GORDON BANKS: THE GOALKEEPERS' GOALKEEPER, DEAD AT 81 YEARS.

ICHEOKU says he was once the safest hands in front of the goal post, a player’s nightmare, who literally stood between them and the goalpost, and stopped nearly every shot fired by them from entering the English side's goalpost. 

Gordon Banks was a world famous goal tender extraordinaire. He died of old age related infirmities at 81 years old, another evidence that time do indeed fly as his feat seemed like yesterday. May his soul now rest. Adieu, goalie Banks.

EL CHAPO GUZMAN CONVICTED: AN INGLORIOUS END OF A DRUG LORD.

ICHEOKU says the question remains, was It worth it afterall that after all these greed fueled madness of nearly 18 long years, that the once most powerful underground drug lord, whose reign of terror eclipsed the notorious Colombian Pablo Escobar, finally met his end. The don of the Sonara drug cartel, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, is going away for life, never to come out except in a pine box coffin. 

A drug lord who was once feared for his ruthlessness and penchant for meting out slow torturous death by installments;  including that of his family members, but is now going away forever and for good. What a riddance. El Capo Guzman stands convicted on all ten Federal crimes charges and is facing a life sentence without the possibility of parole, which according to the prosecutor, there will be no escape and no return from, ever. 

Unlike the Mexican prisons from where he twice tunneled himself out, American super maximum security prisons, including the one in Colorado which is 200 feet below the ground, is to put it mildly, impregnable. Therefore, pulling off his trademark tunneling out of prison from there, will prove a daunting and extremely impossible task for El Chapo and will take him several life times of trying but still a mission not accomplished. If special circumstances, including thousands of Americans lives lost to his drugs as well as DEA agents killed in the course of finding him, are factored in, he might be looking at special isolation cell unit where he will be spending 22 hours alone in solitary confinement daily; possibly without any visitations, including by his beautiful model wife. 

ICHEOKU says many people facing his situation would pray to find a cyanid capsule to pop in following sentencing and make it quick instead of pining away to his eventual end which life prison sentence without the possibility of parole is.  Moreso, he stands no chance in hell of ever testing freedom or knowing a life near to anything he had before his arrest. A once richest man on earth worth in excess of $100 billion, who had smuggled and sold over 200 tons of drugs in America, and lived the life of the super wealthy and famous or rather notorious, with several palatial mansions and other perks of life, to now end it in a tiny 6 by 12 cell with fully restricted movement and under round the clock surveillance, must not be the way he had planned to spend the rest of his life on earth. But for his crimes, Joaquin Guzman deserves all that he gets, plus more; admitted he has entered the history books as a drug lord of record, who alongside Osama Bin Laden, took America's best to track down and bring to justice. What a life.

RACISM AND RAPE HAUNT OFFICIALS: AS THE DRAMA IN VIRGINIA UNFOLDS.

ICHEOKU says never in the history of any State in America has the stakes been so compounded and convoluted as is presently in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where the three highest ranking officials of State are embroiled in various scandals, ranging from racism to rape. First it was the governor of the State Ralph Northam who was caught in a medical Year Book wearing a black face alongside another friend of his who was garbed in a KKK white hood. 

Calls for him to resign triggered a revelation of a sexual molestation scandal involving the Lieutenant Governor, Justin Fairfax, who would have ordinarily succeeded him, thus making him ineligible to serve as governor as well. As if that was not enough headache already for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the third highest ranking State official, the Attorney General, who would have stepped in as governor were both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to resign, is himself involved in a black face scandal as well. Then the fourth State official, the Speaker of House of Assembly, also was involved in another black face scandal as editor of a magazine that published various pictures of white people wearing black faces. 

ICHEOKU says only in Virginia, the capital of KKK and the State which first introduced slavery in America and even went to war leading the confederacy in order to maintain and keep slavery going. The ground zero of the "good ole boy" entitlement culture of white superiority, where the Charlottesville melee took place and where it is still so cool to be white because of its immeasurable pecks, so it is little surprise that that many racist people exist in Virginia.  Now, their inner lining has been exposed for the whole world to see how deeply entrenched racism goes in Virginia and by extension the entire United States of America. But the governor, a man who called for the legalization of infanticide, must be a very mean fellow and must have done so many bad things, that painting his face black would be among the least of horrible things which he probably did. 

However, with the sexual molestation and rape accusation leveled against the Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, a definitely more heinous crime than being a racist, it would seem that the racist governor is going no where, at least not any time soon; since he now appears to be a saint compared to his deputy who sexually molested and raped women. The fact that he is black and in Virginia make his matter more troubling, as he will never get a break until he resigns his office. He will not survive such a career killing allegation, particularly in this era of Me-Too Movement, where incensed feminists are gun-ho mad and seeking revenge from men, who they see as predators and who has had their way with them for far too long. They have smelled blood in the water and will go for the kill of; their pound of flesh they must take, which makes Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax a toast. He will not survive the scandal and will eventually heed the call to resign his office and if he doesn't go voluntarily, he will be forced out, either through indictment or impeachment. 

