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NNPC loses N900m daily selling fuel at N145, reveals Kachikwu

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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NNPC loses N900m daily selling fuel at N145, reveals Kachikwu

 

Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State For Petroleum Resources, says between October 2017 and now, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has lost about of N85.5 billion (between N800 million and N900 million daily) selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the current retail price of N145 per litre.

Kachikwu made this known on Thursday during a joint hearing of the National Assembly Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

He explained that as of the first quarter of 2016 when the current petrol pump price was fixed, the price of crude oil in the international market was $49 per barrel, and the landing cost for PMS was about N133.28.

However, crude oil price has since risen to $67, raising the landing cost of petrol to N171 per litre, thereby making it impossible for independent marketers to continue importing the product and selling at the government-approved price of N145.

As, a result, Kachikwu explained, the NNPC has been the sole importer of petroleum products, bringing in about 25 million litres every day since October 2017.

Kachikwu said the NNPC records a N26 loss on every litre of petrol it sells at N145, and has therefore incurred a daily loss of between N800 and N900 million, translating to N85.5 billion in just over three months.

On the possible solutions to the incessant challenges associated with the Nigerian petroleum industry, Kachikwu said government is considering three steps.

“One; is for the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow the marketers access forex at the rate of N204 to a dollar as against the official rate of N305 to keep the pump price of fuel per litre at N145,” he said.

“Two, to give room for modulated deregulation where NNPC would be allowed to continue selling at N145 per litre in all its mega stations across the country, while the independent marketers should be allowed to sell at whatever price is profitable to them in all their outlets.

“Three, to look at the direction of blanket subsidy for all the importers in bridging the gap which would be like going back to a problem that had earlier been solved.”

He added that the ultimate solution would be for Nigeria to be able to put its refineries in good shape, so that at least 80% of petroleum products consumed in the country are refined locally.

 

Shehu: One more person died after Buhari’s appointments were made public

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Shehu: One more person died after Buhari’s appointments were made public

 

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, says one other presidential nominee died after the list as published on December 30, 2017.

Shehu said this during an interview with journalists, adding that the process to replace the names of deceased persons in the list hade gone a long way.

Also, names of persons who have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be expunged from the list, he added.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that the process to replace the dead ones has started. We have listened to the concerns raised,” Shehu said.

“The entire list is being scrutinised all over again. They have gone very far and they will be reporting to the President very soon.

“Even after the list was published, one nominee died. They need to take a second look at the entire list.

“There were also complaints about some persons who had left the party but made the list. We are looking at those ones too with a view to replacing them.”

After the original list was announced by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, it was discovered that eight persons whose names made the shortlist were dead.

But Shehu explained that the list was compiled in 2015 but was not made public due to President Muhammadu Buhari’s frequent medical trips abroad.

He said there was nothing scandalous about the list, as nobody could have prevented anybody from dying between then and now.

““This list is a historical list. It dates back to 2015… If a list was compiled like over two years ago, obviously some people would have died. Nobody can stop that from happening,” he said

“Whoever is dead will be replaced. There is nothing extraordinary about it.”

Aside persons that had died, the list contained names of persons with questionable integrity who were appointed as Board Chairmen and members of several government agencies.

One of them is Herman Hembe, who represented Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency of Benue State, but was sacked by the Supreme Court and was replaced by Dorathy Mato.

Hembe was appointed the Board Chairman of the Michael Imoudo National Institute for Labour Studies (MINLS).

‘Get your 2019 votes in UAE’ — Nigerians bash Osinbajo for holidaying abroad

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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‘Get your 2019 votes in UAE’ — Nigerians bash Osinbajo for holidaying abroad

 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is currently on his annual leave in the United Arab Emirates but many Nigerians are unimpressed that the Number 2 citizen of the country is enjoying his leave in a foreign country at a time some states in the country are witnessing mass killings.

After Laolu Akande, Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, tweeted about the Osinbajo’s leave, the information was greeted with criticism, many accusing the Vice President of insensitivity.

Others also attacked Osinbajo for traveling all the way to Dubai to observe his annual leave, and not anywhere in Nigeria, contrary to the current administration’s gospel of patronising made-in-Nigeria products.

Here are a few of the reactions from Twitter:

However, not many were critical of the development as some believe Osinbajo’s leave is well deserved.

