We thank Providence, most profusely, for bringing us all alive into the New Year, 2023; since, quite a number of Nigerians were not as lucky. All is not well with Nigeria.
The year 2022 was one of the toughest years, at peace time, in Nigeria; violence tipped the scales, and blood flowed ceaselessly, everywhere. The milestones that the nation achieved were, almost, neutralized by the daily challenges of our communal lives.
Businesses collapsed, the naira fell to an all-time low since 1973, brain drain defined a new national aspiration, healthcare workers just flew away in droves, services all-but collapsed in our public institutions, healthcare budget barely grazed a third of the 2001 Abuja Accord benchmark of 15% and ASUU strike lasted a whopping 8 months!!
Most of our human development indices went down low, health indices – all headed down south, the country’s foreign exchange instruments simply withered away, politicians still maintained their conspicuous consumption, and official corruption with profligacy, had never before, gotten this brazen; as the figures staggered!!
Thankfully, we all, still, persevered; and most of us, still, survived.
This, is an election year, and it, therefore, behoves all of us as Nigerians, to choose to sing a loud patriotic song, and remember from where we are just coming. We must have to stand up and take back our country and re-design our destiny, because politics heavily affects healthcare delivery; and we should never lose sight of that very fact.
We salute the courage of all Nigerians who have struggled to this point, especially those Neurosurgeons, who have managed to resist the temptation to flee, as well.
We must all continue to serve our nation, diligently and selflessly, urging all our country men to keep being patriotic, strong and resilient, for that is the surest path to the birth of a new Nigeria. Happy days will come again.
According to the great French Astrologer and Physician, Michel de Nostredame: Man, if he chooses, can change his destiny. We can, indeed, achieve the birth of a new Nigeria. Happy New Year to every citizen of this great nation of Nigeria.
Long Live Nigeria!!! Prof Jude-Kennedy C Emejulu President