Sexual molestations of any kind, including rape, is a complete no, no; and has become    such a lightening rod in America that it nearly torpedoed the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, even though the allegations against him were all trumped up, made to just prevent his ascension to the Supreme Court. If feminists were that mad that they manufactured false witnesses, imagine what they could do in the case of Justin Fairfax; except that he is a Democrat and black, and appears to belong to the genre that must be handled softly and gently; otherwise where is CNN and MSNBC going wall to wall with the coverage of the scandal and calling for his head on a platter. Where are Democratic Party leaders jostling for camera space to chime in their condemnation and demand that he resigns, with some even calling for his arrest and trial? Where are Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Kamara Harris, Dianne Feinstein and other Democratic leaders swooning over each other to make their voice heard in condemnation. But no, it is only when it is a Republican or there is a vacant seat to be filled in the Supreme Court that their holier than thou pretentiousness rent the airwaves. 

Anyway, regardless of how the Commonwealth of Virgin drama concludes, one thing is certain and that is, that what happened in Virginia, unlike Vegas, will not stay in Virginia as the whole world has been invited into their dark historical past of racism which is still continuing till this day. Whether the governor eventually resigns or the Lieutenant Governor is impeached or the Attorney General steps down or the Speaker relinquishes his Speaker-ship, it is a high noon drama playing out in Virginia and it is indeed very tragic. ICHEOKU hereby calls for all the four State officials to simultaneously resign and their offices, let others take; except if it is a case of Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot could not find any honest person in order for God to spare the city. What a pity. 

JOHN DINGELL BIDS THE WORLD FAREWELL: HE WAS 92 YEARS.

ICHEOKU says he was indeed a giant, a congressional giant that is. He represented his State of Michigan in Washington DC for 59 long years, from 1955 to 2015, when he resigned from politics, thus earning him the title, the longest serving member of Congress.

Congressman John Dingell was 92 years old. He died of old age related infirmities. ICHEOKU says adieu Jonnie.

SAY NO TO COMMUNISM: WE WERE BORN FREE AND WE WILL STAY FREE - PRESIDENT TRUMP.

 

WE ARE AMERICANS: We do the incredible. We defy the impossible. We conquer the unknown. I am asking you to CHOOSE GREATNESS. - PDJT

ELIZABETH WARREN SHOULD RESIGN HER SENATE SEAT IMMEDIATELY.

ICHEOKU says now that the former Pocahontas has been caught pants down in her lies, about being a Native American, she has lost every credibility and can no longer effectively function as a United States Senator from the Great State of Massachusetts. Therefore, her office, let another take; as such a blatant lie is not good for America and quite unbecoming of a political leader. First she claimed that she was a Native American and got benefit from it through a Harvard's teaching employment. Second, she claimed on national television that a DNA analysis affirmed that she is of Indian heritage and third, she later flatly denied ever being the originator of the claim and that she has never intentionally misled anyone about her heritage. 

But now, her hand written entry where she claimed to be a Native American has surfaced, debunking all her claims and denials; thus establishing her as a liar. As a result, she has lost her honor and credibility and should no longer represent the Great people of Massachusetts Commonwealth in the United States Senate. How can such a liar effectively still function with such a tag or would the people she represent be honored to have a proven liar as their representative in Washington DC. The honorable thing for her to do at this moment is to resign her office as a Senator. Such a politically exalted position should not be occupied by a person who lies, especially Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has always been pretending otherwise to be a person of higher moral authority. 

ICHEOKU says such a liar cannot continue to serve as a Senator of the United States of America, having lost her moral authority, especially among America's up and coming young lwomen who looked up to her as a role model. Her repeatedly lying about her Indian heritage and gaining benefits as a result therefrom, and which she continued to do until President Donald John Trump called her out on it and stayed on it until vindicated, without which she would have continued with the lies and benefiting from it, has damaged her effectiveness to function. Nobody should pride him or herself as a Senator which such a baggage on her or his back. Her continuing to remain in office sends a wrong message, especially to the easily impressionable youths of America that it is okay to lie and that lying pays. It is not a good optics and it is destructive to the society's moral fiber, as well as the ethos of truthfully speaking and therefore Elizabeth Warren must be held to account for what she did. 

Her resignation from the Senate will be quite in order and the only appropriate thing to do under the circumstances because she has sullen her image irreparably and her apology is not accepted. She knew better or should at least have known better, but she continued to defend her Indian heritage up until just few weeks ago, and she is a fully grown adult and member of the United States Senate. It was obvious to her, during all these several months she was battling President Donald John Trump for calling her out as Pocahontas, that she is not a Native Indian. She knew the real truth about her caucasian heritage, but she simply made a calculated decision to carry on with the ride on the Native American train heritage, and as far as it could take her and as long as it continues to confer her free passes; and until the wheels came off, which unfortunately for her, they have just did. 

It is shameless and inconsiderate of her to cash in on the plight of the real Native Americans. Senator Elizabeth Warren should therefore, show some real remorse and make some recompense, and use whatever is left of her honor to do the right thing by resigning her office immediately. She is somewhat irreparably politically damaged and short of resignation, American people will not grant her any audience as she wishfully takes a stab at the Democratic Party's presidential candidate nomination. Although the real Pocahontas is fully acknowledged; but this fake Pocahontas Elizabeth Warren, will forever be known as the white woman who falsely claimed to be what she was not and took full advantage of it to the fullest, conferring benefit on herself which ordinarily should not have been hers. It somewhat smacks of fraud. ICHEOKU therefore calls on Senator Elizabeth Warren to resign her Senate seat and to do it NOW!

STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: CHOOSE GREATNESS, A HOME RUN.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans: We meet tonight at a moment of unlimited potential. As we begin a new Congress, I stand here ready to work with you to achieve historic breakthroughs for all Americans. 

Millions of our fellow citizens are watching us now, gathered in this great chamber, hoping that we will govern not as TWO PARTIES but as ONE NATION. The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican Agenda or a Democrat Agenda. It is the agenda of the American People. Many of us campaigned on the same core promises: to defend American jobs and demand FAIR TRADE for American workers; to rebuild and revitalize our nation’s infrastructure; to reduce the price of healthcare and prescription drugs; to create an immigration system that is safe, lawful, modern and secure; and to pursue a foreign policy that puts America’s interests first. There is a new opportunity in American politics, if only we have the courage to seize it. Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our COUNTRY. 

This year, America will recognize two important anniversaries that show us the Majesty of America’s Mission, and the Power of American Pride. In June, we mark 75 years since the start of what General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the Great Crusade — the Allied liberation of Europe in World War II. On D-Day, June 6th, 1944, fifteen thousand young American men jumped from the sky and sixty thousand more stormed in from the sea, to save our civilization from tyranny. Here with us tonight are three of those heroes: Private First Class Joseph Reilly, Staff Sergeant Irving Locker, and Sergeant Herman Zeitchik. Gentle men, we salute you. 

In 2019, we also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew a quarter of a million miles through space to plant the American flag on the face of the moon. Half a century later, we are joined by one of the Apollo 11 astronauts who planted that flag: Buzz Aldrin. This year American astronauts will go back to space on American rockets. 

In the 20th century, America saved freedom, transformed science, and redefined the middle class standard of living for the entire world to see. Now, we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this Great American Adventure, and we must create a new standard of living for the 21st century. An amazing quality of life for all of our citizens is within our reach. We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our Middle Class bigger and more prosperous than ever before. But we must reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution — and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise and the common good. 

Together, we can break decades of political stalemate. We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future. The decision is ours to make. We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose GREATNESS. 

Over the last two years, my administration has moved with urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of BOTH parties over many decades. In just over two years since the election, we have launched an unprecedented economic boom — a boom that has rarely been seen before. We have created 5.3 million new jobs and importantly added 600,000 new manufacturing jobs –something which almost everyone said was impossible to do, but the fact is, we are just getting started.

Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades, and growing for blue collar workers, who I promised to fight for, faster than anyone else. Nearly 5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps. The U.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office, and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world. Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in half a century. African-American, Hispanic-American and Asian-American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded.

Unemployment for Americans with disabilities has also reached an all-time low. More people are working now than at any time in our history — 157 million. We passed a massive tax cut for working families and doubled the child tax credit. We virtually ended the estate, or death, tax on small businesses, ranches, and family farms. We eliminated the very unpopular Obamacare individual mandate penalty — and to give critically ill patients access to life-saving cures,we passed RIGHT TO TRY. My Administration has cut more regulations in a short time than any other administration during its entire tenure.

Companies are coming back to our country in large numbers thanks to our historic reductions in taxes and regulations. We have unleashed a revolution in American Energy — the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world. And now, for the first time in 65 years, we are a net exporter of energy. After 24 months of rapid progress, our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on earth, and America is winning each and every day.

Members of Congress: the State of our Union is Strong. Our country is vibrant and our economy is thriving like never before. On Friday, it was announced that we added another 304,000 jobs last month alone — almost double what was expected. An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way! We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad.

This new era of cooperation can start with finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the Senate — some after years of waiting. The Senate has failed to act on these nominations, which is unfair to the nominees and to our country.

Now is the time for bipartisan action. Believe it or not, we have already proven that it is possible. In the last Congress, both parties came together to pass unprecedented legislation to confront the opioid crisis, a sweeping new Farm Bill, historic VA reforms, and after four decades of rejection, we passed VA Accountability so we can finally terminate those who mistreat our wonderful veterans.

And just weeks ago, both parties united for groundbreaking Criminal Justice Reform. Last year, I heard through friends the story of Alice Johnson. I was deeply moved. In 1997, Alice was sentenced to life in prison as a first-time non-violent drug offender. Over the next two decades, she became a prison minister, inspiring others to choose a better path. She had a big impact on that prison population — and far beyond. Alice’s story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing — and the need to remedy this injustice. She served almost 22 years and had expected to be in prison for the rest of her life. In June, I commuted Alice’s sentence –when I saw Alice’s beautiful family greet her at the prison gates, hugging and kissing and crying and laughing, I knew I did the right thing — Alice is here with us tonight.

Alice, thank you for reminding us that we always have the power to shape our own destiny. Inspired by stories like Alice’s, my administration worked closely with members of both parties to sign the First Step Act into law. This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community. The First Step Act gives non-violent offenders the chance to re-enter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now, states across the country are following our lead. America is a nation that believes in redemption.

