Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, has withdrawn his ambition to return to the Senate for a second term in 2019.
The 62-year-old announced his withdrawal in a letter on the eve of Tuesday’s National Assembly primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State.
Murray-Bruce, who rode to the Senate on the support of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has reportedly become unpopular among stakeholders in his constituency.
The showbiz and hospitality investor, however, said his decision to withdraw is due to a rotational arrangement existing among the three local governments that make up the Bayelsa East.
The three LGAs are Brass, Nembe and Ogbia. Murray-Bruce is from Brass area of the district.
Murray-Bruce thanked his district for giving him the opportunity to serve.
“It is without doubt that I have tried to discharge my duties as a legislator and representative of my people creditably to the best of my ability so far.
“My voice has been very loud on the issues that matter to our people and our country at all times.
“My support to our party, my people and state government is unquestionable. I am humbled that the national leadership of my party supported by the state chapter in appreciation of my efforts offered to support my re-election to the Senate to continue my service.
“I have also intensified consultations in the last couple of weeks in the course of which I have come to realise an existing local rotational arrangement of over 20 years beginning with the late Great Chief Melford Okilo, by which arrangement the Senatorial seat rotates per local government area among the three councils for four years in the Senatorial District.
“Even with the support of my party at the National and state levels with the full backing of my state government and leadership, as a man of honour interested in the wellbeing of my people, I hereby announce my withdrawal from the Senatorial race.
“I do not want whatever reason to appear to have used my privileged position and influence to do anything that other than the well-being and the stability and the good of the people.
“I am in all of these for the people, not for myself.
“Once again, I thank the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebelo Jonathan, the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, my colleagues in the Senate and Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson for their support and encouragement.
“I also thank the leadership of my Senatorial District and state, for being there for me,” he said in his letter.
A former Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Ayebaesin Edoghotu-Omoh, and Biriyai Dambo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), are in the race to replace Murray-Bruce at the Senate.
