The Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari has not disappointed in his performance.
He said this while delivering his speech titled, 'For a bright today and a glorious future' at the one day visit of Buhari to Osun on Thursday.
During the visit, Buhari commissioned the newly built Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, which has 3,000 students capacity.
The visit and commissioning of the school was part of the activities to mark Osun State 25th years anniversary.
The visit held amidst tight security and presence of dignitaries from Osun, Lagos, Oyo and Borno states.
While commending Buhari for his transparent leadership, Aregesola said, "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.
"He continues with a rare sense of dogedness and faith in God as he faces the turbulent situations. We are satisfied with the way he manages the affairs of the state (country) 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.
Stating that the president was accountable, Aregbesola said, "When we were coming, the president asked me how we got the resources to do all these. I looked at him carefully and replied 'God' and 'you'."
Aregbesola, who estimated the cost of the project as N1.35bn, said the elementary school has standard facilities.
Among the facilities, he said, the school possessed are classrooms, offices, laboratories, toilets, library, bookshop, sick bay, and multi-purpose hall which can accommodate 1000 students for examinations.
He said, "It is part of our party 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.
"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."
President Muhammad Buhari noted that "efforts are in place to make Osun achieve its desired growth".
The president described the commissioned high school as an "educational monument" and a "legacy project".
He commended Aregbesola for abiding to the APC's manifesto on education and urged other governors to emulate the Osun governor.
"What we are witnessing here is a display of patriotism to the party's manifesto by the governor. There should be a substantial commitment of energy and dedication to education by government at all levels," he added.
The president subsequently appealed to Nigerians to persevere with the current challenges experienced in the country.
He said, "Change is never achieved by bud of roses but through patience and perseverance. We are dedicated to restore integrity into the country, improve the condition of people and make the country a prosperous one."
Minister of Communications, Shittu Adebayo, commended the state of education infrastructure in Osun State.
He noted that such standard infrastructure existed in few place around the world.
He said, "I must commend the infrastructure I met here. I don't this exist in many places of the world that I have visited. I am proud that someone is replicating the legacies of Obafemi Awolowo, especially his legacies of quality education.
"There is no child that will come here and won't feel very much at home. I recommend this for other governors to emulate."
A former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the president's visit would serve as a challenge to the state government to intensify efforts in improving education level.
Describing the visit and reception of the president as overwhelming, he said, "The implication of this visit is that it is an assessment on the state of education and it is a charge to do more."
On his part, spokesperson for Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, said the establishment of outstanding educational infrastructure was part of the moves to satisfy the yearning of citizens.
He, however, urged users of the infrastructure on adequate maintenance.
He said, "This edifice is not for today alone. It will also serve future purposes. We must improve on our maintenance culture. As legislatures, we will monitor and ensure discipline in the maintenance of public infrastructures.
"I will implore that special funds should be set aside for the maintenance of public infrastructures."
During the visit, dignitaries received the president with joy.
The dignitaries present included Governors of Oyo, Borno and Lagos States, Abiola Ajimobi, Ibrahim Shetimma and Akinwunmi Ambode respectively; deputy governors, ministers, members of the national and states house assemblies, and permanent secretaries among others.
Other dignitaries included traditional rulers including Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Aalafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; top government officials, clerics and educationists.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
0 comments:
Post a Comment