen this APC whose marriage to Nigerians have apparently ended ever before the honeymoon was over. If APC was a pregnancy, it would be ectopic and qualified for an urgent abortion and might as well have since been aborted. Their planned voyage is now moribund with their marooned ship fast decelerating to the bottom of the ocean  Were it a flight, it did not take off as it sputtered and nose-dived into its grave yard. Their so many missteps, series of unguarded statements and their Tasmanian devil-like virulent attacks on even the mundane and intangibles, have left Nigerians wondering what it was they wanted to embrace in the first place? If this is what opposition party looks like, then may the PDP stand unopposed, for crying out loud. How can a party that cannot organize themselves and be harmonious in articulating their Marshal Plans for Nigeria organize Nigeria? Such risk is rather too risky for Nigerians to blazingly walk themselves into and it could be that Nigerians have already decided that the devil they know is better than the pretentious saint they are bewilder at its actions and utterances thus far? Or what word is it again they have in their Islamic vocabulary for saint?  

Of late the APC seems to have been outgunned and outfoxed by the PDP as they now appear to chase after only the dust of a zoomed meteorite PDP. In Ekiti they did not know what hit them and belatedly now threatens to go to court after the fact; ditto in Adamawa with Nyako's stagecraft of an impeachment. Icheoku believes that the APC would still be in their reactionary mode to PDP's pace-setting the agenda and still huffing and puffing about how they will respond long after the 2015 elections are won and lost. But what level of cohesion does anyone expect from a party that is run by dictators where the majority of its disenfranchised members are bitterly complaining and working to sabotage their own party as a result in protest? Icheoku is of the view that morals is very low among APC membership and nothing good ever comes out of a demoralized or ill-motivated lot. This cancerous lethargy that has set in among APC party members is the greatest threat facing the Almajiris Peoples Congress and without retooling, their dictators can complain all they want until the cows come home and will not see a c-change in their fortunes. Not that Icheoku cares anyway. To Pastor John Odigie Oyegun, Icheoku says instead of hollering and chasing shadows or propounding nonsensical fantasies as to the root cause of the problems of the now flightless APC, just look in the mirror and you will see Bola Tinubu and John Oyegun, interchangeably, morphing into one another. This is the root cause of the nearly imploding APC - DICTATORSHIP. It melts away party loyalty since party members are asking themselves what is in it for them and saying that "we do not have inheritance in the house of Bola Tinubu, to our tenets Oh APC members," GET IT, Pastor! 


Disclaimer: - Icheoku is not a member of the PDP nor a fan of President Jonathan Goodluck. But let the truth be told, this particular brand of APC is not good for Nigeria and it is not also good for any Nigerian. This is the only reason we do what we do at Icheoku; and to help save Nigeria a worse evil. That is what drives our passion. The greedy Bola Tinubu is not a democrat but is merely using or trying to use the machinery of the APC as a means to an end and therefore must be STOPPED.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

MURITALA NYAKO IMPEACHED, GOOD RIDDANCE!


Icheoku says with the successful impeachment of the recalcitrant former governor of Adamawa State, Nigeria, Muritala Nyako, the PDP has secured one more state in its march to victory in 2015. 

Icheoku has no sympathy for the now impeached former governor who bit more than he can chew when he maliciously accused the president of genocide against his North, with intent to cause breach of the peace and forcibly  bring down the government at Aso Rock. Thankfully though, his own government was first brought down before he could cause further damage as he now joins Baralabe Musa in that very highly exclusive club of impeached former governors of Nigeria. 

Steadily but surely the membership of the renegade PDP conspiratorial governors are depleting and Icheoku hopes it will maintain the present momentum until they all cease to exist or are rendered irrelevant in the country's political affairs. Icheoku says good riddance. The other scenario, although very highly improbable would be to impeach Kano State Governor Kwankwaso and then dethrone Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and banish him like Sultan Dasuki or send him to prison like Jokolo. Ditto, the rascally Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Nigerians now know who "dey laugh" last and that person is holed inside Aso Rock and his name is President Goodluck Jonathan. Way to go, it is definitely time not only to bark and snarl, but to show some teeth and use it.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

MARION GOTZE, THE MAN WHO SEALED IT FOR GERMANY.

