THE AGONY OF THE BAYELSAN CHILD AND THE DUTY ON THEIR PARENTS TO MITIGATE SAME COME DECEMBER 5.

A visit, paid by the PDM governorship aspirant, HON. MOSES SIASIA to the present
ODI RESTORATION GOVERNMENT ramshackled GENERAL HEALTH CENTRE IN BAYELSA STATE.

THE AGONY OF THE BAYELSAN CHILD AND THE DUTY ON THEIR PARENTS TO MITIGATE SAME COME DECEMBER 5.

As written by: Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine

The images below is not an excerpt from the pre-colonial era, it is the modern reality of Bayelsa state in light of the 21st Century. It is a pity that in seventeen years of political rulership and democratic dispensation, Bayelsan's are yet to feel the dividends of democracy.  With graphics and sights such as these. I think one need not wonder the rationale for the astronomous rise in crime recently in the state. When a government fails to invest in education and health, it puts the unity, safety and the state at large in a precarious situation.

LACK OF CONCERN FROM THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE  RESTORATION GOVERNMENT CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF THE ODI CITIZENS.

INTERIOR OF THE CURRENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT, ODI HEALTH CENTRE ,ANTE NATAL WARD.

INTERIOR OF THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT, ODI HEALTH CENTRE, MATERNITY WARD.

POOR CONDITION OF THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT, ODI HEALTH CENTRE, ANTE NATAL WARD.

 How long are we going to sell and mortgage our future as well as the future of our children and children yet unborn? Even those entrusted with public responsibilities, those who are supposed to be the custodian of the custom and tradition of the people and those who are supposed to be seen as trustee's of integrity, have compromised for their selfish aggrandizement at the expense of their communities and society at large.

It was erstwhile President Obasanjo who stated immediately after his release from prison by President Abdulsalami that "Nigeria is void of morals and order, even those expected to show high level of integrity and discipline are those involved in this sorry act".

The banner you see below, is a shameless endorsement of the incumbent Governor by a man who is supposed to be the voice of the voiceless, in his community.

YET THEY WANT YOUR VOTE TO KEEP IMPOVERISHING   YOU.

SAY NO TO THE PRESENT SELFISH BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT.

Such endorsement is indeed, a theater of the absurd, a height of irresponsibility, a brazen show of shamelessness, a display of factual ignorance about the plight of his people, a blatant stultification of good conscience and a pungent indictment of graft against High Chief M. Asangba of Odi. A community that produces oil, yet no good Health Centre for them.

LACK OF CONCERN FROM THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE  RESTORATION GOVERNMENT CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF THE ODI CITIZENS.

ENTRANCE TO THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT, ODI HEALTH CENTER, MATERNITY WARD.

STRUCTURE OF THE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT ODI HEALTH CENTER

 How can the children learn in a classroom that has no desk? They still bathe at the stream, defecate in thesame water and fetch thesame water to run their daily domestic activities such as cooking, doing dishes and laundry with it, and some even use it to quench thirst (drinking). I make bold to say that Chief M. Asangba of Odi have failed the people of Odi and the part of the banner which reads "tested and trusted" is a misnomer, and a such misleading to a great extent. Dickson and Sylva have failed the Bayelsa child.

POOR EDUCATIONAL STANDARD OPERATED BY THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT IN ODI.

THE CLASSROOM OF A FUNCTIONING SCHOOL IN THE  CURRENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT IN ODI

Until we stop this infantile stomach jamboree, It is not surprising that Bayelsan's will continually nosedive to destitutes and servitude instead of growing in knowledge and revel in prosperity. Our traditional institution should letup the celebration and coronation of corrupt individuals as can be seen in the recent coronation of Timipre Sylva as the 'Ajana 1', a man with a corruption case with the EFCC that is sub judicia. Our parents have been made either through diabolic means or the apparent political imposition, to wallow in sheer ignorance and as such, danced to the tune of mental slavery exude by politicians. Blinded by their greed for the little peanuts thrown around by these men during election periods who have unconstitutionally withheld their emoluments, an elusive life of opulence as paraded to them by these destiny killers, they have been derogated to play the role of partisanship for PDP and APC, and stand by the road side to cheer the same people that have subjected them to this state of perpetual squalor for the past seventeen years. They peregrinate round these elites like flies around an ordure, hoping to feed off the left over's of the National cake. Without prejudice and apology to anybody's feelings, these set of Bayelsa's deserves to be lynched as ironically, they are the set of people who constitutes the majority of voters in the state.

