The Nation Newspaper

Tag: attack

  • Monarch alleges attack over Buhari’s title

    One of the oldest traditional rulers in Ngwa, Abia State, His Majesty Eze Isaac Ikonne may sue the chairman of the state traditional rulers’ council, His Majesty Eze Eberechi Dick for alleged defamation of character.

    The Ngwa king claimed that the monarch’s council chair maligned his character in a purported text message and radio announcement over the conferment of a chieftaincy title on the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

    As part of his nationwide campaign tour, Gen Buhari, accompanied by Imo Senator Chris Ngige and other stalwarts of the APC, visited Ikonne on January 10 at his Aba palace where the monarch conferred the title of Ogbuagu 1 on the General.

    Eze Dick has denied smearing Eze Ikonne’s character. He also told the reporter on the phone that the state traditional council was not against honouring Buhari with a title, only that Aba where the Ogbuagu 1 was conferred was not a recognised kingdom.

    The chieftaincy title which was given to the APC presidential candidate by the monarch and other members of his cabinet, according to the Ngwa monarch, was bestowed on the APC presidential candidate as a sign of love and to strengthen ties between the two ethnic groups.

    Eze Ikonne has come under heavy criticism from different quarters especially the opposition party over his action.

    The Enyi 1 of Aba has threatened legal action against the chairman of the state traditional rulers’ council.

    In a letter to Eze Eberechi Dick by counsel to Ikonne, K.C. Nwufo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, copies of which were sent to the state governor Theodore Orji, the AIG Zone 9, Umuahia, Abia Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander, Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate and others, the revered monarch alleged among many things that Eze Dick in an announcement on the state-owned radio station, purportedly signed by him, described him (Ikonne) as a non-native of Osusu Aba.

    The traditional ruler said he has been on the throne of his community for over 40 years, adding that for Eze Dick to allege that he was not from Osusu village was defamatory.

    According to him the Abia State traditional rulers’ council chairman would soon be summoned at the appropriate place to prove and justify his claims.

    The letter titled, “Your defamatory text messages to various traditional rulers in Abia State against attending meetings summoned by HRM I.A Ikonne”, reads in part:

    “That you sent text messages to some traditional rulers of Abia State origin directing them to desist from further attending meetings in the palace of HRM (Eze) I.A Ikonne because such meetings are allegedly political, otherwise they will face the ugly consequence of such attendance.

    “That you have no legal and moral right to send text messages to traditional rulers not to attend meeting in our client’s palace on the allegation that such meetings are political.

    “That no traditional ruler, including our client is a politician. HRM (Eze) I.A  Ikonne is not a card carrying member of any political party and as such, he does not belong to any political party.

    “That as a traditional ruler, our client is a father of all persons in Nigeria and thus is duty bound to receive any person, including a politician who visits his palace to pay him a courtesy call. This does not make him a politician.

    “That it is on record that you received politicians who paid you courtesy visits in your palace. This we believe did not make you a politician or your receiving them a political meeting, unless you say otherwise.

    “It is this unfounded propaganda of yours that you have contrived and used to deceive and manipulate the Abia PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu into believing that our client is against his candidacy. That you are not doing him any good by such wicked contrivance because you are depriving him of the votes of the natives of our client’s community who would love to meet him one-on-one when he visits our client’s palace.

    “That our client has been on the throne as a traditional ruler of his community for about 43 years now and so it is absolutely false and petty for your Highness to allege that he is not from Osusu village. This is defamatory and which you will soon be summoned at the appropriate venue to prove.”

    Justifying that the traditional title given to General Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t have any political undertone, Eze Ikonne in a telephone interview said he had in the past given chieftaincy titles to notable Nigerians such former president Olusegun Obasanjo, wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, former senate president, Adolph Wabara, former deputy senate president Ibrahim Mantu among others and wondered why the one he gave to Gen. Buhari should be causing ripples in the state.