MARION GOTZE, THE MAN WHO SEALED IT FOR GERMANY.

Icheoku says what an honor it is indeed to be so privileged to put the icing on the cake for one's country's World Cup win. Icheoku says congratulations to goal scorer Mario Gotze and his German national side for a well deserved victory over Argentina in the just concluded FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 finals. Germany is the new world cup champion, hurray!

Monday, July 14, 2014

FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014, ZOOMS INTO HISTORY.

Icheoku says FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 has come and gone and like so many other things before it and which would after it, it is now history. It was well staged and beautifully delivered. Germany won the championship while host country Brazil failed due to an abysmal performance they put up in the quarter against the eventual winner Germany in a 7-1 drubbing, the first of its kind ever recorded in a world cup championship. 

Overall it was a good world cup championship that introduced to the world of soccer players named Hazard and Hulk, which names appositely fits their bearers particularly the hulking Brazilian named Hulk. World already famously existing names like Messi and Ronaldo featured prominently too, admitted  they failed to live up to their billings, especially Portugal's Ronaldo  that could not see his side beyond the primary rounds. The cool cucumber(ed) goaltenders are also recognized particularly Mexico's Ochoa, Nigeria's Enyema and Argentina's tender. Anyway, Brazil has moved over and on, to make way for Russia 2018, provided the ever restive Tasmanian devil in Moscow Vladimir Putin will not set the world ablaze before then. Icheoku says Russia 2018, here the world cometh; so long Brazil.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014, GERMANY TAKES THE CUP AWAY!


Icheoku says what a 'thriller in Manila' it was, except it was in Rio de Janerio, Brazil and not the Philippines. The FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 finals, between Germany and Argentina, really lived up to its billings. The two teams that worked very hard throughout the tournament and therefore eminently merited their berth in the finals, gave a very good account of themselves. What a final it was that went full ninety minutes and into extra time of thirty minutes; with the first fifteen minutes gone and the other fifteen minutes gone eight minutes, before German's Mario Goetze put a stop to the cliff hanger of a match with a spectacular goal, thus giving Germany their well deserved 1-0 victory over Argentina. 
Icheoku says although our projected winner Netherlands was eased out of playing in the finals, the German win result is equally an acceptable alternative. With the World Cup now gone back to Europe, Germany being their representative, Icheoku hopes that Russia 2018 would be a good opportunity for all those who did not excel this time to prove they are equally as good. Icheoku congratulates Germany for winning the cup and also Argentina for playing so wonderfully well against Germany, unlike the host Brazil that was turned inside out by the eventual winner Germany. Icheoku says FIFA, and Brazil in particular, deserves commendation for hosting a stellar world cup tournament despite the initial doubts as to their readiness and ability to deliver a good world cup outing. Overall it was a good FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 event and everyone that pulled together to make it the beautiful event it turned out to be deserves a pat on the back. It was also a World Cup event that showcased names like Hulk which appositely fits the incredibly huge Brazilian guy that bears the name and Havoc which also fits the Netherlander that goes by that name. Until Russia 2018, Icheoku says adios amigos, so long!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

DUTCH, WHEN A CHAMPION SETTLES FOR THIRD PLACE?

DUTCH, WHEN A CHAMPION SETTLES FOR THIRD PLACE?

Icheoku said it before and will say it again - Netherlands would have gone all the way to clinch the cup but for FIFA intervention and Icheoku stands to be corrected on this. Today they proved once again that they had the stuff champions are made of with their routing of host Brazil 3-0 and you wonder what a beautiful World Cup finals it would have been against Germany had FIFA's machination not so cruelly intervened. Anyway, their consolatory third place is not one of such cases where a half loaf is better than no loaf for Icheoku; and as a result Icheoku is not satisfied. The Dutch has been and remained Icheoku's favorite throughout the tournament and Icheoku will continue to believe they were forced out of the finals and no opinion can persuade otherwise. So long FIFA World Cup Brazil 2004 championship until Russia 2018; admitted Icheoku will tune in tomorrow to see how the finals is rigged. Congratulations Netherlanders, Ciao!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

DUTCH LOSS, REGRETTABLE.

