President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday
in Osogbo, Osun State, said the promised
change for Nigeria will come, but with
perseverance and hard work.
Mr. Buhari, who spoke at his one-day
working visit to the state, also used the
occasion to commission some projects
executed by the Rauf Aregbesola
administration, including the Osogbo
Government High School which has about
3000 students capacity.
The president’s visit was the high point of
activities during a week-long celebration of
the state’s 25th anniversary.
“During our campaigns, we promised our
people positive and progressive change,” he
said.
“But history has taught us that change does
not come as easy as that. Change will come
after much hard work, patience and
perseverance.
“We promised that we shall do everything
for our country and our people and this
won’t be long in coming.”
The president has been widely criticised for
his administration’s inability to quickly turn
around the distressed economy.
Mr. Buhari expressed his felicitation on the
commemoration of the creation of Osun 25
years ago, saying its creation was for
development.
“Our government has been helping states to
realise their developmental plans irrespective
of political parties,” Mr. Buhari said.
“We are here to commission Osogbo
Government High School, one of the legacy
projects of Rauf Aregbesola.
“The facility here is worthy of emulation by
other states. What we are witnessing here is
a fulfilment of our government policy on
education.
“The economy of scales in this edifice is
unquantifiable and so we must seize the
opportunities the school has in stock.”
The Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in
his remarks, said the president had not
disappointed the citizens as regards his
promise to the people.
“He has not disappointed us. He has faced his
task with courage and doggedness. No doubt,
he is facing some challenges part of which is
the fall in revenue that has put about 28
states under severe financial crisis,” Mr.
Aregbesola said.
“He continues with a rare sense of
doggedness and faith in God as he faces the
turbulent situations. We are satisfied with
the way he manages the affairs of the state
and leads us.
“The challenges we are facing are as a result
of the previous party’s (Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP) rape of our resources.”
The governor put the cost of the school at
N1.35 billion, and said the school had
standard facilities.
He said besides classrooms, there are offices,
laboratories, toilets, library, bookshop, sick
bay, and multi-purpose hall which can
accommodate 1000 students for
examinations.
“It is part of our party’s manifesto to provide
basic education and you can see that in the
way All Progressive Congress governed states
pay so much attention and commitment to
education,” he said.
“When we came in here at Osun, we first
held an education submit headed by Prof.
Wole Soyinka. Now, we have built 14
elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 11
high schools.”
The sessions held under tight security and
were attended by dignitaries, including
Governors of Oyo, Borno and Lagos States,
Abiola Ajimobi, Ibrahim Shettima and
Akinwunmi Ambode respectively.
Deputy governors, ministers, members of the
national and state houses assembly, and
permanent secretaries were also in
attendance.
Others were traditional rulers including the
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Aalafin
of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Akirun of
Ikirun,Oba Rauf Olawale,Timi of Ede,Oba
Munirudeen Lawal,Ataoja of Osogbo,Oba
Jimoh Olanipekun top government officials,
clerics and educationists.