President Muhammadu Buhari in Osogbo, Osun State, on Thursday, said he was committed to the implementation of the positive agenda he promised Nigerians in the change mantra.
Buhari said this during his official visit to Osogbo to inaugurate the 3,000-capacity Osogbo High School, which was part of activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the state.
The President, who said that change could not be achieved on bed of roses, added that through patience and perseverance, the challenges the country was facing would become a thing of the past.
He reiterated his administration’s determination to implement the change agenda through the fight against corruption.
He said “we are determined to implement our change agenda by curbing excessive waste in government.
“We shall restore integrity to governance through the fight against corruption.
“We are determined to deliver and rescue the country from bad governance.”
The President then commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for providing conducive learning environment for students in the state.
He said that the building of the Osogbo High School was worthy of emulation by other governors in the country, stressing that the school project was part of APC’s agenda on education.
He explained that the APC government would continue to implement education policies that would be cost effective.
“I congratulate the people of Osun on the 25th anniversary of the state.
“The essence of the state’s creation was to bring government closer to the people and to provide good governance just like Gov. Rauf Aregbesola has done.
“Government at all levels must continue to channel their energy toward education because this is the only way we can secure the future of our children.”
The President, who said he was happy to be in Osun, which he described as the spiritual home of Yoruba civilisation, thanked the people of the state for voting for APC in the 2015 general elections.
Aregbesola in his remarks said that building the school was part of the state government’s efforts toward the development of education in the state.
He said that the school, which has 72 classrooms and a multi-purpose hall among other facilities, would provide conducive learning environment for students.
The governor said that the school, which has 3,000 sitting capacity, cost the state government N1.35 billion to complete.
He added that “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.’’
Dignitaries at the event include Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State, Governor Isiaka Ajimobi of Oyo State and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.
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 Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, among others.
Before and during the visit,security was beefed up in and around Osogbo metropolis.
Armed security personnel lined up all major highways in the state capital.
While armed military personnel manned strategic places around the capital; men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were busy re-directing vehicular movement around the city.
Osun High School, the venue, was surrounded by armed security personnel while operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) frisked guests before allowing them entrance.
Officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) paraded sniffer dogs around the venue.
Policemen from the anti-bomb squad were also at the venue and police helicopters hovered over the venue in aerial surveillance.
Journalists without valid identification tags and invitation cards were not allowed into the venue.
