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Ayu: “Why I Ignore Wike”; Warns Governor To Leave His Family Alone; Many Say Wike Crossed The Red Line

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Iyorchia Ayu - PDP Chairman

By Adesina Soyooye

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu has decried what he called the deliberate, consistent and unfortunate attacks on his person since the Presidential Primary by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

He said that he had all along restrained himself from responding to such attacks because he felt that as the father of the Party, he should concentrate on building and reconciliation.

Responding to Wike’s attacks for the first time in a press release signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,  Simon Imobo-Tswam, Ayu said he was doing so now because his family has been dragged in by Governor Wike.

Said Ayu: “The consistent attack on my person since the end of the Convention on the 31st of May are deliberate and unfortunate. I have restrained myself from reacting. As the father of the Party, I felt I should encourage reconciliation. But where it touches on my personal integrity, of which even my own family members are brought into play, it is incumbent upon me to reply.”

Wike had, at a Press interview held in Porthacourt on Friday, which was televised, made very serious allegations bordering on corruption and theft against the Ayu. He accused the National Chairman of collecting the sum of N100m from a Governor for a PDP project, and still went ahead to collect same amount for same project from the coffers of the Party.

Ayu, strongly denies the allegations. But he, as well as not a few Nigerians, took exception to Wike’s submission that Ayu’s children would deny him as their father if they know even a little of what Ayu has done. He also dismissed Ayu as a man without any integrity.

Wike: “If people know what we know, If we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children.”

However, not a few people say by dragging Ayu’s children into the fray, Wike has crossed the borderline. They want Ayu to sue Wike the minute Wike loses his immunity on May 29, 2023. They also say that Wike should explain the source of the money he is spending and why, in the past couple of months, he and his team have been “living” in Europe instead of their States.

In the past couple of months, Wike and Co have visited Turkey, France, (allegedly), London (twice), and are presently in Spain.

In a detailed response to Wike, Ayu said:

“When my BoT Chairman talks, I am not supposed to say anything more. But since these allegations have persisted, I want to use this opportunity to clear the air.

“When the first allegation was made i.e. the N1billion – I decided not to respond because we don’t want to cause altercations in the party. However, I want to make it clear that at no time did I, as the National Chairman of this party, collect any N1billion from anybody.

“The consistent attacks on my person since the end of the convention on the 31st of May are deliberate and unfortunate. I have restrained myself from reacting. As the father of the party, I felt I should encourage reconciliation. But where it touches on my personal integrity, of which even my own family members are brought into play, it is incumbent upon me to reply.

“So, I state that I never collected N1bn from anybody. Also the N100m that was donated by one of the governors has been judiciously used for the purpose it was given. And in the next few weeks, we will be inviting all party leaders, including members of the press, to come for the commissioning of the PDI.

“When we came in and the party had funding difficulties, the current Presidential candidate suggested that the party should take a loan of N1bn from a bank. And the owner of that bank was also an influential member of this party. He has left the party now.

“But when we discussed with him, we discarded the idea. And the party never took any loan or any money from anybody. And, I, as a person never collected N1billion from anybody. Any money advanced to the party was declared before the National Working Committee (NWC) and handed over to the National Treasurer of the party.

“The party’s accounts are straight. They are up to date. And we promise to present the audited account to the public at the end of the year.

“Luckily, I had fully briefed the Board that one of our governors made a contribution of N100m to the revival of the Peoples Democratic Institute which was housed in a portacabin. And we explained to them that we hired an appropriate place in Asokoro; we have renovated it and furnished it.

“Two or three days ago, we went there to inspect the place. And the NWC decided that even before commissioning, we should invite the Governor in question to come and inspect what we have done with his money. I am happy to state that the National Secretary of the party has since written a letter to that Governor.

“So, it is not true. Neither I, nor the NWC ever took any party money to carry out the renovation. In fact, we have not even exhausted that N100m which was donated by one of the governors.”

Wike holds Ayu responsible for his loss to the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the Presidential Primary.

He and his team are demanding for  Ayu’s resignation as the Chairman  because, according to them, he and the Candidate (Atiku), should not come from same zone. They want Ayu to quit in favour of a Southern candidate.

Glamour As Ekiti Airport Witnesses First Flight

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Saturday, October the 15th 2022, will remain an indelible date to people of Ekiti State as the first Aircraft touched down at the multi-million Naira Airport project started and completed by the administration of the outgoing Governor of the State, Kayode Fayemi.