Ezekwesili: My political agenda in 2018 is to work against APC and PDP

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Ezekwesili: My political agenda in 2018 is to work against APC and PDP

 

Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, says her political agenda for 2018 is clear and it is to work against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ezekwesili, who is also the Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement campaigning for the release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls, said working against the two parties is the “agenda of an ordinary citizen of this country”.

“I hope that my Political Agenda for 2018 is CLEAR ENOUGH to the twin parties of APC & PDP and their allies. It is the Agenda of an ordinary citizen of this country. Mock it. Attack it. Disdain it. Do whatever. YET IT SHALL PREVAIL. Why? The UNIVERSE IS TIRED OF YOU,” she said in a string of tweets on Twitter.

She lamented that both APC and PDP had failed to meet the yearnings of Nigerians, describing them as two faces of same coin.

Ezekwesili also berated the subtle launch of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid at a time the nation is witnessing avoidable killings in several parts of the country.

She said: “Of all days that APC and its stalwarts could assault our sensibilities with announcement of launch of 2019 re-election bid for President @MBuhari, they chose yesterday!

“Same day that citizens were traumatised by the images of butchered bodies of our fellow citizens?  Enough!!

“Whether many other citizens feel the way one feels about our political status quo does not matter. Standing up for what I believe is what one was raised to epitomize.”

While saying that it is a shame to see APC tow the same leadership style of PDP, Ezekwesili said she would not be deterred in waging political war against the two parties in the 2019 election, irrespective of the cost.

“It is sickening to watch the repetition of similar pattern of bad behaviour by our political class,” she said.

“My individual effort to campaign against APC and PDP in the 2019 elections may not amount to much, but it is at least a definite expression of my personal conviction.

“I shall actively campaign against APC and PDP in the 2019 Elections except in rare cases where they field new minds with strong record of public Interest.

“I am committed to this Political Agenda because we must disrupt and end the Political and Governance stagnation and retrogression that our cyclical Low Equilibrium Political Russian Roulette has cost our country and people.

“It is that neither APC nor its twin brother (yes, how does 6 differ from half a dozen?) PDP should win the 2019 State and Federal legislative and executive elections. I am totally committed to this agenda.”

Army ‘rescues’ one more Chibok girl from Boko Haram

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Army ‘rescues’ one more Chibok girl from Boko Haram

 

One of the Chibok Secondary School girls abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014 has been rescued, the Nigerian Army said on Thursday.

A statement by Onyema Nwachukwu, a Colonel and Deputy Director of Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, revealed that the girl was rescued by Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed in Pulka on Thursday.

The girl has been identified as Salomi Pagu, whose name tallies with Serial Number 86 on the published list of the abducted Chibok girls.

“So far, preliminary investigations reveal that the young girl identified as Salomi Pagu is the same as the Chibok girl published on serial 86 of the online list of abducted Chibok girls.

“Currently, the girl who was intercepted in the company of another young girl, Jamila Adams, about 14 years old with a child, are in the safe custody of troops and receiving medical attention,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement campaigning for the rescue of the abducted girls issued a statement saying Pogu is a daughter of Mallam Pogu Yahi from Kaumutahyahi, a village in Kuburmbula ward of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

In the statement, signed by Sesugh Akume, BBOG Spokesperson, the Movement noted that the rescued girl is Number 15 on the publicly-known list of missing Chibok girls and not Number 86 as the statement by the Military said.

It said the identity of Jamila and her baby were yet to be ascertained.

Adebayo Shittu on Buhari: If a child does well in secondary school, let him go to university

Chikezie OMEJE
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Adebayo Shittu on Buhari: If a child does well in secondary school, let him go to university

 

Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications, says the South West campaign office for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari would be inaugurated on January 20.

Shittu said that Buhari’s supporters are urging him to re-contest, because if a child performs well in primary school, then it is a given that he should go to the university.

Speaking with State House correspondents after briefing Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said: “By the grace of God, we his (Buhari’s) ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians would urge him to re-contest.”

He said they would help Buhari to make up his mind so that Nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress.

“I know he has not made up his mind but I can say that some of us can assist him in making up his mind so that Nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress in our land,” Shittu added.

“It goes without saying. I mean if you have a child who goes to primary school and he does well, he proceeds to secondary school and he does well, and you keep asking if he will be going to university. It goes with out saying.”

Herdsmen ‘kill 17’ in Benue after kick-off of anti-open grazing law

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Herdsmen ‘kill 17’ in Benue after kick-off of anti-open grazing law

 

At least 17 persons have been confirmed dead after droves of herdsmen attacked five communities in Benue State following the kick-off of the newly-enacted anti-open grazing law in the state.

