Moses Chia Ayom, a Benue State-born businessman based in Abuja and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Granite and Marble Limited is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He recently spoke exclusively with Nosike Ogbuenyi, Premium Times Assistant Managing Editor on why he wants to be president and other related matters. Here are excerpts:
PT: Why are you in the race for presidency of Nigeria?
CHIA AYOM: First of all, as a businessman who has traveled wide across the world, I have been able to see what is lacking and I believe I cannot just be standing by the side while the situation degenerates. That is why I am stepping forward to offer my services.
PT: What is your vision for Nigeria as you aspire to be the next president of the country?
CHIA AYOM: My vision is to build a Nigeria of limitless opportunities for everyone; my vision is for a secure, prosperous, and united Nigeria that guarantees growth, wealth and health for all citizens and indeed all people living in Nigeria. Like I have always insisted, Nigeria is a country of great promise. We have all the natural and human resources to guarantee good life for every Nigerian, lead Africa and play big in the top league of advanced world economies. That is what I want to achieve.
I am a strong believer in the Nigerian project, the massive potential for wealth and growth that it holds not only for the privileged few, who despite systemic inefficiencies have thrived and succeeded, but for every hardworking Nigerian who is ready to be the best that he can be. I am also a firm believer in shared prosperity and better life for all. So, for me it is not enough that I am stable and can take care of myself and my family and those closest to me. No. It is also not enough that I have through my philanthropic efforts sponsored the education of over 300 hundred Nigerians to University level, organize annual health outreach for rural women and children for treatment of water borne diseases and other self-powered development initiatives. I crave to do more.
All these are limited in scale and impact. And that is why politics, despite its many issues, remains for me the most potent platform for the mobilization and allocation of resources that would foster widespread development that impacts my brothers and sisters, my fathers and mothers, our children and youth all over Nigeria. Besides, the best way to change the system is to get involved and I am happy to have made that decision.
The fact that Nigeria has the natural and human resources that we, politicians, and leaders, can tap to build a country that guarantees a decent life for everyone, lead Africa and be ranked among the top world economies is not in doubt. What we need is that visionary spark and sustained progressive leadership that will guide Nigeria to make that robust transition from our much-celebrated potential to the reality of being a great and prosperous country that is the pride of its citizens, a role model for Africa and the appeal of western countries.
PT: Contesting for presidency can be quite demanding in terms of the outlay of financial resources required to effectively mobilize and carry out the campaign across the country?
CHIA AYOM: From history, none of the past democratically elected presidents of this country was a money bag. Former President Shehu Shagari was a teacher; Olusegun Obasanjo came out of prison and was elected president without sacks of money; Goodluck Jonathan was a lecturer without money and the incumbent president, Muhammadu was not a money bag before he was elected. So, the issue is not about money but what one has to offer and I believe I have that.
Particularly, we would concentrate on partnerships with the Chinese Railway Corporation for revamping of old routes and expansion of modern railway lines across the country. In a nutshell, my aim is to build a new Nigeria with limitless opportunities for all citizens to actualize their maximum potentials.
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