By Seyifunmi Odunuga
As Christians and other citizens celebrate this Christmas and New Year festivities, the Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Central Hospital (ICH), Ibadan, Dr Abib Olamitoye, has said regardless of daunting economic and other challenges confronting the nation, Nigeria situation is not hopeless.
This was contained in the Christmas and New Year message, personally signed by Olamitoye, forwarded to Pressmen in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Friday.
He said though the rising cost of living, inflation, insecurity appear insurmountable, adding that the citizenry must play their part in collaborating with the government to restore the lost glory of the country among the comity of nations.
According to the message, “the journey to Nigeria’s nationhood before and after independence had been characterised with upheavals, bad leadership and irresponsive governance, we should individually play our part through patriotism, honesty and contribution to peace development among ourselves regardless of ethnic, religious and political inclinations.”
Olamitoye, who is also the chairman of Academy Suite, which is one of major players in the nation’s hospitality sector added: “As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and the New Year, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are not in a state of despair.”
He stated: “While our leaders at the governmental level and the political class must search their minds to redirect the ship of the nation towards economic prosperity through responsive leadership and sincerity of purpose, the citizenry must also contribute their own quota towards the overall growth of the country.
“Poverty, unemployment, wobbling economy, growing insecurity, corruption and other teething challenges are fixable if the leadership of the nation do the needful and the citizenry perform their civic responsibilities, “Olamitoye concluded.