According to Punch, the affected communities are Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo and Turan all in Logo Local Government Area, as well as Umenger, Tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse-Abi in Nongov District of Guma LGA.

Witnesses said the coordinated attacks began around 9 pm on Monday and continued until the early hours of Tuesday as the herders had a field day killing people and burning down houses without any intervention by security agencies.

“As I speak with you, the affected villages have been deserted and the invaders have taken over and are razing the ancestral homes of the people who have fled from the areas to other towns in their thousands, for fear of being killed,” an unnamed source was quoted as saying.

“It’s a pathetic situation. The development has inflicted untold hardship on women, children and the elderly, who are trekking long distances in search of a safe haven and awaiting the intervention of security operatives.”

Bodies of many of the dead victims were deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Morgue in Makurdi, while many of the injured were also being treated at the hospital.

Gajir Tsoho, a medical doctor at the surgery department of the hospital, confirmed that more than 30 victims had received treatment at the teaching Hospital, with many corpses already deposited at the morgue.

Reacting to the development, Samuel Ortom, Governor of Benue State, said there would be no going back on the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

He blamed the security agencies for not taking proactive steps to curb the crisis.

“This is unfortunate. The security agencies of this country are aware of what is happening in Benue,” he said.

“So many people are being killed, many houses destroyed, some innocent children were slaughtered, others sliced in the throat just because they want to be law-abiding.

“Even amongst the livestock guards, who were there to ensure that there are no clashes, nine of them were killed and innocent women and children were killed. This is not fair.

“We must rise up; Nigerians must rise up; the Federal Government must rise up to protect us because this is not right.

“They [FG] own the security apparatus. The ones that are here are doing their best but there should be more and that is what we are calling for.”

Confirming the attacks, Moses Yamu, spokesman of the Benue State Police Command, said a total of 17 persons, including seven members of the state’s livestock guards, were killed.

“The Benue State Police Command has recorded attacks on Tomater village in Sengev council ward; Akor village in Nzorov council ward; and Bakin Kwata village in Umanger council ward of the Guma Local Government Area by suspected herdsmen,” Yamu said.

“A total of 17 persons, including seven members of the Benue State Livestock Guards, were killed; their vehicle burnt and an uncertain number of persons injured in separate attacks between December 31, 2017 and January 2, 2018.

“Again, Agba-Uko, near Azege village, and Tse-Aga village of Logo LGA experienced the same fate where one person was killed, one motorcycle burnt, and four persons injured.”

These recent attacks seem to be a validation of the warning issued by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association in November 2017 that they would not accept the anti-grazing rule in Benue State.

 

In ‘despair’, Muric asks FG for Jan 1 holiday like ‘over-pampered’ Christians

YEKEEN Akinwale
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In ‘despair’, Muric asks FG for Jan 1 holiday like ‘over-pampered’ Christians

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a Muslims’ human right group, has asked the Federal Government to consider declaring the first day of the Islamic calendar, 1st Muharram, public holiday, just like the first day of Gregorian calendar, January 1.

The group argued that such holiday will bring the total number of holidays enjoyed by Muslims to four only, while Christians still continue to enjoy five.

“It is time for FG to add 1st Muharram to the number of Muslim holidays,” said Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, in a statement titled ‘GIVE MUSLIMS THEIR OWN 1ST JANUARY’.

This, if done, would help reassure Muslims that they are being fully integrated into the Nigerian project.

MURIC advised FG and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to “interact with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) for the exact date of 1st Muharram this year and declare it as a holiday”.

“We do not wish to be misunderstood: we are not agitating for the cancellation of anything which FG has given its over-pampered favourite, whether 1st January is based on falsehood and idolatory tendency or not is not our business, let them continue to enjoy it. But give us our day for crying out loud!” it said.

“For Nigerian Muslims to feel a sense of belonging, FG must close the gap between Christians and Muslims. “There must be a conscious effort to fully integrate Muslims into the Nigerian project otherwise we may be sitting on a keg of gun powder. Justice is the soul of peace and whoever denies one can never enjoy the other.”

THE FULL STATEMENT

As usual and since colonial days into Nigeria’s post-independence period, the Federal Government declared today, 1st January 2018, as a public holiday.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) observes that today’s holiday fully consolidated the two-day Christmas holiday and enabled Nigerian Christians to kick off the 2018 Christo-Western Gregorian calendar.