    Reacting to the development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party chairman in the state, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa described the purported suspension of Eze Ikonne by the Abia State traditional rulers’ council and null and void, adding that the monarch has the right to give traditional title to whomever he deemed fit for such an honour.

    Nwankpa argued that the traditional rulers’ council doesn’t have the right to suspend Ikonne as he stressed that Enyi 1 of Aba didn’t commit any crime honouring a man who according to custom went to acclimatize with the traditional ruler that overseas where he had come to draw its peoples support.

    While maintaining that APC would not want to drag itself into insulting the traditional rulers said “APC is a party that respects the traditional institution and traditional rulers, but we will not fold our arms to watch the image of the traditional institutions dragged into mud.”

    When contacted on his phone, Eze Eberechi Dick said as the chairman of Abia State Traditional Council, that he was not aware of any announcement on Eze Ikonne’s suspension.

    On the purported message sent to traditional rulers asking them not to attend any meeting in Ikonne’s palace, the chairman Abia State traditional rulers’ council replied, “he has the right to summon his cabinet members for a meeting but not to summon other traditional rulers elsewhere, he doesn’t have any locus.

  • Attack sparks outrage in Ondo community

    RARELY a year after he was arrested by the police over alleged involvement in the killing of a Prince, Titilola, a traditional ruler in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State is in the news again. He is being accused of alleged attack on Prince Faforiti  Awolowo. Incidentally, Awolowo, is a family member of the deceased.

    Sources hinted that the monarch and 10 others would soon appear in court over the matter.

    Lawyer to the Awolowo family, Mr. Koboju Atima, told reporters in Akure that the monarch’s action was callous.

    Atima, who was accompanied by the victim’s wife, Arolawa, alleged that the monarch led about 14armed thugs to Awolowo’s residence at Okoga, in Igbokoda on January 2.

    He said the suspected assailants reportedly shot sporadically into the air, forcing residents to scamper for safety.

    The lawyer alleged that the hoodlums later shot Awolowo in the chest and took his body away in the process.

    Mrs.  Awolowo lamented that all her pleas to rescue her husband were turned down by the monarch.

    She said: “I saw the monarch and his boys with my two eyes as they shot and descended on my husband. I begged them to spare his life but they didn’t listen to me. Rather they assaulted me and smashed my head on the wall.

    “There was blood everywhere. My husband’s blood flowed like a river as they forcefully took his body away.”

    The family counsel said it could not be ascertained whether Awolowo was still alive or dead because his whereabouts remained unknown after he was forcefully taken away by the assailants.

    Atima said the matter was later reported to the Divisional Police Officer (DP0) at Igbokoda, but claimed no action was taken on the matter.

    He accused the police of aiding the monarch in terrorising innocent residents of the town.

    Atima said Igbokoda witnessed unprecedented peace in the last two months when the DPO went on a course until two weeks ago when he returned to the ancient town.

    While appealing to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to personally investigate the allegation against the monarch and his boys, the counsel called for the immediate redeployment of the DPO in the interest of peace.

    It would be recalled that the monarch is currently standing trial over the murder of Prince Lebi, who was a cousin to the missing Awolowo.

    When contacted, police spokesman in the state, Wole Ogodo, said he was yet to be briefed on the development.

    The monarch could not be reached on phone, but one of his chiefs who spoke in confidence said the allegation against the monarch was untrue.

  • Armed bandits attack bank in Abia

    A group of yet-to-be identified gunmen attacked one of the new generation banks in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, killing a Lagos-based businessman and carted away undisclosed cash from one of the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

    Sources within Arochukwu where the incident happened told our reporter that the incident lasted for about three hours and after the efforts of the robbers to break into the bank’s vault, they turned to the ATMs where they succeeded in vandalizing one of them and carted away undisclosed cash.

    Another source said that a Lagos-based building contractor, Mr. Stephen Okereke, was killed because of the impact of the bullet wounds he sustained after the dreaded robbers shot sporadically at Tundra Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) on sighting him within the area of their operation.

