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PDP Fingers Timipre Sylva, APC In Bayelsa Killing, Urges IGP To Wade In

August 15, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the immediate past former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for being behind the invasion and Killings in Opu-Nembe, Bayelsa State.

It has, therefore, asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to Invite the former Minister for questioning over the incident.

Spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday pointed out that the APC has resorted to violent attacks on communities in Bayelsa State for rejecting its candidate in the November 11, 2023 Governorship election, Timipre Sylva.

Ologunagba expressed PDP’s condemnation of the invasion, killing and maiming of innocent citizens in Bayelsa State communities, particularly Opu-Nembe, in Nembe Local Government Area by thugs allegedly recruited, sponsored and armed by Sylva.

“It is clear that the intention of the APC in this invasion and killing in Nembe is to intimidate and instill fear in the people so as to prevent them from freely exercising their democratic right to vote a governor of their choice.

“The PDP is alarmed by pictorial and video evidence of the gruesome murder of promising Nembe youths including the only son of a widow by the APC thugs allegedly led by one Kojo Sam, who on February 15, 2023, killed three youths in the bid to subdue the community for openly expressing their rejection of Chief Sylva for neglecting and allegedly unleashing violence on their communities over the years.

“Reports in the public domain have it that the thugs are usually lodged in a hotel allegedly owned by Chief Timipre Sylva’s ally from where the assailants periodically launch gun attacks on the communities for rejecting the APC.

“Nigerians have already seen the videos of Opu-Nembe women crying, protesting the invasion and killings in the community by the thugs, while insisting on their resolve not to support Chief Timipre Sylva.

“This recourse to violence is reported to be a consisted pattern by Chief Sylva who was alleged to have engaged in such heinous activity in previous elections in Bayelsa State including the 2019 governorship election.

“We ask, what manner of desperation will lead an individual to resort to killing his own kinsmen for rejecting him and his bid for an illusory political ambition?

“The PDP is gravely disturbed by the reported connivance of certain security operatives in these attacks on Nembe.

“Of particular concern is the report that these thugs adorn military attires to carry out their evil deeds as evidenced in the video of one of the thugs, Telimoye Awululu, who was captured wearing military uniform.

“Recently, a policeman and a Civil Defence personnel were reportedly arrested at a military checkpoint in Otakeme in Ogbia Local Government of the State allegedly accompanying armed men to Nembe.

“There are already allegations in the public space that some high-ranking police personnel are aiding this reprehensible scheme to use violence to forcefully gain control of Opu-Nembe so as to grant the APC the ground to massively rig the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the area.

“Chief Timipre Sylva ought to have realized that he is fighting a lost battle as no amount of violence can subdue the Will of the people of Opu-Nembe and Bayelsa State in general to massively vote for Governor Douye Diri who remains a bastion of hope and development in Bayesla State and for which he has earned the sobriquet of the “Miracle Governor”.

“Bayelsans are firmly behind Governor Diri and they are able, ready and willing to resist the APC by overwhelmingly voting for him and defending their votes to the very end. On this resolve, there is no going back.

“The PDP therefore, in very strong terms cautions Chief Timipre Sylva to stop pushing his kinsmen, the people of Opu-Nembe to the wall and taking their peaceful and law-abiding disposition as a sign of weakness or cowardice.

“Our Party calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade into the situation in Nembe and indeed Bayelsa State.

“The IGP should as a matter of urgency, launch an investigation into the alleged connivance of certain police officials in the invasion and killing in Opu-Nembe.

“The PDP also urges the IGP to invite Chief Timipre Sylva for questioning as well as investigate the petitions already filed to his office by the people of Nembe with the view to apprehending the thugs and killers who unleashed mayhem on the community recently.”

Gov Oyebanji Charges Royal Fathers To Assist Investors Get Land In Ekiti

Ayodele Oni

August 15, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has advised indigenes of the state to change their hostile attitude to investors.

The Governor, while inaugurating the newly constituted State Council of Traditional Rulers under the chairmanship of the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti,Oba Ayorinde Faboro, called on Obas to connect with the ease of doing business agenda of his administration.

Governor Oyebanji, who also urged the traditional rulers to encourage their subjects to desist from scandalizing private business investors in the State, said if the state would develop, the royal fathers must embrace private investors.

This, according to him, is a potent catalyst to develop the state economy and achieve his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the traditional Council chamber, in Ado Ekiti, the Governor, who expressed his displeasure over the unfriendly disposition of land release for private investment by some communities, implored monarchs to ensure that the endless bickering over land utilization became a thing of the past.