POOR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OPERATED BY THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT IN ODI.

NO REGARD FOR THE STUDENTS OF ODI BY THE PRESENT BAYELSA STATE RESTORATION GOVERNMENT.

It's more shocking when one realizes that it is thesame Odi that have carved a significant place for itself in the history of this great country Nigeria. I am a radical, a virulent writer and an activist. Those who wish to continue to subject us to such unimaginable hardship, should understand that notice is being taken of them for speculative purposes. This hardship on our children can be mitigated, prevalent circumstances have offered us a choice, and we have to choose between the two Pharaoh's and a Moses. we should be careful because the choices we make in this election can either make or mar us. We may not get it right next time.

I and those who represent my generation have found a light, and that light is Moses Siloko Siasia.

MOSES SIASIA AND IRENE OPUENE, TAKING BAYELSA STATE TO THE PROMISE LAND.

I so perorate.

I am Aluzu Ebikebuna
Truth have just been said no matter the cost.

MY GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRATION IS DIVINE - Moses Siloko Siasia

MY GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRATION IS DIVINE - Moses Siloko Siasia

His Excellency, the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Movement in Bayelsa state made this statement during an interview with Rythm 94.7 in Yenagoa, yesterday 31/10/2015.

This was how it went.

MAY WE KNOW YOU?

I am Moses Siloko Siasia, the standard flag bearer of People's Democratic Movement (PDM)

WHY ARE YOU IN THE RACE?

I am a young enterprising man who is moved by the pains I behold in the eyes of Bayelsans. There is the need to create massive employment and make education attractive in Bayelsa state. It is no news that I am the underdog in this race, as the political Goliaths have been tested, Bayelsan's should ponder if they are trusted.

HOW WOULD YOU ACTUALIZE YOUR PLANS?

My aspiration is divine, and I have a spunk conviction that I will be sworn in on February 14, 2016 which is a very significant day for the youths.

I will actualize my plans with proper strategizing and by diversifying our economy, from our over dependence on the federal allocation, to tourism as well as investing in our agricultural sector and human capacity development.

On the issue of dwindling resources, our government will take responsibilities. We will run a responsible government, I am a responsible man, and I have ran my Company responsibly for the few years I have been the Chairman.

Bayelsa state is endowed with a lot of resources, There is need for Bayelsa to transform these crude resources into modern realities for Bayelsan's. Bayelsa state has a good vegetation for plantain farming, why have our subsequent government failed to invest in this sector? We can become a major plantain exporter in Africa not just in Nigeria, this will further create jobs and employment for our people. We can produce plantain chips, and become a major exporter of plantain chips.

We can equally export rice and turn Peremabiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government rice farm to export destination.

In Bayelsa state, we produce palm oil more than Malaysia annually. We can become a major exporter of palm oil and engage our people in mass production.

There is the need to equip our farmers. If voted in as Governor of Bayelsa state, Bayelsa Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is currently not up to N1billion because it is solely dependent on tax, consequently it has made the business environment not to be conducive for our people. The highest IGR the Bayelsa State Government has produced is N856million in 2013. If voted in as Governor, I will raise our IGR to N5Billion in just four (4) years. We are young professionals, do not doubt us, we will do it.

BAYELSANS ARE USED TO THE UMBRELLA AND BROOM BECAUSE THEY ARE HOUSEHOLD NAMES, THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE SYMBOL OF YOUR PARTY

Ok, we are not intimidated in any way by the names of the other parties, we do not tremble in anyway by them, because the PDM is the founder of both parties. Do you know that the PDP we have today emanated from PDM my party, and the APC members today were one time members of the PDP. It is God that gives power not man. The race to creek heaven is designed by God.

Bayelsa state is responsible for 70-75% of Nigeria's gas reserve and we are still living in this deplorable state, is the more reason the people should look out for the party with the "TORCH LOGO," that's the symbol of our party.

DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH THIS RACE?

Only God gives power. In Britain, a 20 years old girl (Mhairi Black) unseated a two time parliamentarian is the British parliament member of recent. I'm sorry to say this but in Bayelsa state, people are morally demoralized. People are of the opinion that the election will be rigged because they have been used to political imposition. Now the thing is, it is we the masses that will rig the election for the powers that be. Bayelsan's need to secure their votes. They need to make sure they do not leave their polling units till their vote is counted. Look at what happened in Plateau state for instance, Plateau is a case study of how people came out and secured their votes against the ruling party.

