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.

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.

Two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua visited President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos on Wednesday.

The visit was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, through a post on X (formerly Twitter).

During the courtesy call, Joshua presented President Tinubu with an autographed boxing glove as a gesture of respect.

“Champ @anthonyjoshua pays homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his residence in Lagos. Presents him with his autographed glove,” Dada shared in the post.

Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has announced that former two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will serve as the torchbearer for the rescheduled 2024 National Sports Festival.

During a meeting at his office in the Gateway State on Monday, December 30, Governor Abiodun expressed his enthusiasm for Joshua’s involvement, stating, “We are thrilled to officially welcome you as our sports ambassador and request that you return to ignite the torch for the Gateway Sports Festival.”

The Governor also unveiled plans for the construction of a new indoor boxing ring named after Anthony Joshua, which will be located in a stadium in Abeokuta.

He emphasized the importance of this facility, saying, “This new boxing ring will encourage you to visit home more frequently and foster a vibrant sports culture in our state.”

In addition to these initiatives, the Governor offered Joshua a new residence in Sagamu, aiming to strengthen their partnership in sports development.

He encouraged Joshua to collaborate with the Director General of the National Sports Commission and the state Commissioner for Sports Development to organize a boxing championship in Ogun State.

Governor Abiodun praised Joshua’s remarkable achievements on the global stage, affirming that his administration is committed to supporting his career in every possible way.

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, has expressed optimism that 2025 will serve as a pivotal year for the actualization of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Edu shared this in her New Year message, which was released on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the new year.

Describing 2025 as a year of restoration, Edu said it would usher in a season of “endless possibilities” for Nigerians, where hard work translates into shared prosperity.

Edu called on Nigerians to embrace 2025 as a fresh start, filled with promise and the potential to fulfill their aspirations under the Tinubu administration’s vision.

She emphasized that the New Year would solidify the administration’s efforts to deliver on its promises, urging Nigerians to remain optimistic about the future.

“2025 stands before us like a chapter in a book waiting to be written. It is incumbent upon us to pen optimism and hope into it, believing that the New Year offers us a refreshing new dawn to turn our dreams and aspirations into reality.

“I have no doubt that 2025 will bring full restoration from the hardships and trials of 2024. It will be a year for the optimisation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” she said.

Continuing, Edu noted, “2025 holds immense promise for our dear country. It is a year when Nigerians will take charge of their great future as current economic challenges give way to a horizon of hope, leading to the blossoming of prosperity.”

She urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their love for the country and believe in the ability of the current administration to pull Nigeria out of economic difficulties.

“Mr President means well; good intentions need time to yield results. I believe in the Nigerian project. I have always given my all to Nigeria and Nigerians, and nothing will ever change that.

“I fervently urge Nigerians to approach the future with confidence and an overwhelming sense of assurance that we are inching closer to the end of our trying times as a nation,” Edu added.

A 55-year-old Delta State highlife musician, Dr Arube Otor, popularly known as Isoko Fela One is set to marry three women on the same day.

The event, scheduled for Sunday, January 19, 2025, will be held at Anglican Church Field at London Base, Uzere Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.

In the viral marriage flier, Arube was pictured in the same dress as his three to-be wives, Oghenekome, Ewoma, and Oghenekaro, all from Delta State.

Confirming the event to our correspondent via telephone on Wednesday, Arube’s foster son and one of the RSVPs, Emperor Efih (Oscar), said the event would be held at the said place and time, adding that the to-be wives were initially four, but one pulled out along the line for personal reasons. 

Efih attributed Arube’s action to cost-cutting.

He said, “Arube married two women about 20 years ago. One divorced him, leaving him with just one wife. To cut costs, he decided to marry four women this year. Along the way, one pulled out.

“He is a music legend in Delta. He sings Isoko highlife. He has been in the music scene for over 30 years. However, at the beginning of his life, he was a driver who mixed music with his career. He had a band with a group of people, but they split up, and he formed his dance band, which he named Arube, about 12 years ago. Since then, he has released more than 10 albums.

