As the Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party goes in for its primaries today, Senator Ben-Murray Bruce has decided not to contest to return to the Senate. According to the senator, his decision not to run was to honour the rotational arrangement existing in the 3 local governments that make up his senatorial district.
His letter to the this effect is published in full below:
“I thank God and the good people of Brass, Bayelsa East Senatorial District, who offered me the golden opportunity four years ago to represent them and the state in the Senate, Nigeria’s highest lawmaking chamber.
“It is without a 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 reelection 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.”