I would want to assure Bayelsan's that this election and that of Kogi is the litmus paper test for His Excellency President Buhari, to know if he is a man of integrity and that the international communities are watching, the President of the United State of America is aware that I am contesting an election in Bayelsa, the Queen of United Kingdom is aware, and we will do everything humanly possible that this election will be free and fair. In short, for the purpose of removing doubts from people's mind, we will be using drones in this election, and it will be televised live, we are deploying eighty (80) drones for this purpose. I believe it is not by the making of man, it is God that gives power and I see no reason why I should be afraid. If not for God, President Buhari would not have emerged winner of last election as the PDP had all the ammunitions. So, I put my trust in God and not man.

YOU'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THE YOUTHS AND IT SEEMS YOUR CAMPAIGN IS CENTERED AROUND THE YOUTHS, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR WOMEN AND THE ELDERLY?

The youth is a period of activity, so when we talk about youths it comprises of this stage in one's life when he/she is full of activities. I am a man who is gender friendly, I believe the women in Bayelsa state constitutes an untapped resources. Go to my company MOSILO GROUP, 60% of my workforce are women. I have been pressurized to field a man as my deputy, but I discarded such. My government will give the women 40% affirmative.

The elders will benefit also, we are not saying they do not have a place in our administration, what we are saying is mama, papa, our time has come. There is need to liberate the young in the state. A progeny at the age of 30 is still living in his father's house in Bayelsa and its a problem without the government realizing it.

We will provide free medical health care for 70 years old and above. Also, we will provide social and economic care for our elders. We will take care of pensioners as well.

Now, there have been rise in crime rates of recent, by creating jobs, we intend to reduce crime to its barest minimum in the state. We will have a training program for our ex freedom fighters, trained ex freedom fighters would be looked into and included into our programs including those who are not trained.

THERE ARE SO MANY ABANDONED PROJECTS LITTERED ALL OVER THE STATE, 500 BED HOSPITALS, 5 STAR HOTEL, ETC... WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU COME TO POWER, WILL YOU COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS?

We will complete projects that have economic and social benefit to Bayelsa.

We will set up an Standardized Signal Management Process (SSMP) and there is the need that we have money before. We will bring i Bayelsan's who are experts, technocrats to come and build Bayelsa state together with us. Abandoned project is as a result of bad leadership.

The other day we went to Swali market, we noticed how bad the road is, the only road that leads to the epicenter of Bayelsa economy. People are dying in abject poverty and pains.

PEOPLE THINK YOUR CAMPAIGN IS ISSUE BASED AND NOT CAMPAIGN AGAINST PERSON. WHY IS THAT?

We are professionals like I said, and we do not engage in campaign of calumny. I admonished my team, social media team several times to respect our leaders and I'm glad they have adhered to every word I said to the latter.

Today, Bayelsa is the market because we play politics of hate. I have always said what binds us together is greater than what tear us apart. I have lots of respect for my governor, and whether you like it or notn he is my governor and an elder statesman. I have respect for Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, as he was a speaker at a young age and if you observe carefully, we had the best days in the House during his tenure.

Let me also talk about the Civil Servants, I understand the pains they are going through, their welfare package is not even up to standard. We are saying we will pay N25,000.00 to Civil Servants as minimum wage, and gratuity to our retirees.

I have a target of 30,000.00 jobs, the youth is my target. Even the holy book says "remember your God in the days of thy youths." All over the world today, young people are doing great things. The facebook owner, even his Excellency, Buhari was 27 years when he became a petroleum minister of Nigeria, it is only a pity that they have devalued us to N3,000.00 and using us as campaign thugs here in Bayelsa.

A society that fails to take care of its young, is a failed society. Our leaders have failed us. God has really favoured Bayelsa at the federal level, we have produced a National Security Adviser, President and two (2) petroleum ministers. Yet, we have 60% out of school children, 98% unemployment rate.

   MOSES SIASIA AT RYTHM 94.7 STUDIO

                                         

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT?

We will carry out vocational skill training, we need to diversify our economy, build institutions that will train our young people, we will build skill and sport centers for our young ones.

