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According to Vadym Huttsait, Ukraine’s minister of sports, 262 Ukrainian athletes have died and 363 sports facilities have been destroyed since Russia invaded and launched the country’s war.

This was disclosed by Huttsait during a Saturday discussion with Morinari Watanabe, the visiting president of the International Federation of Gymnastics.

Huttsait, who bemoaned the harm caused by Vladimir Putin’s Russia, reportedly stated that no athletes from that country should be permitted to compete in the Olympics or other sporting events.

“They all support this war and attend events held in support of this war,” Huttsait said, according to a transcript on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s website.

Russian and Belarusian athletes should progressively return to international competition as neutrals, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Although it has not yet made a decision regarding their participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ukraine has stated that its athletes will not be released to compete in 2024 Games qualifying events if they must compete against Russians.

While no international or continental organization has confirmed the number of Ukrainian athletes who have died, according to Reuters, the IOC criticized the war-torn nation’s decision to forbid its athletes from competing in games against Russians.

Following Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of Ukrainian national-level athletes have voluntarily enlisted in the military to protect their nation.

Dmytro Sharpar, a figure skater, who died in battle near Bakhmut, and Volodymyr Androshchuk, a 22-year-old decathlon champion and prospective Olympian, were among those murdered this year alone.

Professor Rufai Alkali, the national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, has submitted his resignation.

Alkali announced his decision to resign in a letter addressed to the party’s national secretary, citing the need to free up positions so that other leaders could take over and build on the achievements established during the brief time he served as the party’s national chairman.

The letter headed, ”Letter of stepping aside from the post of National Chairman, New Nigeria Peoples Party,” read, ”I am pleased to write and convey to you that I have stepped aside as the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party with effect from today, Friday March 31, 2023.

“Following keenly the events before, during and after the recent general election held on February 25 and March 18, 2023, it is my humble view that our party, the NNPP, has a great future and potential to emerge as the leading political force that is capable of winning the presidential and all other elections in 2027.”

“To achieve this, we must think ahead and plan ahead. And the time is now. Our great party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party will require major and fundamental structural and systemic changes and reorganisation at all levels of the party in order to strengthen its base, improve its operational capabilities and generally enhance its competitive advantage over and above all the other 17 political parties on the Independent National Electoral Commission nominal roll.

“Since, we as a party, all believe in and aspire to bring in a better Nigeria through the astute leadership of our leader, His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, I believe no sacrifice is too much from each and every one of us.

“I am convinced this change must start from me. This is precisely why I have decided, with all sense of responsibility, to step aside from the office of the National Chairman of our party to give room for fresh hands to take over to build upon and improve on our modest contributions. I wish I had done more.

”By this letter, I also wish to inform our National Leader and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, members of the National Working Committee and our entire members nationwide that I am still and will remain a bonafide member of our party and I pledge to serve and offer support to our party at all levels to ensure the continued progress and advancement of our party.”

He specifically thanked the party’s National Leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice presidential candidate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, the Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Boniface Aniebonam, the Board of Trustees Secretary, Buba Galadima, members of the National Working Committee, members of the governorship and National/state House of Assembly, and all party members nationwide for their kindness, support, and encouragement throughout his tenure as the party’s chairman.

“I pray, may God bless and reward you all With His bountiful mercies and blessings. Long live the New Nigeria Peoples Party. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The letter, dated March 31, 2023, was also copied to the party’s national leader and presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso; the board of trustees’ chairman, Boniface Aniebonam; and the secretary, Buba Galadima.