Text of State Address of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the People of the state of Osun on the Visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the state on Thursday, September 1, 2016

My good people of Osun, Once again, I congratulate us all on the 25th anniversary of the creation of our state, The State of Osun. Last Saturday we celebrated this milestone at the Osogbo City Stadium where 4,000 wonderful children treated us and our guests to breathtaking callisthenics display.

In this spirit of celebration, I am most pleased to inform you that your president, our president, President Muhammadu Buhari will be visiting us on Thursday September 1, 2016. During his visit, he will commission the ultra-modern, newly constructed, Osogbo Government High School.

President Buhari has visited us in Osun before. He was here during the governorship campaign of 2014. He was here also for my second term inauguration and was here during his own presidential election campaign last year. Osun, therefore, is one of the states he has visited more often. This is a demonstration of the esteem to which he holds us.

His visit here this time however, is as your national leader and president. It is like no other visit.

President Buhari was elected because you voted for him. You were part of the making of this history; the first time that a progressive leader would be elected president in this country.

He is also the symbol of the political alliance between the North and the West that rescued our country from brigands and crooks.
I am asking therefore that you all come out to welcome and honour him. We are Omoluabi, the epitome of virtue. One of the hallmarks of Omoluabi is being hospitable. We are going to demonstrate this to the president and his entourage. You will give Mr President an opportunity to have a good impression of you. Please put up your best performance as Omoluabi and give the president a rousing welcome.

President Buhari was elected at a turbulent period in the nation’s history but he has given a good account of himself and has not let down the people who voted for him or the progressive platform under which he contested.

He is a patriot par excellence and a man of integrity. In one year of his administration, he has recovered trillions of naira from the crooks that ruled Nigeria for a decade and a half and is making them to give account. He is returning integrity to government and positioning it to function again as the agency of the people for providingt good government. He needs our understanding and support and we are going to give him.
It is true that reform and change often come with bitter pills. But I want to assure you that Mr President and his team are working round the clock to ease the pain of the people and usher in the season of prosperity and abundance.

His coming to Osun is significant for us. This is the first time a president of our own making is coming to us. This visit will provide us the opportunity to discuss areas in which the federal government can be of assistance to us.

Please join me on Thursday morning to welcome Mr President to Osun. I am calling on women and their groups, market women, traders, artisans, workers, teachers, students, transporters, drivers, commercial motorcyclists, employers of labour, organised private sector, the business community, non-governmental organisations, community based organisations, youth organisations, student organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, security agencies, men and women, young and old. Let give honour to whom honour is due.

I thank you. A ku odun, a ku iyedun; odun a yabo fun wa o.

Osun a dara!