We are also joined tonight by Matthew Charles from Tennessee. In 1996, at age 30, Matthew was sentenced to 35 years for selling drugs and related offenses. Over the next two decades, he completed more than 30 Bible studies, became a law clerk, and mentored fellow inmates. Now, Matthew is the very first person to be released from prison under the First Step Act. Matthew, on behalf of All Americans: WELCOME HOME.

Now, Republicans and Democrats must join forces again to confront an urgent national crisis. Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our government, protect our homeland, and secure our Southern Border. Now is the time for Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers, and human traffickers OUT OF BUSINESS. 

As we speak, large, organized caravans are on the march to the United States. We have just heard that Mexican cities, in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection. I have ordered another 3,750 troops to our Southern Border to prepare for the tremendous onslaught.

This is a MORAL issue. The lawless state of our Southern Border is a threat to the safety, security and financial well-being of all Americans. We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today, who followed the rules and respected our laws.

LEGAL immigrants enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways. I want people to come into our country, but they have to come in legally. Tonight, I am asking you to defend our very dangerous southern border out of LOVE and DEVOTION to our fellow citizens and to our country. No issue better illustrates the divide between America’s WORKING CLASS and America’s POLITICAL CLASS than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards.

Meanwhile, working class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal migration — reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools and hospitals, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net. Tolerance for illegal immigration is not compassionate — it is cruel. 1 in 3 women is sexually assaulted on the long journey north. Smugglers use migrant children as human pawns to exploit our laws and gain access to our country.

Human traffickers and sex traffickers take advantage of the wide open areas between our ports of entry to smuggle thousands of young girls and women into the United States and to sell them into prostitution and modern-day slavery. Tens of thousands of innocent Americans are killed by lethal drugs that cross our border and flood into our cities — including meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl.

The savage gang, MS-13, now operates in at least 20 different American states, and they almost all come through our Southern Border. Just yesterday, an MS-13 gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in New York City. We are removing these gang members by the thousands, but until we secure our border they’re going to keep streaming back in.

Year after year, countless Americans are murdered by criminal illegal aliens. I’ve gotten to know many wonderful Angel Moms, Dads and families –no one should ever have to suffer the horrible heartache they have endured. Here tonight is Debra Bissell. Just three weeks ago, Debra’s parents, Gerald and Sharon, were burglarized and shot to death in their Reno, Nevada home by an illegal alien. They were in their eighties and are survived by 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

Also here tonight are Gerald and Sharon’s granddaughter, Heather, and great-granddaughter Madison. To Debra, Heather, Madison, please stand:few can understand your pain. But I will never forget, and I will fight for the memory of Gerald and Sharon, that it should never happen again. Not one more American life should be lost because our nation failed to control its very dangerous border. In the last two years, our brave ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of criminal aliens, including those charged or convicted of nearly 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 killings.

We are joined tonight by one of those law enforcement heroes: ICE Special Agent Elvin Hernandez. When Elvin was a boy, he and his family legally immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. At the age of eight, Elvin told his dad he wanted to become a Special Agent. Today, he leads investigations into the scourge of international sex trafficking. Elvin says: “If I can make sure these young girls get their justice, I’ve done my job.” Thanks to his work and that of his colleagues, more than 300 women and girls have been rescued from horror and more than 1,500 sadistic traffickers have been put behind bars. Special Agent Hernandez please stand: We will ALWAYS support the brave men and women of Law Enforcement –and I pledge to you tonight that we will NEVER Abolish our heroes from ICE.

My administration has sent to Congress a commonsense proposal to end the crisis on our Southern Border. It includes humanitarian assistance, more law enforcement, drug detection at our ports, closing loopholes that enablechild smuggling, and plans for a new physical barrier, or wall, to secure the vast areas between our ports of entry. This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier — not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by border agents as having the greatest need, and as these agents will tell you, where walls go up, illegal crossings go way down.

San Diego used to have the most illegal border crossings in the country. In response, a strong security wall was put in place. This powerful barrier almost completely ended illegal crossings. The border city of El Paso, Texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime — one of the highest in the country, and considered one of our nation’s most dangerous cities. Now, with a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is one of our safest cities.

Simply put, WALLS WORK and WALLS SAVE LIVES. So let’s work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America SAFE. 

As we work to defend our people’s safety, we must also ensure our economic resurgence continues at a rapid pace. No one has benefitted more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58 percent of the new jobs created in the last year. All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before — and exactly one century after Congress passed the Constitutional Amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than ever before. As part of our commitment to improving opportunity for women everywhere, this Thursday we are launching the first ever government-wide initiative focused on economic empowerment for women in developing countries.

To build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount –reversing decadesof calamitous trade policies. We are now making it clear to China that after years of targeting our industries, and stealing our intellectual property, the theft of American jobs and wealth has come to an end. Therefore, we recently imposed tariffs on $250 billion dollars of Chinese goods — and now our Treasury is receiving billions of dollars. But I don’t blame China for taking advantage of us — I blame our leaders and representatives for allowing this travesty to happen. I have great respect for President Xi, and we are now working on a new trade deal with China. But it must include real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs.