    According to the source, “the robbers operated from 1am to 3am unchallenged. The police who were alerted of the incident could not do anything. In fact, they (robbers) after robbing, drove pass the police and headed to the water where their speed boat was waiting for them before they made way to Cross River State.

    “The robbers, we learnt, launched nine dynamites and yet, they could not have access to the bank’s vault after breaking into the bank’s main building.

    When contacted, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the robbery incident and was quick to dispel insinuations that police could not do anything to foil the robbery incident, stressing that the robbers’ inability to break into the bank’s vault was because the police officers were courageous enough to confront the armed bandits.

    In a related development, The Nation gathered that a branch of the same bank was similarly attacked at Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area where they made away with an undisclosed amount of money. Though information about the robbery incident as at the time of this report was still sketch, sources within the area confirmed the robbery incident.

  • APC chieftain protests attack by PDP members

    Lagos State All progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Hon. Muslim Folami has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against causing trouble, ahead of next year’s elections.

    He alleged that PDP members have been attacking APC members in Orimedu, Ibeju-Lekki without provocation, adding that the rampaging PDP youths have the support of a notable PDP leader from the area.

    Folami, who has sent a petition to the Area Police Command, Ajah, Eti-Osa, urged the police to investigate the unwarranted attacks on the indigenes of the area, who have sympathy for the APC.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Political and Legislative Matters alleged that no fewer than 34 APC youths have been marked for liquidation by suspected thugs.

    He said: ‘The APC members that they planned to attack have been listed and pasted around the walls in the Orimedu Community. Some of the shortlisted APC members’ property have been vandalised. This is to show that, if the members of the APC have not been tolerant, the community would have been turned to a battle field

    “This matter is in court and the court verdict should be respected. We believe their actions to restrain the APC members from entering the town contravenes their fundamental human rights as entrenched in the 1999 Constitution as they are not law enforcement agents empowered to do so.”

    Folami urged the police to intervene in the matter, with a view to resolving the matter so that the shortlisted indigenes can return to the community without further molestation.

    The Special Adviser, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, berated PDP leaders for do-or-die politics, saying that it is counter-productive. He lamented that three APC chieftains, including himself, former Health Commissioner Dr. Tola Kasali and Baruwa Yusuf, were detained by the police when they were framed up after the murder of a PDP member, Shakiru Ogboye.

    Folami alleged that suspected PDP thugs killed the deceased, dumped his body at the front of his residence and vandalised his property.  He added: “Many APC chieftains were picked up forcefully in the night on the order of the PDP leader in the area. Twenty six people were arrested before some of them were released. I was detained at Panti Statation and taken to court on the fourth day where I appeared before a Chief Magistrate Court at Ebute-Metta. I was granted bail on self-recognition.”

    The Special Adviser said that PDP leaders have planned to threaten APC members so that they will not participate in the elections. He added: “We have informed the governor. We have reported the matter to the police. They are boasting that they have the police. But, we believe in the law and justice.”

    In another petition to the State Security Service (SSS), Folami alleged threat to his life, following his objection to the hijack of community land by the PDP leader. He said: “Some elders of Orimedu, including myself, who were not happy with the fraudulent manner the land was given to him challenged it. As part of our strategy, we decided to have a sensitisation forum that brought the stakeholders together to let them know the implications of allowing such a massive land, which could have been used for the development of the town, to be given to only one individual.

    “My activities and that of the elders in respect of this matter must have pro,pted him to ask his thugs to make ‘threat to life’ calls threatening through hidden numbers. I think it will be stupid of me to fold my hands and allow the unexpected to happen to me and my family. Hence, this petition to alert you for prompt investigation, protection and action.”

  • Hoodlums attack church

    Some hoodlums invaded yesterday the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Pillar of Fire,  at LA Primary School area of Akure, the Ondo State capital, during service.

    They allegedly flogged the pastor and church members.

    The thugs, who came to the church on motorcycles, were also said to have destroyed some items, including chairs, clock, windows and electrical appliances.

    An eyewitness said policemen, who came to calm the situation, arrested some of the hoodlums but were attacked by a mob, which rescued the thugs. A policeman was stabbed in the neck.

    A rival pastor within the vicinity was said to have sponsored the attack.

    Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said details of the incident were still sketchy. He said the command was still investigating.

  • …Northern govs, ACF condemn attack

    …Northern govs, ACF condemn attack

    Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF)  and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday lamented that security challenges in the northern states have taken a turn for the worse in recent times.

    The two bodies expressed this view in different statements they issued yesterday in reaction to the tripple explosions that left no fewer than 120 worshippers dead at the Central Mosque in Kano.

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Irael Ebije, NSGF Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the attack on the mosque where  the Emir Sanusi ll worships is another sobber reminder of how much disregard those behind terror attacks in the North have for the traditional institution and the sanctity of human life.

    The NSGF chair said the position of the Emir on the need to protect communities against those perpetuating violence must remain sacrosanct, adding that nobody should be intimidated by evil perpetrators, saying “good will surely triumph over evil.”

    Aliyu commiserated with the government and people of Kano State, urging them to remain committed to the fight against terror.

    The governor maintained that the war against terrorism is not an exclusive preserve of security operatives  but everybody’s business.

    He said it is time to place everybody under high security alert, adding that strange faces and objects must be promptly reported and investigated.

    Aliyu, who decried the continuous turnover in human and material loss on account of terror attack, said the trend must be stopped by all means necessary.

    He insisted that Nigerians are not violent people, adding that the few engaged in evil practice must be fished out and punished.

    Also condemning the attack yesterday, the ACF said the explosions that rocked the Central Mosque located near the Emir’s palace in Kano was wicked, callous and barbaric.

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, the forum said: “ACF learnt with shock and disbelief the three bomb explosions that occurred in the Central Mosque near the Emir’s palace in Kano City.

    “The bomb blast aimed at Muslim worshipers in the mosque that left many dead and scores of others injured was wicked, callous and barbaric.

    “The recent bomb explosions in Yola, Maiduguri, Azare, Kontagora and many other towns in the North coupled with the daily killing of innocent people by insurgents is very disturbing and worrisome.

    “This insecurity situation that have engulfed the North is a clear manifestation of Federal Government’s inability to protect the people as intelligence and equipment required to contain the situation appears lacking.

    “ACF urges the people of Kano in particular to exercise some restrain, remain calm and avoid taking the law into their hands or blame innocent people that have lived with them peacefully.

    “We equally call upon the people to unite and protect themselves through intelligence sharing with security agencies and community leaders.

    “ACF appeals to the Kano State Government and other state governments where bomb explosions have occurred in the last one week to provide free medical treatment to the injured.

    “It also extends it heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the Emir of Kano Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11, the people and Government of Kano State over this unfortunate incident.

    “ACF calls upon the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency deploy all its security apparatus to the areas bedeviled by insurgency in order to bring an end to this menace.”

  • Gunmen kidnap tugboat’s captain after attack

    Gunmen kidnap tugboat’s captain after attack

    A tugboat belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has been attacked in the Bayelsa State waterways by gunmen suspected to be pirates.

    It was learnt that the tugboat was conveying unknown items to the Agip Brass Terminal in Brass Local Government Area last Saturday, when it came under attack about 10am.

    Its captain, identified as Famous Abrakata, was reportedly kidnapped and whisked away to an unknown place by the hoodlums.

    The bandits were said to have stormed the tugboat, which was coming from Onne in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at an area called Juju Fish Town on Nembe-Brass waterways.

    A security source, who pleaded anonymity, said the bandits dispossessed their victims of their valuables, including cash worth N150,000.

    The incident occurred a day after pirates during a separate occurrence killed four policemen and abducted six other persons along the same Nembe-Brass route.

    But it was learnt yesterday that the gunmen were after the policemen’s weapons and uniforms.

    It was gathered that the gunmen believed to be pirates were not bothered about the barge owned by NAOC, which was being escorted by the policemen at the time of the incident.

