Tinubu Told Me He Only Needs Eight People To Run Nigeria: Ben Murray-Bruce Defends President’s Lean Governance Vision Amid Economic Reforms
In a candid revelation that’s igniting fresh debates on Nigeria’s bloated bureaucracy, former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has disclosed a pre-election chat with President Bola Tinubu where the leader vowed to steer the nation with just a handful of trusted aides. The admission paints a picture of streamlined power at the top, even as critics slam the administration’s reform pains.
Tinubu eight people run Nigeria, Ben Murray-Bruce Tinubu conversation, Nigeria governance model, Tinubu economic reforms, Ben Murray-Bruce APC defection—these Tinubu lean cabinet buzzwords are surging through political circles and social feeds, as the APC chieftain’s endorsement spotlights a governance blueprint that’s equal parts bold and controversial. During a Thursday interview on TVC News, Murray-Bruce recounted pressing Tinubu on his plans for a sprawling cabinet ahead of the 2023 polls. “You are going to have 36 ministers and ministers of state—how are you going to run the economy with over 40 people you don’t even know?” the ex-PDP lawmaker recalled asking. Tinubu’s retort? “I only need eight people to run Nigeria.” Murray-Bruce, now an APC convert, insists the president has stuck to that script, crediting a tight-knit “dream team” for tackling the nation’s fiscal woes.
The backstory traces to early 2023, as Tinubu barnstormed for votes amid fierce rivalries with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Murray-Bruce, a Bayelsa East representative from 2015 to 2019 known for his “common sense” advocacy, had known Tinubu since 1998 through business and political orbits. Their exchange, Murray-Bruce claims, wasn’t idle talk—it’s the foundation for Tinubu’s post-inauguration moves, from slashing subsidies to revamping the Central Bank. Despite inheriting a naira in freefall and fuel queues snaking for miles, the president has leaned on a core group of economic czars, including Finance Minister Wale Edun and CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, to execute reforms that have stabilized investor inflows, if not yet household wallets.
Tinubu’s actual cabinet clocks in at 45 ministers, a constitutional nod to federal balance across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT. Yet Murray-Bruce argues the optics mask a reality of concentrated decision-making, where a select eight—perhaps including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and key advisors—hold the reins. “He’s not driven by applause; he’s driven by results,” Murray-Bruce emphasized, tying the approach to deregulation wins like ending fuel scarcity and boosting foreign reserves from $33 billion at handover to over $40 billion by mid-2025. These aren’t pie-in-the-sky promises, he says; they’re proof Tinubu’s minimalism is yielding dividends, even if inflation hovers at 22% and youth unemployment bites hard.
Murray-Bruce’s defection to APC just days ago, announced October 15, adds spice to the tale. Ditching PDP after years of opposition sniping, he hailed Tinubu’s “courage and intellect” as the antidote to Nigeria’s drift. “For the first time, we have a president who truly understands finance,” he wrote in a viral statement, forecasting “phenomenal growth” by the end of Tinubu’s potential eight-year run. The switcheroo drew cheers from APC faithful but jeers from PDP diehards, who branded it opportunistic amid subsidy removal backlash. Murray-Bruce counters: It’s not about party loyalty—it’s about progress, with Tinubu’s inner circle proving leaner governance trumps bloated benches.
Public backlash has been swift and savage online. On X, #TinubuEightPeople trended with over 50,000 posts by Friday evening, blending memes and manifestos. One user fumed, “Eight people? That’s code for one-man rule! Where’s the inclusivity for 200 million Nigerians?” Another quipped, “If eight can run Naija, why not four? Sell the rest to Ghana!” racking up 2,000 retweets. Supporters rallied behind Murray-Bruce, with posts like “Bruce gets it—quality over quantity. Tinubu’s team is already fixing what Buhari’s 48 ministers couldn’t.” Polls on local apps showed 55% skepticism, fearing cronyism, while 45% bought the efficiency pitch, especially among urban professionals eyeing FDI spikes.
Experts are split down the middle. Political economist Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s shadow looms large here—though not directly quoted, her past pushes for cabinet trims echo Tinubu’s ethos. Lagos-based analyst Chidi Odinkalu, a rights activist, slammed it as “presidential minimalism masking maximal power grabs,” warning of accountability voids in opaque inner circles. Conversely, governance guru Aisha Yesufu praised the intent: “If those eight deliver transparency and results, it’s a win. But Nigerians need names, not whispers.” Odinkalu’s take ties to broader critiques, like the recent pardon review flap, where Tinubu’s mercy list drew fire for favoring allies over equity.
For everyday Nigerians—and U.S. readers with diaspora ties—this “eight people” blueprint resonates on economic and lifestyle fronts. Amid a 2025 GDP growth forecast of 3.5%, per IMF tweaks, Tinubu’s reforms promise jobs in tech hubs like Yaba and renewable energy booms, easing remittance strains for the 17 million-strong Nigerian-American community. Yet the human toll—protests over 400% petrol hikes and naira floats—fuels lifestyle shifts, from carpooling mandates to backyard farming revivals. Politically, it spotlights federalism flaws: Why mandate 36 ministers if eight suffice? This could inspire U.S. parallels, like trimming Biden-era agencies for efficiency, amid $34 trillion debt debates. Tech-wise, Tinubu’s circle is betting on fintech integrations, mirroring Silicon Valley’s lean startups to digitize tax collection and cut ghost workers.
Murray-Bruce’s yarn doesn’t end in Lagos lounges—it’s a gauntlet thrown to opposition heavyweights like Atiku and Obi, whom he dismissed as relics in a prior jab. “Peter Obi, Atiku, and Kwankwaso are not dead—there will be opposition,” he quipped, but Tinubu’s squad is scripting the sequel. As the 2027 cycle heats, this lean machine could either turbocharge recovery or stall on crony fumes.
Tinubu’s eight-person vision, if Murray-Bruce is the oracle, heralds a Nigeria unshackled from red tape, poised for global swagger. Whether it delivers breadbasket bounty or boardroom betrayals remains the plot twist ahead—watch this space as the dream team duels doubt.
By Sam Michael
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