While thanking the immediate past council under the leadership of the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon for leading the council admirably well, the Governor said that his tenure will be remembered for solidarity to all, humility and selfless representation of the traditional council.

Governor Oyebanji acknowledged the roles traditional rulers play in the society as the custodian of culture and agent of socio economy mobilization.

He assured them that his government would continue to accord greatest respect for the traditional institution.

He reiterated his administration”s commitment to the welfare of the traditional rulers, saying his government would do everything to promote the traditional institution and make their welfare paramount in his heart.

While congratulating the new Chairman, the Governor said he had no doubt that the new chairman has all it takes to lead the council with maturity, and sincerity that the position requires.

“I want to congratulate the new Chairman, HRM Oba Ayorinde Ilori Faboro, the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti on his appointment as the 13th Chairman of the Council.

“I have no doubt that kabiyesi is up to the task. He has all it takes to lead the council with maturity, sincerity and solidarity that the position requires.

“Let me also assure you, kabiyesi our administration has the greatest respect for you and the roles you play in our society as the custodians of our culture and agent of sicio- economic mobilization.

“More importantly we acknowledge the enormity of the burden you carry in ensuring peace and development in your kingdoms.

“Your majesty, let me use this opportunity to express my concern about the unfriendly disposition of land released for private sector investment by some communities.

“We all know Ekiti is industrially disadvantaged, thus, if this state must achieve economic development, we need investors to do business here so as to create job and prosperity for our people.

“I therefore urge you to connect with our ease of doing business agenda and ensure endless bickering over land utilization becomes a thing of the past.”

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, thanked the Governor for the opportunity given to him to serve as the chairman of the council.

He noted that it was a challenge for the promotion of unity among the royal fathers, adding that he would work very hard to justify the confidence reposed in him.

PEPT: FG Sacks Advertising Standard Panel, Pulls Down “All Eyes On The Judiciary” Billboards

The Source

August 15, 2023

All Eyes on The Election Tribunal Judges Bilboard

The Federal Government on Tuesday dissolved the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) over what it saw as a pressure on the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, to deliver what should be an alleged just judgement.

A few days ago, billboard advertisements had sprouted with the wordings, “All Eyes On The Judiciary” in expectation of the awaited Presidential Election Petitions judgement.

The Federal Government was embarrassed that ASP approved the billboard advertisements. It felt the approval of the billboards advertisement is a blackmail against the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The ASP is the Statutory Panel under the Council and its responsibility is to ensure that advertisements “conform to the prevailing laws of the Federation as well as the Code of advertising ethics of the advertising profession.”

Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in a statement confirmed the dissolution of the panel.

The Council Fadolapo said, also suspended its Director and Deputy Director in charge of Regulations pending investigations into the issue.

The billboard advertisements have also been ordered to be pulled down nationwide.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeriə [ARCON) has been drawn to the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” advertisements exposed on some billboards across the country.

“The Advertising Standards Panel of the Council also erred in the approval of one of the concepts as the advertisement failed to vet guidelines on the following grounds:

“The cause forming the central theme of the campaign in the advertisement is a matter pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Hence, it’s jus pendis.

“A matter being jus pendis and awaiting judicial pronouncement is, by virtue of the Nigerian legal system, precluded from being a subject of public statement, debate, discussion, advertisement, etc.

“The advertisement is controversial and capable of instigating public unrest and breach of public peace.

“The advertisement is considered blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and particularly the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour over a matter that is currently jus pendis.”

According to the DG, the Council would set up a committee to investigate the circumstances behind the “erroneous approval” of one of the concepts of the advert and the breach of the vetting guidelines.

“Consequently, the Director and Deputy Director, Regulations have also been suspended. The suspension is to enable an unprejudiced investigation of the issue. The Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications is hereby dissolved,” he said.

Subsidy Palliatives: FG Releases 81,000 Bags Of Rice To Ondo, Others

Ayodele Oni

August 15, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has allocated 81,000 bags of rice to each State of the Federation as part of palliatives to cushion the hardship occasioned by subsidy withdrawal on petrol.

Some States are already taking delivery of the package, which is to be distributed in batches.

Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa confirmed in Akure on Tuesday, that the State Government has taken delivery of 3,000 bags of rice from the Federal Government.

He revealed that the State has also received 3000 bags of rice from the lot being paid for by the State Government.

Fielding questions from journalists at a media forum organized by the state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) tagged Ondo Media Agenda, Akinterinwa assured that pensioners and the vulnerable in the state would receive the N10,000 set aside for them at the end of this month, August.