Another historic trade blunder was the catastrophe known as NAFTA. I have met the men and women of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, and many other states whose dreams were shattered by NAFTA. For years, politicians promised them they would negotiate for a better deal. But no one ever TRIED — until now. Our new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement — or USMCA — will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers: bringing back our manufacturing jobs, expanding American agriculture, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring that more cars are proudly stamped with the four beautiful words: MADE IN THE USA.

Tonight, I am also asking you to pass the United States Reciprocal Trade Act, so that if another country places an unfair tariff on an American product, we can charge them the exact same tariff on the same product that they sell to us.

Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of America’s crumbling infrastructure. I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill –and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment, including investments in the cutting edge industries of the future. This is not an option. This is a necessity.

The next major priority for me, and for all of us, should be to lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs — and to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Already, as a result of my administration’s efforts, in 2018 drug prices experienced their single largest decline in 46 years. But we must do more. It is unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. This is wrong, unfair, and together we can stop it. I am asking Congress to pass legislation that finally takes on the problem of global freeloading and delivers fairness and price transparency for American Patients. We should also require drug companies, insurance companies, and hospitals to disclose real prices to foster competition and bring costs down. 

No force in history has done more to advance the human condition than American Freedom. In recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America.

Tonight I am also asking you to join me in another fight that all Americans can get behind: the fight against childhood cancer. Joining Melania in the gallery this evening is a very brave 10 year old girl, Grace Ee-line. Every birthday since she was 4, Grace asked her friends to donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She did not know that one day she might be a patient herself. Last year, Grace was diagnosed with brain cancer. Immediately, she began radiation treatment. At the same time, she rallied her community and raised more than $40,000 dollars for the fight against cancer. When Grace completed treatment last fall, her doctors and nurses cheered with tears in their eyes as she hung up a poster that read: “Last day of Keemo.” Grace — you are an inspiration to us all. 

Many childhood cancers have not seen new therapies in decades. My budget will ask Congress for $500 million dollars over the next 10 years to fund this critical life-saving research. To help support working parents, the time has come to pass SCHOOL CHOICE for America’s children. I am also proud to be the first President to include in my budget a plan for nationwide paid family leave — so that every new parent has the chance to bond with their newborn child.

There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments before birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful, babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he stated he would execute a baby after birth.

To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children — born and unborn — are made in the holy image of God.

The final part of my agenda is to protect America’s National Security. Over the last two years, we have begun to fully rebuild the United States Military –with $700 billion dollars last year and $716 billion dollars this year. We are also getting other nations to pay their fair share. For years, the United States was being treated very unfairly by NATO — but now we have secured a $100 billion dollar increase in defense spending from NATO allies. As part of our military build-up, the United States is developing a state-of-the-art Missile Defense System.

Under my Administration, we will never apologize for advancing America’s interests. For example, decades ago the United States entered into a treaty with Russia in which we agreed to limit and reduce our missile capabilities. While we followed the agreement to the letter, Russia repeatedly violated its terms. That is why I announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF Treaty. Perhaps we can negotiate a different agreement, adding China and others, or perhaps we can’t,  in which case, we will outspend and out-innovate all others by far.

As part of a bold new diplomacy, we continue our historic push for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Our hostages have come home, nuclear testing has stopped, and there has not been a missile launch in 15 months. If I had not been elected President of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is a good one. Chairman Kim and I will meet again on February 27and 28 in Vietnam.

Two weeks ago, the United States officially recognized the legitimate government of Venezuela, and its new interim President, Juan Gwydo. We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom — and we condemn the brutality of the Maduro regime, whose socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair. Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence — not government coercion, domination and control. We are BORN FREE, and we will STAY FREE. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will NEVER be a socialist country.

One of the most complex set of challenges we face is in the Middle East. Our approach is based on principled realism — not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress. For this reason, my Administration recognized the TRUE capital of Israel — and proudly opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem.

Our brave troops have now been fighting in the Middle East for almost 19 years. In Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 7,000 American Heroes have given their lives. More than 52,000 Americans have been badly wounded. We have spent more than $7 trillion dollars in the Middle East. As a candidate for President, I pledged a new approach. Great nations do not fight endless wars.

When I took office, ISIS controlled more than 20,000 square miles in Iraq and Syria. Today, we have liberated virtually all of that territory from the grip of these bloodthirsty killers. Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home.

I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor — and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a political solution to this long and bloody conflict. In Afghanistan, my Administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban.

As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement — but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for PEACE. Above all, friend and foe alike must never doubt this nation’s power and will to defend our people.

18 years ago, terrorists attacked the USS Cole — and last month American Forces killed one of the leaders of the attack. We are honored to be joined tonight by Tom Wibberley, whose son, Navy Seaman Craig Wibberley, was one of the 17 sailors we tragically lost. Tom: we vow to always remember the heroes of the USS Cole.

My administration has acted decisively to confront the world’s leading state sponsor of terror: the radical regime in Iran. To ensure this corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons, I withdrew the United States from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal.

And last fall, we put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a country. We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants Death to America and threatens genocide against the Jewish People. We must never ignore the vile poison of Anti-Semitism, or those who spread its venomous creed. With one voice, we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs.

Just months ago, 11 Jewish-Americans were viciously murdered in an Anti-Semitic attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. SWAT Officer Timothy Matson raced into the gunfire and was shot seven times chasing down the killer. Timothy has just had his 12th surgery — but he made the trip to be here with us tonight. Officer Matson: we are forever grateful for your courage in the face of evil.