We will makes education attractive by increasing Bursary to N30,000.00 and every student would be paid using the e-system.

In my administration, we will revive the reading culture in Bayelsa, by setting up quiz competitions when the winner is going to be given scholarship and the child will be made Acting Governor for a day.

We will build for new cities in four (4) years. We will build a beach at Akassa, we will make Oloibiri a tourist attraction, we will re-build Boro town and Aggey deep sea port.

Bayelsan's should go out there and say, this is what we want, they should go and vote on December 5. This election will be rig free, I am not joking, I hear some people are taking the electorates PVC numbers, we are deploying a lot of drones for this election. Obama knows I am contesting, the Queen of England is aware I am contesting. The international communities will be watching, they cannot rig this election. We aree begging our people to please secure their votes.

We should not leave our destiny in the hands of political jokers.

WILL YOU COLLECT LOAN?

No, I will not collect loan

WHAT IF THERE IS NO MONEY IN THE STATE'S TREASURY?

I would talk to my international partners who will gratitiously give us money, not loan. With all the loans that we have been collecting, what have we been able to achieve? How many people have flown fron the Bayelsa airport?

I am working with people wo can attract development to Bayelsa state.

I want to assure every Bayelsan that we are flagging off our campaign next week, we are going from community to community, ward to ward.

PDM is a movement, and I am on the spike of the movement for the liberation of Bayelsa state.

Our campaign office is open and they can call us on 07035751008 or 07082847626.

Thank you

Aluzu Ebikebuna A.
Social Media Coordinator for Moses Siloko Siasia Campaign Organization

Profile of MRS. IRENE DIGITEMIE OPUENE, DEPUTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (PDM)

Profile of MRS. IRENE DIGITEMIE OPUENE
DEPUTY GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (PDM)

Mrs. Irene Digitemie Opuene was born on the6th February 1960 at Minibie-Akassa  in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

She attended St. Matthews School, Egwema in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State from 1966 to 1972 for her First School Leaving Certificate and later proceeded to the Government Girls Secondary School, Bassambiri - Nembe for her West African School Certificate in 1977.  From 1979 to 1980 she was at St. John's College, Port Harcourt for her Teachers' Grade II Certificate and subsequently proceeded to the Rivers State College of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt where she obtained her National Certificate of Education (NCE) Mathematics/Economics in 1984.

A lover of education, Mrs. Irene Opuene also attended the University of Port Harcourt from 1987 to 1991 where she obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) (Education) degree in Mathematics in 1991. Not done yet with her studies, she was admitted to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt where she obtained an MBA degree in Banking and Finance in 1997.

An erudite, patriotic, hardworking and very dedicated woman, Mrs. Irene Digitemie Opuene started her working career as a Classroom Teacher at St. Luke's School, Nembe, Bayelsa State in 1980 and was posted in 1985 to Government Girls Secondary School, Nembe. She was there from 1985 to 1992 when she was transferred to Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

On the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996, she moved to St. Judes Girls Secondary School, Amarata – Yenagoa and was in 1997 appointed Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Nembe.

In 1999, at the advent of the forth republic, Mrs. Irene Opuene was appointed a Principal Legislative Officer at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Yenagoa. During this period, she was the Chairman of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Branch.

In 2001, Mrs. Opuene was posted to the Bayelsa State Liaison Office, Lagos as the Liaison Officer during the tenure of late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha where she distinguished herself as a true representative of the Bayelsa people in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos.

In 2004, she was reposted to Yenagoa as the Chief Administrative Officer in the Governor's Office, Yenagoa and served as Secretary of the Public Service Pensions Board, Yenagoa. From 2005 and 2007, she was the Acting Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Training and Pensions Bureau, Yenagoa and later served as Secretary, Public Service Board from 2007 to 2010.

An experienced, honest, committed and hardworking civil servant, Mrs. Opuene was posted to the seat of power in the State as the Principal Secretary, Government House, Yenagoa and served from May 2010 to March 2012. She was afterwards, reposted to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure till September 2013 when she was posted to the nation's capital Abuja as the Director of the Bayelsa State Liaison Office (Bayelsa House) Abuja. She is now retired from the Bayelsa State Civil Service.

A Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM) since 2003, she has attended several courses, workshops and seminars in course of her long and successful career in the civil service. Some of these include Legislative Practice Procedure (1998); Workshop on Fire Prevention Management and Awareness for Civil Servants (1998); National Seminar on uncovering and preventing Fraud in Management and Pension Payroll and Wages (2005); Workshop on Government Policy and Reform Policy (2005); Workshop on Capacity Building for Senior Administrative Management Staff in the Civil Service(2006); Workshop on Contributory Pension Reform (2006) and Workshop on Information Security (2006) among others.

Early this year, Mrs. Irene Digitemie Opuene ran for the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the Peoples Democratic Party primary elections that produced Senator Ben Bruce as the candidate and subsequent election as Senator for Bayelsa East Senatorial District. She is now the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Movement (PDM) for the December 2015 Governorship elections in Bayelsa State which has Moses Siloko Siasia, the young, pragmatic, hardworking, focused and successful entrepreneur as the flag bearer.

A strong believer in Christ, she has, over the years, committed herself to the service of God, her State, Bayelsa and humanity in general.  She is happily married with children.

A CLARION CALL TO YOUNG NIGERIANS

NIGERIAN YOUTHS TO RAISE N500MILLION TO SUPPORT 35YEARS BAYELSA PDM GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE 'MOSES SILOKO SIASIA'

Dear Nigerian Young Compatriots,
            We bring you warm greetings and profound salutations from the constituency of young Nigerians. We salute your loyalty, determination and resilience in your resolve to uphold, pursue and promote those fundamental values, ethics and ethos that are proven to be building blocks for sharpening societies and building formidable Nations. Despite our long history of premeditated neglect of young people in Nigeria, we have kept faith and continually sustain hope in a renaissance of the Nigeria of our dreams.

It was John C. Maxwell, that said “To live a worthy life, meaningful life, a person must be part of something greater than himself”. After the tough, harsh and seemingly impossible battle of colonialism and violent oppression, our founding fathers together as one people began a journey at independence, a journey with a vision to create prosperity and build a country that is to be an envy of all Nations. The expedition of this great Patriots and Patriarchs of liberating Nigerian's from ignorance, stagnation, poverty, socio-economic and political exclusion has since become a mirage, with the young people at the receiving end.

Our experience as young people in Nigeria has been that of a history of generations of broken promises. We have seen hopes dashed, trust betrayed, opportunities mortgaged and steady steps towards development compromised. We have seen great dreams, vision and plans sacrificed on the altar of greed, parochialism, sectionalism and uncontrollable extremist tendencies. We have witnessed with rude shock the perversion of fundamental values of character, integrity, hard work, sacrifice and patriotism. The young is now left with a society that is best described as “without form and void”.

The great question is “where is the hope of the younger generation”? Where is our hope when we do not have fair employment policies? Where is our hope when we do not have quality education, where our graduates are said to be unemployable? Where is our hope when we are killed during employment processes (2012 Immigration Recruitment Massacre) without having justice? Where is our hope when we are falsely and unjustly accused and are left to rot and die in jails without justice? Where is our hope when our young brothers and sisters are left to the option of prostitution, armed robbery, militancy, insurgency and kidnaps for survival only because we have been abandoned, relegated, alienated and deprived of economic opportunities? Where is our hope when 10% of Nigerian's control the entire wealth of our country? Where is our hope when financial institution wickedly refuses to give loans to small businesses but give billions to their capitalist cronies without collateral and interest? Where is our hope when only the wealthy access good health care? Where is our hope when the young are used to fight all the wars, battles and die while the old sit to share the plunders of victories? Where is our hope when even in the current political dispensation of change which the youths solely initiated and established but are now disenfranchised and short-changed in the formation of an all inclusive government? Where? Where? Where? Young Nigerian's Where is our hope? One wonders why some youths still support the very generation that have consistently unleashed devastation with impunity on the young generation.

Solution
Firstly, we need a mental shift in Leadership Engagement. This focuses on a total recalibration of our psychological infrastructure on our concept of leadership. It must be focused on service, sacrifice, patriotism, modernity, innovation and love for humanity.

Secondly, the acceptance of the reality and necessity of a generational shift in leadership is pivotal. This is critical and most significant to the 21st century knowledge economy trends in leadership delivery. This emphasizes the strategic and deliberate injection of young creative minds in governance and the economic process. This key element emphasizes the charismatic leadership traits of strength, fresh ideas, new initiatives, relevant and modern approaches, speed in result delivery, and sophistication in respect to skills and talent, technological and knowledge superiority as a result of the 21st century knowledge economy.

It was Martin Luther King jr that said “the solutions to the problems of any generation lays in the young of that generation”

Recently, exploring the riches of historical intelligence, Professor Wole Soyinka elucidated in the most profound and clear manner how young Nigerian's in their various historical dispensations played strategic roles in re-engineering the socio-cultural, political and economic heritage of Nigeria. For instance, after the death of Herbert Macaulay, the great icons that led the struggle for Nigerian independence were in their 20s and 30s, apart from Zik that was 42. Awolowo was 37, Akintola was 36, Ahmadu Bello was 36, Balewa was 34, Okotie-Eboh 27 and Enahoro was 27.

In 1966, the first coup was led by: K Nzeogwu who was 29 years and countered by M Mohammed 28, T Danjuma 28, Babangida 25, Garba 23, Sani Abacha 23, and Yaradua 23, and brought into power Gowon 32, Ojukwu 33, Obasanjo 29, and Buhari 24.
Most of the military governors who governed the states under the successive military regimes were under 30 years. The brief democratic dispensation which interjected the military interregnums also saw some Senators and the House of Representatives in particular populated by members under 30. Under 30's were also not in short supply with appointments - we have examples of MT Mbu who became foreign affairs minister at 23 and Pat Utomi who became a federal adviser at 27 and so on and so forth.

It was Albert Einstein that also said “You cannot solve a problem with the same mindset that created the problem”

The generational shift in economic and political leadership in favour of young people is ongoing and yielding tremendous results around the world. Recently, the general elections in the United Kingdom saw the emergence of one of the youngest parliamentarian in British history, Mhairi Black, a 20 year Old University student and a Scottish National party candidate; she defeated a major Labor Party Leader Douglas Alexander, who serves as the Labor Party national campaign Coordinator and foreign secretary. In South Africa, the major opposition party (Democratic Alliance) recently elected the youngest opposition Party leader MmusiMaimane at the age 34. In Equatorial guinea, the President recently appointed the youngest National Security adviser at the age of 33, KanielaIng, USA 25 (State Senator) in the Hawaii state house of Representatives, JalindaArdern New Zealand 33 (member of parliament), MarietjeSchaake Netherlands 35, (European Parliament), Pierre LueDusseault Canada 23 (Member of Parliament), Wyatt Roy, Australia 24 (Member of Parliament) Australia,Alex B Morse USA 25 (Mayor in the city of Holyoke) Massachusetts, Anton Amade AbeleSweden 22 (Member Swedish Parliament), ProscoviaAlengotEromait, Uganda 21 (Member of Parliament) Uganda. This list of the emergence of young people in the corridors of power globally is endless and inexhaustible.

“The 21st century generation is surely a generation of the emergence of young global leaders”. (Ban ki moon, UN Secretary General).

It is on this noble and empirical premise that we implore all young Nigerian's irrespective of tribe, creed and race to support the candidature Moses Siloko Siasia, Chairman Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF), who has humbly decided to yield to the call of his people to run for the seat of the Governor of Bayelsa State. A state created in 1996 (19years ago) with over four (4) trillion naira statutory allocation received so far, yet pipe borne water is non-existent, commerce non-existent, critical infrastructure in shambles and at the state of hopelessness. Transportation, health and education are in the most deplorable condition. 75% out of school children, 90% youth unemployment, 0% Foreign  Direct Investment(FDI), high level of crime and criminality, and incessant kidnaps and absolute dictatorship. Despite the state’s ranking as one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in Nigeria it has remain a pedestrian state with huge debt profile of over 300billion naira. A journey to Bayelsa will totally demystify what is really meant by decades of neglect. Bayelsans’ are living in abject poverty and squalor.

It was the Great Napoleon that said, “The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of good people”.

As a young Nigerian's, it is not enough for us as young people to harmonize and form partnerships for advocacy alone. We must synergies, harmonize, and form partnerships to participate in the political process because that is where our collective destiny as a people and as a Nation is decided.

This is a clarion call for all young people to use Bayelsa as a Litmus test to experiment their electoral power. The success of young Nigerian's in Bayelsa will spark an awakening and a revolution in future elections in other parts of Nigerian. It is time for young Nigerian's to make Nigeria work. It is an irresponsible generation that transfers their responsibility to the next generation. We will not transfer responsibility, we will take responsibility.

