FEATURES

Nigerian Woman Slumps And D!es In Front Of Abuja Motorpark

AFOLABI

A middle-aged woman, who has been identified as Alice Emmanuel, collapsed and passed away in front of the Benue Links Park in Area 3, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, at approximately 9:25 a.m. on January 1, 2025.

According to reports, the woman had just alighted from a taxi in front of the park when she slumped.

The park manager immediately contacted the police who came to the scene and rushed the woman to the Karu General Hospital where she was confirmed dead by the doctors. No mark of violence was seen on her body.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the police command, SP Josephine Adeh, who confirmed the incident, said the family of the deceased woman has been contacted. She added that her body has since been deposited in the morgue of the hospital.

I Got PTSD — Burna Boy Breaks Silence, Reveals Why He Walked Off Stage During Lagos Concert

AFOLABI

World-famous Nigerian music superstar, Burna Boy has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his sudden exit from the stage at the 2025 Greater Lagos Countdown concert.

In a post via his Instagram story, the Afrofusion singer explained that he has PTSD and is triggered by being startled on stage, which is why he walked off on Tuesday night after an overzealous fan attempted to grab him.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder characterised by failure to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

Burna further urged fans to respect his boundaries while expressing gratitude for their support.

“It was a free show. I was supposed to do 10mins and did almost an hour. Everybody knows my rule about getting on stage and startling me when I’m performing,” he wrote.

“I had an amazing time with Lagos State last night. Don’t jump on my stage like that! I got PTSD. I love you all. Happy new year.”

The concert, which was held at The event, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was part of an annual celebration across five IBILE divisions of Lagos — including locations in Ikorodu, Badagry, Agege, and Epe.

It featured the performance of singers including Olamide, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, Seyi Vibez, 9ice, BNXN, and Adewale Ayuba, the fuji maestro.

US Judge, Stephen Yekel Shoots Himself Dead Inside Courtroom On His Final Day In Office

AFOLABI

In what will come across as a really tragic development in Effingham County, Georgia, USA, a Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, took his own life inside his courtroom.

His body was discovered on Tuesday morning, believed to have been shot dead late Monday night or early Tuesday.

This tragic incident occurred on what would have been his last day on the bench, following a recent loss in his re-election bid.

Yekel had attempted to resign from his position, which he held since his appointment in 2022, but Governor Brian Kemp prevented him from doing so.

The circumstances surrounding his resignation attempt are unclear, as the contents of a note sent to the Governor's office remain undisclosed.

According to Mail Online, citing local media, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is currently probing the incident.

The Effingham County Sheriff, Jimmy McDuffie, expressed his shock and sadness, stating that the courtroom has been closed until January 2. The county has offered condolences to Yekel's family and loved ones, describing his death as a tragic loss.

Father-of-four Yekel was a former assistant district attorney in Chatham County and practicing lawyer with more than 45 years of experience.

He previously held roles as a special agent with the state's Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Unit and was an investigator at the Cobb County District Attorney's Office.

Yekel's resignation letter to Governor Kemp cites his disappointment with low turnout for the election he lost. In the event a judge resigns, a new one would be appointed by the Governor rather than voted in.

Yekel wrote the position is, "too important to be decided by only 6% of eligible voters".

But Kemp rejected the resignation request, stating he wishes to maintain, "respect for the will of the people of Effingham County."

In May, Yekel's ex-wife Lisa Yekel shared a post on Facebook which outlined several issues reportedly plaguing his re-election campaign.

She dismissed rumors their divorce the year before was due to infidelity and denied that he had asked a police officer not to give him a citation following a car accident.

"His best friend who passed away recently had Steve's car in his shop for repairs and loaned him a vehicle to use, which is the reason he was not driving his car when he was involved in the accident," she wrote.

"He was on the way home after visiting our daughter who had just moved into her apartment in Pooler.

"The Steve Yekel I know never would have asked the police officer not to give him a citation. He has always taken responsibility for his actions."

She also hinted at financial problems the couple had faced over a failed daycare business.

"He did everything he could to avoid bankruptcy," she added. "Unfortunately, I had used his life savings to keep the daycare open.

"In my defense, I was too lenient on parents who couldn't pay their bills and they eventually left owing thousands of dollars, again that's my fault, not Steve's."

She concluded the post by stating her ex-husband was, "one of the most respectful, honest, and caring people I know" and urged people to re-elect him.

