The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senator Ben Murray Bruce

  • Senate aborts bill to phase out petrol vehicles in 2035

    THe Senate yesterday threw out a bill for an Act to phase out petrol vehicles in 2035.

    The bill, sponsored by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East), proposed the introduction of electric cars to replace petrol vehicles in the country by 2035.

    Contributors to the debate on the bill underscored the impossibility of mandating Nigerians to stop the use of petrol vehicles by 2035 without sufficient preparation.

    Murray-Bruce was forced to withdraw the bill following the opposition by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Barau Jibrin.

    Ekweremadu, who congratulated Murray-Bruce for introducing the bill, noted there was no need for a law to be passed for Nigerians to switch from use of petrol vehicles to electric vehicles.

    The Enugu West senator recalled that people moved from the use of animals as a means of transportation to bicycles, motorcycles, cars and other advanced means of transportation.

    He added that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which provide for freedom of movement, should suffice for the time being.

    Ekweremadu said: “I congratulate Ben Murray-Bruce for his uncommon common sense and brilliant ideas in the lead debate. But what is not common is the need to introduce a law to mandate the use of electric cars.

    “If we go into history, donkeys were used as means of transportation, and there is no law that caused people to begin to use cars.

    “This is ancillary to Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires freedom of movement. So, he should consider taking back the bill.

    “Besides, in economic sense, we are an oil producing country. So, we should do everything possible to frustrate the sale of electric cars in Nigeria to enable us sell our oil.”

    Barau Jibrin (Kano North) noted that while electric vehicles would be friendly to the environment and health, making its use mandatory was not feasible.

    “We have to look at individual’s net worth. Not all Nigerians can afford the vehicles at a given time.

    “We all know the importance of vehicles in our daily activities. So, banning the use of fuel cars will cause hardship, particularly for those who may not be able to acquire electric cars,” he said.

    Before he withdrew the bill, Murray-Bruce raised a Point of Order to insist that posterity would judge him right for the necessity to embrace electric vehicles in the country.

    The senator said it was obvious that in no distant time, combustible vehicles would be phased out by their manufacturers.

    He added: “The earlier Nigeria buys into the change, the better. I can never quarrel with my leaders and friends but I want them to close their eyes and know they are in the 21st century.

    “I own an electric car that I have been using for the past five years. It is cheaper to maintain and durable. So, the fears put forward by my colleagues are highly debatable.

    “I will withdraw the bill but I want my colleagues to know that they do not belong in the 21st century. They should close their eyes and assume that they are in the 21st century.”

    Murray-Bruce noted that one of the major advantages of electric vehicles is that it solve the problem of ozone layer depletion.

  • Senate aborts bill to phase out petrol vehicles in 2035

    The Senate on Wednesday threw out a bill for an Act to phase out petrol vehicles in 2035.

    The bill sponsored by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East) proposed the introduction of Electric Cars to replace petrol vehicles in the country by 2035.

    Contributors to the debate on the bill underscored the impossibility of mandating Nigerians to stop the use of petrol vehicles by 2035 without sufficient preparation.

    Murray-Bruce was forced to withdraw the bill following the observations by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Senator Barau Jibrin who opposed the proposed legislation.

    Ekweremadu, who congratulated Murray-Bruce for introducing the bill, noted there was no need for a law to be passed for Nigerians to switch from use of petrol vehicles to electric vehicles.

    The Enugu West Senator recalled that people moved from the use of animals as means of transportation to use of bicycles, motor bikes, cars and other advanced means of transportation.

    He noted the provisions of the 1999 Constitution which provide for freedom of movement should sufficed for the time being.

    Ekweremadu said: “I congratulate Ben Murray Bruce for his uncommon common sense and brilliant ideas in the lead debate but what is not common is the need to introduce a law to mandate the use of electric cars.

    “If we go down in history donkeys were used as means of transportation and there is no law that caused people to begin to use cars.

    “This is ancillary to section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires freedom of movement. So, he should consider taking back the bill.