    The body of the victims were said to have been recovered and taken to the office of Marine Police in Yenagoa.

  • Pirates attack passengers

    Pirates attack passengers

    Sea pirates at the weekend waylaid a passenger speedboat, injuring travellers and stealing valuables.

    It was gathered that the pirates attacked their victims near Kiberi-Bio on the Ogbia-Nembe-Brass waterway in Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

    The incident was said to have occurred barely two days after the state chapter of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) ended its strike over insecurity in the waterways.

    The attack occurred on a boat travelling from Ogbia to Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area.

    The hoodlums, who were said to have struck at 3pm, also made away with the speedboat after forcing the driver and the passengers off.

    “They left with two women and two children . We don’t know what they want to do with them,” a source, who pleaded for anonymity, said.

    The source, however, said nobody was killed in the attack.

    State MWUN Chairman Lloyd Sese insisted that the security situation on the waterways had become frightening.

    He said the incident had  justified the strike.

    The MWUN chairman said a meeting between the government and the union’s leadership would hold in Yenagoa this week

  • Filani: Attack on Ekiti judge unfortunate

    Filani: Attack on Ekiti judge unfortunate

    Chief Ishola Filani is the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Caretaker Committee Chairman. In this interview with Assistant Editor GBADE OGUNWALE, the lawyer and politician bares his mind on the crisis in Ekiti State and the party’s plan for next year’s elections in the zone. 

    What is your reaction to the crisis in Ekiti State, especially the disruption of court processes and attack on judges?

    There are so many versions that we hear, But, I want to say that, from all the investigations carried out, the governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, did not assault or abuse any judge. Neither did he at any time instigate anybody to assault any judge. You see, it is very unfortunate that this kind of situation is happening in Ekiti now that we want to swear in the governor-elect. One thing we have to understand is that many of us, who are PDP officials and  leaders, are also lawyers. As far as we are concerned, we would not allow our profession to be put in disrepute. I know people like myself, people like Toyin Olofintunyi, people like Anisulowo and the former Attorney-General, all of us are members of the PDP and we are lawyers. We have the highest regard for the judiciary. Apart from that, most of the leaders of the PDP in EKiti State are responsible human beings, who will not allow that  kind of thing to happen. It is wrong for anybody to have a feeling that the alleged assault on the judge in Ekiti State was instigated by Fayose or any of the party leaders. It was not the PDP or Fayose who organised any assault or any problem in the premises of the High Court.

    Justice Adaramola said he told Fayose to talk to his rowdy supporters, who were disturbing the proceedings …

    I am not looking at this thing from the point of view of how the thing happened and who the thing happened in his presence. You were not there. I was not there. So, whatever we are saying about this matter is pure hearsay.

    Does that mean we cannot rely on the judge’s accounts?

    I am not saying that the judge is lying. What I am saying is that it was not the intention of any leader of the PDP, whether Fayose or any of us. It was an incident and there were thugs. Anytime anybody is going to any tribunal, whether the APC or the PDP, thugs will follow their leaders and in the process, the minutest provocation can lead to anything. So, we are talking of a mob action here. I want to disabuse your mind and the minds of the public that what happened was a mob action. Fayose did not instigate anybody, Fayose did not slap anybody, Fayose did not direct anybody to be assaulted from all the investigations that we have had in this matter. And that is why I said many leaders who are lawyers were at the court to represent the PDP, lawyers were there to represent the APC and therefore, it is a very unfortunate incident. But, for anybody to ascribe it to the governor-elect or any of the PDP leaders being responsible, I want to say categorically that no PDP leader, not to talk of our newly elected governor, directed or in any way had anything to do with the mob action of that day. Thugs follow political leaders all over the place.

    Are you being fair to the judge that was attacked?

    There are two issues: the attack on the judge and who attacked the judge. There are two different things.

    What sanction would you prescribe for those who would be found culpable of the attack after the investigation?

