Dear Ben Murray-Bruce, please face your work

Since he was elected a Senator, the Silverbird Chairman has taken on the position of an activist of sorts.

He has spoken out against corruption, condemned the lavish lifestyle of Nigeria’s politicians and screamed about the need for “common sense”.

Murray-Bruce should ordinarily be praised for his comments but coming from him, they stink of hypocrisy.

The problem with the Senator’s new-found activism is that he conveniently kept quiet when it was most needed.

Ben Murray-Bruce is suddenly concerned about the excessive wealth of Nigeria’s politicians after years of tacitly, if not directly, benefiting from previous governments.

The Goodluck Jonathan administration was characterized by massive corruption and misrule and it was under this very regime that our darling Senator served as the Chairman of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

Where was Ben Murray-Bruce when Jonathan sang and danced at a campaign rally after the deadly Nyanya bomb blast in April 2014? What did Ben Murray-Bruce say when Jonathan announced his re-election bid the day after 48 innocent children were killed in a bomb blast at the Government Science Secondary School in Potiskum, Yobe State?

Murray-Bruce has advised Buhari to sell off some of the presidential jets, why didn’t he offer that advice to Jonathan or rather urge him not to buy the four jets he acquired during his 5 year tenure?

Where was Ben Murray-Bruce when Jonathan pardoned Diepreye Alamieyeseigha who had been found guilty of laundering money from poverty-stricken Bayelsa State, where all three of them come from? Why didn’t he scream bloody murder then?

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has been a powerful figure in Nigeria’s media circles for a very long time but his silence on serious issues that arose during that period has been deafening.

Murray-Bruce cannot expect to suddenly jump on Nigeria’s bandwagon of change, which is already halfway through its journey, and then claim to be the driver.

However, there is definitely use for his common sense chant in the Senate where he was put by his fellow Bayelsans.

READ: Outrage over Senators' N9bn wardrobe allowance

Murray-Bruce can help us knock sense into his colleagues who insist on feeding fat on the flesh of their fellow citizens while barely delivering on the duties they were elected for.

READ: Ben Murray-Bruce says he has no control over Senators' large allowances

He can also help us beg our esteemed and “honourable” legislators to stop fighting and making a laughing stock of themselves and this great nation.

READ: Nigerians attack Ben Murray-Bruce over political activist comments

Dear Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, your newfound activism is much appreciated, but please try to direct it where it is most needed. Please face your work.

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Watch video of Ben Murray-Bruce condemning Nigerian politicians below: