Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has shot himself in the foot with a repugnant response to questions raised about a N250 million project he nominated in 2017.
Murray-Bruce who represents Baylesa East Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly nominated N250 million for projects that could not be tracked by transparency platform, Tracka.
In a bid to get the implementation status of the projects, Tracka has repeatedly demanded that the senator provides details of the projects, given that, he has oversight functions.
But the self-styled ‘Common Sense’ senator has either evaded the demands or deflected them but in his latest attempt to respond, he self-destructed.
“Sen @benmurraybruce & @FmardNg has refused to respond and avail Tracka with the implementation status of the N250m projects nominated in the 2017 budget,” Tracka tweeted on Saturday.
Adding that, “Here is an acknowledged copy of our FOI letter from the Ministry of Agriculture. Public funds must work for the people.”
Sen @benmurraybruce & @FmardNg has refused to respond and avail Tracka with the implementation status of the N250m projects nominated in the 2017 budget. Here is an acknowledged copy of our FOI letter from the Ministry of Agriculture.Public funds must work for the people. pic.twitter.com/a4RGIjL3x6
— Tracka.ng (@TrackaNG) September 22, 2018
Senator Murray-Bruce saw Tracka’s demand for accountability as a blackmail. He said even if they try a million times he would not provide the answer they seek because he did not collect money for the projects.
“My dear fellows, you can try a million and one ways to blackmail me but the answer remains the same because it is true,” Murray-Bruce tweeted.
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“These funds have nothing to do with me. I have no knowledge of them. They were not paid to me, neither do I have powers over them.”
Constituency Projects are projects that are nominated by senators and House of Representatives members. These projects are included in the annual budgets and are executed by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
But in most cases these projects are either not executed at all or partly executed leaving constituents to ponder what good representation their lawmaker offers particularly when they fail to carry out their oversight functions.
Although Tracka demands that all lawmakers, state governments and federal government account for monies spent on projects, Senator Murray-Bruce thinks its an attempt to blackmail him.
But Nigerians who have been following Tracka’s effort at accountability and transparency did not buy what Mr Murray-Bruce was selling.
No body said you were given the money sir, it’s clearly stated, as the representative of the people you nominated the job which was a good effort and the money appropriated. The question is whether you carried out the second duty of ensuring the money was spent for d job.
— Abduljaleel (@nabagea) September 22, 2018
@TrackaNG don’t understand that common sense is when you nominate constituency projects into the budget, you should care less of its implementation even when funds have been duly released. @BayelsaStateGov should note the state is having a minus one from Senatorial representative
— Carew boi (@solacarew) September 22, 2018
“These funds have nothing to do with me. I have no knowledge of them..” you have no business representing ‘your’ people in the Senate
— M® Sali™ (@SaleeSalees) September 23, 2018
This doesn’t answer the question sir.
Lobbying is part of legislation all over the world. Oga, how well have you lobbied to ensuring the constituency projects, which inserted yourself, are been funded? Or did you lobby the money into your pocket sir?— Mumeen Murray Gomina (@GominaMumeen) September 22, 2018