Icheoku says unfortunately we missed the mark and for this we are indeed very sorry for projecting a Netherlands win over Argentina as well as the finals against Germany. Why the Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal did not bring in his penalty-kicks best keeping goalie, Tim Kral, is beyond everyone's imagination. What is done is done and the coach has his conscience to worry about on the real reason behind the unthinkable. Icheoku griefs the Dutch loss as avoidable. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

DUTCH LOSS, A CASE OF A COACH GONE ROGUE?

Icheoku must prefix this article by owning up and accepting defeat in the projection that Netherlands will go all the way to the finals and eventually win the cup. Events of the last few hours have proved Icheoku wrong that not always would our analytical crystal ball get it right. Icheoku is neither a voodoo doctor nor does he pretend to see visions and prophesies; we are just a bunch trying to employ empirical analysis to make certain pronouncements; some of which we get right and some, like today's FIFA World Cup semi-final match between Netherlands and Argentina, we got wrong. Icheoku apologizes and Icheoku accepts full responsibility for getting the projection off the mark; we were confidently hopeful in the projected outcome but things did not pan out as hoped. It is our bad, but the show must go on and we intend to line up in tandem and follow suit. 

Now what went wrong with a Dutch side that outplayed and outperformed their Argentina opponent in virtually all departments of the match, one would ask? In one short terse answer Icheoku posits that it was a result of a "compromised" coach that fell victim to FIFA and their sponsors' inducement? They brought an overbearing pressure on Louis Van Gaal to help them spread the tournament final between the two continents that are their core disciples, with a view to harnessing the increased revenue potentials of the South American continent? Instead of South American fans abandoning the finals as an all European "dem, dem" affair, they will now seen it as a soccer WAR of supremacy between them and those Europeans; as a result of which many of them will show up to support their representative Argentina with Europeans doing same for Germany? In capitalism it is always about the bottom line and FIFA is an unapologetic savage corporation! 

Although, Icheoku admits that we do not have any smoking gun hard evidence that trailed to this conclusion but circumstantial evidence aids our conclusion. Query, why was the penalty kick catching Dutch goalkeeper not brought in today, in keeping with the tradition and stated objective why he was introduced in the Quarter finals game against Costa Rica? Listen to Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal on why he had to bring in the taller Tim Kral during the Costa Rica penalty shootout. According to him, "Tim Krul's greater height and reach was the reason I sent the Newcastle keeper in for the World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout win over Costa Rica." So Icheoku asks what then changed that the same logic was not applied in today's penalty kick against Argentina or did the shorter Jasper Cillessen suddenly add two inches to his frame overnight to override the stated height advantage or did the differential not matter anymore to Van Gaal? 

Continuing, Van Gaal said "I like all that gamesmanship from Tim Krul. I like my goalkeeper to do that, to try to put them off, it puts a bit of edge to it. Man United fans will be buzzing and thinking 'What a manager we have got'."  Icheoku says but suddenly today, Van Gaal forgot about all these attributes of a penalty kick catching goalkeeper or does he no longer like his goalkeepers to be so upstaging of the opponents? Further, Van Gaal said "We all thought Tim was the best keeper to stop penalties. He is taller and has a longer reach. The tactic worked out. That was beautiful. I'm a bit proud of that." Icheoku lampoons Van Gaal that if "Tim was the best keeper to stop penalties", which was convincingly proved in the Dutch match against Costa Rica, what changed TODAY to make him now less desirable? Icheoku laments that anybody who watched today's penalty kicks would agree that were Tim Krul manning the post the outcome would certainly have been different, especially in view of the last Argentina kick that saw the shorter Dutch goalkeeper bounce back into the net a kick he had already apparently saved? Even the second kick that went under his arm was keep-able and so also was the other one that his short fingers could not reach. Lastly, Jasper Cillessen's reaction time was rather too slow compared to Tim Kruls much quicker reflexes. 

