Showing posts with label Global Ent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Global Ent. Show all posts

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Buhari can never rule because… — Sen Ikpo

ELDER STATESMAN, Senator Nosike Ikpo was one of the leading lights in the Second Republic. Ikpo, in this interview, posits that former Military Head of State, General Muhammudu Buahri cannot rule Nigeria owing to his involvement in scuttling a democratically elected government. He also says the National Conference will succeed if well managed just as he bares his mind on other burning national issues. Excerpts:
General Muhammudu Buahri
Do you think the National Conference will bring the much needed solution to the nation’s problems?
It is good depending on how it is managed, how it is run. If there is sincerity in the whole process because there is a problem, the problem in Nigeria like some of us have always said is the problem of leadership.

If Jonathan has a clear idea of where, what he wants Nigeria to be and gives a proper direction to the conference, they will come out fine. Somebody has to give direction. When you talk of leadership, the number one person has to have an idea of what he wants to achieve for the people he is leading.

The uncompleted job of restructuring Nigeria could be completed in that place. Nigeria is so wrongly structured. The creation of states has led to pockets of dissatisfaction certainly amongst the people of Nigeria. There cannot be peace if there is no justice.

People in the North are not happy. I remember what late Tarka said when forming the separatist movement in the Middle Belt. He was fired by a statement made by the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello on the 1st of October 1960 that the minorities of the Middle Belt would be the tools of Northern leaders to rule Nigeria.

The man took action, mobilized his people and started agitation for a separate state. The matter is still there; every young man, every active politician in the Middle Belt is still asking for a separate identity.

Talking about a viable opposition, do you see the emerging All Progressives Congress, APC …..?
(Cuts in) I do not see how Tinubu and Buhari can lead Nigeria. Buhari may be a very honest person but I don’t know him. He campaigned in 2007, he wanted to be president of Nigeria but he never reached this part of the country; he never reached Delta State.
And in any case anybody who overthrew a democratic government cannot be elected as president of Nigeria.

He is not entitled to. He has no moral justification to become a democratic leader of this country. So I don’t know where they are going. My friends are there. Most of them are my old colleagues in the UPN, they are all there and I am still attracted to them but the idea of the possibility of Buhari becoming presidential candidate of that party nauseates me completely.

IKPO111I don’t know why they feel that he can be of any use to them. In any case they can still be a viable opposition without having Buhari as presidential candidate.
I didn’t know Tinubu in our time, because was still a young man then, probably he was still abroad so he wasn’t part of Awolowo’s children and he had never spoken as an Awoist.

I am not talking about what do you call them, fire eaters, no. He comes from an environment that he cannot run away from Awolowo. Look at his mother who died recently, a great market woman. When we needed money in 1962-63 during the Action Group crisis, we go to her.

So he came from the environment from where he can’t run away from Awolowo’s political views, he cannot.
All those who are supporting him (Tinubu) presently who are his disciples, definitely are disciples of Chief Awolowo.

That is not the same as saying that he can be a successful president. I don’t know his personal views and manifestos. What we want is a good leader.
For instance, a good leader is somebody like Uduaghan. You can’t identify his friends, you can’t identify his enemies only him alone can tell you who his friends are or vice-versa . He has ideas, he knows where he is going, what to do.
Look at what we are doing in Delta State. Whom can you tell me that Uduaghan is likely to hand over to? I don’t know. All of us are guessing.

What type of person do you think is fit to succeed Uduaghan?
All of them are my children. All the aspirants are my children particularly from the North. I made a statement the other day and many people misunderstood me that I probably sold out. I can’t sell out at this stage; I am 85 so what am I selling out for?
President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)

President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)

You don’t expect that after Uduaghan, another governor should come from the South.
It will be unreasonable, so people will expect that another governor should come from Delta North. But what I am quarrelling with our people is that for anybody to think that he can go to bed hoping because of rotation that governor will come to Delta North I don’t believe in that. So that was what I was opposed to.