    “Besides, in economic sense, we are an oil producing country. So, we should do everything possible to frustrate the sale of electric cars in Nigeria to enable us sell our oil.

    Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) in his contribution said that while electric vehicles no doubt would be friendly to the environment and health, making its use mandatory was not feasible.

    “We have to look at individual net worth. Not all Nigerians can afford the vehicles at a given time.

    “We all know the importance of vehicles in our daily activities. So, banning use of fuel cars will cause hardship, particularly for those who may not be able to acquire electric cars.

    Before he withdrew the bill, Murray-Bruce raised Point of Order to insist that posterity would judge him right for the necessity to embrace electric vehicles in the country.

    READ ALSO: Senate passes seven bills rejected by Buhari

     He said that it was obvious that in no distant time, combustible vehicles would be phased out by manufacturers.

    For him: “The earlier Nigeria buys into the change, the better.”

    He said: “I can never quarrel with my leaders and friends but I want them to close their eyes and know they are in the 21st century.

    “I own an electric car that I have been using for the past five years. It is cheaper to maintain and durable. So, the fears put forward by my colleagues are highly debatable.

    “I will withdraw the bill but I want my colleagues to know that they do not belong in the 21st century.

    “They should close their eyes and assume that they are in 21st century.”

    Murray-Bruce said that one of the major advantages of use of electric vehicles is that it would help solve the problem of ozone layer depletion.

    He also said the use of electric vehicles would be health friendly among other things.

  • APC has no structure to win in Bayelsa, says Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has taunted the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying the party lacked required structures to win the November 2nd governorship election in the state.

    Dickson, who spoke during the expanded State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s Secretariat in Yenagoa said the state APC could only rely on federal might and security agencies in the election.

    The meeting had in attendance Chief Thompson Okorotie, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Chief (Mrs) Remi Kuku, Douye Diri, Senator- elect Bayelsa  Central Senatorial District; Fred Agbedi, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal constituency, members of the State House of Assembly, wards and local government chairmen  and host of others

    At the meeting, the PDP called on its members to shun any act capable of robbing the party of victory in the coming election describing the pending poll as isolated. 

    The party frowned on the activities of some of its members during the previous elections and cautioned against the repeat of such ignoble act.

    The SEC during the meeting also ratified the reports of the disciplinary committee set up to review the activities of some of its members during the last general elections.

    But a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Strategic Communication, Governor’s office, Chief Nathan Egba Ologo quoted the governor as deriding the state chapter of the APC.

    Dickson said the APC’s reliance on federal might and security agencies would fail them and warned PDP members against anti-party activities.

    He said that for Bayelsa to maintain its position as a stronghold of PDP there was a need for members to put aside their differences and work for the success of the party in the coming election.

    Dickson insisted that in the coming election, the PDP would be contending against federal might. 

    He said: “There are two systems that will clash again in this governorship election. They are the state system which I lead with our teaming supporters and the Federal system that will be deployed in this election. As a result, the old way of playing politics must change.

    “Bayelsa is a stronghold of PDP. We are going to prove that again with our voters cards in the forthcoming Governorship election. We cannot be intimidated by heavy presence of security operatives and political thugs. They had failed in the past. They will fail again this time around”.

    Dickson, who commended the activities of some of the party faithful during the last general elections, said their efforts would be adequately rewarded.

    He said appointments would be made at the grassroots level as a way of rewarding persons, who worked for the party’s success.

    He promised to constitute chairmen and members of the 32 Rural Development Authorities in the state.

    “We have been running our state as one and I hope people coming after us will work together in peace. I appreciate everybody’s contribution. We together created a new Bayelsa and a new leadership style so that we can bring stability and development”, he said.

    The governor expressed appreciation to party leaders and members for their unwavering dedication and support to his leadership and the party.

    In his remarks, the State PDP Chairman, Mr. Moses Cleopas stressed that discipline was key in restoring order in any organization desirous of advancing its cause.