The couple share two children Sean and Ashleigh, who they raised alongside Yekel's sons Blake and Brett.

"Throughout my service, I've upheld the principles of dignity, respect, and impartiality, treating all individuals, whether represented by legal counsel or not, with fairness and equality," Yekel said in a post about his campaign.

Yekel ultimately lost his re-election bid to Judge Melissa M Calhoun.

The late judge was also facing a lawsuit from court employee Lisa Crawford who claims she was wrongfully terminated from her position by Yekel, WTOC reports.

Crawford was seeking $10,000 in damages amid claims Yekel fired her in order to bring in his own staff when he assumed office.

An email reportedly submitted as part of the lawsuit from Yekel to Crawford accused her of being part of a "conspiracy scheme" to help people charged with DUI reduce or dismiss their charges.

Tinubu’s New Year message devoid of plan to address unemployment, hunger - PDP

AFOLABI

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message “offers no hope in sight” for Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesperson, described the president’s New Year speech as “self-satisfying”,

The opposition party’s spokesperson said Tinubu’s administration is “completely disconnected and unconcerned” with the economic hardship in the country.

“Nigerians were appalled that despite the prodding by the PDP and well-meaning citizens, President Tinubu’s New Year speech did not articulate any specific direction for the nation or proffer solutions to the myriad of problems caused by APC’s misrule,” the statement reads.

“President Tinubu’s speech again underlines APC’s insensitivity to the anguish of Nigerians by failing to present any definite policy roadmap towards reducing the price of petroleum products, addressing the widespread hunger in the land, and revamping our ailing productive sector.”

Ologunagba said Tinubu did not articulate any “solution-based direction” for the critical sectors such as electricity, oil and gas, road infrastructure, and food production, among others.

“It was also pathetically devoid of a precise plan to address unemployment through strategic investment to stimulate multisectoral small and medium scale enterprises in the country,” Ologunagba said.

“If indeed the APC administration has the interest of Nigerians at heart, the New Year address would have made definite pronouncements on the price of fuel, especially given that with deft, transparent, and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage, national refining capacity, and effective policing of our borders, Nigerians should not pay more than N350 per litre for petrol within the country.

“In any case, from the speech, it is clear that the Tinubu-led APC administration lacks the expected patriotic commitment as well as the required capacity, competence, and skills to effectively harness and manage the resources of the nation for the good of the citizens.

“Moreover, President Tinubu’s claim in the speech that Nigerians placed their confidence in him as their president is ludicrous and shows that he is disconnected from the reality of his abysmal perception among Nigerians.”

The PDP spokesperson added that Nigerians have lost faith in Tinubu’s administration and have since moved on, “eagerly waiting for the next round of elections that will mark the end of the nightmare which the APC represents to our nation”.

He asked Tinubu to listen to Nigerians and be more committed and focused on the purpose of governance, which is the welfare and security of the people.

PHOTOS: Shettima, governors pay New Year homage to Tinubu in Lagos

AFOLABI

Vice-President Kashim Shettima and 13 state governors paid a New Year homage to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Wednesday.

The president is in Lagos for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The governors who were in attendance were Abba Yusuf of Kano, Sherriff Oborevwori of Delta, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.

Others are Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Usman Ododo of Kogi, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Babagana Zulum of Borno.

Speaking during the visit, Shettima said the nation’s economy is showing positive signs of recovery, noting that the administration is working hard to stabilise it.

Shettima expressed confidence that Nigeria will experience significant economic growth in 2025.

“I am confident that 2025 will bring about substantial economic activities and improvements to the lives of citizens,” the vice-president said.

“I’m highly optimistic about tomorrow. I believe we have turned the corner.

“We shall have very robust economic activities in the new year. I believe Nigerians will prosper.

“The economy has started picking up, and in the coming weeks and months, Nigerians will start smiling for the better.

“We are working assiduously with the national assembly to come up with robust solutions to our national challenges.

“There is no nation that is immune to the economic headwinds across the world.

“The crisis in Ukraine and so many other global trends are affecting us adversely because we are part of the global community.

“But I want to assure Nigerians that the economy is turning the corner. by the grace of God, we have crossed the rubicon and we are on a path to sustained growth. We wish Nigerians well.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his deputy Barau Jibrin and Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, also visited the president.

