Ben Murray-Bruce, a former senator from Bayelsa East and the founder of Silverbird TV, asked social-media savvy Nigerians to desist from criticising and demanding accountability from Nigerian leaders on Sunday.

Murray-Bruce was at the 2024 Silverbird Man of the Year Award ceremony, which took place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State, where he presented the “Man of the Year Award” to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

“Those of you on social media, stop criticising Nigeria. Stop criticising our leaders,” the ex-lawmaker said.

“We need a break. Stop criticising us. Stop insulting our leaders and stop criticising.”

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Murray-Bruce used to be a tough critic of former president Muhammadu Buhari. His social media pages are replete with his harsh criticisms of Buhari to the extent that he believed he was prevented from shaking hands with Buhari in 2019 because of his open criticisms of the president’s policies.

“I was at the Presidential villa today. Went to the President’s table. DSS would not allow me greet him but let another Senator greet him!” he posted on both Facebook and X.

“I have nothing against the President, however, nobody is too important to be criticised and my mouth will never be silenced!

“My critics say I shouldn’t criticise the President openly, so I go and meet him one on one and I’m blocked. Am I not a Nigerian citizen?”

OTHER INSTANCES WHERE MURRAY-BRUCE CRITICISED BUHARI

Oby Ezekwezili, a former education minister, called Buhari out for backing the illegal removal of former chief justice Walter Onnoghen in 2019.

In response to Ezekwezili’s condemnation, Murray-Bruce chided her on X on January 26, 2019, saying she condemned the removal because she had “fallen out with the tyrant [Buhari]”.

“You clapped in 2016 when the war against the judiciary began. Today, because you have fallen out with the tyrant you are shedding crocodile tears?” Murray-Bruce posted.

“Have some decency and save what is left of your tattered reputation. People like you brought us to this point with your gullibility.”

In another instance, Murray-Bruce questioned Buhari on January 8, 2019, on why he chose to host guests rather than attend the burial of some air force officers.

Murray-Bruce said, “When heroes were buried, Buhari could not attend because he was hosting Nollywood actors and actresses. When the air force 5 were buried today, President Buhari was busy with his re-election campaign. Is securing re-election more important than securing Nigeria?”

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Murray-Bruce is not the first politician to make subtle attempts at preventing the critical use of social media after they had extensively utilised the same instrument to challenge political leaders.

Femi Gbajabiamila, former House of Representatives speaker and now chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, was criticised in 2023 when he clamoured for social media regulation and said it had become a menace.

Interestingly, he was renowned for using his social media accounts to criticise the executive branch when he was in the opposition.