Tonight we are also joined by Pittsburgh survivor Judah Samet. He arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began. But not only did Judah narrowly escape death last fall — more than 7 decades ago, he narrowly survived the Nazi concentration camps. Today is Judah’s 81st birthday. Judah says he can still remember the exact moment, nearly 75 years ago, after 10 months in a concentration camp, when he and his family were put on a train, and told they were going to another camp. Suddenly the train screeched to a halt.

A soldier appeared. Judah’s family braced for the worst. Then, his father cried out with joy: “It’s the AMERICANS.”

A second Holocaust survivor who is here tonight, Joshua Kaufman, was a prisoner at Dachau [Dah-kow] Concentration Camp. He remembers watching through a hole in the wall of a cattle car as American soldiers rolled in with tanks. “To me,” Joshua recalls, “the American soldiers were proof that God exists, and they came down from the sky.”

I began this evening by honoring three soldiers who fought on D-Day in the Second World War. One of them was Herman Zeitchick. But there is more to Herman’s story. A year after he stormed the Beaches of Normandy, Herman was one of those American Soldiers who helped liberate Dachau [Dah-kow]. He was one of the Americans who helped rescue Joshua from that hell on earth. Almost 75 years later, Herman and Joshua are both together in the gallery tonight –seated side-by-side, here in the home of American Freedom. Herman and Joshua: your presence this evening honors and uplifts our entire nation.

When American soldiers set out beneath the dark skies over the English Channel in the early hours of D-Day, 1944, they were just young men of 18 and 19, hurtling on fragile landing craft toward the most momentous battle in the history of war. They did not know if they would survive the hour. They did not know if they would grow old. But they knew that America had to prevail. Their cause was this nation, and generations yet unborn. Why did they do it? They did it for AMERICA — they did it for us.

Everything that has come since –our triumph over communism, our giant leaps of science and discovery, our unrivaled progress toward equality and justice — ALL of it is possible thanks to the blood and tears and courage and vision of the Americans who came before.

Think of this Capitol –think of this very Chamber, where lawmakers before you voted to end slavery, to build the railroads and the highways, to defeat fascism, to secure Civil Rights, to face down an evil empire.

Here tonight we have legislators from across this magnificent Republic. You have come from the rocky shores of Maine and the volcanic peaks of Hawaii; from the snowy woods of Wisconsin and the red deserts of Arizona; from the green farms of Kentucky and the golden beaches of California. Together, we represent the most extraordinary nation in all of history.

What will we do with this moment? How will we be remembered? I ask the men and women of this Congress: Look at the opportunities before us! Our most thrilling achievements are still ahead. Our most exciting journeys still await. Our biggest victories are still to come. We have not yet BEGUN TO DREAM.

We must choose whether we are defined by our differences — or whether we dare to transcend them. We must choose whether we squander our inheritance — or whether we proudly declare that WE ARE AMERICANS: We do the incredible. We defy the impossible. We conquer the unknown.

This is the time to re-ignite the American Imagination. This is the time to search for the tallest summit, and set our sights on the brightest star. This is the time to rekindle the bonds of love and loyalty and memory that link us together as citizens, as neighbors, as patriots. This is our future –our fate — and our choice to make. I am asking you to CHOOSE GREATNESS. 

No matter the trials we face, no matter the challenges to come, we must go forward together. We must keep America FIRST in our hearts. We must keep Freedom alive in our souls. And we must always keep FAITH in America’s Destiny – that One Nation, Under God, must be the HOPE and the PROMISE and the LIGHT and the GLORY among all the nations of the world! Thank you. God Bless You, God Bless America, and Goodnight!

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAN, REALLY?

ICHEOKU says he is a member of KKK and loves to mock black people, by painting his face black. Not good for the Commonwealth State of Virginia and should resign immediately. Florida State Secretary of State, Mike Ertel, resigned for simply painting his face black for Halloween. So, why the wait?

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS DOES IT AGAIN: 6TH TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS.

ICHEOKU says congratulations to the boys from New England, their quarterback Tom Brady, their head coach Bill Bilchick as well as their owner Robert Kraft, for winning Super Bowl LIII, their sixth together in the franchise history. 

They beat Los Angeles Rams 13 - 3, in a game that was tough and indeed lived up to the billings of what a Super Bowl ought to be, and without any side walking all over the other side. It was a good game. Once again congratulations to the winner as well as the loser for a game well fought of Super Bowl LIII played at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta Georgia, February 3rd, 2019.

JUSSIE SMOLLET'S ATTACK: A HOAX?

ICHEOKU says it will require the suspension of disbelief to accept as is, the account of the alleged attack on homosexual gay man and actor in Empire Television series, Jussie Smollets. That he was attacked by two white men, who roughed him up, threw some liquid on him and shouted this is MAGA country. The account looks simply made up, as the coincidences were laughable at best, if not outrightly concocted. How did they know precisely that he was going to be where he was and got there at the same time they did, armed with some liquid and noose, did what they did to him and then escaped, without being caught or seen by anyone else except Ms Smollets? 

