Veteran politician and former Bayelsa East Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms and describing the administration as being on course to transform Nigeria.
Making the announcement on X Wednesday, Murray-Bruce praised the President’s handling of the economy and national security, stating that Tinubu possesses a rare combination of financial expertise and political will needed to reposition the country.
“I have known President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 1998. I know the man’s mind, his courage, and his conviction. He is not driven by applause, he is driven by results. And today, I can boldly say to you that he is on the right track,” Murray-Bruce said.
The senator, known for his business acumen and advocacy for economic development, emphasized that Nigeria is witnessing its first president with a deep understanding of finance and economic management.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, we have a President who truly understands finance, who sees the economy not as a political slogan, but as a living organism that must be disciplined, deregulated, and allowed to breathe,” he stated.
Murray-Bruce acknowledged that many Nigerians are experiencing economic hardship but insisted the reforms are essential for long-term prosperity.
“The painful reforms we face today are the very foundation of tomorrow’s prosperity. We are moving into a free-market economy, one that rewards hard work and innovation instead of dependency and distortion,” he explained.
He highlighted several achievements of the Tinubu administration, including improvements in national security, the professionalization of the Central Bank, fuel deregulation, and enhanced foreign policy standing.
“Look around you: under this administration, the appointment of the National Security Adviser has redefined our national safety architecture. Insecurity is being quietly and systematically dismantled. The Central Bank, now professionally steered, is stabilizing the economy, rebuilding confidence, and restoring the dignity of the naira,” Murray-Bruce noted.
On fuel supply, he added: “Our fuel supply is deregulated. We will never again live through the humiliation of fuel scarcity. The numbers are beginning to speak, investments are returning, and the world is watching Nigeria rise again.”
The former senator also commended the administration’s infrastructure projects, describing them as unprecedented and vital to national development.
“Beyond economics, Bola Tinubu’s infrastructural drive is unprecedented; from massive road networks to modernized ports, airports and housing schemes springing up across the nation. These developments are not just concrete and steel; they are the arteries through which growth and opportunity now flow,” he said.
While recognizing ongoing challenges facing Nigerian families, Murray-Bruce urged citizens to remain patient, drawing parallels with other nations that underwent difficult but necessary reforms.
“I know it is still a difficult season for many families. But as history teaches, reform is never painless. Yet, it is in these moments of sacrifice that nations are reborn,” he stated.
Explaining his decision to join the APC, Murray-Bruce emphasized that his move was motivated by principle rather than political expediency.
“That is why today, I am joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), not for politics, but for progress. Because I believe that Bola Tinubu’s leadership, guided by courage and intellect, will deliver the Nigeria we have all dreamed of,” he declared.
In a bold prediction, the senator expressed confidence in Nigeria’s trajectory under Tinubu’s leadership.
“Mark my words: in the full term of eight years, Nigeria will witness phenomenal growth. I choose to stand with that vision. I choose to stand with reform. I choose to stand with the future,” Murray-Bruce concluded.
The defection adds to the APC’s recent addition of opposition figures and may signal broader political realignments ahead of future elections.