We also entreat all young patriotic and positive minded Nigerian's to give all the support that is required both morally, materially, professionally and financially for the success of this historic movement. We will not use stolen or looted funds to enthrone the people’s choice. We will use the peoples widows might (peoples meagre resources/money) to enthrone the people’s choice. As it’s popularly said “He that comes to equity must to equity with clean hands”. This is the only and surest way to hold our governments accountable.

I will end this little missive by this great words of inspiration from a great patriarch   “Life does not give humans what they deserve but what they demand and take from it”.

Our collective aspirations and vision as young Nigerian's cannot be given to us; it can only be taken by us together as a team and as a movement.  

Together we shall make Nigeria Great Again!


Signed
Dr Nuhu Atta
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF)

BAYELSA STATE AND PARTY POLITICS

BAYELSA STATE AND PARTY POLITICS:

Introduction:
In view of the forth coming December 5 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa state, an assessment of the psyche generally of Bayelsan populace has become pertinent as to the determination of their readiness to embrace a positive leadership or their willingness to stick to the unfavourable party politics that has afforded them with so much to desire in terms of deriving the dividends of democracy from a supposedly constitutionally elected Executive. This has been stratified into the Comtenian and Spencer school, as some quarters believe the individual is who is inherent with the ideas while the bulk of others are still sticking to the group mentality, believing that having an identification with the centre or a particular party soothes and derive some sort of satisfaction. The former believes the individual is greater than the group while the latter believes the group transcends the individual and so, no individual is indispensable.

Democracy provides the opportunities for the people to freely exercise their voting rights in the selection of representatives who govern them. Democracy depends on parties to survive, since the structure of elections, right from citizens participation to candidates’ selection and presentation of competing political programmes is done by political parties and voting is carried out by the electorates based on the preferred obvious party on the ballot paper. It is on this note that political parties occupy a special place in the democratic equation in the state and the nation at large.

The result of examination undertaken revealed that Bayelsans care less. It also reveals that Nigerian political parties does not possess features of political parties such as ideology, party manifesto's, like-minded people as well as viable opposition (it's a two party system from what is obtainable). All parties are engaged in intra party conflict rather than embarking on programmes that would benefit the masses. The result of undemocratic conduct of political parties such as candidate’s imposition, unclear manifesto's as revealed in this paper, gave rise to assassination, intimidation, political violence inter alia that portrayed Bayelsa state and Nigeria as one of the most risky nation in the world. Such dogged conviction does not only portray an indictment on our educational sector for failure to discharge it's public responsibility, but the severity of our intellectual mal nourishment. However, the findings showed that the enlightened few of 30% of respondents agreed that money and class were the major factors that undermined or determined the position of candidates in Nigerian election, while 47% of respondents also agreed that the power of incumbency and godfatherism greatly determined the emergence of party’s candidates. Almost 70% of respondents agreed that tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism, greed and sectionalism were major factors that have caused party’s lack of internal democracy in Nigeria. The study concluded that party politics in the area of nomination, selection and elections have negative implications on democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Among other things, the study also concluded that lack of internal democracy within political parties as a limiting factor in Nigeria’s attempt to deepen democracy, sincerity, integrity, honesty, transparency, people-oriented and straight forwardness are sacred words and character traits of a
Government that are alien to our political parties who sometimes lack the stamina to call their erstwhile candidate to order after emerging winner of an election, such candidate is presented with a carte blanche opportunity who sees himself above the people, party, state, and law sometimes.

Sometimes, Bayelsan's to a discerning mind are bereft and void of reasonable justification as to why they are pitching their tent with a particular party. At times, aligning with the centre is sufficient to satisfy their myopic and alarming brain. Though, with the pitiable situation of Bayelsa state, Bayelsan's are yet to learn, with our inchoate democracy and the level of impoverishment and under-development that has assailed our very existence and almost at the verge of shaking life from us only recently, some anti-people elements have dared to declare out of the ignorance and a sheer lack of understanding of facts a particular party, an Ijaw party. Just to argumentum ad populum and gather sympathy votes from Bayelsan's who the said 'Ijaw party' refused to development for 6 years with an Ijaw man in power.

