As Christians and other citizens celebrate this year’s Christmas and New Year festivities, the Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Central Hospital (ICH), Ibadan, Dr. Abib Olamitoye, has said that regardless of the daunting economic and other challenges confronting the nation, Nigeria’s situation is not hopeless.
He said that though the rising cost of living, inflation, and insecurity appear insurmountable, the citizenry must play their part in collaborating with the government to restore the country’s lost glory among the community of nations.
These are contained in the Christmas and New Year message, personally signed by Olamitoye and forwarded to journalists in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The message stated, “The journey to Nigeria’s nationhood before and after independence was characterised by 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 the 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 for ways to redirect the nation’s ship toward economic prosperity through responsive leadership and sincerity of purpose, the citizenry must also contribute their quota to the country’s overall growth.
“Poverty, unemployment, wobbling economy, growing insecurity, corruption and other teething challenges are fixable if the nation’s leadership do the needful and the citizenry perform their civic responsibilities, “Olamitoye concluded.
