Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint more “mad men” into his administration, describing them as people bold enough to challenge the system and deliver results.
Murray-Bruce, in a letter to the President, said support for the administration should not amount to sycophancy, adding that Tinubu needs officials willing to confront powerful interests.
He cited Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu as examples of officials he described as “mad men” because of their perceived seriousness and determination.
According to him, however, two such officials are not enough for a country of more than 200 million people.
He specifically called for two “mad men” to be appointed to drive petroleum production and refinery operations.
Murray-Bruce urged Tinubu to make the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries a national priority.
He said Nigeria must move beyond repeated promises and explanations about turnaround maintenance and ensure that the refineries actually produce petroleum products.
The former senator also challenged the government to target at least 325,000 barrels per day of reliable refining capacity from the three government-owned refineries.
He said Nigeria should aim beyond meeting domestic demand and become a major exporter of refined petroleum products across Africa and beyond.
On crude oil production, Murray-Bruce urged Tinubu to appoint someone capable of driving the country towards the administration’s stated target of four million barrels per day by 2030.
He called for tougher action against oil theft, bureaucratic delays and other obstacles limiting production and investment in the petroleum sector.
Murray-Bruce warned ministers, regulators and agency heads that government is not a “retirement home,” urging those unable or unwilling to deliver to leave.
He ultimately called on Tinubu to provide officials with clear targets, deadlines and presidential backing, insisting that Nigeria needs “no excuses, no clowns and no passengers—only results.”
