Former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, announced on Tuesday that he is considering returning home after a 10-year absence following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“After 10 long years of absence from the country and following my acquittal by the ICC, I will soon be with you,” the former Ivorian head of state said in a statement.

Mr. Gbagbo paid tribute “to all the victims, to all those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy in our country.

“With my return, I intend to take my place in the process of national reconciliation and contribute to the restoration of the bonds of fraternity, conviviality and solidarity that have always characterised our people,” he said.

The statement comes four days before the legislative elections in Côte d’Ivoire.

“I urge all our citizens to cast their votes massively for our candidates in the electoral districts where we are either alone or in alliance with the PDCI-RDA, The Democratic Party of Cote d”Ivoire–African Democratic Rally),” he said.

Former President Gbagbo, who is on parole in Belgium after his acquittal at first instance by the ICC, is due to return to Cote d’Ivoire in mid-March, his party announced at a press briefing in late February. (PANA/NAN)

By Naomi Sharang

The National Dermatology (Specialist) Hospital Bill, on Wednesday scaled 2nd reading at the Senate.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Aishatu Dahiru (APC-Adamawa) was aimed at establishing Specialist Hospital that would specifically focus on the treatment of leprosy, skin cancer and other skin related diseases.

Leading debate on the Bill, the lawmaker recalled that as far back as 1929, an International Hospital was established for Garkida Agricultural Leper Colony by the Church of the Brethren Mission (USA).

“It was an ambitious effort located on 2, 500 acres of land designed for treatment of leprosy and other illnesses.It was also an isolation centre and for training of lepers in craft and improved agricultural methods.

“It was a reputable hospital with 12, 507 leprosy patients admitted between 1929 and 2002 with reasonable number of patients coming from neighbouring countries.

“With the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s and the use of dapsone to treat leprosy, the role of the hospital changed.

“Dr Roy Pfaltzgraff the Medical Superintendent (1954-1982), transformed the hospital to an internationally welI-known center for developmental work in surgical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, protective footwear, prostheses and training,” she said.

She said that the hospital would allow specialty care providers focus on particular areas of care in which they had extensive training and education.

“The tears and frustration expressed by patients with pigmentary disorders and the psychological impact of these disorders will be effectively handled by the hospital,” Dahiru said.

The Bill was referred by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Heath for further legislative action to report back in four weeks.(NAN)

By Ifeanyi Olannye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed optimism of a landslide victory at the March 6 Delta local government councils poll.

Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, said this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Wednesday.

“The PDP is fully confident of achieving a landslide victory in the March 6 council poll.

“We have campaigned vigorously and comprehensively with visible and verifiable achievements in all the Local Government Areas (LGAs).

“We want to assure the people that the administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa still has much more democracy dividends to deliver once our vibrant and result-oriented candidates take charge once again at the local councils.

“Our campaigns were colourful, robust and issues based as our candidates showcased PDP’s achievements in every LGA with the pledge to consolidate on what has already been accomplished.

“The APC on the other hand has nothing to showcase or campaign with as it has failed people of Delta woefully,” he said.

He, however, cautioned the electorate to endeavour to observe all COVID-19 protocols and observe strict guidelines during the election. (NAN).

By Femi Ogunshola

The House of Representatives on Wednesday tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to embark on constituency delineation in the country.

The resolutions of the House followed a motion on the “review of the division of states of the federation into federal constituency” sponsored by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) at Wednesday’s plenary.

Presenting the motion, Elumelu, also Minority Leader, said that since the commencement of the 4th Republic, INEC has not deemed it necessary to delineate constituency.

He said that the act was a violation of section 73(1) of the 1999 constitution as amended as it deprived citizens of bloated federal constituencies adequate attention.

He expressed worries that though the constitution provided for a 10-year time frame for constituency reviews, adding that INEC had not done any known review in the last 22 years of the democratic dispensation.

He tasked INEC to be alive to its responsibilities, adding that a situation where some federal constituencies were twice the size of others in both size and population was at variance with constitution. (NAN)

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has solicited the National Assembly’s support to convert existing voting points in the country to polling units.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal on Tuesday during a presentation on the state of voter access to Pulling Units (PUs)  in Nigeria, to the National Assembly  Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, in Abuja.

He said that some of the voting points when converted to polling units would be relocated to underserved areas.

Yakubu also urged the lawmakers and stakeholders to help de-politicise issues around the intention of the commission saying  that the situation affected all parts of the country.

He said the voter access to polling units across the country was presently in a state of crisis as the existing 119,973 polling units was established by the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) 25 years ago.

He noted that the existing PUs were projected to serve 50 million registered voters, which increased to over 84 million in 2019 and still expected to increase before the next general elections.

Yakubu  said  the existing number of polling units were not only inadequate but not conducive for voters to exercise their rights to vote fairly, especially in the context of COVID-19.

He added that it had not also been suitable for INEC to properly manage election and ensure that rules and regulations were strictly adhered to.

