Ben Murray Bruce, representative of Bayelsa east senatorial district at the national assembly, wants President Muhammadu Buhari to put the past behind him and face the task of governance.
Buhari has continued to lament the current state of the economy, accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of running the economy aground.
“The government is broke; there is no money. This country was materially and morally vandalised,” he told journalists at a press conference in New Delhi, India.
But the lawmaker disagrees with the president, saying he must take responsibility and devise strategies geared towards transforming the country.
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“You can only blame your predecessor for your problems for so long. After six months, so long becomes too long!” he wrote on Twitter.
“Six months is one-eighth of a four-year tenure. If you are still blaming your predecessor after six months, when are you going to ever deliver the goods?
“Blaming others is a sign of helplessness. A numero uno should not blame. He must take responsibility for leading us out of troubled waters.”
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Saying he is not bothered by those who would criticise him for challenging Buhari, Bruce said those who love the president will tell him the “truth”.
“Those who advise Buhari to make hay while the sun shines are his friends. It is unwise to make blame while the sun shines,” he said.
“Go ahead and attack me, I don’t mind. I am not the president or a governor. I’m just a Nigerian who loves Buhari enough to tell him the truth!
“Those who insult and call us enemies for advising the president and governors to focus on delivering results instead of blaming don’t love Nigeria.”
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3 comments
Ben,
Nothing stops the president from telling us the true state of affairs even if it is everyday, mostly while addressing questions from the media. He’s not repeatative on the state of affairs he often talks about, it’s a fact we need to be reminded of. Our country no doubt is in deep shit and Buhari has since commenced pulling us out if it. Many Nigerians are too used to doing things the wrong way that the right way now seems wrong, including yourself. First, the vehicle must be brought halt to initiate the right turn and start accelerating all over again’ it’s common sense as you often say.
Where was your voice in the last 16 yrs when Nigeria was been vandalized by your party. It’s a shame for person of your perceived calibre to be involved in such level of politics or nepotism. Just look at the senate and you’ll know how decayed Nigeria has become. Except for a few of you, it’s populated by mostly bunch of treasury looters, who now are trying hard to provide cover for their leader and themselves. Besides, few African failed countries our senate is perhaps populated with the worst set of people to be called “honourables”.
Buhari may seem helpless to your eyes but surely he’s not to follower of event in our country over the years and you’ll soon realize when he’s done with what he’s been doing. For great many Nigerians we understand the level of decay and disaster we are in and will surely take real hard work to get us out, surely his type.
If you like repeat the true state of affairs a thousand times, it does not make any meaning. That a wicked lecturer made you have twenty resits cannot pass you out of the university. We hate to hear the truth. Mr Ben Bruce did not offend your president by telling him to move forward. Why you Nigerians are backward is because most of you use tribal and political affiliations to let your leaders deceive you. I’m not from your country and I don’t care who governs. My interest as a student of international politics is to see a black nation that can move beyond the eclipse of technological darkness affecting black nations. South Africa that was a model has entered into the horizon of that eclipse since a black man took over. Your president should stop singing the same old song from month to month and move forward.
A good businessman does not run down the image of his business rather he tries to keep his customers as happy as possible. Nigeria’s customers are not happy to hear that we are in a very bad mess and we are trying to recover from it. They will simply look else where for a better business partner. In marketing perception is everything. Granted, Nigeria is in a mess and the world know that already. Most oil dependent nations are struggling right now and its expected. PMB needs to address those issue holding Nigeria back. Nigerians need to more see action in employment, power, road infrastructure, fiscal discipline, security etc.
As things are not the security situation is deteriorating. The peace secured in the South is gradually falling apart. Fulani-herds men and Afenifere are ratcheting up the tension in the South-west, IPOB is heating up the South-east with their peaceful protests, and the Nigeri-Delta militants have started become uncomfortable with decision coming from Aso-Rock. The good news is that Boko Haram is on the back foot but how long will that continue if the South becomes unstable.
We all know that the South provides over 90% of all government revenues from natural resources to taxes. GMB need to show more leadership in strengthening the peace in the South. This is not the time to be reactive. PDP was very reactive in dealing with Boko Haram from the onset and thats why it escalated to extreme violence. If they had addressed some of the issues facing the local in the North-east boko haram would not have hit critical mass.
GMB needs to address issues in the South immediately. He needs to clarify his position on the confab report. Many people in the South think he has given up on it, and many of them see that as an affront to their rights and aspirations. Complacency on this issue will only lead to more insecurity in the South.