SEE PHOTOS:

Wizkid, Ayra Starr, and other African stars make waves in global music rankings

AFOLABI

Nigerian music superstars Wizkid and Ayra Starr have earned global recognition as they secure spots in Chart Data’s list of top artistes of 2024.

Released on New Year’s Eve, the list highlights the most influential and impactful artistes worldwide.

Wizkid claimed the 11th position, while rising star Ayra Starr followed closely at number 18. The inclusion of these two Nigerian superstars further emphasizes the growing influence of African music on the international stage.

South African singer Tyla also made a notable appearance on the list, securing the 12th position.

In the top 10, global pop sensations dominate the rankings. South Korean superstar Jimin takes the lead, with American music legends such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Beyoncé, and rapper Kendrick Lamar rounding out the top spots.

British pop phenomenon Charli XCX, along with Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Nicki Minaj, complete the top 10.

In addition to this recognition, Nigerian artistes Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy were also listed among the “Top 20 Music Global Icons Shaping The Future” by Active World.

Davido, who has made waves both locally and internationally, earned the third spot, while Wizkid and Burna Boy secured the 6th and 8th positions, respectively.

Moyo Lawal reflects on life's challenges as she marks her birthday

AFOLABI

Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal has taken to social media to mark her birthday with an emotional message reflecting on her personal trials and triumphs as she turns a year older.

In a touching Instagram post, the actress described herself as a living testament to resilience, drawing strength from the biblical verse Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper.”

Moyo shared that the past year had been one of the toughest of her life, stating that there was a time when she doubted she would even see 2025.

In a personal moment of reflection, she questioned her ordeals and shared that God responded by calling her one of His ‘bravest soldiers,’ reminding her that He would never burden her with challenges she could not handle.

The actress went on to express that these words helped her understand that in the most difficult moments of life, God is often preparing us for monumental breakthroughs.

Moyo emphasized that trials are not just obstacles but opportunities for God’s power and deliverance to shine through.

Moyo extended heartfelt gratitude to her support system, acknowledging the people who have stood by her side during her toughest times.

In her post, she wrote:

“I am a shining example of no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). You know, with the trials I had to face, if anyone had told me that I would see 2025, I would have called the person a blatant liar.
I remember in one of my most humbling reflections, I asked God, “Why me?” and He replied, “Why not me?? You are one of my bravest soldiers, and I will not burden you with what I know you can’t handle.” This reminded me that in our greatest times of testing and affliction, God is setting us up for the greatest display of His power and deliverance.
However, I digress. It’s my birthday, and a new beginning has manifested. To everyone who held my hands, wiped my tears, and cried with me (yep, I have some very dramatic people in my life), I THANK YOU. I have such an amazing support system that I thank the Almighty God for every single day (well, most times when they are not being annoying. I digress again, sorry).
In fact, my people did such an amazing job that I healed so well and practically found my old self again (I literally feel 21 again). Shey, you people didn’t overdo it like this. Eniyan l’aso mi, and my gratitude can never, ever be enough.

I cannot forget my darling fierceglowers @moyolawalplus who have kept us in business despite no fancy store and our inadequacies. Thank you so much.
I have started writing again ooooh. Just like an eagle, I will continue to rejoice in the trials I have faced because they have continued to empower me toward my destiny.
My eagle outfit @selizroyal_headwears
Makeup @iwalewa_signatures
Photography @praise_that_photographer
Skinplug @moyolawalplus
P.S. Happy New Year, everyone.”

Since posting, Moyo’s Instagram page has been flooded with heartfelt birthday messages from fans, friends, and well-wishers, all celebrating her resilience, growth, and the new chapter she is embracing.

Kazim Adeoti Celebrates Wife Mercy Aigbe's 47th Birthday with Heartfelt Message

AFOLABI

Nollywood producer and marketer Kazim Adeoti marks his wife Mercy Aigbe’s 47th birthday with a touching note.

On January 1, 2025, Mercy Aigbe celebrated another year of life, sharing stunning photos on social media.

Celebrating her birthday, Kazim Adeoti reflected on the past year, acknowledging the ups and downs they faced together.

He expressed gratitude for their bond and God’s mercies, which have helped them navigate life’s challenges.

Adeoti praised his wife’s courage, energy, and resilience.

He offered a heartfelt prayer, wishing Mercy Aigbe continued success and blessings from Allah.

He wrote:

“Dearest wife,

It is widely said and known that a lot can happen in a year. Truly and indeed, a lot happened – the joyful moments and more.

