RESPECT THE MESSAGE, AND NECESSARILY THE MESSENGER NO ONE IS INFALLIBLE Permit me to observe all possible protocol, with due respect, all due diligence and all due recognition. Dear Distinguished and Esteemed NARDites, Much has been said and made about the methodology the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) adopted in pressing home this current agitation in the last two months. Much has also been made of the character, attitude, demeanor and intentions of members of NARD—From the National Officers to the National Executive Council, from the President to the Members of NARD. These assertions range from subtle (and obvious) intimidations, misrepresentations, miscommunications, missed communications and even outright misunderstandings and misinformation. This even includes calling into question the love for our jobs, profession, patients, constituted authority and even the nation. Harsh and unprintable names, adjectives and pronouns have been used to describe all of us under the umbrella of NARD. However, a few facts are unyieldingly undisputed, undiluted, uncontested and undeniable. First, the genuineness of the agitation, the injustices therein, the need to resolve them, the ‘welfarism’ nature of them and the importance of all of it in ensuring effective patient care is clear to all. Second, the resolve of members of NARD remains unshakable, unencumbered, unstoppable and uncompromising. Third, the chronic nature of these demands, the acute on chronic exacerbations precipitating them and the damage it has caused for the country is crystal clear. Fourth, the seriousness of the issues, the urgency needed in ensuring they are fixed for the long term, the courage of NARDites to ensure they are fixed is not in doubt. The debate thus far has acknowledged this. NARD is yet to see any conversation, interaction or conciliation that has taken away the above facts from the table. This is why this message from NARDites across Nigeria is very loud and clear. This is why this message has resonated even outside the boundaries of NARD. The old saying "do not throw the baby away with the bath water" crystallizes another old saying of "don’t shoot the message, shoot the messenger" Permit me to call on all our Dear and Distinguished NARDites across the country and all the opponents and proponents of this current agitation to avoid the tactic of shooting both the message and messenger. Even if Government does it, and it has done that quite obviously, do not descend to that level. Doing so loses the essence of the message, opens the struggle up for ridicule and allows the argument to change to ‘these boys lack respect’ Remember fellow NARDites, these agitations aren’t a ‘ward round’. Even though some would love for it to be so. It is where some want the debate to go to. It is the only way these types of people know to engage with NARD and NARDites. I therefore call on all of us in NARD and those outside NARD that support us in our hour of need to steer clear of the temptation to answer these negative descriptions attached to NARD and it’s genuine agitation. Dear NARDites, person wey report case to police first no mean say e go win the case, But in this case, na we report fes and na we come dey win the case. Victory at the end, is enough. Victory at the end, should be enough. Victory at the end, must be enough without yielding to unnecessary digressions, distractions and disillusions. This will only lead to distortions, disappointments and disasters. STEER CLEAR OF ORAL MISGIVINGS THAT FURTHER DILUTES OUR ANAEMIA I urge us all to stay focus, hold the line. No go sell person market oh, sell ya own market abeg. NARD Market Dey sell very well. No one (and nothing) is infallible…Except permitted by God Almighty. Yours ’Militantly’, As Always, P-MUS of NARD 23:11:2025