Icheoku says what is done is done and there is no need crying over a spilled milk or trying to put back a genie that is already out of the bottle. But let truth be told, the penalty kicks looked rather fishy and atypical of a match fixing scandal prevalent in FIFA organised games where profit always drive decisions. In the final analysis it would appear that after Brazil's humiliating loss yesterday to Germany that FIFA hurriedly took a decision to avert the repercussion of an all European finals in a World Cup being hosted in South America; and decided to pull some strings in order not to lose the millions of fans and potential buyers of their sponsors' products that call that part of the world home? 

Unfortunately, Icheoku has no way of irrefutably proving this BUT if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it might as well be a duck; as millions of fans and soccer/football enthusiasts worldwide are asking and wondering out aloud, what happened and why did the Dutch coach not bring in his "best goalkeeper to stop Argentina penalties" when it mattered most? icheoku says then factor in the coach's choice of first penalty kicker in Vaal when Hauntleer was there or even Ian Robben; and then imagine Sneijder losing a PK? Please Icheoku is on the verge of losing it and wants to end this here before he is forced to jump. BUT hey it is FIFA and FIFA needs to clean its house and stop playing game with people in their game of football/soccer. As it stands now who even knows if the finals have also been predetermined? What a huge JOKE!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

GERMAN DEMOLITION DERBY ROLLS OVER THE SAMBA BOYS!

Icheoku says the outcome was predictable and indeed was predicted, except that the margin was the surprise. Anyway that is exactly what happens when a side is not a team in the strict sense of it but comprised of very few players or rather a player playing alongside the others. It is the same problem afflicting the Los Angeles Lakers where Kobe Bryant is playing with the rest of the boys; unlike San Antonio Spurs that is a real team with so many good players concerting for one objective. 

Icheoku says it is called team work for a reason and as Igbo people would say, a tree does not make a forest. So at last it was Neymar OUT, Brazil OUT. Icheoku says sure the boys from the country known for their precision did save their best for last with their trouncing of Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semi finals. But should Germany owe some gratitude to Colombian Juan Camilo Zúñiga for the gift of taking Neymar out of commission? Icheoku does not think so, admitted the goal differential would not have been that so outrageous that it made the Nigerian Super Eagles' performance seem so wonderful. Icheoku reiterates that similar fate awaits Argentina tomorrow as the world gradually coasts to Saturday's all European FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 finals with Holland clinching the cup. Go DUTCH.

Monday, July 7, 2014

NETHERLANDS V. GERMANY, 2014 WORLD CUP FINALS?


NETHERLANDS V. GERMANY - FIFA  WORLD CUP 2014 FINALS?
In the future of the FIFA World Cup 2014 championship holding in Brazil, Icheoku sees an all European championship final between Netherlands and Germany. Germany will defeat Brazil and Netherlands will defeat Messi and his boys during the semi finals resulting in an all European meet in the finals; following which Netherlands will emerge victorious. Icheoku remains steadfast in our projection that the Orange guys will carry the golden cup this 2014 and there is NO SHAKING in our conviction. Go DUTCH!

GOVERNOR RASCAL AMAECHI, BOWS FOR ATIKU?

Icheoku bemoans the mentality of this Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who continually battles a president from his neighboring state and sometimes insultingly too; but has no qualms genuflecting and bowing for an ordinary Hausa man Abubakar Atiku? 

The only way to sensibly fathom any logical explanation for this inexplicable disparate behavior is to conclude that Governor Amaechi is psychologically troubled and probably suffering from a South-south man's inferiority-complex tinged slave-mentality that still regards the Hausa/Fulani North as superior to them? Icheoku asks how can a man who stands up on rostrums all over the place, pouring invective on a sitting President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, now crawl to the residence of Abubakar Atiku to bow for him? 

Icheoku does not know about you BUT this Governor Amaechi makes me sick to the stomach. Icheoku says if the PDP cannot stop any other recalcitrant governor in 2015, Rotimi Amaechi MUST be made an exception because he has since crossed every bar of decency in showing mortal disrespect to a sitting president while at the same time slavishly kowtowing to the Hausa/Fulani North. Icheoku condemns his slavish conduct as very despicable, especially in view of the mortally CORRUPT individual before whom he bows and trembles as personalized in Atiku Abubakar. What a farce this man is that is Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Icheoku feels like throwing up for his vileness. 

