Former senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce, has shared a striking recollection from his time working closely with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, revealing that he once warned the ex-leader about the country’s deteriorating economic situation.
Speaking during a recent interview on Arise TV, the media entrepreneur and politician recounted moments when he raised concerns about Nigeria’s fiscal challenges during the early 2000s.
“I told Obasanjo, ‘Mr. President, we are in trouble; the dollar-to-naira rate was $10 for a barrel of oil,’” Murray-Bruce said. “I was worried about how our economy was being managed and how we were depending so much on oil without planning for the future.”
According to him, that conversation marked one of several occasions when he tried to draw the government’s attention to the dangers of relying heavily on oil revenue. He explained that Nigeria’s economic instability has always been tied to poor fiscal discipline and a failure to diversify.
Murray-Bruce, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said his long experience with Nigerian leaders has shaped his understanding of how economic decisions affect the nation’s stability.
“I have worked with Obasanjo, I have worked with Goodluck Jonathan — I know all these guys,” he said. “I’ve seen how leadership decisions impact millions of lives, and I believe now more than ever that Nigeria needs bold reforms.”
He praised President Bola Tinubu for taking what he described as “courageous economic steps,” arguing that though the reforms have caused hardship, they are necessary to rescue the country from financial collapse.
“Tinubu has done what others were afraid to do,” Murray-Bruce noted. “Removing fuel subsidy and allowing the naira to find its true value were painful decisions, but essential ones. It will take time, but Nigeria will recover.”
The former senator also dismissed claims that his defection to the ruling party was politically motivated, stressing that his alignment with the APC stems from conviction rather than self-interest.
“It’s not about party; it’s about leadership,” he said. “I’m not a senator, governor, or Senate President, so if I support the center, I won’t get a big check. I’m supporting policies that will fix Nigeria.”
Murray-Bruce’s revelation about his past conversation with Obasanjo highlights his long-standing engagement with Nigeria’s economic debates — and his continued advocacy for reform-driven leadership focused on long-term national growth.