Do you support the call on President Jonathan to run for a second term?
He has to go back. He has done reasonable well. I voted for him in 2007 because I had no alternative as I couldn’t have voted for Buhari.

Are you satisfied with the way corruption is been tackled?
It is the mindset of leaders of a country. Take Jerry Rawlings of Ghana for instance. He set out to clean Ghana and cleaned up the place. I am not saying that there is no corruption in Ghana anymore. But definitely, the situation cannot go back to what it was before Rawlings.

Are you saying Nigeria needs the Rawlings method?
We need that type of revolution. We have not seen a revolution; something drastic has to happen to make people behave.
I cannot even send my cook to the market today. I can’t afford the rising cost of food at Ibusa market, then somebody is hoarding billions not even naira but dollars. So somebody has to come out and decide to stop this thing called corruption.

Well, that is my idea. All these military coups have not even helped us. They have not done exactly what I would have done if I were a young man, if I were a soldier and I wanted to clean up the place. They are merely changing batons and from one bad ruler to the other that is all.

Looking back when you were in the Senate and now, any comparison?
There are two different scenarios. They can never be the same. My salary when I was in the Senate was N15,000 per month.
When I told my constituent at Agbor, they couldn’t believe it. And we were paying five percent to the party. At the end of every month, the cashier from the UPN office would come with his receipt.

As what?
Contribution to the welfare of the party and for the building of the party. When people said I brought College of Education Agbor, I didn’t go to build the place. It was the same thing I did for Asaba College of Education.
I did not go to build it or look for a contractor, I only influenced the siting of the colleges to those places. But it is not so now; now they give you the money. It is in the budget, then you take it and do what you like.
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Thunder From Down Under -- Cast Member Shot Foiling Attempted Theft

A cast member from Thunder From Down Under -- the Las Vegas male strip group -- was hit in the face by a ricocheted bullet after the group confronted an intruder in their dressing room.According to KVVU in Las Vegas, the cast discovered a man rifling through their belongings in their locker room at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. The cast confronted the man and pushed him out of the locker room and into a courtyard. It was then, the station says, the man pulled out a gun and fired a shot in the air. The shot ricocheted off of a wall ... and hit one of the cast members in the face.Police say the victim's injury was minor and the shooter was taken into custody by police. No abs were harmed during the ordeal.
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Tuesday 18 March 2014

Miley Cyrus Her Anaconda Don't Want None Unless ... You Got Buns Hun!

Miley Cyrus likes big butts (and she cannot lie) so of course she would hop up on stage and join a group karaoke rendition of the Sir Mix-a-Lot classic "Baby Got Back."Miley took a Bangerz Tour break and stopped into Cat's Meow, a karaoke joint in New Orleans.A few girls were up on stage doing "Baby Got Back" when Miley jumped up on stage to join them ... and immediately turned around and showed off the goods.The question is ...
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Miley Cyrus -- My Tour Bus Burst Into Flames!

Miley Cyrus' tour bus went up in flames last night ... and when we say up in flames ... we mean UP IN FLAMES.Miley's sister Noah posted a series of videos on Instagram last night with the caption "Tour bus down!" She later confirmed on Twitter that no one was injured. Yes, everyone got out safe no one is injured what so ever!! everything is okay!! — Noah Lindsey Cyrus (@noahcyrus) March 18, 2014 Miley was traveling to New Orleans, where she is scheduled to play a show tonight.9:20 AM PT -- The tour bus was ferrying Miley's mom and sister before it burst into flames. We're told the fire was caused by a tire that exploded, but thankfully, they both escaped unharmed. There was one casualty however -- the stuffed bunny they got at Cracker Barrel earlier in the day. Noah Instagrammed the bunny photo after the accident.
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Juan Pablo Who Needs 'The Bachelor'??? I'm Famous Without It

