The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and a serving Senator, Ben Bruce, on Sunday engaged in a twitter fight over the activities of the current government.
The fight was set off by a tweet posted by a popular tweeter user, Japhet Omojuwa, who tweeted that Ben Bruce should not be taken seriously.
“The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Don’t be Bruce,” he said.
The reason I will NEVER take people like Ben Bruce serious is because when they saw a leader (GEJ) do wrong, they kept quiet. Don’t be Bruce
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) February 6, 2016
Responding, the Bayelsa Senator chose to use the recent comments credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that some Nigerians are giving the country a bad image by engaging in nefarious activities around the world.
While condemning the president’s comments, Mr. Bruce wrote on his twitter page that “Your own minister spent ₦80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal”.
Your own minister spent ₦80 million on a one day dinner, yet it is your citizens you accuse of being criminals #IAmANigerianNotACriminal
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 6, 2016
The tweet seemed apparently targeted at Mr. Amaechi whose administration was accused of spending N80 million to organised a dinner for Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.
Apparently sensing the jibe thrown at him by the Senator, Mr. Amaechi wasted no time in responding to Mr. Bruce; accusing him of being a coward.
“A coward who is not bold enough to name the minister that he alleged criminally spent N80M on dinner is unfit to sit in our senate chambers,” he said.
A coward who is not bold enough to name the minister that he alleged criminally spent N80M on dinner is unfit to sit in our senate chambers
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) February 6, 2016
Mr. Amaechi’s spokesperson, David Iyofor, Sunday confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the twitter handle used in responding to Mr. Murray-Bruce (@ChibuikeAmaechi) belongs to the Minister of Transport.
He also said the Minister’s response was triggered by Mr. Bruce.
The Senator responded to Mr. Amaechi by referring to the recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld the election of Nyesom Wike as governor, thereby, stifling the hope of the APC candidate and Mr. Amaechi’s ally, Dakuku Peterside.
He posted another tweet on his handle @benmurraybruce saying, “When you have been Wike’d, you become wicked! But you will always be my beloved brother, no matter how much you transfer the anger on me.”
When you have been Wike’d, you become wicked! But you will always be my beloved brother, no matter how much you transfer the anger on me.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February 7, 2016
The Transport Minister reacted by accusing the Bayelsa Senator of only finding his voice on twitter while he is hardly seen contributing to debates in the Senate.
“I will not respond to innuendos. Be courageous, name the minister. We know you talk here & do ‘siddon’ look where you are elected to talk,” he said.
I will not respond to innuendos. Be courageous, name the minister. We know you talk here & do ‘siddon’ look where you are elected to talk
— Chibuike.R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) February 7, 2016
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