Why were his attackers not captured by any of the neighborhood surveillance cameras or the attack captured on video, including the act of roughing him up, pouring the bleach on him and affixing the noose on his neck. Why did he not remove the noose immediately the attack ended, but wore it like a prized medal back to his apartment, until minded by his lover to remove it? Shouldn't removing the noose be the first reaction of any traumatized victim, upon regaining his freedom and senses. Shouldn't freeing himself of the noose have been uppermost in his mind, then make a contemporaneous 911 call, before dashing back to his pad to await the police arrival? 

What happened to the fast food which he went to buy, did he lose it during the melee or clutched unto it until he got back to his apartment and still ate it? How did his attackers  know that he was a homosexual gay black guy, without seeing his face to know his identity, since it was in the dark. How could his attackers have shouted gay slurs faggot, or did somebody tip them off that Ms Smollets was gay and enroute to the fast food restaurant and asked them to waylay him on his way back? Why would Ms Smollets assume that every American watches Empire and knows who he is and that he was black and gay? ICHEOKU says never watched the television series and does not know about this guy or the fact that he is a black gay man until this developments, so why would he think that his attackers knew him? The randomness is doubtful except it was an inside job prank, staged by his friends to get his adrenalin racing. 

Since the explanations so far provided by him  are not adding up and a lot of questions are still left unanswered or answered satisfactorily, is it then possible that Ms Smollets made the whole thing up, as a stunt to get attention or was he lashing out as a result of love gone sour. Imagine how convenient it was that the attackers shouted "This is MAGA country" and you wonder if Ms Smollets did not manufacture that aspect of the tale just to give it extra coloration, as perpetrated by Trump supporters against a black gay guy. But unbeknownst to Ms Smollets, there are many non white people who are members of Team MAGA, including ICHEOKU who happens to be non white person. Why continue fanning the amber of racism or is the tension in the land not enough already that it needed another fuel? Such race baiting is not good for our cohesiveness as a nation and need to stop. 

It happened not too long ago in Houston Texas where some black people claimed that a white skinhead, hater of black people, shot into a vehicle killing an 11 year old black girl; only for the allegation to later turn out to be that it was a black guy who infact did the shooting and killing of the black young girl. According to Ms Smollets, the attackers beat Ms Smollets up, threw a caustic liquid on him, which miraculously did not land on his face nor impacted his eyes; and later put a noose on him but did not draw it tight. So, why would the attackers go to the trouble of throwing some liquid on him without precisely targeting his eyes and face with it? Why would the attackers waste their time bringing a noose and putting a noose on his neck without drawing it tight or at least choking him a little bit with it? 

Yet Ms Smollets did not fight back nor scream and shout for help and he was within a residential neighborhood and not too far from the fast food place where he had gone to buy some dinner. When the attackers were attacking him, was he tremblingly crouching down in fear and moaning in pain or did he try to fight back, kick, scratch and crawl his way out of danger zone? Did he try to escape by running or did they hold him down and restrained as they pummeled him, poured the liquid on him and then put a noose on his neck? Why did nobody see any of these happen or came to his rescue and above all, why did he wear the noose back to his apartment. Did his attackers seize his phone or dispossess him of his watch, wallet or jewelries. Who goes about with bleach and noose, seeking out victims to torment, except it was a prank pulled off by people who know him. 

Why did the surveillance camera, located at the location of the attack, not capture the actual attacking or was it not functioning? Simply put, there are so many things that are not rounding off, which is highly suggestive that no attack actually ever took place. It is possible that Ms Smollets might be up to no good and was emotionally under the weather and decided to concoct the story just to get someone's attention back or just decided to act out a bottled depression. So, until the police completes their investigation, nobody except Ms Smollets, will ever know what truly happened and it is regrettable. 

Hopefully the police will do their work to unmask the attackers or at least yield a forensic explanation or account of what really happened. ICHEOKU is somewhat convinced that what Ms Smollets said happened, did not happen; at least not as he claimed and therefore not buying it. However, if it did, ICHEOKU prays that the police will solve the crime quickly and arrest the culprits for prosecution; at least some fingerprints would have been left on the noose. Race relations in America is steadily getting worse and stories like Ms Smollets will only add to the tension in the land and make matters worse. If it was a fluke, it will make it more difficult to know when real victims need real help. People should therefore please cease and desist from hoaxes or at least not exaggerate any actual encounter, in order to keep things within tolerable level, because nobody will gain from an open race war in America. Let everyone please calm down. 

ONNOGHEN: SIMPLY SHAMELESS.

ICHEOKU says Nasir el-Rufai was indeed right that former Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, is shameless. Look at a very corrupt person trying to explain away a consistent deposits of nearly the same tranches of money, as profits from his currency trading and you wonder when did he open a bureau du change or was he simply converting bribery proceeds paid to him in Naira into dollars to sustain their value. 

That this man has not been put in handcuffs and paraded before the cameras is the worst scandal unfolding in Nigeria. If the alleged transactions were from his trading in foreign exchange, FOREX and AGRICODE, where are the documentations backing the various transactions? Also where are the tax papers evidencing the taxes which he paid on the income and profits from so trading? Further, he alleged that some of the deposits were sourced from his "reserve" and you ask yourself what reserve or has the former chief justice become the Central Bank of Nigeria, with his own foreign currency reserve. Further, how much was his grand estacode that he could save tens of thousands of dollars, as evidenced in the frequency with which those deposits were made? 

