Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has opened up on the political events that led to the exit of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and five other governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 general election.
According to Murray-Bruce, the crisis that weakened the ruling party at the time was largely caused by poor decisions and bad advice given to former President Goodluck Jonathan by some of his close aides.
Speaking during an event captured in a video circulating online, the former lawmaker said repeated warnings about growing dissatisfaction among key PDP governors were ignored by those around the former President.
He said despite clear signs that major political figures within the party were unhappy and considering defection, some presidential aides failed to treat the matter with urgency.
Murray-Bruce revealed that he personally raised concerns about the situation but was stunned by the dismissive attitude of certain individuals close to the Presidency.
According to him, one of Jonathan’s advisers casually brushed off the matter and said, “If he wants to go, let him go,” while referring to Amaechi and the aggrieved governors.
The former senator said the response shocked him, especially given the political weight of the individuals involved.
He said the inability of those around the President to properly assess the situation contributed significantly to the crisis that later damaged the PDP’s political strength.
“As I sit here and think about my experience with people who were so incompetent and unconcerned about the people they served, giving silly advice to the Commander-in-Chief, I am amazed. I can’t get over it,” he said.
Murray-Bruce further disclosed that Amaechi had personally contacted him during the crisis period to express concern over the deteriorating situation within the party.
According to him, the former Rivers governor warned that he and several others were close to leaving the PDP if urgent steps were not taken to resolve the internal dispute.
He added that Amaechi also informed him about a planned meeting aimed at addressing the growing tension and finding a solution.
However, when he approached a top official close to Jonathan to discuss preparations for the meeting, he was surprised by the official’s reaction.
“I asked, ‘What is the plan for this meeting with the five governors?’ He said, ‘Who really cares about the meeting?’ I called Governor Amaechi immediately. I then asked where the President was and was told he was in Australia,” he recalled.
Murray-Bruce said he found it troubling that such an important political meeting involving influential governors was not taken seriously.
He argued that political advisers are expected to help leaders stay connected to realities on the ground, not isolate them from pressing issues.
According to him, the failure to engage with the aggrieved governors at the right time created an avoidable crisis that eventually cost the PDP dearly.
He stressed that leaders often depend heavily on information provided by those around them, making the role of advisers crucial in governance and political decision-making.
The former senator also spoke positively about Amaechi, describing him as a grassroots politician with a strong connection to ordinary Nigerians.
He concluded that the former governor understood public sentiment and had a firm grasp of political realities.
