Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has praised President Bola Tinubu’s performance in office, revealing that the president pledged before the 2023 election that he would only need eight key individuals to effectively govern Nigeria.
Murray-Bruce made the disclosure Thursday during an interview with TVC News, where he recounted a pre-election conversation with Tinubu and defended the administration’s economic policies against opposition criticism.
According to the former lawmaker, he had expressed concerns about how Tinubu would manage Nigeria’s economy with a large cabinet. “You are going to have 36 ministers and ministers of state, how are you going to run the economy with over 40 people you don’t even know?” Murray-Bruce recalled asking.
Tinubu’s response, he said, was both surprising and confident: “I only need eight people to run Nigeria.”
The former senator, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisted that Tinubu has delivered on the promises made during their conversation. “He chose the right people, and they have made a difference to the economy,” Murray-Bruce stated.
The APC chieftain also praised Tinubu’s bold economic reforms implemented immediately upon assuming office. “He also shocked me on the first day in the office when he said he would deregulate and float the currency,” he revealed.
Murray-Bruce emphasized that the president’s actions aligned with recommendations he had previously made. “Two years after my question to him, he did exactly what I asked him to do,” the former lawmaker said, suggesting that Tinubu had taken his advice on economic policy seriously.
The comments represent a strong endorsement from Murray-Bruce, who has positioned himself as a supporter of the administration’s economic direction despite widespread public criticism of policies such as fuel subsidy removal and currency deregulation. These measures have contributed to significant inflation and cost-of-living increases that have sparked protests and drawn condemnation from opposition figures.
Murray-Bruce’s recent party switch from the PDP to the APC has raised eyebrows in political circles, with critics questioning the timing of his defection and subsequent praise for the Tinubu administration. However, the former senator appears undeterred, using his platform to counter opposition narratives about the government’s performance.
His revelation about Tinubu’s “eight people” comment offers insight into the president’s confidence in his ability to select competent lieutenants, though the former lawmaker did not specify which eight individuals Tinubu was referring to or whether they all serve in ministerial capacities.