ICHEOKU says how much medical expenses were paid to him and how many times was he actually in fact sick and hospitalized to warrant such a heavy amount of medical expenses being paid to him. Why were the "medical expenses" even paid to him and not paid directly to the hospital from which he sought and received the treatments. Why would the former judge collect medical expenses when he was not sick and did not expend any money treating himself. This is exactly what Corruption 101 looks like, that a person who was not sick collected such a very high medical expenses; while ordinary citizens who are in fact really sick could not find any succor in the destitute medical institutions nor had the means to pay their charges and fees in bills. 

Yet this mongrel is who some crazy loonies are still defending his actions and questioning why he was fired, a firing which even came too little too late as he deserved to have been fired since last decade. How could any sane person not find such a flagrant abuse of office, monetizing the judiciary and the administration of justice, a violation of everything they hold dear to their conscience. How could any decent person stand a Chief Justice of his or her country making out like bandit from selling justice to the highest bidders and still find such a slime ball admirable enough to be shielded and protected. What exactly moves or rattles the conscience of Nigerians if this scandal is not enough or are these Nigerians not actually looking into the allegation, but are too incensed at the president that they are prepared to throw everything to the winds, provided the president is disparaged.

ICHEOKU says with all his claimed forgetfulness about the various transactions, one begins to wonder whether he is also suffering from amnesia and dementia like the president, and ought to have retired from office by reason of incapacity; rather than to hang in there only to now be disgraced out of office. How can a lawyer, a judge and Chief Justice of a country, forgot that he had millions of dollars and billions of Naira deposited in several bank accounts in his name. How can he also not know that it is illegal not to declare your assets as a public servant. This former Justice Walter Onnoghen reeks of corruption and in fact he criminally abused his high office in the land as the former Chief Justice of Nigeria and deserves to have the book thrown at him, at least to make an example of him on how not to be a corrupt Chief Justice.

ICHEOKU says does not know about you, but this guy is a source of shame to the judiciary and everybody involved in the legal profession. He has given the law an indelible mark of calumny and the damage which he caused to the dispensation of justice in Nigeria is irreparable. How can such an endemically corrupt fellow be serving as the chief presiding officer of the judiciary for this long before being discovered. It is pitiful and it is SAD and also inexplicable, as there is nothing to explain or understand with such a wanton abuse of office, a Chief Justice parceling out "justice" according to the highest bidder. In fact that guy is lucky that ICHEOKU is not running things, otherwise he would have been since locked away in detention, following a very public humiliating arrest; handcuffed like the common criminal which he is and frog marched into detention. What a pathetic and shameless fella, caught with his hands in the cookie jar, yet had the temerity to insult every body's intelligence with such a buffoonery cockamamie of an explanation.  Simply shameless. Lock him up and seize his assets.

GOVERNOR NORTHAM OF VIRGINIA: JUST ANOTHER GOOD OLE BOY JIM CROW.

ICHEOKU says the fact of the matter is that until they are caught pants down with their racist hand in the cookie jar, they mask and pretend otherwise. But they all are cut from the same cloth, the white supremacist cloth, which makes them feel entitled, arrogantly think that they are better than others and in fact believe that they are superior to everybody. To them, there is no other better or superior race before them, hence they expect others to kneel, bend in genuflection with heads bowed in respect. 

ICHEOKU said it severally before and is here reiterating it that every white person, regardless of party affiliation and whatever pretentiousness, is primarily racist, period. All they do is put on the mask of Zorro and wear a facade of being different, but they all believe  think and feel the same superiority to other races. They also know how to pretend otherwise, especially within earshot or eye sight in order not to appear pr actually show their true colors. But periodically, they mask is blown away to reveal their true identity as is the case with the Virginia Governor Northam. What a shame that won't go away. 

This was the same guy who few days ago was calling for the legitimization of infanticide, now exposed as the worst racist of them all, a Ku Klux Klan wearing hoodie, who also likes to paint his face black in mockery of African Americans. If not that he was caught, he will still be showing his false teeth and pretending to be everything to everybody, including black Americans. But underneath the mask, is a racist pig who is simply another good ole white boy, milking the system as he exerts his whiteness and uses it to oppress, intimidate and progress. Megan Kelly was fired from her NBC gig for a similar black face act and so did former Florida Secretary of State, Mike Ertel, forced to resign for painting his face black for Halloween. Therefore, this Governor of Virginia must do the needful and end his governorship of shame forthwith. 

The Great Commonwealth State of Virginia cannot put up with having such an openly racist governor running a State that is literary majority African Americans, despite the storied racism that built that State, which is still prevalent, depending on which part of the hood or neck of the wood which you are in. So, without any further ado or much delay, ICHEOKU hereby calls of Governor Ralph Northam to resign the office immediately and his office, let another take. What the governor now represents is indeed too hurtful and very damaging to millions of black Americans, so it cannot be tolerated and not a day longer. Away with the KKK, black face wearing, racist, bigoted, Jim Crow of Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam. ICHEOKU says yet another racist gift from the Democratic Party which also gave America George Wallace and Robert Byrd. Interesting.