JUST IN: Ben-Murray Bruce withdraws from Senatorial race

The senator representing Bayelsa East constituency has
on Monday withdrawn from the senatorial race.

He made this known in a letter on his facebook handle.

Read his full statement:

Letter of withdrawal from the Bayelsa East Senatorial
Race

I thank God and the good people of Brass, Bayelsa East
Senatorial District who offered me the golden opportunity four
years ago to represent them and the state in the Senate, Nigeria’s
highest lawmaking chamber.

It is without doubt that I have tried to discharge
my duties as a legislator and representative of my people
creditably to the best of my ability so far.

My voice has been very loud on the issues that matters
to our people and our country at all time.

My support to our party, my people and state government is
unquestionable. I am humbled that the national leadership
of my party supported by the State chapter in appreciation of my
efforts offered to support my re-election to the senate to
continue my service.

I have also intensified consultations in the last couple of
week in the course of which I have come to realize an existing
local rotational arrangement of over 20 years beginning with the
late Great Chief Melford Okilo, by which arrangement the Senatorial
seat rotates per local government area among the three councils for
four years in the Senatorial District.

Even with the support of my party at the National and state
levels with the full backing of my state government and leadership,
as a man of honour interested in the well being of my
people, I hereby announce my withdrawal from the Senatorial
race.

I do not want whatever reason to appear to have used my
privileged position and influence to do anything that other than
the well-being and the stability and the good of the
people.

I am in all of these for the people, not for
myself.

Once again, I thank the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebelo
Jonathan, the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, my
colleagues in the Senate and Governor of Bayelsa State, the
Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson for their support and
encouragement.

I also thank the leadership of my Senatorial District and
state, for being there for me.

I thank specially the people of my constituency for
their trust and confidence in me to serve and represent them in the
Senate.

By trusting me with this mandate, I have come to know them
and our people even better, an experience I will never forget for
the rest of my life.

I am indeed grateful to my darling wife, my children, other
members of my family for their support and prayers. I appreciate
the efforts of my hardworking campaign staff for their support and
dedication.

Again, I thank the leadership of the party for their
continuing support. I also assured the party of my availability and
readiness to serve at any capacity when the opportunity
comes.

Best Regards

Senator Ben Murray Bruce.

NAF Exhibits 23 Aircraft for Acrobatic Display
at

NAF
Helicopter on Air Display

Independence Day

In a daring and fearless move, well-trained fighter pilots of
the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) mounted 23 aircraft and participated
actively at the 58th Independence Day Celebration in Abuja, despite
losing one of their colleague in rehearsal air crash few days
ago.

PRNigeria gathered that the 23 aircraft that participated in the
aerial show by the Nigerian Air Force at the ceremony included
Helicopters, Fighter Jets, C-130, Heavy Airlift, Medium and light
airlift aircraft.

Recalled that while training for the aerial show, two jets crash
last Friday, which claimed the life of Squadron Leader Bello
Baba-Ari and leaving two wounded survivors.

The pilots who participated at the Independence Celebration
today were mostly young and middle-cadre officers under the command
of a top-ranking air force officer. They exhibited great aerobatics
display to the admiration of President Muhammad Buhari and top
public functionaries who witnessed the occasion at the Eagle’s
Square Abuja.

NAF
Light Aircraft Display

PRNigeria observed an emotional moment after the aerial parade
and successfully landing in the airport, when some of the young
pilots emerged from their aircaft and embraced themselves with
tears as they prayed for their lost colleague and survivors.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has boosted its air fleet with 49
fighter planes and attack helicopters in the last three years. It
also reactivated 15 helicopters and trained over 90 pilots.

Baba-Ari

Early in the day, President Muhammadu Buhari took the salute at
the Eagle Square, Abuja, as military and para-military
organisations held a colourful parade in commemoration of Nigeria’s
58th Independence.

The event was the first full-fledged Independence Day parade
since the celebration was marred by an explosion, which occurred
near Eagle Square on Oct. 1, 2010.

Shortly after arrival at the square, the president, who was the
Special Guest of Honour, mounted the parade car and inspected the
Guards.

Ceremonially dressed men drawn from, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian
Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Customs Service,
Nigerian Prisons Service and Nigerian Immigration Service filed
out.

Also in the parade were men of the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian
Fire Service, National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) and the Nigerian
Legion.

After the inspection of Guards, Buhari took the presidential
salute.

The parade, commanded by Lt.-Col. Muktar Dauda, then commenced
the match past, which broke from slow to quick march in
synchronised format attracting applause from the spectators.

After the match past, there was a display of equipment by the
Army, Navy, Police and Air Force, which was followed by firing of
volleys and 21-Gun Salute.

Soon afterwards, the President received three hearty cheers and
granted permission to the parade commander to march off the
parade.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, service chiefs, Chief
Justice of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, members of the Federal Executive Council and captains
of industry graced the event.

Notable absentees at the celebration were the duo of Senate
President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara.

By PRNigeria