Saturday, July 5, 2014

PUTIN'S 4TH OF JULY MESSAGE, A PLEA FOR MERCY?


Icheoku says the Russian strong man it would seem is not so strong afterall as he now reaches out to the United States of America asking for understanding and accommodation in world affairs? Icheoku says it is definitely a good step in the right direction by Vladimir Putin as unnecessary obtrusiveness and petulant braggadocio never delivers ill-desired results, especially when a united world stands firm against such meddlesome interloper. Finally, the whole world now knows whose position was right and who provoked unneeded crisis when he invaded and stole another country's territory, Crimea, thinking that he can get away with such murderous act. Thankfully America alongside its international partners stood firm and now Putin is begging to be forgiven. 

Icheoku says forgive, the world shall; BUT Putin must first vomit Crimea and pledge never to act like a spoilt kid who needlessly throws tantrums each time his wishes are not met or when he is told that he cannot always have his way. Icheoku says the world will accommodate Putin's request to be recognized but he must be told that unequals cannot be made equal just because he so wishes; and provided he is ready and willing to take his place as possibly the number two country and ceases and desists from making further troubles, then reasonable accommodation should be made for Russia in the comity of nations.  On July 4th independence day celebration, Icheoku says many more years to America and may America continue to shine the light for the rest of the world. including Putin's Russia, to see and follow!

Friday, July 4, 2014

VANDALIZATION OF BRT BUSES, UNACCEPTABLE UTTER MADNESS.

Icheoku says provided the Nigerian army is guilty as alleged that some of their soldiers went on rampage, vandalizing public transportation buses, just because one of them was mowed down by a bus while illegally riding his bicycle on a lane exclusively reserved for such buses, their action is condemnable and simply unacceptable. Icheoku asks what was the soldier doing riding his bicycle on such a busy highway as Ikorodu road, especially on a lane strictly reserved for those rapid transit buses (BRT)? If true, then it is yet another display of crass indiscipline, wantonness, egregiousness and lawlessness by the often ill-trained Nigerian "unknown" soldiers, whose penchant to go cuckoo on the slightest provocation is legendary. Icheoku says it is completely incomprehensible for these soldiers to go on rampage, destroying public transportation equipment and infrastructures, simply because one of their possibly 'DRUNKEN' colleague, seemingly chose to commit suicide using a BRT bus; otherwise what was he doing in such an exclusive rapid transit bus lane in the first place? By the same token, if a train kills someone on a rail track, whose fault is it anyway?

It is only in uncivilized brutish enclaves that men and women trained, equipped and paid to protect and defend the territorial integrity of a country, often viciously turn around against the same people that make their existence possible. In advanced civilized societies, the only place and time you see soldiers is on television news coverage when they are returning from or shipping out on deployments, during such National holidays when they are participating in parades and on other seldom occasions when they are receiving honors or burying one of their killed in action (KIA). You do not see soldiers on the streets getting rascally or in "MAMMY MARKETS" getting drunk or in 'Mosalashi Yaba burning Kalakuta Republic' or now on 'Ikorodu road burning BRT buses' or at any other place for that matter that is not within their confined barracks, which is often zoned off to 'bloody' civilians. Speaking in equivalence, such occurrence as this BRT brigandage is alien and completely none existence, admitted that once in a while, an incensed soldier can snap, pick up a gun and kill his colleagues or family members and then sometimes self in a murder suicide? This could be explained away as a mental illness of that particular soldier BUT Icheoku refuses to accept that an entire army of a country is probably afflicted with unsound mind due to the frequency of occurrence of such outlandish misbehavior by the Nigerian army.

The BRT buses destruction by the Nigerian army will go a long way in further damaging the image of a country that is already very far below stellar; added to the Boko Haram madness particularly their Chibok girls 'alleged' abduction that is continually spewing very corrosive sulfuric volcanic ash upon it. icheoku asks which tourist or investor would pick such a country as a priority go to place for a visit or investment? Humanity like to be safe or at least have a sense or feeling of it, otherwise no one would want to even visit America because of gun violence, but at least you know and feel the authorities are making effort to stop it or solve it when it happens. Most times, appearance rather than reality is key; and at present, Nigeria certainly appears to be a very unsafe place for anyone to be. 