The INEC boss said the commission had made several efforts in the past to address the problem but it was misunderstood by Nigerians due to lack of proper sensitisation and the decisions were made closed to elections.

According to Yakubu, some of the  efforts by the commission to address the problem included the creation of baby units in 2007, voting points in 2011 and voting points settlements in FCT in 2016.

He said  the commission believed that by converting the existing voting points  in use since 2011 to polling units and relocating some of them to underserved areas, majority of the challenges faced by voters and INEC would be addressed.

Yakubu said apart from starting early this time around, the commission decided to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the lingering  problem was addressed.

He disclosed that already, the commission had received no fewer than 9,000 requests from communities and individuals for the creation of new polling units across the country.

“We received 5,747 requests in Oct. 2020 to establish new polling units. The commission did not tell citizens to apply or to request for the creation or whatever units.

“As at last week, Feb. 23, the number of requests has increased to 9,092, which is additional 4,300 requests since over a period of four months and the number keeps increasing,” he said.

He assured that in converting the voting points to polling units, the commission would take into consideration the number of registered voters in the polling units as well as the distance, to ensure that justice was done and the problem adequately addressed.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, pledged the support of the National Assembly to INEC to provide better voting environment for Nigerians through creation of more polling units.

“I want to assure the chairman of INEC and indeed Nigerians that the National Assembly will support INEC fully, completely and wholly in ensuring that we provide a better voting environment for our citizens.

“We will do whatever it takes, because democracy is about participation and voting is probably the most important thing,” Lawan said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakubu was accompanied by national commissioners and some of the management staff of the commission.(NAN)

By Kingsley Okoye

A political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi has decried the growing ethnic conflict in Nigeria, saying it is the bane of development.

Utomi said this, when he made a remark at the launch of an autobiography of Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP -Abia) in Abuja on Monday.

“Our country is challenged in many ways but more importantly, it is challenge of the collapse of character in public life, the crisis of our country is the crisis of lost character.

“It seems somehow that we are lost in the world of tribes in Nigeria,” he said.

Utomi also emphasised the need for citizens to always engage public office holders on their activities for the good of all.

“Citizens are supposed to engage the state public officials, because we have not built up citizens, there is a gap between those who are in public life and the Nigerian people .

“And it has not helped us to develop because people in public life always separate themselves from the people,” he said.(NAN )

By Ikenna Osuoha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South East Zone, on Monday called on Sen. Smart Adeyemi to immediately apologise to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia for derogatory remarks he made about the governor at the Senate plenary.

NAN reports that Adeyemi had during plenary on Feb. 23, described Gov. Ikpeazu as a drunkard and champagne drinking man claiming that he had done no monumental project for his people.

Mr Augustine Okeke, Publicity Secretary, South East Zonal Caretaker Committee, made the call in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Okeke, who condemned the derogatory remarks, said that it was defamatory and premeditated slight not just on Ikpeazu but on the exalted position of governor of Abia.

“South East PDP wonders why Sen. Smart Adeyemi, a non indigene, a non resident, who arguably owns no property or investment in any part or territory of Abia could resort to such ontoward derogatory language to qualify a citizen of Nigeria.

“No less a governor of a state elected not once but twice by the indigenes and residents of Abia,” he said.

The Publicity chief wondered how a supposed distinguished personality as a senator could stoop so low in an act of mudslinging with remarks full of hatred and contempt.

According to him, the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly which if left unchecked may lead to the misconstruing of the senate chambers as a breeding ground for the use of gutter language.

Okeke, who reiterated the need for Adeyemi to apologise within seven days, threatened to seek redress in court if he failed to do so.

‘Consequent upon this, the Zonal Working Committee of PDP, South East zone, hereby, demands that Sen. Smart Adeyemi should publicly apologise to Gov. Ikpeazu within seven days for this unprovoked defamation of character.

“Failure of Sen. Smart Adeyemi to do this would leave the zonal working committee of PDP, South East, with no other option than taking every necessary measure to seek redress.

“This includes, but not limited to, instituting a libel suit against Sen. Adeyemi.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeyemi (APC-Kogi West) came into political limelight when he first won the Senate seat on the platform of the PDP,  and later cross carpeted to the ruling APC.

The Abia government had in response to Adeyemi’s remarks said that he had abused the immunity privilege in the National Assembly but advised him to visit Abia to see the development strides in education, health and other infrastructure done by Ikpeazu.(NAN)

By Naomi Sharang/Kingsley Okoye

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, says he doesn’t drink at all, contrary to a statement by a serving senator describing him as a drunk.

Ikpeazu said at the launch of the autobiography of Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia) “Made in Aba”, in Abuja on Monday that he doesn’t drink at all.

“Permit me to say that I don’t drink at all and I don’t begrudge those who drink.

“In other places or countries that have lesser problems, their leaders discuss issues of security, big issues of economic development, infrastructure development, they don’t talk about what people do and what they did not do,” he said.

Ikpeazu urged political leaders to serve as mentors to the younger generation, while holding political offices.

The governor who was Special Guest at the event, said leaders must in the course of leading, mentor youths who were the future leaders of the country.

