Constituents Seek Recall of Murray-Bruce for Being an ‘Abuja Senator’

Emmanuel Addeh The people of Nembe, Brass and Ogbia Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State yesterday threatened to initiate the process of recalling Senator Ben Murray-Bruce for allegedly abandoning them and making Abuja his home.

Many of the constituents, comprising mainly students, from the Bayelsa East senatorial district, within which the local government areas fall, said since the lawmaker was elected, he had seldom met or consulted with them on any issue.

They alleged that the senator was in the habit of empowering and meeting with people outside the district and the state, to the detriment of his primary constituency.

In a statement signed by Samuel Tari (Nembe), Ambrose Joseph (Brass) and Mark John (Ogbia), the aggrieved constituents gave the federal lawmaker an ultimatum of 10 days to retrace his steps or face their wrath.

The angry electorate in the area lamented that the senator was not in a good relationship with his people and had continued to shy away from his constitutional responsibilities.

According to them, the senator was donating relief materials to people in other states when his constituents were wallowing in poverty with many students unable to pay their fees.

Aside the alleged nonperformance, they said since the politician cum media entrepreneur was elected, he had not visited his people.

“Since Murray-Bruce became a senator, he has failed to look into the basic needs and challenges currently bedevilling the Bayelsa East senatorial districts, such as issues of education, as most of our students cannot access good quality education.

“He has failed to attract a single project to the districts in terms of infrastructure including roads and others. He has continuously and deliberately ignored efforts by the people to create a working relationship that will bring out purposeful leadership for our people,” they said.

Added to that, the signatories to the statement said none of the senator’s promises during the campaign had been fulfilled.

“He is yet to fulfill any of his campaign promises; painfully, he is an Abuja-based senator. He refuses to visit his constituency, except only once when he visited his hometown and couldn’t even stay for up to four hours.

“Sincerely, we are tired. Other places are enjoying the benefits that come from having a national representative. Our case has been a curse rather than a blessing. We are just like a district without a senator. This why we intend to change that narrative,” they noted.

For a start, the constituents asked the senator to organise a town hall meeting with his people and take out time to tour his constituency.

“We are, hereby, giving him an ultimatum of 10 days, starting from August 21. If he fails to meet with us, we shall take our protest to the National Assembly.

“We will mobilise all the students, our mothers and our fathers. We will initiate his recall process. Our people deserve a better treatment from him. We request to have a town hall meeting,” the aggrieved constituents said.