With one crisis after another, Boko Haram this Boko Haram that and some school girls being kidnapped etc; and in an Internet age when one does not need a Nigerian Information Minister Maku to spew his peculiar facts about the condition in Nigeria, Icheoku wonders whose interest all these disturbances are really serving? Icheoku says Nigeria could sure use some break from all these nightmarish daily incidences and so, this further stain on its image at this time of great tribulation and challenges was certainly uncalled for and was also avoidable. But whether the authorities would do something to find and arrest these miscreant soldiers and punish them accordingly, the jury is still out. icheoku says our safest bet is that instead, the authorities will use the cover of "UNKNOWN SOLDIERS" to allow them to escape from justice. 

Icheoku laments that the impunity of these khaki wearing department of the Nigerian society was foist on Nigerians by the Alusi (deity) of Ota, Olusegun Obasanjo, who in 1977 destroyed Fela's Kalakuta Republic, killing Mrs Ransome Kuti in the process and later dismissed the carnage as 'Unknown Soldiers' act? Regrettably, for Nigerians, if it is not them that is impacted directly by an action, it does not matter; and today, the BRT which was not even in existence during Fela's persecution by Obasanjo, is now at the receiving end of the same Nigerian soldiers' fury. Since that Obasanjo's infamy of 1977, it has been one abuse after another, one wantonness after another by the Nigerian army against the people of Nigeria; with some of them stealing governance through coup de tats (Buhari and Babangida), to murdering innocent civilians including Dele Giwa, Bartholomeo Owo, Bernard Ogedengbe, Segun Lawal, Ken Saro Wiwa and most recently a Police DPO and his deputy in Ikorodu Lagos. Simply put, the Nigerian soldier has brought so much sorrow, blood and tears to many Nigerians that one begins to wonder if there is indeed any real use for their existence and whether they actually do add value to the Nigerian society?

Icheoku wonders what manner of men these guys are and what sort of training they actually receive and further, whether they are from another planet; because were they Nigerians, they cannot continuously be committing such hateful crimes against their fellow citizens and their properties? It is quite unfortunate that the BRT which every Lagosian applauds Governor Fashola for, could be so vandalized by the Nigerian army. Icheoku wishes that all of these soldiers in Lagos as well as other cities in Nigeria could be shipped away from the cities to places like Sambisa Forest, Bakassi, Kaura Namoda etc because army formations do not belong in the cities. Military formations throughout civilized world are NOT located in cities but in such far away secluded places where they can freely be the armed men they choose to be. They remain there, train there and wait to be deployed as security needs arises and periodically get some days off to visit the cities if they earned it. The military have a separate existence or world of their own and the Nigerian military should not be an exception to the rule by stationing them within city limits. Such their removal and separation from the main society greatly reduces frictions between them and the civilian population; and thus help in reducing the frequency of such outcomes as was witnessed on Ikorodu Road Lagos today. But unfortunately, icheoku forgets that preaching to a 'deaf and dumb' society, led by a timid government that refuses to learn how things are done better or could be improved upon, is often an effort in futility. 

Anyway, what an unfortunate BUT otherwise avoidable destruction of public properties by the Nigerian army it was. Icheoku hopes that Governor Fashola will throw enough tantrums and stir overbearing dust over the incident that Abuja is forced to do something to get the army authorities to pay for the damage done and also punish their petulant errant soldiers that perpetrated such untoward breach of the peace. OR could it possibly be that these perpetrators are Boko Haram members and/or sympathizers trying to provoke Lagosians into a confrontation? Icheoku says what happened on Ikorodu road today is crazy-madness and unacceptable, no matter the prism with which it is viewed. However, if according to the army version of the incident, Lagos Area Boys took advantage of the accident involving their soldier and carried out the vandalization, then Icheoku apologize; but maintains that such rampage is not beyond the usual repertoire of the Nigerian army. Only a thorough investigation would unravel what actually happened and Icheoku calls for one.