However, conscious Nigerian Muslims, particularly stakeholders in the welfare of Muslims as well as the growth and development of Islam in Nigeria, approached today’s holiday with mixed feelings. First and foremost, we express happiness for our Christian neighbours who were able to spend the day giving full practice, expression and manifestation of their faith. On the other hand, we experienced a feeling of despair, isolation and marginalization.

Our feeling of marginalization arises from the reality of the Nigerian situation which has conditioned Muslims in the country for religious segregation and subjected them to spiritual apartheid.

Here we are today, enjoying January 1st holiday which was declared by the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria in recognition of the Christo-Western Gregorian calendar. But the same FG which recognizes this Christian calendar is yet to declare 1st Muharram a public holiday in recognition of the Islamic calendar despite several petitions and appeals to it dating back to the 60s. Surprisingly, some people still complain that Nigeria is Islamised!

For the avoidance of doubts, only two of the world’s nine calendars have either survived or remained relevant to us in Nigeria. The first was the Egyptian calendar which came into existence ten thousand years ago. This was followed by six other ancient calendars, namely, the Babylonian, Hebrew, Mayan, Chinese, Greek and Roman calendars.

Due to human errors in the Roman calendar discovered by Numa Pompilius (715 – 673 B.C.) and Julius Caesar in 46 B.C., the Council of Nicea of 365 C.E. came up with its surgical abracadabra by moving back the Roman calendar by four days. Thus March 25, 365 C.E. became March 21.

But even this historical razzmatazz was not good enough for Pope Gregory XIII (1502 – 1585) when he discovered on Thursday, October 4, 1582 that the equinox fell on March 11 instead of March 21. By royal fiat, Pope Gregory quickly slashed off ten days from the year 1582 and the next day, a Friday which would have been October 5, 1582 became Friday, October 15, 1582. It is this Gregorian calendar, which was a product of gymnastic make-belief, that the Western world uses till today. It was this same calendar, a sheer hocus-pocus that the British Christian colonialists forced on Nigeria.

Why is FG granting holiday for a false god of Rome and denying same for Allah the Creator of all things (Qur’an 2:29), the Judge of all Judges (95:8), Master of all masters (51:58) and the King of Kings (3:26).

We do not wish to be misunderstood: we are not agitating for the cancellation of anything which FG has given its over-pampered favourite, whether 1st January is based on falsehood and idolatory tendency or not is not our business, let them continue to enjoy it. But give us our day for crying out loud!

Fortunately MURIC has successfully resisted the collective amnesia which is rampant among Nigerians. We recall the torments suffered by Nigerian Muslims under colonial rule. The most relevant of these inhuman treatments was the denial of holidays for Muslims on their festival days.

Although the colonialists declared holidays for Easter, Christmas and 1st January, they bluntly refused to give any Muslim festival an equal status. Muslims were therefore forced to go to work on Id al-Fitr and Id Al-Kabir days. While Maulud an-Nabiyy was an anathema to the colonial master, 1st Muharram was blue murder.

Whereas Nigerian Muslims were able to secure public holidays for some of its festivals in post-colonial period by dint of struggles and determination, 1st Muharram remains a pipe dream till today. The question on the lips of Nigerian Muslims today, 1st January, 2018 as Nigerian Christians savour the sweet sensation of the holiday and relish in the euphoria of spiritual fulfillment is, “When will our own come? When will the Nigerian state treat Muslims as complete human beings? For how long shall we remain second class citizens?”

Research reveals that 1st January is in honour of Janus, the Roman god of gates whom the Romans believed protected them from invasions. This is an incontrovertible fact. Why should FG force us to idolize the false god of Rome? MURIC charges FG to drop its colonial garb and to don a truly nationalistic identity. On the contrary, the Islamic hijrah calendar is divine (Qur’an 9:36; 2:189; 10:5 and 17:12).

Nigerians enjoy a total of eight (8) public holidays in a year. These are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy. Five (5) of the eight holidays belong to Christians (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st January, i.e, New Year Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday). Only three (3) holidays belong to Muslims, viz, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy.

It is time for FG to add 1st Muharram to the number of Muslim holidays. This will bring the total number of holidays enjoyed by Muslims to four only while Christians still continue to enjoy five. This year’s 1st Muharram is likely to fall on Tuesday, 11th September, 2018 or thereabouts.