The Jumbo Airline, owned by the Nigeria Airforce, marked NAF 930 landed  at the Airport, at exactly 10:23 in the morning to the admiration of Ekiti people, who had been waiting patiently to see if the efforts put in place will actually pay off as some people tagged the project a white elephant project.

But to their chagrin, Ekiti Airport hosted the first Aircraft since its creation about thirty years ago.

The mammoth crowd trooped to Aso-Ayegunle the community housing the Ekiti State Cargo Airport, to be part of the history making occasion; to witness the first flight into the multi-million Naira facility.

They trekked down the Airport as the road was totally busy, both young and old, with so much joy, a clear statement of acceptance of the Fayemi administration for bringing development to the state.

Many, including the Royal Fathers, and other dignitaries trekked the few kilometers dusty and bumpy road to the airport, as the number of vehicles and people were unprecedented, to witness the commissioning of the facility.

At a point, vehicles stood at a stand-still for over an hour on the same spot, as the narrow road to the airport could not contain the influx of people to the area.

As the NAF Jumbo 930 Aircraft landed on the runway of the airport,  people who came from far and near surged forward to touch the big bird, but were restricted by security operatives, who at a time were almost overwhelmed by the crowd.

Former Governor of the State and current Minister of Trade, Commerce and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Srika and other Eminent personalities from the State were on hand to savour the day, as Fayemi, Oyebanji and Adebayo led other members of the cabinet to receive the aircraft.

In a brief remark, Fayemi appreciated the good people of the State for believing in him and for their steadfastness and sincerity of purpose towards his administration.

He explained that his government has repeatedly been dogged and committed to ensure the completion of the airport project.

The Governor further said that the Airport would open another chapter of better economy and turn around the fortunes of the entire citizens.

When it fully begins operation, the Cargo Airport will offer exciting world-class facilities to travelers, businesses, Agro-allied produce and airline operators from across the world.

WAEC Introduces Digitalized Certificate Platfom

By
The Source
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By Ayodele Oni

To make its operations more liberal and accessible, the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, Nigeria has introduced a digitalized certificate platform.

The platform, according to the examination body, will go public as from Thursday, October 20 when it will be launched.

A statement by the Acting Head, of Public Relations, WAEC Nigeria, Moyosola Adesina, explained that the platform, a mobile and web-based application has powerful features.

It was designed specifically for candidates, individuals, institutions, and organizations to access, share, request, confirm certificates and recover forgotten WAEC candidates’ examination numbers.

“Advancing in its mission of encouraging academic and moral excellence, promoting sustainable human resource development and international cooperation, meeting the growing global demands, and ensuring prompt service delivery, WAEC Nigeria is set to unveil the much-awaited WAEC Digital Certificate Platform.

“The council is excited and thrilled to introduce this innovation at a time the global world has gone digital.

“This further proves that the Council maintains its vision of being a world-class examining body, adding value to the educational goals of its stakeholders, by providing timely solutions to all the bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with the academic certificates.

“The Digital Platform creates an easier, instant and safer mode of accessing certificates by stakeholders.

“With this digital platform, users will be able to recover burnt, lost, and damaged certificates.”

On the benefits of the innovation, the spokesman pointed out that the digital certificate platform would, among other things, eliminate the chances of fraud, and the bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with the manual procedures of certificate issuance and collection.

“The benefits of this innovation are enormous, as candidates who have sat for the WASSCE in the past and present are able to access and share the original copies of their certificates with ease, the original copies of their certificates, which can be instantly confirmed from a credible and reliable source, regardless of the location.

“Also, institutions, organizations, and recruitment agencies can carry out bulk/individual confirmation of certificates at once, with ease.

“The reliability and authenticity of this confirmation on the digital platform eliminates the chances of fraud.”

Commuters Groan As Bridge Collapses, Blame FERMA For Shoddy Job

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ekiti Collapsed Bridge

By Ayodele Oni

As the people of Ekiti state continue to savour the joy of witnessing landing of first aircraft in the newly constructed cargo airport, a major bridge linking ondo and Ekiti States at the border Town of Irun Akoko in Akoko North West local government area of ondo state has collapsed.

The development has thrown commuters plying the road into serious difficulties in accessing their destinations.

