SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, (THEWILL) – The lawmaker representing Bayelsa east district in the National Assembly, Senator Ben Murray Bruce has revealed how operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, prevented him from exchanging pleasantries with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
Bruce, who joined his colleagues to a dinner the President had with federal lawmakers to mark the 2016 Democracy Day, said he had attempted to greet the president like a senator did, but was denied access by the security agents.
Known for his criticisms of the present administration, Bruce had tweeted few hours before the villa incident that: “It’s ‘fantastically corrupt’ that Nigeria maintains a 10 plane Presidential fleet whereas the PM of a rich nation like UK flies commercial!”
But vowing not to be cowed into keeping quiet as nobody is too important not to be criticized, the lawmaker warned that the President stands the risk of having sycophants surround him if his bodyguards selectively grant people access to him.
His tweets read; “I was at the Presidential villa today. Went to the President’s table. DSS wouldn’t allow me greet him but let another Senator greet him,” he tweeted.
“I was at the Presidential villa today. Went to the President’s table. DSS wouldn’t allow me greet him but let another Senator greet him!
“My critics say I shouldn’t criticize the president openly, so I go and meet him one on one and I’m blocked. Am I not a Nigerian citizen?
“My critics say I shouldn’t criticize the President openly, so I go and meet him one on one and I’m blocked. Am I not a Nigerian citizen?
“If PMB’s handlers selectively block access to him, he runs the risk of being surrounded only by sycophants!
“If PMB’s handlers selectively block access to him, he runs the risk of being surrounded only by sycophants!
“I have nothing against the President, however, nobody is too important to be criticized and my mouth will never be silenced!”