    Whosoever is found culpable of attacking the judge, whether in the APC or in the PDP, must be sanctioned. Don’t let us talk about the PDP alone because it was not only the PDP that was there. The case was between the PDP and the APC. It was not as if the PDP went to the court premises alone. The fact that the governor elect was there does not mean that the governor elect or any PDP member is responsible for the assault. The assault is regrettable. I am a senior lawyer, some forty years old at the bar and I would not sit down to see any member of the bar or bench assaulted. What we are saying is that here is a situation where there is a case between two parties and representatives of both parties at the court premises.

    Where it is proved that ABCD are the perpetrators, they should be sanctioned. But it is very unfortunate and I am saying it with every sense of responsibility that all of us, both the PDP and the APC were present at the court that day. It was not only the PDP that was present at the court that day.

    The leadership of the APC has condemned the attack. Why is the PDP not condemning it?

    Do you think any reasonable person will say assaulting a judge is reasonable? Our party has condemned the hooliganism. Is Olisa Metuh’s statement tantamount to saying that we did not say anything. You people are just looking for every opportunity to hang this on PDP. It is impossible to say it is the PDP that is responsible because it was not only PDP that was present at the court.

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana has expressed the fear that a section of the elite in EKiti might go on exile, if Fayose is sworn in, for fear of being attacked…

    Because there is an a incident in the court, the elite in Ekiti want to leave Ekiti? Let me tell you one thing, somebody who you don’t like, there is nothing he will say that will be good to your hearing. How do you relate that to when Fayose becomes governor? I am trying to be objective as far as this matter is concerned, at forty years old at the bar, the bar is my primary home, law is my profession but that will not close my eyes to objectivity.

    On October 16, Fayose will be sworn in as the governor. What advice would you give to him as an elder in the party?

    Whatever advice I have, I am not going to start advising him on the pages of  newspapers. I have access to him  and as a party leader among party leaders, we all have  access to him. Whatever advice we want to give him, will not start from now, we  have been advising him and he has been adhering to the advice.

    What is the situation with the PDP in the Southwest?

    Everything is normal and we are preparing for our congress which we have not been able to hold for some time now. The congress is coming up this Saturday in Ibadan.

    The Ekiti PDP has said its members would not be part of the congress…

    They never said so. The congress is coming up in Ibadan and there is no protest against that by anybody. All is well in the southwest PDP.

    How far do you think the PDP can go in the Southwest in next year’s elections?

    Of course, we are going to go far in 2015. The caretaker committee, which I am heading, all we have been able to do in the past one year is to bring all our people together. Even those who had cause to leave the party, we have brought them back. Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State was a member of the party and he has come back. Gbenga Daniel is also back. We have brought back all the people that left and that is because we are preparing hard to ensure that come 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected for the second term. We are doing this because our President has done a lot of turn over for good in this country. Look at the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, it is under repairs, look at the Oyo-Ibadan road, look at the ports, look at the airports, look at he appointment of our people into various positions in government, look at what has been done for women, for education; about 22 universities were created, one is in the Southwest with two campuses in Oye and Ikole Ekiti.

  • Gunmen attack police station in Ajaokuta

    Gunmen attacked Adogo Police Station in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State on Sunday night.

     

    The hoodlums attacked the station around 8:30pm and tried to break into the armory.

    They bombed parts of the station, causing a fire, which was still raging yesterday morning.

    Police spokesman Elvis Aguebor said the gunmen were repelled by policemen.

    He urged the public to report anybody with bullet wounds to security agents.

    Aguebor said: “About 2100 hrs on Sunday, unknown gunmen attacked Adaogo Police Station in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, apparently desirous of carting away police arms. The policemen on duty swiftly took position and returned fire. The heavy dynamite launched by the attackers demolished and set fire on a part of the station.

    “The desire of the hoodlums to cart away arms was aborted, as the police successfully evacuated the arms from the station to safety. As at the time of this report, no human casualty was recorded on the part of the police. Some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds.”