    Cleopas applauded Governor Dickson for displaying uncommon courage in uniting the party at the state and national levels and called on members to sink their differences and work harder for the success of the party.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (Retd), lauded the efforts of the Dickson at uniting the party at the state and national levels and underscored the need for the members to remain resolute in their quest to deliver the state in the coming election.

    “Dickson has performed brilliantly in repositioning the economy of the state, as the state now ranks among the growing economies in the country”, he said.

    He added that for the present administration to finish strong, Dickson needed the support of all and sundry, irrespective of the political divides.

    In his contribution, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson said he would seek legal redress in retrieving his stolen mandate at the last general election and solicited support from the party.

  • I escaped dangerous attack – Melaye

    Contrary to reports that he was kidnapped on Thursday, Senator Dino Melaye has said he escaped “another dangerous attack”.

    He disclosed this in a tweet on Friday in which he said he spent “11 hours in the wilderness traumatized but God preserved me”.

    “I also thank Nigerians for their prayers and show of Love.

    “God is the best and in whom ONLY I trust. They will continue to try. WE SHALL OVERCOME!!!,” Melaye stated.

    The Nation reports that Melaye was reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen in Abuja on Thursday.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct Melaye in Abuja

    Senator Ben Murray Bruce disclosed the kidnap on his twitter handle – @benmurraybruce.

    According to him, the Kogi West senator was abducted on his way to Kogi from Abuja.

    He said: “I have just been informed by Moses Melaye, @dino_melaye’s brother, that Dino has been abducted by unknown persons in a Toyota Sienna that blocked their car and overpowered them on their way to Kogi to answer to Dino’s court case. Let’s be on the watch out. Will keep you updated.”

  • Kaduna rail: Obasanjo not Jonathan’s idea – El-Rufai to Bruce

    Kaduna rail: Obasanjo not Jonathan’s idea – El-Rufai to Bruce

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai of  Kaduna State said on Friday that  Senator Ben Murray Bruce (Bayelsa East) was wrong to claim that the Kaduna rail system was initiated by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    President Muhammadu Buhari and El-Rufai had jointly taken a train ride in Kaduna on Thursday, with Bruce teasing the  President to thank ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for the ride.

    The train took Buhari and El-Rufai from Rigasa to Kakuri on the outskirts of Kaduna to enable the president to inaugurate the country’s first Inland Dry Port.

    Bruce, writing on his Twitter handle on Thursday said the rail system was “entirely” Jonathan’s achievement.

    “I hope President @MBuhari remembers to say thank you to former President @GEJonathan for the train ride he enjoyed in Kaduna. Some of us haven’t forgotten that that achievement was ENTIRELY the handiwork of the Jonathan government. Nigeria should give honour to whom honour is due

    — Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) January 4, 2018”

    The governor’s response, also on Twitter, was swift in coming.

    He said: “Wrong distinguished senator! The Obasanjo administration which Jonathan was not part of, designed, raised the financing and started the EPC of the Lagos-Kano dual track-standard gauge rail system, and the Abuja Light Rail,” he wrote on Twitter.

    “Yar’Adua-Jonathan stalled both projects for two years!”

  • Update: Silverbird/AMCON- Bruce assures prompt response

    Update: Silverbird/AMCON- Bruce assures prompt response

    Following the taken-over of Silverbird Galleria by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria {AMCON}, the Chairman of Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray Bruce has assured that the issue will be resolved as soon as possible.

    The Common Sense Advocate confirmed this  in twitter handle, @MurrayBenBruce that he just flew into the  country and the issue will be addressed soon. According to the tweet, “ I have been on an international flight and have only just landed. The situation is being resolved and things will be back to normal,” Bruce disclosed.

    AMCON had taken  over three of the politician’s assets – Silverbird Productions Limited, Silverbird Showtime Limited and Silverbird Galleria Limited – due to failure to settle an N11 billion loan.