“For us leaders, it is a calling. If you are called to lead, you are also called to be a mentor to the young ones and what you say, how you carry yourself and the things you say and the times you say them, speak a lot about how serious you are as a person.

“I share in the joy of this event because I understand the importance of history of a people and a nation.

“I am happy that we are trying in Nigeria now to return history into the curriculum of our secondary school system.

“Yes, if Abaribe fails to tell his story, by the time others tell the story, he will not be able to recognise himself anymore.

“The caption points to something and that is the tenacity and never dying spirit that Aba exhumes, represents and reflects and that encapsulates the personality of distinguished Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe, “he said.

Also speaking, the former Senate President, Mr Anyim Pius Anyim, described the author of the book as “a colossus”.

“The controversy in the life of Abaribe started as deputy governor of Abia.

“I think I have to say that a public figure without controversy is not complete. “There must be a time you will challenge the status quo.

“There must be time you must take a stand that everybody will not be comfortable with.

“There must be a time you will stand out, whether people like it or not and I think that would have dotted the history of Abaribe.

“It is a history that is dotted with firm convictions or issues, whether the crowd goes the same way with him or against him, he will stand his ground, he will make his point, he will push his point and he will defend his point,“ he said.

Earlier, the author of the book, Abaribe said he desired a country where everyone would be committed to the “Nigerian Project.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book has ten chapters with 241 pages. (NAN)

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday announced the postponement  of the sale of forms for Anambra governorship primary election from the earlier scheduled date of Monday, March 1, to Wednesday, March 10.

The party in a statement by its National Organising Secretary, Retired Col. Austin Akobundu, in Abuja also announced the extension of the tenure of its zonal caretaker Committees for South-West, North-Central and North-West by 30 days.

Akobundu also gave March 1, as the last day for submission of already purchased and completed forms for its zonal congresses in all the zones.

“Consequently, screening of aspirants for North-East, South-East and South-South Zonal congresses is now scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, at the zonal headquarters.

“In the same vein, the tenures of Zonal Caretaker Committees for South-West, North-Central and North-West have been extended for another period of 30 days.

“The fresh extension takes effect from March 10, being the date of the expiration of the current tenure.”

Akobundu advised all PDP leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members to take note of those changes in the schedule of activities of the party. (NAN)

By Hilary Akalugwu

Dr Ben Nwoye, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, has expressed gladness with the large turnout of members in their membership revaluation in the state.

Nwoye also said that the party would remain grateful to Chief George Ogara, a governorship aspirant in 2019 party primary for his financial assistance to the party.

Nwoye said this on Sunday at Unadu ward in Igboeze-Sourh Local Government Area of Enugu State where he witnessed Ogara’s revalidation of his membership at the ongoing nationwide Registration and Revalidation of Membership exercise of APC.

He said millions of naria donated to the party by  Ogara  had helped in running the party as well as taking care of  logistics in the ongoing registration and revalidation exercise.

“Enugu State APC is grateful to Ogara who has shown in words and action that he is a true party faithful.

“Revalidation of his party membership today that attracted who is who in Enugu State APC and beyond is an indication that he is a dedicated and loyal party member,” he said.

The chairman used the opportunity to receive some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths in Unadu ward who defected to APC and commended them for their wise decision.

“You have taken a wise decision to join APC and I assure you all, you will be carried along in all party activities and programme,” he said.

The chairman expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded in the ongoing Revalidation and registration exercise  in the state.

“I am impressed with the large turn out of members to revalidate their membership as well as new people coming to register in the party.

“This is an indication that in 2023 APC member will be elected a governor in Enugu State,” he said.

Speaking shortly after revalidation of his membership, Ogara said he was proud to be in APC because of numerous achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari in the country.

“Since Buhari assumed office in 2015 the country has witnessed unprecedented progress in various sectors of the economy,” he said.

He accused the PDP-led government in Enugu State of failure in infrastructure development and empowerment of residents.

“Majority of roads, health centres in Enugu State are in very bad shapes including in my ward here, Unadu.

“I am happy that the problem of factionalism, which is the  only challenge facing APC in Enugu State, has been resolved.

“So nothing will stop APC from taking over Lion Building (Enugu State Government House) in 2023, that will be when people in the state will enjoy dividends of democracy,” he said.

Ogara expressed appreciation to the state party executives, party chieftains and members of the party who came from Enugu state and outside the state to witness his membership revalidation.

“I am overwhelmed by the crowd and  calibre of people who travelled from far and near to be here today; this show the volume of love and trust they  have for me,” he said.

Among PDP youths in Unadu who joined APC include: Mr Eze Ayogu, former Executive Assistant to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mr Lucky Idoko, former councilor, Unadu ward; and Mr Ikechukwu Ameh former PDP youth leader, Unadu ward.

Earlier in a remark, Mr Matthias Ugwuanyi, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Igboeze-South LGA, said that the party would continue to be proud of Ogara as he had been a trustworthy and dedicated APC member.(NAN)