By Mohammed Kaka, Misau
Mohammed Aliko Mohammed has pleaded with persons and organizations calling on him to contest for the seat of house of representatives of Musau/Dambam federal constituency, Bauchi state, to give him more time to make adequate consultations before making his decision known to the public on their demands.
Mohammed, who had worked at the Nigeria Stock Exchange for over 20 years before embarking on another endeavour, appreciated God for making his people see the capability in him to represent them at the National Assembly.
Mohammed, who made the plea while speaking in an interview with newsmen at the weekend, said it was quite an honour to him to have individuals and groups calling on him to contest for the position of member representing Misau/Dambam at National Assembly.
“It is quite an honor to me for my people to come out and say they recognize me for having that capacity to put my hat in the ring to contest for that prestigious office”, he said.
“I am currently consulting, you know, far and wide with friends, family, associates, elders, citizens, indegenes that are in the Diaspora to seek people’s opinion to help me guide my decision whether or not to accept the calls of my people to contest for that prestigious office”, Mohammed added.
According to him, he has been very passionate about youth their empowerment and development, if given the mandate, he will ensure that the youth are being carried along.
“The plights of the youth is of great concern to me and it should be of great concern to every Nigerian. When you see the number of young ably qualified people roaming the streets without a job to do, not earning daily bread and falling into different kinds of societal ills such as drugs, robbery, joining all sorts of gangs and the sort. So, it is truly of great concern”, he said.
Comrade Mohammed said during his 25 years of employment he has noticed the ability of the youth to transform themselves into better people when they are given the opportunity.
“Now, even though the office I am being asked to contest for is not an executive office that will allow or give me the power to create or give employment to the teaming youths within this location. I believe that beimg in the federal house of representatives will give me the ability to legislate laws or influence legislation that will go a long way in empowering and developing the youths”, he maintained.
He further said: “At the same time, being in such position gives you the access to numerous organizations, institutions and of course a hust of investors to whom we can showcase our own locality, particularly within the areas of ICT, agriculture and Agro Allied investments”.
Mohammed said anybody that knows Misau and Dambam federal constituency and the general environs knows that it is blessed with intelligent people and a vibrant farming Community, adding that agriculture and ICT are the future.
“You can refuse to buy recharge card for your phone, you can refuse to paint your house, you can refuse to buy a new car but there is no way any human being can refuse to eat food and this food comes from agriculture”, he noted. ICT on the other hand is a very promising sector as well.
According to him, agriculture has proven to be the largest employer of labour in most developing countries and Nigeria should not be an exception.
“We are blessed with the land, we are blessed with the climate and then we are blessed with the brilliant youth. So, agriculture and ICTwill be my major focus when it comes to legislation to empower the youth”, Mohammed assured.
“There will also be other projects that the federal government has in place, my ability to influence those projects to be directed towards my constituency, it will be topmost on my priority list”, he further explained.