"The Bachelor" star Juan Pablo is already suffering from delusions of grandeur -- insisting he's big enough to host major nightclub events around the country ... WITHOUT mentioning his claim to fame, because that's exactly what he demanded.TMZ has obtained the flier for Juan's upcoming club appearance at The Pool After Dark in Atlantic City on March 29th -- and NOWHERE on the flier does it mention "The Bachelor." Looking at it, you'd think Enrique Iglesias canceled and the club was forced to hire a cheap replacement.And it's no accident -- sources tell us, Juan specifically instructed the casino NOT to associate him with "The Bachelor" in any press releases or fliers.And his ludicrous demands didn't end there -- we're told Juan agreed to a 15-person meet-and-greet on the condition no one asked about his reality show stint. Same rule goes for reporters looking for interviews.Best part -- he's getting around $20,000.Oh yeah, Nikki -- whom JP ultimately settled on by the end of the show -- will be there too. That is, if they're still together.
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'Next Top Model' Judge Sued By Male Model He Bashed My Beautiful Face In

It's Zoolander vs. Hansel all over again -- a male model in L.A. just sued "America's Next Top Model" judge Rob Evans (also a male model) for allegedly beating him up so bad in 2012 ... he had to go to the hospital.Landry Macedo filed the lawsuit for assault and battery, claiming he and Evans were at some modeling event when Evans flipped out for no reason -- striking him repeatedly in the face and head.Landry claims their management agency Next Management is also responsible for the attack -- because it was aware of Evans' violent tendencies ... in addition to his past as a professional boxer ... and did nothing to stop him.TMZ broke the story ... Evans was arrested for assault back when all this allegedly happened. The criminal case is still ongoing.Landry wants unspecified damages -- but really, there's only one way to settle this ... a walk-off.That Hansel ... so hot right now.A lawyer for Evans tells us the allegations are baseless -- and believe Landry is trying to "extract an undeserved payday."
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Photo: Founder of FCMB, Otunba Subomi Balogun's Ikoyi Home....No Money Oh! Lol!


 

According to sources, this sweet, cake-looking  House is Otunba Subomi Balogun's home on Milverton road, Ikoyi Lagos Nigeria. It does look like all his First City Monument Bank buildings across the nation.
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Quen Whithenious! Lol! (Dencia) threatens to sue American blogs


 

Lol, the girl dey vex sha. Ok, so I remember American blogs like Ebony, Mediatakeout, Perez, etc has written one or two things about the singer. Dunno which blog she's talking about. Good thing be say, we for Naija still safe. lol. More of her tweets after cut…





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'How to end corruption in Nigeria' - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks with CNN

Minister for Finance and Coordinator of the Economy Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was a guest on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS programme on Sunday where she acknowledged that there was corruption in Nigeria but said that the fight against corruption must involve every Nigerian...
"No one can fight corruption for Nigerians except Nigerians. Everyone has to be committed from the top to the bottom to fight it. In our country, we need to, coupled with – by all means pursue those who are corrupt, punish them, you know, make sure there’s no impunity.  But that has to be coupled with something which doesn’t get as much attention, which is building institutions.  It’s unglamorous; it’s work that takes time, but we have to do it.  We have to put it in place.” she said.
The Minister was also taken up by the presenter on Sanusi's suspension. He asked her why Sanusi was suspended after he discovered that monies had been siphoned from the NNPC account of which the Minister responded that Sanusi did not say monies were siphoned, he said money was unaccounted for. Full text of the Interview after the cut...

ZAKARIA:  Listen in to our conversation.  I began by asking her why the central banker was suspended for blowing the whistle.

NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, NIGERIAN FINANCE MINISTER:  I believe that when you find problems, you should also find solutions.  I think the problem began the first time when he said that the amount that was – he never said it was stolen.  He said it was unaccounted for, was $49.8 billion.
And he wrote a letter to the president; he called me a couple of days after, to say I’ve written this letter.  And my first reaction was, that’s not possible.  We couldn’t be missing $50 billion as finance minister in this country.  We wouldn’t be able to function because that’s too high a hit.  Everybody would know it and feel it in the economy.

