Bayelsa Will Be Great Again — 35 Year-Old Gov Aspirant, Moses Siasia

35 year-old Moses Siloko Siasia is the Chairman of Mosilo Group, a multi-billion naira business empire, with huge investments in engineering, real estate, oil and gas, agro processing and project management. The group is a wholly owned indigenous company with strategic partnership with some of the world’s leading technical companies. Mosilo Group has employed a critical mass of young people and continues to up the ante in human capacity development locally.

Siasia is aiming to lead his state, Bayelsa to prosperity as disclosed in this interview with Abiodun Alade.

Background

I saw Poverty but I told myself that I wasn’t going to give myself to crime. I lived in an environment where we had no food, no toilet, I almost lost my life but God intervened.

I fend for myself. Seventeen years ago, I was in the streets of Port Harcourt hawking oranges and selling Ice blocks but at that time I told myself that I wasn’t going to be subservient to my situation, I am going to work hard because I believe that there is a deposit of potentials in me. And that was how I started from that humble background- I washed rugs, plant flowers, and today the story is different. I have built a business of a group of companies, we have interest in various sectors, and I have employed many persons, mostly youths. Mosilo Group is a leading name in energy services, real estate, agriculture, marine services among others.

We started what is called the Nigeria Young Professional Group and in two years, we are in fifteen countries, we are the only youth group in Nigeria that is registered in the United States of America and United Kingdom and we are about finalising our registrations with the United Nations.

I founded the group to give voice to the youths. Some of the elite are not interested in the youth. They would not give the younger generation the chance to lead. They would continue to come up with strategies that would further undermine us and ensure that the youths do not speak in one voice.

The Current state of Bayelsa State

Bayelsa state is less than one million people in population and from 1999 till date, we have received over two trillion Naira but Bayelsa is in a sorry state because there is no concrete work on ground. Our educational system is in a state of decay, our women do not have that sense of belonging again because they cannot sell. Our people cannot fish because of oil spillage. The leadership had not been fair to our people.

Do you know that there are a good number of Bayelsa students abroad who are stranded and cannot pay their fees any more, they are frustrated, the females have gone into prostitution and the government keep saying that there is no money but when the money comes they share it among themselves, it doesn’t trickle down to the people.

Government is the major employer of labour in Bayelsa because there is no critical investment in the state that can employ the masses, yet, successive governments have placed embargo on employment. Now, you need a leader that can think outside the box, a leader that is innovative and creative to bring about the investment required in Bayelsa state.

I have been in the private sector, I have partners and I have the will to do that. You cannot give what you do not have, I have employed people, I have grown a business from scratch to where it is today and I have helped people in my community.

I have people who have not pay for any education material for two years all on my bill. I have eight children in my community studying abroad on my sponsorship. Let all those who have ruled Bayelsa come out and tell the world what they were able to achieve before they got to that position.

Infrastructure and security for Investors

We would use Bayelsa as example for modern facilities in the country – facilities that will ensure greater investment and be a delight to investors. There would be access to internet from any where you are in addition to good road network among others. There are companies that are willing to come and do this and thankfully people are beginning to key into this.

For security, I believe that once the people have a sense of belonging the state becomes secured, this strategy was used in Bonny and it is working. The environment become safer once you build confidence and the people are part of the projects. We must transmit values that would sensitize the people so they would know that they are critical stakeholders in the system.

I will visit communities, dialogue with them, know their needs and that will be part of our budget so that every community knows that they have a stake in the budget.

Our leaders are failing and that is why we are having issues with little things such as payment of salaries. We need to bring the required infrastructure and localised it for our use.

In two months of my administration, we will commence payment of bursary. We will support the less privileged in the state. We will sponsor First-Class students either they are from the North or South. There will also be a school for gifted children. Bayelsa state should return to its slogan, the glory of all land, the true glory of all lands in Nigeria and Africa.

People will be able to access me as this would help to build their trust.

His chances against other heavyweights interested in same position

It is not about me, it is not Moses Siasia; it is a movement. The people’s will is more important in politics; this was evident in the last general elections. Power is going back to the people and this will happen in Bayelsa too.

Godfatherism and support of former president

People’s perception of godfatherism in politics really worries me. I understand that there is need to gather the support of the heavyweights, I will consult the former president. I know he is open to the voice of the youth as seen in his works while in office and this is the time for him to show again that he believes in the youth.