The Commissioner assured that besides rice, other local food items would be procured and distributed to the poor people in the State using the existing data in the communities.

“From this month, apart from transportation, the pensioners would get their N10, 000, the vulnerable would also get the same, some of this promises would definitely take time, we have to ensure transparency and accountability too.

“Free Transportation for School children would commence next month, transportation for civil servant would also commence to ease movement, and we intend to buy more vehicles.

“We would have purchased more vehicles, but we don’t want the one using petrol, we want to buy CNG buses because they are bigger, but all the State are going for this purpose because of the fuel cost, we are also on the queue for it.

“The government would help the famers get their food crops get to town because we had realized that transportation has been the major difficulties.

“The farmer do complain of access, we would provide tricycle for easy access when these crops get to town, it would be sold in a subsidized price.”

Speaking on the efforts of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led administration in improving the standard of living and infrastructure development in the state, Akinterinwa stated that Governor Akeredolu directed him and other members of the Economic Team to put in place, at the inception of his administration, a matching order to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) of the state.

He disclosed that at the inception of the administration, the state IGR was hovering between N500,000 and N600,000.

Having applied some measures and with the leadership and conducive environment provided by the governor, the state IGR jumped to N3 billion monthly.

Akinterinwa said the governor, through legislative instrument, created Ondo State Internal Revenue Service(ODIRS) managed by an expert from the private sector.

“Different leakages in the revenue were blocked and brilliant graduates were employed with encouraging incentives and salaries to begin exploration of the taxable products and services.”

He recalled that the people of the state, particularly civil servants, were disillusioned before the assumption of office by Governor Akeredolu as a result of non-payment of salaries for seven consecutive months.

The commissioner revealed that as the time, the state government was paying over N5 billion as wage bill, while local government also was paying over N2 billion as wage bill.

He alleged that the immediate past administration deprived the economy of the state over N7 billion for seven months.

Akinterinwa, however, said Governor Akeredolu has paid six months out of the seven months backlog of salaries having shored up the revenue generated internally by the state government.

“We designed tax payment, you can now pay your tax at the comfort of your zone, all those placement helped out in increasing our IGR, we deploy technology, we have data for all Houses.

“All we did was just enforcing the law, we have the data to send notice of tax payment to people and we enforce it, everybody was involved and implementation was done, we also tried to be transparent enough about the funds and usage.

“We also did Technology, training of Staff, bringing people from the private sector has helped us in easy generation of more revenue for the state.

“We did so many financial reengineering on debts that were inherited from loans, they were restructured. The role of the Government is not just to pay salaries, we have not abandoned any projects.

“We are able to achieve great increment in our IGR because we brought in an independent person, he was given autonomy and an enabling environment, that is why we have ODIRS, we recruited Experts and also give more training to staff, we blocked leakages, lots of things are now done properly.”

Commenting on all ongoing capital projects in the state, the Commissioner for Finance assured the people of the state that none of the projects would be abandoned.

He explained that the developing economic situations to some extent affected some of the road projects, saying the contractors demanded contract variation, which has been addressed and contractors have moved to sites.

Speaking on the debt profile of the state on assumption of office by Governor Akeredolu, he disclosed that “The past administration took a bond, which they were servicing. It wasn’t professionally structured. We were spending over N700m to service it every month.

“We had to increase the tenure of the payment and looked at the rate that was reduced and we started paying about N347million monthly.

“The following year we were able to take a fresh one and still servicing the old one because we have increase our IGR. The requirements were very stringent at the time we approached the Capital Market. But we were able to get it.

“This improved the economy of the state. The governor provided good leadership and conducive environment to perform.

We were able to recover some debt on which hope had been lost.

“When we came in, we did restructuring in all areas, we bring stakeholders together and investors together, we took Bond that was not maintained well by the previous administration.

“We serviced it, by the time we approached the capital market, there was no other State that could be able to approach it except Lagos State, because the requirements were strict, but we are able to achieve it.

“All the infrastructure you see today is because the Governor of the state gave us good leadership, and an enabling environment was created for us in other for us to put up our best.”

Shock as ESUT Final Year Student Mysteriously Dies in Her Room; Male Companion Battles for Life

The Source

August 15, 2023

By Barth Ugwu, Enugu

Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT has been thrown into mourning following the discovery of the lifeless body of a final-year student of the institution, Mbah Ezinne, in her room.

The lifeless body of Ezinne, a student of the Department of Anatomy, was found on Sunday in her apartment following concerns raised by her friends and Church members after she was not seen in the Church.

Ezinne’s friends, Church members, and family became concerned after she was not seen in the Church and had frantically tried to contact her through her mobile phone to no avail.