ZAKARIA:  There is some substantial gap.

OKONJO-IWEALA:  Oh, yes –

ZAKARIA:  Right?  I mean –

OKONJO-IWEALA:  No, we –

ZAKARIA:  – the World Bank, I think when you were one of the managing directors, issued a report on the Nigerian economy in which it said hundreds of billions of dollars over the past 30 or 40 years have been siphoned off.  And so this would be a perfect example of precisely this kind of siphoning off.

OKONJO-IWEALA:  No.  I think we should hold our horses a little bit.  Sanusi please ask him never said the money had been siphoned off.  He said it was unaccounted for.
And hold on.  There’s a difference, because when he alleged $49.8 billion – and this was looked at, it was found that some of that money had really been remitted to the tax agency directly and his people were not aware of it.
So $16 billion was immediately accounted for that, you know, they didn’t seem to know the accounting mode of the agency, so that’s what I’m saying.
But there has been – there’s no doubt that Nigerians feel suspicious of the oil sector, that it has been regarded as opaque over the years and this is not an issue, you know, whether it’s $10.8 billion, whether it’s $1, you know, we can’t afford to lose any money from the treasury.

ZAKARIA:  But then why fire the central banker, a respected central banker?

OKOJO-IWEALA:  You know, Fareed, what I would like to do is perhaps focus on the economy, because I don’t think I want to get into this issue of firing/not firing.  He’s still governor of the central bank.  He has been suspended.  He hasn’t been fired.
But I think we need to focus on the central issue, which is no one dollar should be lost from the treasury.  Any money that belongs to it must be remitted.  That’s what we’re insisting.
And the president, we pushed for – he has ordered one yesterday, that there should be a forensic audit to determine where these moneys, that what is unaccounted for, is it the $10.8 billion that we are saying from the accounts?
We’ve been working on this for two years.
And you know, is it $50 billion?  Is it $20 billion?  Is it $12 billion?  What is the amount?  We need to know for the sake of the Nigerian people and he has ordered that.  So we want it to be independent; we want it to be well done, so that we can lay it to rest.

ZAKARIA:  So how do we – how do you solve the problem of corruption?

You’ve been in government twice.  You have a reputation for being extremely honest.
What would you do, if you had a magic wand, if you were president, what would you do to get Nigeria to get this cancer out of its system?

OKOJO-IWEALA:  Well, you know, Fareed, you know with that, there are no easy answers.  But there’s one thing I want to say and repeat.  No one can fight corruption for Nigerians except Nigerians.  Everyone has to be committed from the top to the bottom to fight it.
And I think there are two key things that need to be done all along, and it’s not just in Nigeria.  It’s in many developing countries that you need to do this.
But in our country, you need to, coupled with – by all means pursue those who are corrupt, punish them, you know, make sure there’s no impunity.  But that has to be coupled with something which doesn’t get as much attention, which is building institutions.  It’s unglamorous; it’s work that takes time, but we have to do it.  We have to put it in place.

ZAKARIA:  I have to ask you a question that is not part of directly your portfolio, but it is your government.
Nigeria has always had laws banning homosexuality.  But you advanced a further law which criminalized it so that somebody who is gay would have to spend 14 years in prison.
You also have passed – the law says that people who are in some way promoting gay clubs or gay discussion would be imprisoned for 10 years.  This seems an assault on a minority’s rights.  It also seems an assault on free speech.
Why is Nigeria doing this?

OKOJO-IWEALA:  Well, let me say this, Fareed, that, you know, we’re here in the U.S.  And it took 40 to 50 years or more under conversation of, you know, the gay community to get where the U.S. is.
I think that, you know, we need a conversation in the country.  We need evolution.  Ninety-six percent of people support these laws, but I think we need to unpack the laws, for them to see, you know, between being a gay person and between same-sex marriage because the two are compounded in people’s minds and there’s a strong sentiment against same-sex marriage, just as you had here before.
And it’s still evolving.  I think it’s a question of conversation, discussion, evolution, education and engagement over time, just as happened in this country and in Europe.  It’s not something that happened overnight.  So I would say withhold judgment and let us work on this.
ZAKARIA:  Madam Finance Minister, pleasure to have you on.