Irun akoko, an agrarian community is the biggest town in Akoko north west local government area of ondo that connects some Ekiti  communities such as Egbe, imesi and Isinbode.

The collapsed road has been a busy axis for over four years as commuters Lagos, Oyo,Osun and Ekiti States ply it enroute Abuja and back from Abuja.

The federal roads maintenance agency (FERMA), recently carried out repairs on the road, but ignored entreaties by residents on the urgent need to attend to the Bridge.

As at the time of the report, the road has become impassable as a truck loaded with metal scraps fell at the collapsed Bridge on the road.

Residents who lamented the negative impacts of the development and poor handling of repairs by FERMA, appealed for urgent government intervention .

Some of the commuters explained that they have to make a detour and embark on longer routes before connecting commercial centers like Ikare Akoko, Owo, Benin, Okenne, Lokoja and Abuja.

Resign, PDP BoT Tells Ayu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Iyorcha Ayu

By Adesina Soyooye

The Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, has asked the National Chairman of the Party to give a firm assurance of resignation.

In a resolution signed at the end of its meeting in Abuja on Friday in a bid to find a solution to the Party’s crisis, signed by the BoT Chairman, Dr Adolphus Wabara, Ayu was asked to give a firm assurance that he would quit office after the General Elections in 2023.

Resolution number four says that the BoT “Urged the National National Chairman as an eminent leader, to give a firm assurance that he will resign his position after the 2023 election. In the same vein, the BoT Chairman has been authorized to offer apologies on behalf of all members who feel maligned or aggrieved by the public statements made by its members nationwide that has sharpened the current division in the Party.”

Ayu’s resignation as the Chairman has been the bone of contention in the Party. The aggrieved Governors, led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, insist that for peace to reign in the Party, Ayu must go because both the Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Ayu are from the North. More important, they insist that Ayu had promised to stand down if the Presidential candidate emerge from the North. But since after the emergence of Atiku, Ayu has been singing a different song with the obvious support of the candidate and the National Working Committee of the Party.

He is insisting on his four-year tenure

The aggrieved Governors have since boycott all activities of the Party, including the flag-off of the Presidential Campaign held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State last week.

However, the BoT was silent  on if Ayu would still resign if it’s candidate loses at the polls.

Following is the text of the Bob’s resolution.

“Resolutions of the Board of Trustees (BoT)’s Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dated October 14, 2022.

“1.The BoT called on all Party Leaders and persons close to them to desist forthwith from making further inflammatory remarks or press interviews

“2. Called on the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum to convene a meeting of the forum without further delay.

“3. Called on all leaders of the Party to match words with action and where commitments are made to unconditionally fulfill same.

“4.Urged the National Chairman as an eminent leader, to give a firm assurance that he will resign his position after the 2023 election. In the same vein, the BoT Chairman has been authorized to offer apologies on behalf of all members who feel maligned or aggrieved by the public statements made by its members nationwide that has sharpened the current division in the Party.

“5. The BoT also called on the Presidential Candidate to review its membership of the Presidential Campaign Council, and other advisory appointments to make it all inclusive.

“6.Finally, the BoT will refer some of these recommendations for noting and appropriate action to NEC of the Party in due course.”

#EndSARS;  Major General Enenche Apologizes To Nigerians Over Comment On #Lekkishooting

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Major General John Enenche

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the outrage that greeted his nomination as a member of the 1,234 Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party, LP, retired Major General John Enenche has apologized to Nigerians, stating the reason why he said the #Lekkishooting was photoshopped.

Enenche released a press statement on his official Twitter page, @EnenchejohnEne1, where he  addressed the issues raised.

He said he only declared that the massacre was photoshopped because of an oath of allegiance he swore on commission into military service.

He said, “Dear country men and women, following my appointment on the campaign council of Labour Party, there were reactions on the social media about my pronouncement concerning a video shot at the scene of #EndSARS incident at Lekki toll-gate on October 20, 2020. Everyone that commented in anyway was right based on the information at their disposal and individual analysis.

“Personally and professionally, I worked with the overriding interest of Nigerians at heart based on the oath of allegiance I swore on commission into the military service, which is sacrosanct.

“I sincerely shared in the pains of that breaking news through the social media as it were. On that note, I want to assure all that more efforts will be put in, so that all assertions can be cleared convincing from appropriate sources. God bless our cause for the recovery of our dear country Nigeria.”

