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DOUBLE -MOUTHED BEN MURRAY-BRUCE – AKPABIO IS UNDEMOCRATIC; AKPABIO, MAN OF UNIMPEACHABLE CHARACTER
Ben Murray-Bruce, a former senator who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District in Bayelsa State, has described Senate President Godswill Akpabio as “a man of unimpeachable good character”.
Via X on Thursday, the former lawmaker claimed Akpabio was without blemish and has come out clean despite claims to the contrary.
“He is a man of unimpeachable good character, and both the South-South and Nigeria are fortunate to have him at the helm of affairs at the National Assembly at this delicate stage in our national growth,” Murray-Bruce wrote.
He also said, “On the issue of corruption, here we have a man who has been investigated in and out by independent investigative agencies and friends and foes alike, yet he has come out clean as a whistle.”
These comments came after Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, accused Akpabio of corruption and having a history of sexually harassing women.
However, Murray-Bruce’s comments contrast with the ones he earlier made about Akpabio. In August 2018, the former senator called on the US, UK and Canada to revoke Akpabio’s visas because he was “orchestrating to break the laws of Nigeria”.
In three separate posts, he described Akpabio, who was representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, as undemocratic.
“I am currently at the National Assembly where Senator Akpabio and the gang are orchestrating to break the laws of Nigeria with the backing of the security forces,” he wrote on X.
“I call on the US Embassy, British Embassy, [and] Canadian Embassy to immediately revoke their visas and that of their family members.”
Ben Murray-Bruce’s X post reads:
“Senator Abiodun Olujimi is making a nationwide call to anyone who has a big donkey we can buy for Senator Akpabio. Akpabio will soon have to sell his jet as his undemocratic actions of today will keep him grounded in Nigeria for a very longggggg time. #SaveOurDemocracy,” Murray-Bruce added.
His posts came after the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege to the National Assembly complex and denied lawmakers access to the premises.
Murray-Bruce, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused fellow party member Akpabio and other lawmakers of attempting to overthrow Bukola Saraki, the Senate President at the time.
“It has come to our attention that we’re being invaded by state security. Our colleagues can’t go to work after we adjourned for the summer holiday,” he said.
“We’ve been informed that the APC senators are trying to effect a leadership change.
“This is anti-democracy. We’re going to ask western democracy. We’ll ask the western countries to revoke the visas of Senator Akpabio. We’ll ask them to revoke the class of their wives. Let nobody test me or this institution.”
Akpabio joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a day after the siege. At the time, several people accused Akpabio of defecting to evade the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigating him for corruption.
