President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that change can not be attained on a bed of roses and demanded understanding of Nigerians while he deals with the ailing economy.

He also described the newly completed Osogbo Government High school built by the Governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola as an educational legacy that must be emulated by other states of the federation.

Speaking while commissioning the state-of-the-art school to commemorate the 25th creation anniversary of the state in Osogbo yesterday, President Buhari stated that his government has been doing all it could to assist state governments to realise their developmental plans irrespective of their political parties.

His words: “Our government has been helping states to realise their developmental plans irrespective of political parties. 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.

“During our campaigns, we promised our people positive and progressive change. 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 promise that we shall do everything for our country and our people and this won’t be long in coming,”.

“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 desire 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”.

“In our party’s manifesto, we promised to provide free and qualitative basic education by implementing the Basic Education Act. We also promised to make education more cost-effective, even as we devote not less than 10 percent of the budget on education”.

“There should be a substantial commitment of energy and resources to education by all the levels of government. This is how we can renew our society and shape the future of our children”.

“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 incoveniences that have been the lot of the citizenry in the past one year as we strive to faithfully implement our programmes in fulfilment of our change agenda”.

“We are however comforted by the real change and progress we have made in fighting corruption and restoring integrity to government; providing security for lives and property; and positioning the government for effectiveness and especially deregulating the oil sector”.

“We must also not forget the fiscal discipline that has nor characterised government business at all levels. This indeed is how it should be and we are determined to introduce and implement actions and measures that will entrench the change mantra in our individual lives just as we are doing in curtailing excessive waste and rent seeking in governance”.

“We are determined to remain on track as we strive to deliver to rescue the country from past mistakes in fulfilment of our promise of improving the conditions of our people and makinf Nigeria a prosperous country”.

Speaking earlier, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended President Buhari for his leadership qualities, saying that Buhari since his assumption of office has not disappointed the many patriots.

He also lauded the President for facing his job with uncommon courage despite the obvious grim challenges, one of which is declining revenue.

Aregbesola attributed the challenge being faced by the President to the progressive decline in oil receipts to less than 20 per cent of what it was shortly before he came to office.

He noted that the shortfall in oil has affected the Federal Government and put not less than 28 states under severe financial strain, adding that if not for the courage of the President and his team, the country could have gone totally bankrupt.

‎Governor Aregbesola noted that the commissioning of the school is the manifestation of both governments’ commitment to educational development, which is also derived from APC’s ideology and manifesto of providing mass education to the people.

“We are producing the new man. The overall aim is to develop the new man intellectually, socially and morally. This new man is placed in the centre of society who views his own development as part of and for the development of society.

Dignitaries at the event were: the Governor’s of Borno, Oyo and Lagos States Kazeem Shettima, Isiaka Ajimobi and Akinwunmi Ambode respectively; former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, and former Deputy Governor of Ogun, Segun Adesegun.

Wife of the Osun Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, Deputy Governor of Osun, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori were also present at the ceremony.

Others included former Chief of Army Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) and Air Vice Marshal Oluseyi Petirin (rtd); Speaker of Lagos State, Rt. Hon Mudasir Obasa; Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun West); Senator Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central).

Royal fathers at the occasion were Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Ataoja of Osogbo, Jimoh Olanipekun; Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Abdurauf Adedeji; Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi among others.