We are feeling your pains, Buhari tells Nigerians

Olalekan Adetayo and Femi Makinde

President Muhamamdu Buhari on Thursday assured Nigerians that despite the various current challenges facing the country, Nigeria would be great again under his watch.

Buhari gave the assurance while speaking with Muslim leaders in Osun State shortly after joining them in the Zuhr prayer held inside the Government House after he inaugurated the N1.35bn Osogbo Government High School.

The President led the prayers and he was joined by the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima; and the Minister of Communications, Wahab Shittu, among others.

Buhari urged the Muslim clerics to continue their intense prayers for the country, saying things would be better.

He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the country.

He said, “I thank you for your prayers for the nation. God will help us to secure Nigeria and efficiently manage it. Please continue to pray for us. I can assure you that Nigeria will be great again.”

Earlier while inaugurating the 72-classroom school, Buhari had said with progressive governance system in place, it would only be a matter of time before more would be done that would quicken the pace of development in the country.

He said there should be substantial commitment of energy and resources to education by all levels of government, adding that that was how to renew the society and shape the future of the children.

Buhari said although change could not come on a platter of gold, his administration would do its best to deliver on the promise of change.

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 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.”

Buhari said he was determined to remain on track as his administration strived to deliver the country from past mistakes in fulfilment of its promise of improving the conditions of the people and making Nigeria a prosperous country.

Aregbesola, while thanking the President for visiting the state which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, said the people of the state were comfortable with his style of leadership.

He lauded Buhari for bringing integrity and hard work to governance.

Earlier, President Buhari had said he and members of his cabinet were quite aware of the pains Nigerians were being made to go through due to his administration’s resolve to implement the change promised during electioneering.

He noted that this was being fulfilled in Osun State by the dogged commitment of Aregbesola to educational development

The governor said the school was built with a Sukuk  loan (Islamic loan) at the cost of N1.35bn, adding that the cost was not reviewed upward despite the sharp drop in the value of naira.

Aregbesola said the school was three-in-one, adding that it was possible for the school’s structure to be removed from its present site and taken to another place if there was a need for it due to the technology employed in building the structure.