Finally, we advise FG and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to interact with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) for the exact date of 1st Muharram this year and declare it as a holiday.

For Nigerian Muslims to feel a sense of belonging, FG must close the gap between Christians and Muslims. There must be a conscious effort to fully integrate Muslims into the Nigerian project otherwise we may be sitting on a keg of gun powder. Justice is the soul of peace and whoever denies one can never enjoy the other.

‘God will bless Wike’ — Amaechi’s reaction to New Year’s Day killing of 21 in Rivers

YEKEEN Akinwale
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‘God will bless Wike’ — Amaechi’s reaction to New Year’s Day killing of 21 in Rivers

 

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, is distraught over the killing of 21 people who were returning from church service on New Year’s Day, in Rivers State.

Ameachi criticized his successor, saying the incident had given the Governor away as lacking a firm grip of security situation in the state, before adding: “God will bless him.”

He expressed surprise that the Rivers State House of Assembly had not impeached Wike over his handling of security matters in the state.

“When you don’t protect life and property, what do you do is impeachment. Unfortunately there is no House of Assembly in Rivers State,”Amaechi told State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the Presidential Villa after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to fine-tune arrangements for the commissioning of 10 new coaches and two locomotives to boost the Kaduna-Abuja rail transport service.

“I think the Governor needs to get a bit more serious, he should stop encouraging the militant groups in the name of politics and election,” he said.

“You heard about 21 only in Ndoni, what about in Akutoru where two persons were killed, what about other LGAs. I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a Governor because it takes much more than age.

“I was Governor of Rivers State, I did not play PDP/APC politics. Life is life; it has no symbol. Nobody has APC life or PDP life. The first responsibility of a Governor, which is what the oath of office requires, is that you swear to protect lives and property.

“There is too much noise coming from Rivers State, the governor just wakes up and starts shouting, abusing people; that’s all he does. Mr. Project painting roads, the first thing you do is human capacity development and keeping human beings.

“Two important men were kidnapped before I left Port Harcourt. The first person is Chief Adoke. Till today, nearly one month after, nobody can tell you where he is. The next person, Chief Omogu, was kidnapped; luckily, the villagers ran after the people and rescued the old man from the bush.

“It never happened when I was Governor. We (the security and myself) ensured that we will not sleep at night. We stayed awake for then citizens to sleep; I think the Governor needs to do much more than that or quit the office.

“I just don’t know what his lacking in him because the things are there for him to work with. He is not like me that, during my second term, President Goodluck Jonathan took away Police, SSS…. The Army brigade commander couldn’t visit me but in his case everyone is disposed to him.

“He can see the Commissioner of Police, Director of SSS, unlike my period, but we fought insecurity. But because he needs these people for election, they are still there; that is why they are killing. We need much more than that.

“Unfortunately, I swore not to be talking about Rivers anymore but you don’t keep quiet in the face of 21 lives; you can’t just keep quite. I have said it that nobody should criticize his successor; let him do his bit. But a successor that watches the lives of people go like that and does not care, God will bless him.”

God has instructed me to run for president, says Tunde Bakare

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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God has instructed me to run for president, says Tunde Bakare

 

Tunde Bakare, General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, says he has God’s instructions to run for the presidency. However, he hasn’t exactly said when he would contest.

Delivering his New Year sermon at his church located in the Ogba area of Lagos, Bakare also said “many political juggernauts” would fall at the feet of women in 2018.

He reminded his congregation about how he had predicted that a former President would die between two women and had it came to pass.

“In 1998, I told you that I saw your President dying between two women. Did it happen?

“I’m telling you again: some of these political juggernauts will fall at the feet of women and you will see it happen,” he said.

Bakare further said that God had instructed him to run for the presidency.

“In my study around 4am on Sunday morning, God told me ‘you cannot bring your political career to a close; there is still more to do. Run for the Presidency. I will do it at the appointed time,” Bakare narrated.

“Joseph did not contest an election; yet, he became the prime minister of Egypt. Why must I worry myself about where to get the resources for the task?

“Your own duty in this assignment is to pray along with me. When it is the appointed time, He (God) will do it. When He tells me the time, you will hear about it.”

Bakare was the Vice Presidential candidate for the now rested Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011, when he contested as Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate but lost to former President, Goodluck Jonathan.

In 2015, after the amalgamation of the CPC and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Buhari chose another pastor, Yemi Osinbajo, as his running mate, with whom he won the election.

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