Worried about the inability to reach their daughter, Ezinne’s family members and some of her friends stormed her school apartment on Monday morning and peered through the widow only to find Ezinne and her male companion who was later identified as her coursemate lying on the floor.

Shocked by the gory sight, her brother who led the family on the trip promptly got police permission to break open the apartment whereupon the duo were rushed to the hospital.

Ezinne was pronounced dead upon arrival while her male companion whose name could not be ascertained at press time was revived and now battling for life.

Meanwhile, some of the acquaintances of the late Ezinne have expressed sorrow at her demise.

In a Facebook comment, Ede Njideka said: “She’s from my village, Umueze Awkunanaw. She’s not a bad girl… Very decent girl.

Suggesting that Ezinne and her male coursemate were victims of orchestrated murder, another commentator who simply goes by the name, Splendid Visuals, said: “They weren’t involved in anything bad, injuries were found on their bodies and they were locked from outside the house. They aren’t dating, I know them”

And according to Ajah Nneka, “She was industrious and a very nice girl. Only God knows what happened to her, I was so shocked when I heard of her demise.

CSR: Fidelity Bank Feeds Benue IDP With 1,200 Food Packs

James Orji

August 15, 2023

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Plc, has distributed over 1,200 food packs to the internally Displaced Persons in Makurdi, Benue State in its ongoing commitment to eliminate hunger among vulnerable persons in the society.

The event, which took place on Thursday, 10 August 2023 at the IDP Camp, Federal Housing Estate in North Bank, Benue State was executed in partnership with the Hyacinth Alia Foundation and the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BESEMA.

Speaking during the distribution event, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Meksley Nwagboh noted that the Fidelity Food Bank is a Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative of the Bank designed to reach out to vulnerable persons and reduce the effect of hunger.

In his words, “The vision of the Bank is to reach out to the less privileged communities through our partner organisations who identify with these communities. In Benue State, we are partnering with the State Government through the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.

“So, as I speak with you over 24,000 Fidelity food packs have been distributed to communities across the country to help cushion the effect of hunger which has become a global issue” he stated.

Commenting on the initiative, the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Innovation Strategies, Special Duties, Development, Policy, and Planning, Fidelis Unongo, commended Fidelity Bank for their donation and also appealed to IDPs to exercise patience, noting that the Governor is aware of their requests and is working to ensure that they get settled back to their ancestral homes.

On his part, the Chairman of the IDP Camp, Abraham Tar who spoke in Tiv, commended Fidelity Bank for their kind gesture and promised to ensure that the items donated gets to the desired beneficiaries even as he appealed to donors to also look into the health condition of the IDPs, especially women and Children.

Some of the beneficiaries, Msurshima Kunde, Comfort Lorfa, and Terundu Shima applauded Fidelity Bank for their kind gesture and appealed for increased health services at the camp to enable them access quality healthcare services.

NNPCL Debunks Fuel Hike Story, Says It Is False

Akinwale Kasali

August 15, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has dismissed the news that it plans to further increase the price of Fuel.

The NNPCL Management broke its silence on the widespread concern of a possible hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.

In a statement by the company, posted by 11:48pm on Monday on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the national oil firm and major importer of petrol into Nigeria, said it had no intention to increase the pump price of petrol.

The statement reads: “Dear esteemed customers, we, at NNPCL Retail, value your patronage, and we do not have the intention to increase our PMS pump prices as widely speculated.

“Please buy the best quality products at the most affordable prices at our NNPCL Retail stations nationwide,” the company stated.

The NNPCL Retail is the downstream subsidiary of NNPCL that retails refined petroleum products for the group.

It would be recalled that oil marketers had on Sunday indicated that the cost of petrol would rise to between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the dollar continue to trade from N910 to N950 at the parallel market.

They also hinted that dealers seeking to import PMS were being forced to put the plans on hold due to the scarcity of foreign exchange to import the commodity.

The warning came barely one week after the local currency crossed the N900/dollar ceiling, with the naira selling at over 945/dollar at the parallel market on Friday.

The oil dealers had also said the CBN Importers and Exporters’ official window for foreign exchange, which boasts of a lower exchange rate of about $740/litre, had remained illiquid and unable to provide the $25m to $30m required for the importation of PMS by dealers.

NNPCL spokesperson, Garba-Deen Muhammad, on Monday, said if the oil firm would hike petrol price as projected by dealers, but he promised to find out and revert.

He, however, did not revert, rather the company posted its response on X (formerly Twitter) around midnight on Monday.

Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress had on Monday warned that its members would commence a nationwide strike without any formal notice if marketers increased the pump price of petrol without concluding the ongoing negotiations.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, admonished the Federal Government to stop the falling value of the naira.

In the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal in May, the organised labour had attempted to down-tool over the skyrocketing prices of goods and services but the Federal Government secured an injunction from the National Industrial Court barring them from embarking on strike.

FG Slams 20 Fresh Charges On Emefiele

Akinwale Kasali

August 15, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Incarcerated and suspended Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele has been slammed with a fresh 20-Count Charge by the Federal Government – meaning that freedom for him is still far.

On Tuesday, the FG withdrew the allegations leveled against him of the illegal possession of firearms at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Aside from that, the Federal Government concluded plans to file 20 new charges against Emefiele at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.

Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, who approached the Federal High Court in Ikoyi with an oral application, made this known while speaking with journalists after the day’s proceedings.

He said the withdrawal followed the result of further investigations.

It would be recalled that on July 25, Emefiele was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on “illegal possession of firearms” at a federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Details Later……

Female Students Accuse Dean, Faculty Of Law, Unical Of Harassment

The Source

August 15, 2023

By Charles Igbo

The Dean Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Professor Cyril Ndifon, is in trouble. The Professor is being accused by his female students of, allegedly, touching them inappropriately. They say they are tired of such touches, and of forcing them to engage in a game of “it takes-two-to-tango”. They are angry, and have asked the University Management to give the Professor the boot.

Proof of their anger: In an unprecedented action, the female Law students, backed by their male colleagues, trooped out and embarked on a protest.

Carrying placards, on which were written various demands, and why they are angry, some of the inscriptions obscene, they marched to the Faculty of Law, singing angrily. They said they were tired of the demands, in kind, by the Professor, from the female Law students. They said they were tired of the exploitation of their feminity by their Dean. They also asked the Professor to stop tampering with the list of Law students. They demanded that they be saved from such untidy and inappropriate demands.

The solution, they said: remove him from office.

At the time of filing this report, there has been no reaction from the Dean, the Faculty or the University authorities.

In recent times, a few number of University Lecturers have either lost their jobs or suspended from office over untidy exploitation of female students. At least one of them, a Professor, has been jailed.

Ondo: PDP Advises APC To Stop Celebrating Inactive Decampees

Ayodele Oni

August 15, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state has said the state chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) Ade Adetimehin, was in a state of hallucination when he announced that the PDP has gone into extinction in the state.

Adetimehin, during an interactive session with journalists in Akure, had declared that “Of all the political parties in Ondo State, APC is the only united party. There is no division and we are rancour free. We work together under the leadership of Governor Akeredolu.

“He is a man that believes in the supremacy of the party. He never interferes in the running of the party. He allows the party to function effectively. That is what brings unity of the party and makes us the strongest political party in the state.

“That is why many members of opposition political parties are coming to join the APC in Ondo State. Three days ago, the grassroot strength of the PDP totally collapsed into the APC. All the former Vice Chairmen and 203 former Councillors defected to the APC.

“In Idanre, Chairman of PDP Elders Forum joined the APC. The PDP has gone into extinction in Ondo. It is now my duty to manage the APC in Ondo State.”

Reacting, PDP spokesman in the state, Kennedy Peretei, stated that “Adetimehin is probably the only person who is oblivious of the fact that, Ondo State people hold his party, APC and its inhuman government responsible for their suffering and agony of the last eight years.

“Especially the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and its bitting effect on everybody. He does not realize that, even those who were tricked to vote APC in the 2023 general elections are already regretting and lamenting their miscalculation that has brought about untold hardship on them and their families.

“Such a man, if he has any sense of shame and responsibility should have been on his knees begging the people for the huge misfortune masterminded by his party.

“To now open his mouth in a most careless manner to say “PDP is now extinct” is not only laughable but mischief of the highest order.

“Majority of the 203 Councillors Adetimehin is celebrating for joining his party have not been active in the last two cycles of elections in Ondo State.

“A few of them have been in the APC since 2016. How the defection of such characters translates to PDP being extinct can only be understood by someone like Adetimehin who is presiding over a dangerously fragmented APC in the State, but deludes himself with fun-seeking decampees who tell him tales by moonlight.

“The PDP in Ondo State is unruffled by a few persons who are in a self-destruct misadventure in Adetimehin’s sinking APC ship.

“While we sympathize with such persons, it is pathetic that those who should be weeping are dancing and rejoicing. But in no distant time, reality will dawn on them that, indeed, they lived a lie all along. PDP cannot be extinct, there are no such signs. And it will never be.”

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