One sad commentary about our democratic experience is the wanton glorification of responsibility and irresponsibility as dividends of democracy. In saner climes, the performance of a Leader’s statutory obligations and Constitutional functions such as Staff welfare, Community welfare
and Institutional strengthening do not constitute achievements (or giant strides as we say here). It is a Leader’s capacity to craft and fashion out a vision that
will manifestly translate into the total liberation of his subjects from the interlocking clutches of poverty,
socio-economic exploitation, geo-political
domination, ethno-cultural dislocation as well as a neo-fascist enslavement implanted by past and present years of myopic and tyrannical leadership (the Bayelsa story for the past seventeen years) that constitute what is known as achievements in office. It is in line with this intellectual wavelength that Plato posited that “our object in the establishment of the State is the greatest happiness of the whole and not that of any class.” But sadly here, a Governor will gladly tell the whole world that some of his numerous achievements are payment of salaries (though belated), building of a glorified over-head bridge. It is tragic, indeed lamentably tragic that we are blessed with the Seriake of a Governor who has turned the Bayelsa
Civil Servants into civil slaves and the entire Bayelsans into the Willing who are led by the Unknowing and are doing the impossible for the Ungrateful and have done so much for so long, with so little that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. And now, the government has resolved into recruiting professional liars on daily basis giving out bogus and unverifiable information to feed the gullible and unsuspecting public. They insists they have built us a State in the Art schools, but how many of their children belong to any of the schools? Having mammoth turnouts in his Town-Hall meetings because it has resolved in doling out cash to Bayelsan's who he has subjected to perpetual poverty in their own land, flowing with milk and honey.

Yet, with the foregoing, the chunk of Bayelsan's are still gambling with their future, playing party politics in lieu of the credibility of the candidates. Two (2) out of the three (3) contestants are responsible for our dismal condition as a state and deserved to be lynched. One sold everything that was to obviate the state and it's Citizens the hardship they are faced with and the other built prison yards in lieu of Schools we voted for. Our Court (judiciary) is properly funded by the state because it is the readily place to haul my kinds who would make a fist to their obnoxious policies and tax laws. Playing into the psyche of Bayelsan's and appealing to their selfish interest is a way of garnering support for another four (4) years of slavery, imposition and political bondage for the people.

It is understandable that it is far too early to expect “giant strides” from a state that is just 17 years old, but the truth still remains that solid steps and actions imbued with the innate capacity to
engender qualitative development of the people and infrastructural resuscitation can be made in 17 years. A baby that cannot survive, learn the rudiments of manhood and be able to fend for himself at 17 years is only fit for an Orthorpaedics reclusion, and not the Creeks.

Oil rich Bayelsa, the glory of all lands,
has gone through a most excruciating journey for the past 17 years in the hands of intellectual blunt-leaders who
have only succeeded in perpetuating infrastructural decay and backwardness, thus presenting her as a standing example of an institutional irony, and can
ill-afford, the speeding antics of a snail, in its destined march to greatness.

The age-long aphorism and cliche of “moving the State forward” should be denounced for what it is, an empty,
stultifying clause that oozes deception. Owing precisely to the beguiling attractiveness of the spoils of office, our Leaders usually fixate on the metaphor
of propulsion, mistaking the image of motion with the idea of progress. Moving the State forward into what? Crises, chaos or crass corruption and insecurity? Only recently, the astronomous rate of crime is too much any state can bear, instead of our Countryman governor to be touring round the state in his bid for a re-election he should channel some of these resources to the state security outfit to curv the menace of kidnapping in the state as well as wanton destruction of lives and properties by these livid un-employed youths whose aged parents you have crassly refused to pay gratuity and a year and 7months salary. The state university (Niger Delta University) has purportedly been gentrified only in the news headlines, with students paying an alarming ammount of N120,000.00 for a session with poor infrastructure and inencourageable educating environment is another educational fraud, encouraged by the Restoration led government. Our recent history is replete with Leaders that have moved us forward into ineptitude, misery and unimaginable self-enrichment.

The time is right for Bayelsa to take that gargantuan stride from Party politics to issue based one, electing leaders based on their credibility and not on the platform which they stand. It is individual that owns the idea and not the party.

I say Bayelsa deserves better, a disassociation with every strings from the past and move onto something/someone new.

Bayelsa deserves a leader who is accountable, passionate and responsible.

We deserve Moses Siloko Siasia of People's Democratic Movement, the party with the torch logo.

Written by:
Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine
New Media Coordinator for Moses Siloko Siasia Campaign Team.