President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the much expected change promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the country cannot be achieved just on a bed of roses. Buhari stated that he is quite aware of the pains and inconveniences Nigerians are going through.
The president, who stated this yesterday during the commissioning of the Osogbo Government High School in Osun State, explained that positive change was possible only through patience, perseverance and steadfastness. He said: “We promised the Nigerian people positive and progressive change during our campaign. We are not and shall not be deterred from that noble undertaking.
“But as we have learnt from history, change has never been attained by nation states on a bed of roses, but rather, through patience, perseverance and steadfastness. We are quite aware of the pains and inconveniences.”
This was as special prayers were offered by the president and other dignitaries for quick recovery of the nation’s economy at the Osun Government House by Muslims. The president stressed that his government will not fail in delivering on the promises made to Nigerians during electioneering on boosting the educational sector. Buhari, who arrived the venue at 11:12a.m., proceeded straight to inspect the new facility before commissioning it. He said it was commendable that the government of Osun State was striving to achieve the purpose of states creation which is bringing governance closer to the people at the grassroots through expansion of the educational sector.
“As you are aware, the purpose of state creation is to bring leaders of government closer to the people, accelerate development, promote patriotic spirit and engender self-sufficiency. “I am glad to note that efforts are in place for Osun to achieve these desired goals.
“With our progressive governance system in place, I believe it will only be a matter of time before more will be done that will quicken the pace of development all over the country.
“In a federal system, states and local governments are the centres of development, our administration has been helping the states, not just to survive the harsh economic and financial weathers, but to realise their developmental objectives as well, irrespective of the political party in place. We will continue to do this,” he added. “In our party manifesto, we promised to provide free and qualitative basic education. We are implementing the Basic Education Act. We also promised to make education more cost effective and devote not less than 10 per cent of the budget to education.
“What we are witnessing here is the formal fulfillment of that promise in Osun State by the state government,” Buhari stressed. The president, who charged other state governments to emulate the policies of the Osun State in improving quality of education across the country, said this was a sure way of guaranteeing the lives of future children.
“We understand that the state government is building 20 of such of these high schools state-wide. This is the way to go, particularly in our fast growing urban centres where space, facility and resources are relatively scarce and have to be maximised. “There should be a substantive commitment of energy and resources for education by all levels of government.
“This is how we can renew our society and shape the future of our children. We promised Nigerians positive and progressive change during our campaigns,” the president noted. Buhari expressed the readiness of his administration to sustain unwavering determination for provision of quality services to Nigerians across other sectors of the economy. He also thanked the people of the state for their support during the 2015 presidential election which gave the APC victory.
In his welcome address, Governor Rauf Aregbesola thanked the president for honouring his invitation to the state. He said the 75 classrooms capacity school facility is built on a 800 square meters of land space.
“We are producing the new man intellectually, morally and socially through education. We want to determine the next 15 years of the state through education because education is the path to development,” he said.
The project, Aregbesola said, cost the state government about N1.35 billion. Dignitaries at the event include Governors Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Isiaka Ajimobi (Oyo) and Kashim Shettima (Borno). Others were the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, as well as state and National Assembly members, among others. Traditional rulers that attended the event were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun; and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, among others.
– New Telegraph
