Nigeria’s Progress Depends on Sacrifices, Says C’River Gov

Edith CHUKU

The governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has emphasized that sacrifices are essential for the progress of Nigeria, while insisting that great nations are built on a foundation of sacrifice.

Otu stated this on Tuesday, at the Government House, Calabar, when he met with members of the national executive of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), led by the National President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah.

A release made available to TNN by his Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, revealed that the governor while speaking at the meeting, noted that the competition for medical professionals globally was fierce, with Nigeria facing a shortage.

While acknowledging the importance of health, he commended the people who chose to contribute to the development of Nigeria despite the allure of greener pastures.

Otu lamented the departure of medical personnel to neighboring countries, stating that more sacrifices must be made by medical professionals for the betterment of Nigeria.

The governor insisted that for a nation to achieve greatness, sacrifices must be made even as he acknowledged the importance of health.

He further hailed the people who had chosen to contribute to the development of Nigeria and expressed his confidence in the potential of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the Federal Government to transform Nigeria in the long run.

The governor maintained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was making difficult decisions and noted that today’s sacrifices would lead to positive outcomes. 

In his response, the NMA’s National President commended the Cross River governor’s urban renewal program in the state and the aesthetics in Calabar and its environs, which, according to him, had restored hope. 

Ojinmah said: “Some people do not understand that aesthetics is part of good health. 

“It is better to live in a clean and comfortable environment and be poor than to live in a slum and be rich because what can kill you may be in the air.”

The National President also disclosed that his team was in Calabar for the annual conference and delegates meeting of the association.

He called for the recruitment of more medical doctors in Cross River State’s health sector and the implementation of a new salary scale for medical doctors, and informed the governor that a new leadership would emerge for NMA after the conference in Calabar.