OKOJO-IWEALA:  Thank you.
ZAKARIA:  And we will be back.
End.
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Monday 17 March 2014

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake hits Los Angeles area

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake shook the Los Angeles area this morning Monday March 17th. The residents were still asleep when the earthquake happened.

A US Geological Survey spokeswoman, Dr Lucy Jones said it was the strongest earthquake in Los Angeles since the last aftershocks from the 1994 Northridge quake.

No casualties or destruction has been reported. Meanwhile Nicki Minaj who resides in the area where the earthquake happened said that the whole experience made her to re-evaluate her life.
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Friday 14 February 2014

Josh Lucas Divorce Wife Wants Lots of $$$

Lucas is on the receiving end of endless demands by his estranged wife, who has filed for divorce ... and most of them involve cold hard cash.Josh's wife, Jessica Ciencin Henriquez, just filed legal docs asking for spousal support, child support, medical and dental coverage, lawyer's fees and life insurance.For some reason Jessica -- a freelance writer -- wants to enforce their prenup ... so maybe she gets a good deal under the agreement.Jessica is a little more generous when it comes to their 20-month-old son Noah -- she's asking for  joint custody.
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Baileys offers its loyal consumers a few of their favourite gifts this Val season

Ladies! The Valentine season is here again. Love is in the air .Baileys, the premium Irish cream is set to reward its loyal consumers this Valentine season with its “Spirit with Love” campaign. In the 'Spirit of Love' Baileys is offering its loyal consumers with a few of their favourite gifts

Baileys is ‘wowing’ its numerous customers with fantastic and mouth-watering gifts to make this Valentine the best you have ever had. From the 1st -15thFeb. 2014, Baileys is offering consumers good incentives/prizes on purchase in participating supermarkets and key outlets pan Nigeria. Continue..


 
A few of those favourite things include; spa treatments, heart-shaped pillows, key rings, scented candles, chocolates, perfumes e.t.c. In addition, Baileys is offering its consumers 5% discount on any purchase of 70cl Bailey’s in-store & 10% discount on 37.5cl.
·         You don’t want to miss this!!!!To stand the chance to be one of the lucky winners, buy a bottle of Baileys in any of the selected stores and you can win any of these gifts instantly through a lucky dip.
·         This period, you can also treat your special lady this Valentines’ day with a luxury Baileys’ Valentine set.
·         Drinks.ng is offering an opportunity to stand out from the crowd by lavishing your special lady with their eclectic Valentines’ Gift Set.
·         This chic, limited edition, Valentines’ day set comprises a bottle of Baileys, accompanied by a single red rose and a box of luxury chocolates, delivered to your lovely lady’s door, for just N2,385!!!You get all these once you purchase Baileys from www.drinks.ng
·         Don’t forget to join Stephanie Coker and Veronica Odeka to be a part of Baileys Radio Show, tune in every Fridayby 8:00pm on the cool FM dial 96.9.The Valentine edition promises to be very exciting.
·         To learn more about the Baileys Radio Show simply visit www.facebook.com/BaileysNigeriaor www.twitter.com/BaileysNigeriawhere you can win lots of gifts this Valentine season.
·         You have to be 18 and above to participate.
·         Remember to drink responsibly.
·         Do not drink and drive.
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Nadia Buari tweets relationship advise to women on Valentine's Day

See more tweets after the cut...



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Goldie Release her last Official Video....

 

Here is the Video the Nigeria top Singer should have release before she died.The video was  Directed by GodFather Productions and creatively styled by Denrele Edun. Enjoy
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Could you believe Timi Dakolo Buy her wife a house as a Valentine gift?