Irrespective of it all, we have ourselves to hold onto and stay grateful to God for His unending Mercies.

As you celebrate your birthday today, I can not but first salute your bravery, unmatched energy that refuels itself at every point of life.

It is my prayers that Almighty Allah continues to bless your endeavors and make you more successful than expected.

I love you a lot, Iyawo mi Agbeke

Happy birthday and congratulations darling, @realmercyaigbe”

Mercy Aigbe had earlier revealed why she married Kazim Adeoti .

During her appearance on “Nollywood on Radio,” Mercy Aigbe discussed her choice to become Adeoti’s second wife.

She cited shared professional interests as a key factor, stating that their shared industry background was a significant draw for her.

Mercy Aigbe highlighted the benefits of being with someone who understands the nuances of the entertainment industry.

She expressed optimism about their future, noting that combining their strengths will yield good results.

‘The Hope You Are Trying To Inspire Does Not Align With The Difficulties Your Policies Have Caused Nigerians’ – TUC President Fires Tinubu

AFOLABI

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to match his talks about making Nigeria better with actions.

Osifo submitted that it is on record that the economic policies of the Tinubu government have significantly added to the challenges facing the citizens.

Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television, the TUC President lamented that the attempts by President Tinubu to inspire hope is not in tandem with the economic realities caused by his policies.

Osifo made the declaration against the backdrop of the President’s New Year message in which, among other things, Tinubu promised to reduce inflation to 15%, stabilize the naira, and promote economic growth.

He vowed that in 2025, his government would boost local food production, increase the manufacturing of essential medicines, and improve credit access through the establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Company.

However, Osifo said while it is understandable that President Tinubu is only trying to market the country as any other leader would do, the reality of the situation in Nigeria doesn’t match the words.

He stated “The president of a country is the chief salesman of a country, his own primary responsibility is to lay out the message that he has laid out.

“To paint a very bright picture, to paint a picture of a lot of goodies that could come in 2025. So he has done what any president in the world could do. So generally, from listening to the statement and reading through it over and over again, we could see that a lot of things were painted with optimism.

“So in reality, what the president has said is trying to inspire hope, but that hope that he’s trying to inspire, is not really in tandem with what we have currently in our economy.”

No More Rhetorics

The TUC President identified some of the policies of the Tinubu government that have contributed significantly to the nation’s current challenges and economic difficulties, which many citizens are experiencing.

He urged President Tinubu to match his words with actions that justify the talks.

“Nigerians, Nigerians know clearly that a lot of these policies have brought about challenges, and have brought about difficulties that we are facing today.

“Today our exchange rate is about 1,600, depending on the parallel market or The Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing, It is also these policies that have also brought about the inflation that we have today.

“We’ve been told, for example, that inflation is going to come down to 15% by 2025.

“We’ve been told, for example, that our crude oil production is going to rise to about 2.06 million barrels per day. We’ve also been told, as well, that the balance of payments, we’ve been told how much we are going to borrow to finance our budget. So all these that the president has said, we have taken the brighter ones.

‘When you now analyze them, what are the parameters that have been put in place? What are those details that have been put in place that we can see that truly it is not just talkism, that truly what the president is saying, there are actions to match them,” Osifo submitted.

“Stay focused, ignore the noise” – Funke Akindele speaks amidst cinema drama

AFOLABI

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has shared a New Year’s message with her fans, expressing gratitude for their support.

This comes amidst controversy surrounding the release of her latest film, ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’.

Reports had emerged accusing cinemas of favoring certain movies, including Funke Akindele’s, by allocating more screen time.

This caused a buzz online, with some accusing Funke of sabotaging her colleagues, while others defended her, arguing that cinemas prioritize films based on viewer’s demand.

In her New Year’s post, Funke Akindele thanked her fans for their love and dedication, acknowledging the role they played in making Everybody Loves Jenifa a success.

She also appreciated her colleagues who participated in her meet-and-greet.

Looking ahead to the new year, Funke encouraged her fans to stay focused on their goals and ignore negative criticism.

“I won’t stop saying thank you to my amazing fans for making this movie a success! Your love and support mean everything to me. Shoutout to my colleagues for coming through to the meet and greet!

As we step into 2025, remember to stay focused, ignore the noise, and chase your dreams! You got this! And don’t forget, #eljthemovie is still showing in cinemas nationwide, UK, and select US theaters (AMC & Regal) ! Let’s keep the momentum going and make 2025 unforgettable!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!”

