Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has commended the Ogun State government for the projects commissioned in the state which he said were enduring.
In a speech at the 40th anniversary of Ogun State on Tuesday, President Buhari expressed satisfaction with the programmes of the state, which Governor Ibikunle Amosun said would bring change to the health, housing, education and agricultural sector among others.
“I express my gratitude to the Governor of Ogun State for inviting me and identifying with me on his success.
“He managed to disorientate me. On my commissioning in January 1963 – my post hosting was to Abeokuta where Second Inventory Battalion of the Nigerian Army used to be.
“I said he managed to disorientate me because if you drop me anywhere in Abeokuta, and ask me to find where the barracks is, I assure you I will get missing.
“I am partly pleased and happy about your success because I think that whatever I knew about Abeokuta, I have lost it.
“Your programmes are certainly people orientated. We have commissioned roads, schools and legal complex headquarters where I met with justices and I made an immediate observation to the Governor that there are more ladies judges than men.
“I am not a chauvinist, but I am warning the gentlemen that the ladies are taking over in very important professions.
“These institutions and the quality of their jobs are going to be very enduring and I’m very pleased that I’m being identified with social infrastructural institutions that will endure,” he told a gathering that had past President Olusegun Obasanjo and past state governors present.
The President also made reference to his era as the Minister of Petroleum under President Olusegun Obasanjo, pointing out that the government made more investments and infrastructural developments in the petroleum industry.
He listed some projects put together by that regime to include refineries built in Warri and Kaduna, more than 20 depots built, more than 3,500 land pipes made and a number of petrol stations built.
“We were exporting refined products of one hundred thousand barrels per day,” he said.
“General Obasanjo, when he was the Head of State, made me the Minister of Petroleum and tolerated me for three and a half years.
“He tolerated me because God knows and he knows that I’m not used to working hard as he used to, but he allowed me to last that long and also allowed me to work,” President Buhari said.
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