He shared the pic of this house on his instagram page a few minutes ago and wrote that he gives the perfect Val's gift. Wow! Congrats to them...
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Photos: Kelly Rowland and fiance spend Valentine in Lagos

Kelly Rowland and her fiance/manager Tim Witherspoon (pictured behind her) arrived Lagos yesterday evening for Dare art Alade's Love Like A Movie concert which will take place tomorrow. Continue to see more photos...


 
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The Jonathans wish Nigerians a happy Valentine's Day with new pic

Presidential aide Reuben Abati shared the message and new pic on twitter this morning. Awww, see the love in our president's eyes...
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Back in her bra: Kim Kardashian shares very racy shots of herself in lacy lingerie and fishnet stockings for Throwback Thursday

Kim Kardashian's Throwback Thursday photos seem to be getting racier and racier.
Last week it was a motorcycle jacket, kinky boots and not much else. This week the 33-year-old shared three snaps from a sultry lingerie shoot.
The same day TMZ reported the reality star will be on Keeping Up With The Kardashians for several more years to come in a jackpot deal worth over $40m.

She loves showing off her bra: Kim Kardashian posted this sexy image for Throwback Thursday and noted the photographer was Vijat Mohindra but did not say when it was taken
She loves showing off her bra: Kim Kardashian posted this sexy image for Throwback Thursday and noted the photographer was Vijat Mohindra but did not say when it was taken

In these sexy shots, which were taken by photographer Vijat Mohindra, Kim looks sultry in a satin pink draped room with a carpeted floor and a mirrored coffee table.
Her look is pure beige from head to toe with a lacy bra, lacy underwear, thigh high fishnet stockings, a fur jacket and a long strand of pearls.
Her hair is dark brown and long. In one shot it's coiffed in a high bouffant, Lisa Marie Presley from the '60s style. It's clear these shots were taken long before she got pregnant with daughter North West.
An audition for Victoria's Secret?: The 33-year-old was showing off her curves and toned pins in this snap taken on a disco-era coffee table
An audition for Victoria's Secret?: The 33-year-old was showing off her curves and toned pins in this snap taken on a disco-era coffee table

In one shot she looks down at her toned thighs, in another she stares off in the distance as her hair covers her face, and in yet another setup she is sprawled out seductively with one knee up on another on that disco-era table.
The look is pure sexy so it's easy to see why the mother of one would want to dust them off and put them up for her 12.8m Instagram followers to see.
The posting may also be a way for Kim to celebrate the reported renewal of her E! show.
There must be a mirror on the ceiling: The reality star was drowning in fur and pearl necklaces but she didn't seem to mind
There must be a mirror on the ceiling: The reality star was drowning in fur and pearl necklaces but she didn't seem to mind

The new Kim: Pushing baby North as Kanye West follows on January 23
The new Kim: Pushing baby North as Kanye West followed on January 23
TMZ wrote: 'The Kardashian family gravy train is moving full steam ahead with no sign of stopping.'
The site added Kim and her family will come aboard for 'yet ANOTHER multi-season deal with E!'
The package is 'worth more than what they're making on the current one.'

The clan's last deal was said to be worth $40m.
It has not been revealed what ballpark they could be in this next go round.
It was added that Bruce Jenner was not returning.
But a production source told MailOnline that was not true. Matriarch Kris also denied the claim to UsWeekly.
This means the Kardashians' ups and down could be on the air until about 2017 when Kim nears age 40.
Whoa there: Kim Kardashian shared an extremely saucy snapshot from a past calendar shoot on Instagram on Thursday
Her last Throwback Thursday shot: On February 6 the pinup shared an extremely saucy snapshot from a past calendar shoot
Camera ready: Kim (left) and Kourtney (right) on their way to shoot a scene on Wednesday for next season of Keeping up With The Kardashians, which according to TMZ will be renewed for several more seasons
Camera ready: Kim (left) and Kourtney (right) on their way to shoot a scene on Wednesday for next season of Keeping up With The Kardashians, which according to TMZ will be renewed for several more seasons
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