Everybody Loves Jenifa continues to show in cinemas nationwide, as well as in select UK and US theaters.

Just 12 days after release, Funke Akindele’ ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ becomes highest-grossing 2024 movie.

The movie has raked in an impressive N500 million within just 12 days of its release.

Taking to her Instagram page, Funke expressed her heartfelt gratitude to fans and supporters, as well as her faith in God, for the overwhelming success.

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FG raises N14.8 trillion from non-oil taxes in 11 months

Admin

Data from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has revealed that non-oil taxes accounted for N14.77 trillion or 73 per cent of the N20.211 trillion total taxes collected between January and November 2024.

The amount is a significant increase of N7.57 trillion or 105 per cent from N7.20 trillion collected in 2023. Oil taxes, on the other hand, were N5.44 trillion or 27 per cent of the total taxes collected for the period. This represents N1.4 trillion increase or 35 per cent above the N4.02 trillion collected in 2023.

The report said FIRS collected total tax revenue of N20.211 trillion in the period, surpassing the 2023 collection by N8.97 trillion or 80 per cent.
The N20.211 trillion collected in 11 months also surpassed the 2024 target of N19.4 trillion and N17.8 trillion set targets for January to November 2024.

The FIRS collection between January and November 2024 surpassed the N19.4 trillion targets for the year by N81 billion or 104 per cent and exceeded the target for 11 months by 114 per cent.

The 2024 collection represents N8.97 trillion or an 80 per cent increase over the 2023 annual revenue collection. Pressed by dwindling revenue amid rising debt, the Federal Government set a target of N19.4 trillion for FIRS. This significantly increases tax revenue to finance the 2024 budget.

This ambitious target represents a nearly 60 per cent jump from the N12.3 trillion collected in 2023 and forms part of a broader strategy to raise overall government revenue.

The 2023 target was N11.558 trillion but N12.32 trillion was recorded made up of N3.17 trillion oil revenue or 25.6 per cent of the total and N9.2 trillion non-oil (representing 74.4 per cent of the total).

The federal government achieved the N20.211 trillion mark through a two-pronged approach.
First was a direct collection of its revenue share from January 2, utilising advanced technology and improved methodologies from government-owned enterprises (GOEs).

The second was significantly increasing revenue from GOEs to 50 per cent of their earnings, leaving only 50 per cent for their operations. Although no target has yet been set for the FIRS for 2025, it is expected that it will be above N25 trillion.

[Guardian]

Tinubu Doubling Down On Policies That Cause Difficulties Nigerians Face –TUC President

Admin

Festus Osifo, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doubling down on some of his policies that have brought difficulties and challenges to Nigerians.

Osifo stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

He said that what the president said during his media chat was just to inspire hope in Nigerians.

The TUC president also said that the labour union was not getting the credit it deserved from Nigerians.

Osifo said, “The commander-in-chief will always come and try to feature things that are doing well. I can say that from the media chat played time an again, we could realize that the president is doubling down on some of the policies he has put out there, but looking at it deeply, we all know, Nigerians know clearly that some of those policies have brought about difficulties and challenges that we are facing today.

“Our inflation analysts have said it over and over again that some of the policies led to the challenges we are facing today. Our exchange rate is N1,600 to a dollar depending on the parallel market. It is also these same policies that brought about the inflation that we have today. In reality what the president said, he was trying to inspire hope. But that hope is not in tandem with the economy we have.

“In all reality this is what governments all over the world do; when things are hard they come out to tell us that there is a better tomorrow. But what we now look at are those things that have been lined up, what are the parameters, what are the things done to stimulate the economy so that we will be as optimistic and the commander in Chief himself is or was as the case may be.

“We are told that the inflation will come down to 15 percent in 2025. We were told that our oil production will rise to 2.06 million barrels per day. We were told how much we will borrow to finance our budget. When you analyze them, what are the parameters put in place so that we can see that truly that there are actions that will match them up?”

[DailyTrust]

Bribery allegations, defections, other issues that shaped Reps in 2024

Admin

On 19 December, the House of Representatives closed for the year, drawing a curtain on a challenging period, which witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly.

In this review, DAILY POST examines some of the events that shaped the House in the just-concluded year.

