Former Senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce, says his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven purely by President Bola Tinubu’s leadership qualities and capacity to rebuild Nigeria’s economy, not by party affiliation or personal gain.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, Murray-Bruce declared that political parties were “irrelevant” compared to the leadership and vision of the individual at the helm.
“It’s about leadership. It’s not the party. Forget about party — parties are irrelevant. It’s about the man at the top,” he said. “President Tinubu has shown that he can lead Nigeria, he can fix the economy, he can put together a dream team. People want immediate results, but that’s not going to happen. Nigeria is in very bad shape and needs time to recover.”
He likened Nigeria’s current economic condition to a patient recovering from surgery.
“If you had surgery and you’re in a hospital, you need time to recover,” he said. “We’ve been very badly led. When I was in the Senate, I voted against every single attempt by the Buhari administration to borrow money because they couldn’t service the debt. At one point, 97% of our earnings were being used to service debt. If you don’t have the talent at the top, why borrow?”
Murray-Bruce insisted that his defection was motivated solely by conviction and not personal benefit.
“I’m not in office — I’m not a senator, a governor or a Senate president. So it’s not like if I support the centre, I’ll get a big cheque the next day. I’m doing this for the right reasons,” he said. “People who switch parties should do it for the right reason, not because of some immediate gratification.”
When asked why he, a long-time critic of the APC, had changed his mind, Murray-Bruce said the difference lay in the quality of leadership.
“I voted against everything Buhari did in the Senate and I’m proud of that. If I were in the Senate today, I would vote for President Bola Tinubu’s policies because they make sense,” he said.
He described Tinubu as “number one” among Nigeria’s past presidents in terms of economic understanding.
“In terms of the economy, he’s number one,” Murray-Bruce said. “Obasanjo took over from the military at a horrible time, but what Tinubu inherited was worse — a dollar exchange rate of over ₦1,500 to one. It was the worst time in the history of the country. Yet, he is taking bold, sensible decisions to rebuild the economy.”
Responding to claims that he defected to escape financial troubles with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), which seized his Silverbird Entertainment Centre, Murray-Bruce dismissed the speculation as “nonsense.”
“AMCON already has the asset. They own it now. What purpose would it serve if I join the APC, AD, or PDP? There’s this wrong notion that if you join the APC, all your troubles disappear. That’s not true,” he stated.
He also refuted suggestions that his move was politically orchestrated.
“I spoke to no one. Nobody. The APC chairman only called me at 2 a.m. to congratulate me after I had made the decision,” he said. “I don’t operate like a typical politician. When I ran for governor, I consulted no one. When I ran for Senate, I consulted no one. If it makes sense, I do it.”
Defending his loyalty to his Bayelsa constituents, Murray-Bruce said his duty was to Nigeria, not just one region.
“I feel accountable to the people of Nigeria to make the right decisions to help this country, not just Bayelsa or the South. I believe President Tinubu is doing the right things to save this economy,” he said.
He praised both President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, calling her “probably the most qualified First Lady this country has ever seen.”
“People criticised her for standing beside her husband when he won. She’s been a senator for 12 years, incredibly brilliant and smart. I worked with her. She deserves respect,” he said.
Murray-Bruce said the PDP’s current struggles were temporary and part of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
“The PDP can still be salvaged. This is just a phase. Somebody will show up, disagree with the president’s policies, and build another opposition force,” he said. “So what if the PDP dies? Another party will rise. Democracy is a process, not a decline.”
He reiterated that his support was for Tinubu the leader, not the APC as a political structure.
“I support the individual, not the party. If Buhari were still in office, there’s no way I’d have joined the APC. Impossible. But Bola Tinubu is different — he’s the reason I joined,” he said.
Asked about his political future, the former senator said he had no immediate plans to run for office.
“I’ve not thought about that. Right now, all I think about is the country. If the country works, I work,” he said. “I have businesses in Ghana, Los Angeles, Lagos, and several Nigerian states. I want to make movies and enjoy my life.”
Murray-Bruce concluded the interview with a personal story about Tinubu’s determination as governor of Lagos State, recalling his role during the creation of the Eko Atlantic City.
“When Tinubu was governor, he was trying to reclaim the Atlantic Ocean with Ronald Chagoury, but the federal government opposed it. I was exasperated. I went to see him at Bourdillon, and he asked me, ‘Ben, are you standing on quicksand or firm ground?’ I said, ‘Firm ground.’ He said, ‘Then keep fighting, and you will win.’ That’s the kind of man he is,” Murray-Bruce said.
“Eko Atlantic is now one of the most expensive real estates on Earth. That’s the vision Tinubu has, and that’s why I’m proud to support him.”
Boluwatife Enome
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