The retired Military Personnel said his belief in electing a credible leader  spurred him to declare his support, openly, for the LP candidate without fear, adding that he was sure that Obi and running-mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti-Ahmed, would provide quality leadership.

“Recall I underscored the need for every conscience- bound Nigerian, cutting across societal class to join in the current political exercise in the country towards electing credible, competent and capable leaders in 2023.

“In addition, I enjoined all to speak out and not to sit on the fence.

“Consequently, I made bold to openly and objectively support the candidature of HE Mr. Peter Obi and Dr. Yusuf Datti-Ahmed, without fear or contradiction. All based on my knowledge of the duo for about 17 years and 5 years respectively, that they can provide quality leadership for the Nation that will guarantee effective followership.

“This is what Nigeria needs now to overcome all the numerous challenges imposed on the citizenry in the last two decades,” he added.

PDP Crisis: Wike, Co-aggrieved Governors Jet Out To Spain For Private Meeting

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nyesom Wike And Seyi Makinde

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State alongside Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Samuel Ortom of Benue State who are the aggrieved Governors in the PDP camp have jetted out of the country to Spain for, allegedly, a private meeting.

The four Governors posed for a photograph at the International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area early on Saturday morning before jetting out to Spain in a private jet.

The trip to Spain is coming on the heels of Wike’s media chat on Friday morning at Government House, Port Harcourt where he made fresh startling allegations against the national Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorcha Ayu. He accused Ayu of corruption, bribery and other sins, noting that Ayu’s children will deny him as their father if some of the things Ayu did become public knowledge.

Ayu in a swift response denied the allegations, and warned that his family be left alone in the messy Wike war against him.

The aggrieved Governors are calling for the resignation of the National Chairman, which has further led to the polarization of the Party.

Kanu’s Lawyer Slams Malami, Says No Pending Charges  Against IPOB Leader

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Contrary to  press statements by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, which  stated  that the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu still has pending charges to answer,  both his lead Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, insist Kanu was discharged and acquitted, and has no pending case against him.

The Court of Appeal had, on Thursday, 13th October slammed the Federal Government for the manner in which Kanu was extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya. In a judgment which was unanimously agreed to by the three-man Panel of Judges, the Court ordered all trials against Kanu be stopped because his abduction to NIgeria to face the charges were illegal.

But while Kanu’s Lawyers and followers were jubiliating, Malami poured ice water on it. He said the IPOB Leader still had some charges to answer to, and was discharged not acquitted. He said the Court  of Appeal gave judgment only on one case – Kanu’s abduction from Kenya, a judgement he hinted would be challenged.

But Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead Counsel has asked Malami to forget it. He said Kanu was not only discharged of  all charges but acquitted. Any more action against Kanu, Ozekhome noted, will be deemed as persecution  not prosecution. He then enjoined Malami to release Kanu immediately.

Kanu’s other Counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor,told Malami and the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to comply with the order of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. He also asked Malami to resign voluntarily for exposing the Federal Government to international embarrassment and ridicule.

Ejiofor said that the insistence  by the AGF that there was a pending charge  against Kanu before  Kanu left Nigeria in 2017 and the indication that the Federal Government may continue with the charge, showed Malami’s total disconnect with the law.

He said: “The AGF should be appropriately guided in law.

“I implore him to meticulously read the full judgment of the Court of Appeal, immediately comply with orders made therein and possibly consider the most appropriate option of voluntarily resigning, for exposing the Federal Government to this international embarrassment and ridicule.

“Now, for the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government has no options. It has only one option, namely, to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court. And the exercise of this later option shall not constitute a bar to immediate compliance with the order of the Court of Appeal, which directed for the immediate and unconditional release of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“The order made by the Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal is sacrosanct and must be obeyed immediately without further ado.

“Further, the Attorney General of the Federation reference to the charge pending against Onyendu before he left Nigeria in 2017, and the indication that the Federal Government may continue with the charge really shows his total disconnect with the law, with greatest respect to his office

“It is to be noted that the remaining seven charges that was struck out by the Court of Appeal after it allowed the appeal on the ground that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to try onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the same charge(with the same charge Number – to wit: FRN vs Nnamdi Kanu, Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, that has been pending against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court since 2015.

“The prosecution has amended this charge about 7 times. It is the same charge that was amended to include other counts that brought the counts to seven and then to 15. The Federal High Court struck out eight counts and retained seven.