    The properties include those at 133, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Plot No 1161 (Silverbird Galleria), the plaza at Central Area Cadastral Zone, Abuja, and the magnificent structure located at Abonnema Wharf Road and Abali Park in Port Harcourt.

    Ben Murray-Bruce, his brothers, Guy Murray-Bruce, Michael Murray-Bruce, Roy Murray-Bruce and his son Jonathan Murray-Bruce are listed as defendants in a suit over the loan default.

    Mr. Murray Bruce and his brothers, using their companies, had between 2005 and 2007 borrowed various sums of money from Union Bank.

  • Senator against Nigeria, China trade deals

    Senator against Nigeria, China trade deals

    Nigeria has no business signing deals with China for rails, when the tracks can be produced in the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, has said.

    The Senator, who stated this yesterday in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, when he led the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Privatisation to Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company, said such deals with the Asian giant makes no sense and shows lack of coordination.

    He said the steel company, which was almost 90 per cent complete, but abandoned by previous governments, does not speak well of the country.

    The present state of the steel complex, he said, has nothing to do with the present administration, as all past governments are guilty of the abandonment.

    His words: “For 22 years they should have had a plan through the minister of national planning. The minister of national planning should be the one integrating the policies of any government in power at the particular time.

    “When you go through the detailed presentation and listen to arguments it is difficult to draw conclusions when you don’t listen to the reasons why you are here in the first place.

    “That is why it was important for all of us to listen to the arguments and understand the reason why. But let me say this, I am really touched by the presentation and the kind of leadership you have here. What is really clear to me is that the leadership of Ajaokuta Steel plant are very patriotic Nigerians because you must never sell your soul for money.

    “First of all, you are a Nigerian, secondly you want to develop this beautiful country and create job opportunities for your people, and more importantly you want to create an environment where those of us in office will look back and say while I was there I did something for my people, but obviously this is not the case”.

    He said the committee will meet with the minister of solid minerals and steel,  Dr Kayode Fayemi, and on Thursday, hold a public hearing on the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company.

  • We’ve no business signing deals with China – Murray-Bruce

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, has said Nigeria has no business signing rail deals with China, when the tracks can be produced in the Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company.

    Murray-Bruce, who stated this on Tuesday in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, when he led the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Privatization to Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company, said such deals with China makes no sense and shows lack of coordination.

    He said the present state of the steel company which was almost 90 percent complete but abandoned by previous governments does not speak well of the country.

    He said: “For 22 years they should have had a plan through the minister of national planning. The minister of national planning should be the one integrating the policies of any government in power at the particular time.

    “When you go through the detailed presentation and listen to arguments it is difficult to draw conclusions. When you don’t listen to the reasons why you are here in the first place?

    “That is why it was important for all of us to listen to the arguments and understand the reason why. But let me say this, I am really touched by the presentation and the kind of leadership you have here. What is really clear to me is that the management of Ajaokuta Steel plant has on board very patriotic Nigerians because you must never sell your soul for money.

    “First of all, you are a Nigerian, secondly you want to develop this beautiful country and create job opportunities for your people, and more importantly you want to create an environment where those of us in office will look back and say while I was there I did something for my people, but obviously this is not the case.”

    He said the committee will meet with the Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and hold a public hearing on the Ajaokuta Iron Steel Company on Thursday.

  • I will only accept only made in Nigeria SUV- Ben Bruce

    I will only accept only made in Nigeria SUV- Ben Bruce

    Senator Ben Murray Bruce has said he will not accept the 35.6million SUV bought by Senate for members.

     

    In a tweet on  his twitter handle,@benmurraybruce, Bruce said he will accept only SUV made in Nigeria.

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt, I did not and will not accept any SUV. The only SUV I will accept is a made in Nigeria car,” he wrote.

     

    The decision of the Senate to buy SUV for some of its members considering the economic situation in the country has been faulted by Labour unions and other members of the public.

     

    The Senate has however justified its decision saying the vehicles were needed for official assignments by members.