A 35-year-old entrepreneur, Mr Moses Siasia, has declared his interest to run in the Bayelsa state governorship election slated for November, saying, he has been waiting patiently for a chance to change the political environment in Bayelsa.
A statement personally signed by Siasia today in Abuja, said he took the decision after wide consultations with friends, family and concerned Bayelsans.
Loading ...“The age limit to run for the office of Governor in our constitution is thirty five; on June 7 of this year, I turned thirty five and I am ready to run.
“Determined to take myself and family out of poverty, I worked day and night literally to gain a foothold in the very challenging private Nigerian economy.
“For far too long, my people have suffered from political oppression; despite being one of the wealthiest states in Nigeria, with an abundance of natural resources, Bayelsa has one of the highest unemployment rates in Nigeria.’’
He said he was a self-made successful businessman who until sixteen years ago was a street vendor who scrounged for money and food to survive.
Siasia said that Bayelsa children did not have modern schools or tools for education while those studying were stranded without resources to complete their education.
He said that infrastructure in the state had been neglected over the years resulting in dangerous impassable roads, lack of potable water, and basic human hygiene.
According to Siaisia, it is time for young people to take over governance in the state as the old politicians had failed the state.
“Today, the youth of Bayelsa is crying for real measureable change. The future of Bayelsa is in dire straits and our youth are ready to take their destiny into their own hands.
“Since Bayelsa became a state in 1999, there has not been any private economic growth.
“Our people rely solely on the allocation of Government funds to survive, but the money never trickles down to them due to wastefulness, mismanagement of funds, a lack of leadership and self-serving agendas.
“As a successful businessman, I will govern the state with a firm grip on accountability and charge all those who will work with me with great responsibility and high integrity.
He said in the statement it was high time all foreign contractors who came yearly to Bayelsa started re-investing in the state.
He said that in July he will formally declare and inaugurate his campaign Bayelsa and expresses optimism that he will emerge the youngest elected governor in the history of Nigeria.