Binance bribery saga

In May, the House faced allegations of bribery involving the CEO of Binance, Richard Teng.

In a post on X, Mr Teng alleged that his team, after meeting with the House Committee on Financial Crimes, was approached by unknown persons offering to “take away the trouble” of the company in exchange for money.

It could be recalled that two executives of Binance had earlier been arrested by the federal government on criminal charges.

The House Committee on Financial Crimes, chaired by Ginger Onwusibe (LP, Abia), was mandated to investigate a petition against the company.

Shortly before the bribery allegation, the Committee had threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the company’s executives for ignoring multiple invitations.

However, the bribery allegation led to the premature end of the Committee’s probe.

Saga over Samoa Agreement

In July, the debate over the implementation of the Samoa Agreement almost brought the Green Chamber into conflict with the Executive.

Following a motion by Aliyu Madaki, the lawmakers in the Green Chamber resolved that the Federal Government should suspend the implementation of the agreement due to the alleged inclusion of LGBTQ+ clauses.

However, the newspaper that published the report upon which the House based its resolution later recanted the story, as an ombudsman found it faulty and untrue.

Dissolution of Downstream and Midstream Committee

The clash of interests among members of the House of Representatives forced the leadership of the House to dissolve the ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.

Initially, the joint committee was investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues.

But following the decision of the lawmakers to engage in a media war to protect their interest, the House leadership decided that the committee was dissolved.

The committee was also marred by bribery allegations.

Change of National Anthem

One major landmark in the House was the decision to revert to the old National Anthem.

Ahead of the 25th Democracy Day, both chambers of the National Assembly unanimously passed a bill to adopt the old anthem once again.

The bill, sponsored by the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, was introduced and passed on the same day.

Subsequently, the President was invited to address a joint session of the National Assembly, where the new anthem was officially inaugurated.

Fubara vs Wike tussle divides House

The feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike caused divisions within the minority caucus in the House. Ikenga Ugochinyere led a faction loyal to Fubara, opposing Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.

In May, Ugochinyere led a group of 50 lawmakers to visit Fubara in Port Harcourt, a move that angered many pro-Wike lawmakers in the House. By June, Ugochinyere was referred to the House Ethics Committee for leading the visit.

Undeterred, Ugochinyere continued to lead a strong opposition against the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum. For weeks, he was the face of resistance against Wike’s influence.

Mass defection in Labour Party

Towards the close of the year, the Labour Party experienced a wave of defections in the House of Representatives. By the final count, six members of the LP caucus defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

DAILY POST had earlier reported how these defections threaten the strength of the LP as the third-largest party in Nigeria.

Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo) all left the party on the same day.

Later, Dalyop Chollom and Alfred Ajang, both from Plateau State, abandoned “Mama, Papa, and Pikin” and embraced the “broom” of the APC.

Death in the Green Chamber

In 2024, the House of Representatives lost three members.

The deceased members were Ekene Adams, Olajide Akinremi, and Isa Dangoyaro.

The year was marked by several moments of silence in the Green Chamber.

[DailyPost]

Tesla cybertruck explodes outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas

AFOLABI

Police said one person died and seven were injured when a Tesla cybertruck exploded outside the entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

The 64-story hotel is just off the famed Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.

Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the metropolitan police department, said the incident was reported this morning.

“There is one deceased individual inside the cybertruck, and I don’t know whether it is a male or a female at this time,” McMahill said.

“At this time, we are investigating a number of leads, and I’m not prepared to release any of that information to you just yet.”

“I can tell you that there are seven victims right now that sustained injuries from the explosion,” he added, describing the injuries as “minor”.

The cause of the explosion is not immediately known.

McMahill said the Cybertruck, a 2024 model, pulled up to the hotel’s glass entrance doors as smoke began emerging from the vehicle before a large explosion occurred.

The sheriff noted that officials are “very well aware” of the deadly New Orleans attack when a man intentionally drove a pickup truck into a crowd, killing at least 10 people.

The attack happened just hours before the Las Vegas incident.

McMahill said because of the timing, officials are taking all precautions to keep the community safe.

Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul who has become Trump’s close ally, debuted the groundbreaking Cybertruck with its futuristic steel design in 2023.

“A Cybertruck, the Trump Hotel—there are lots of questions that we have to answer as we move forward with that,” McMahill said.

Musk said the company had never recorded such an incident and added that a senior team of investigators was looking into the case.