Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has hailed civil servants for not falling prey to what he called “the infernal political schemes of failed politicians who have been rejected at the polls”.
He spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the Anthony Udofia Government Elementary School in Osogbo, the state capital, Osogbo.
The state’s former Military Governor, Anthony Udofia, was in town to witness the unveiling of what was a ramshackle school and now a world class learning environment.
The complex can seat 960 pupils with 24 classrooms of 40 pupils each, an ICT room, a library, multi-purpose hall, 29 toilets, offices for head teachers, facility manager, staff room, food court, sick bay, security/reception office and a fountain for aesthetics.
The governor held that his administration is building 100 elementary schools that can compete with the best in the world.
He said: “I am happy and fulfilled that we have public schools that can compete with the best in the world and indeed, our new schools are the ones to beat around here.
“All these are in fulfillment of our promise to provide functional basic education for the pupils. This stems from our conviction that every child is owed basic education. It is a fundamental and inalienable right of every child.
“Basic education is basic, pardon my tautology. A good basic education fulfills the definition of literacy as the ability to read and write and is a solid foundation on which other superstructure of vocational training or higher education can be built upon.”
Aregbesola described as ignorant and unreasonable the idea of reducing workers to pay salaries.
He added that his government is conscious of its legal and moral obligations to workers, yet the truth is that workers are less than five per cent of the population.
“The idea therefore that all state’s resources must be spent on workers alone is insane, unsustainable and impossible.
“Some set of people have been inciting workers and pensioners to rebellion, subversion and sabotage, with the intent of destabilising the state and disrupting the peace of our communities.
“In the past, they have made futile attempts to precipitate religious crisis by inciting Christians against Muslims in the state. It did not fly. They have also made repeated but failed efforts at inciting Civil Servants against the government”.
He stated that government is constructing 100 brand new Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools, out of which 14 Elementary Schools, 15 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools have been completed or receiving finishing touches and awaiting commissioning.
Udofia commended Aregbesola for his love for the upliftment of education in the state.
Udofia noted that education must not be left in the hands of private investors only, saying government schools if well taken care of can compete favourably with any private school in the country.
Dignitaries at the commissioning ceremony includes; the former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Osun Deputy Speaker, Hon, Akintunde Adegboye?, Secretary to the Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and the Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
Others are Chief Judge of Osun, Mrs. Adepele Ojo, former Chief of Staff to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Elder Peter Babalola, Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun, Prince Gboyega Famodun, Juju Maestro, King Sunny Ade amongst other dignitaries.