“On appeal, the Court of Appeal struck out the whole charge and held that the lower court had no jurisdiction to try Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. That being so, that charge that has been pending against MNK since 2015 and containing counts of alleged offences committed by him before he escaped from being killed in Nigeria in 2017 no longer exists. It has been struck out.

“There is therefore no existing charge on the basis of which the Federal High Court can proceed and try Onyendu. Accordingly, as it stands today, there is no criminal charge pending against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“The declaration by the Court of Appeal that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to try Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because of the illegality of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria is an all pervading instrumentality that effectively bars any indictment of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in any court in Nigeria.

“As his forceful abduction in Kenya and rendition to Nigeria violates all known international conventions and protocols to which Nigeria is a state party, no prosecution against him in Nigeria can ever be undertaken. This is because a cause of action cannot arise from a base ground- Ex turpi causa non oritur actio.”

PDP Crisis Deepens, Wike Accuses Ayu of N100m Fraud

By
James Orji
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0
Babachir Lawal and Wike

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has deepened after Governor Nyesom Wike accused the National Chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu of fraudulently obtaining N100 million from one of the party’s governors.

The governor spoke on the heels of a meeting by the PDP Board of Trustees led by a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara in Abuja.

Governor Wike has been at loggerheads with the party following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the opposition party in May this year.

The Rivers helmsman has also demanded the resignation of Ayu to pave the way for a southerner to lead the party in next year’s election as the Chairman, arguing that both the presidential candidate and the chairmanship positions cannot be occupied by one region. Both Atiku and Ayu are from the Northern part of the country.

His latest revelation, close watchers of the party said, is part of Wike’s efforts to force Ayu out of office after he earlier accused him of an N1 billion fraud.

Other four PDP governors who are with the Rivers governor in the ongoing effort to put pressure on Ayu to resign are Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuaiyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The five governors recently unsettled the party after they all boycotted the PDP presidential campaign flag-off in Akwa Ibom state.

The governor who spoke on Friday during a media chat in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital accused Ayu of falsely collecting N100 million from a PDP governor he failed to mention, adding that the former lacks integrity and cannot lead the party to the 2023 presidential election.

Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, opened a new can of worms on Friday, regarding the alleged light finger tendencies of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, a man he said even his children would abandon, if they were let into his secrets.

Wike said, “Ayu collected N100 million from a governor. If not for the love of this party, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children. There cannot be any comment. He (Ayu) cannot say anything. Look, I am the governor of Rivers state and I don’t just come out to speak.

“Let Ayu say he did not collect N1billion. In fact, let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100 million from a governor that he was going to renovate our democratic institution and then he (Ayu) went back to the PDP NWC and took the same N100 million for doing the same work. What kind of system is that? I am telling you all these are facts. Let him (Ayu) say no first and I will tell you (those he collected money from).

“A leader must be a man of integrity. And I have realised that people find it hard to have that (integrity) lately. You a presenting a man (Ayu) who lacked integrity as chairman of the party. Somebody that wants to lead a campaign to take the reigns of government? What is the problem with what we are asking of Ayu?

“We are saying let there be equity, let there be fairness and justice. But if you don’t want it that way then you are the one causing the crisis (in the party) and that shows you (Ayu) don’t have leadership skills because this is the time to show it. This is the time to show leadership skills on the part of those who are leaders of the party.”

Nigerian Energy Export To India To Hit Over $100bn

By
James Orji
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0
Niyi Adebayo

Nigeria’s export earnings from India will hit over $100 billion by the end of 2030, Bloomberg report citing the Standard Chartered Bank Plc.

According to the British online medium, the proceed is expected to be earned from Nigerian energy export to the Asian giant and second most populous nation in the world, which in 2020 peaked at over $40 billion.

The online newspaper report that India is one of the top destinations for Nigerian exports with over 14 percent of goods exported to the country in the first quarter of this year.

Ricky Kaura, the bank’s Regional Head of Transaction Banking in Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East said that more countries are demanding for Nigerian goods, adding that China and Indonesia will buy more from the countryby 2030.

“There’s a number of macro-economic dynamics that are creating a lot of demand — new marketplaces, newer more progressive organizations”.

“Indonesia and mainland China will also remain key markets for Africa’s biggest economy, accounting for 12% and 10% of exports respectively by 2030” Kaura stated.

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