“None of them is from his community, so he didn’t woo them in the same place or time. Two of the three women have given birth to a child, each for him, and the other one is still awaiting the fruit of her womb. He did the traditional rite with them about last year on the same day.”

Arube is from Uzere Kingdom, in Isoko-South LGA, and the three wives representing Edafemaga, Agbede, and Samuel Atubi are from Lagos-Iyede in Ndokwa East LGA, Oruamudhu Ozoro Kingdom in Isoko North LGA and Uroto Quarter, Ozoro Kingdom in Isoko North LGA of Delta State respectively.

The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has noted that it was only by the Grace of God that Nigerians survived the passing year.

For this reason, the Council called on the government to pay more attention to the fight against insecurity and corruption, reinvigorating the economy, ensuring food security and providing social amenities in the coming year.

While noting that the challenges ahead were enormous, IPAC also called on citizens to hold government at various levels accountable.

The Council called on citizens to unite to deepen the country’s democracy and build a better nation the present and future generations can be proud of, adding that the opportunities and dividends of democracy are enormous.

IPAC challenged citizens to remain prayerful and patriotic, adding that it “was only by the grace of God that Nigerians survived the socio-economic hardship of 2024.”

In a statement by Yusuf Dantalle, its national Chairman, IPAC said the economic challenges were unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.

“We are grateful to God for His mercies, protection and care which have reinforced our hope and faith in consolidating our democracy and building a strong, united, stable, progressive, equitable, prosperous and just society in 2025,” the statement added.

“Nigerians are indeed resilient, resourceful and enterprising people who have made enormous sacrifices since Independence in 1960 in the onerous task of building a better nation.

“Their abiding faith in the fatherland and prospect for a brighter future should not be taken for granted by elected public officers bearing in mind that sovereignty resides in the people.

“As we approach the threshold of 2025, a fresh start is offered to us to objectively appraise our successes and failures in 2024 and firmly resolve to rededicate ourselves in making Nigeria great again.

“The challenges ahead are enormous and so are the opportunities if we keep watering and nurturing the democracy tree to maturity to yield its fruits to citizens.

“Since nation-building is a collective responsibility, IPAC urges Nigerians to be prayerful, proactive on issues affecting them and hold leaders accountable as the price for freedom and prosperity is eternal vigilance.

“As the umbrella body of all the registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC will continue to lead from the front to ensure good governance and well-being of the people.

“Council will vigorously pursue its Peer Review Mechanism set up to evaluate the milestones achieved by governors in the implementation of the sustainable development goals in the states, the legislators on effective, vibrant and robust representations, oversight functions and law-making, as well as monitor the progress of the recent financial autonomy granted to the 774 Local Governments in the country as the government closest to the people.”

IPAC said it had begun the move to eliminate the fielding of candidates with questionable credentials for elections.

“This ensures that every document, credential, and piece of information associated with candidates is rigorously examined for authenticity and accuracy to prevent undue disqualification of candidates who won elections with fraudulent credentials by the court.

“All hands must be on deck as we jointly rebuild trust in our democratic process by fighting corruption, ensuring political stability, credible elections, an independent judiciary, vibrant economy, food security, gainful employment, a living wage, social cohesion, religious harmony, quality education, healthcare, efficient power supply, adequate security and social amenities,” it added.

Founder of Living Faith Church worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo has declared that 2025 will be a new era for believers.

Reeling out prophecies for the new year, Oyedepo, who spoke at the annual crossover night service at Canaan Land, Ogun State said the days of murmuring and complaining are over.

According to Oyedepo, amazing things will start unfolding in the lives of believers in the year 2025.

He said, “By the signal of the Holy Ghost, 2025 shall be your year of new beginning. Your year of new dawn, great chapters opening to your lives.

“Welcome to 2025, a new era. You will be wondering “have I been a Christian all along?” Amazing things shall start taking place in your lives.

“You are moving to your new realm in all areas of your lives, a new era in your health, family, your spiritual life and in your business and career.

“It will never be like before anymore. Your days of murmuring and complaining are over. Your days of biting your fingers are over”.