The last has certainly not been heard of the clash between Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, and the Senator representing Bayelsa-East senatorial district, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce over the unpaid salary situation in Osun State.
The problem started after Murray-Bruce tweeted that that he would donate his wardrobe allowance of over N500,000 to the unpaid workers in the state.
“I, Ben Murray-Bruce, will not sit down idly while my fellow citizens die because salaries have not been paid. As a first step, I am immediately donating my wardrobe allowance to unpaid workers in Osun State and widows in my constituency.
“We are starting in Osun but we will not end there. I will do as much to help workers who have not been paid in other states. I call on all my friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter to donate non-perishable food items for these our brothers in need.
“As soon as my wardrobe allowance is paid, half will be publicly given to the NLC chairman in Osun State while the other half will be given to the head of widows association in my community of Akasa.”He wrote.
That didn’t sit well with the Governor and he wondered why he singled out Osun State out of the states affected. In a statement released by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said it was unfortunate that the senator could trivialise the issue.
“My attention has been drawn to a tweet by a member of upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, of the PDP from Bayelsa, saying he will not reject the alleged hefty pay for members of the National Assembly but collect it and donate to Osun workers.
“It is saddening and tragic that Mr. Murray-Bruce whom many had accorded a lot of respect is too early in the day joining the fray of politicisation and trivialising the salary issue affecting more than half of the states of the federation in this ridiculous manner.
“While Nigerians are in hot debate over the alleged jumbo pay and the mood of the country, Murray-Bruce seems to have turned the plight of Nigerian workers to a thing of entertainment. Of all the states in the federation who are battling to pay salaries as a result of the precarious economic situation his party, the PDP, threw Nigeria, why is it that it is Osun he wants to take his pay to?”
The lawmaker has said in the spirit of Ramadan period observed by Muslims over the world, he would not respond to the criticisms directed at him.
“I’ll take whatever attacks come my way but nothing & nobody can dissuade me from doing what my conscience directs in helping my fellow man.
The month of Ramadan is here. Many unpaid workers will fast. With what will they break their fast? I thought of that and it moved me to act.
I may not be a Muslim, but I respect Islam and I believe that it is wrong for me to respond to any attack during the Holy month of Ramadan.
I wish the Muslim Ummah a successful fast. Please pray for God’s intervention in Nigeria so that peace may return. Ramadan Kareem, “ he wrote on twitter.