Former senator Ben Murray-Bruce has urged President Bola Tinubu to bring more “mad men” into his administration — individuals he described as results-driven leaders willing to challenge entrenched interests, confront inefficient systems and deliver measurable results.
Murray-Bruce, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, made the call in an open letter to Tinubu published on his X account on Wednesday.
He said his support for the Tinubu administration should not prevent him from offering criticism or suggestions where he believes improvements are necessary.
“Mr President, I write this as a supporter of your administration and as a Nigerian who wants you to succeed. But support must never become sycophancy.”
He argued that genuine supporters should sometimes tell leaders difficult truths that people around them may be unwilling or afraid to say.
“Nigeria needs more mad men in your government,” he wrote.
What Murray-Bruce Means By ‘Mad Men’
Murray-Bruce clarified that he was not referring to people who are literally mentally unstable.
Rather, he meant men and women who are willing to confront broken systems, challenge powerful interests, reject mediocrity and pursue results even when doing so creates opposition.
“I mean men and women who are crazy enough to confront a broken system, step on powerful toes, offend entrenched interests and refuse to accept mediocrity simply because mediocrity has become normal,” he said.
He cited Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Olayemi Cardoso and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as examples of officials who, in his assessment, have demonstrated the seriousness and determination required to tackle major national challenges.
Speaking about Cardoso, Murray-Bruce said the CBN had undergone what he described as a serious reset, with greater discipline and credibility in monetary policymaking.
He acknowledged that Nigerians could disagree with individual policies but maintained that the institution had demonstrated a different level of seriousness.
On Ribadu, Murray-Bruce acknowledged that Nigeria continues to face significant security challenges but said the NSA had brought seriousness, coordination and strategic direction to the country’s security architecture.
He described both officials as examples of the kind of people he believed Tinubu needed more of in government.
However, Murray-Bruce argued that two such officials were not enough for a country of more than 200 million people.
Murray-Bruce Wants Government Refineries Working
The former lawmaker urged Tinubu to appoint at least two additional “mad men” to drive reforms in the petroleum sector, particularly in refining and crude oil production.
He called for the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to be rehabilitated and operated on a commercially viable basis.
According to him, Nigerians had heard enough explanations about turnaround maintenance, contractors, technical reviews, committees and timelines and now wanted to see actual petroleum products coming from the refineries.
“Make the refineries work,” he said.
Murray-Bruce said the Dangote Refinery, with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, demonstrated what could be achieved in Nigeria.
He proposed that the three government-owned refineries should target a combined minimum reliable and commercially viable throughput equivalent to 50 per cent of Dangote Refinery’s capacity, which would amount to about 325,000 barrels per day.
He urged the government to go beyond simply meeting domestic fuel demand and position Nigeria as a major refining hub and exporter of refined petroleum products to other African countries and the wider global market.
‘Find the Mad Man Who Will Deliver 4m Barrels’
On crude oil production, Murray-Bruce urged Tinubu to identify an official capable of aggressively pursuing the administration’s ambition of increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production to four million barrels per day by 2030.
He argued that the government needed someone who would focus on achieving the target rather than spending years explaining why it could not be achieved.
“Mr President, find the mad man who will deliver it,” he said.
Murray-Bruce said Nigeria should not accept production of around 1.5 million barrels per day when the national ambition is four million barrels per day.
He called for someone who would pursue the target aggressively, alongside working refineries and a petroleum industry capable of refining Nigeria’s crude and exporting finished products.
He concluded by urging Tinubu to demand measurable results from ministers, regulators, agency heads and other presidential appointees responsible for critical sectors of the economy.
Source: Ben Murray-Bruce / X
