Exclusive: Silverbird closure not a setback, says Murray-Bruce
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce PHOTO: DIASPORA PR
The founder and chairman of the Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce in an exclusive chat on Twitter with the Guardian on Friday, said the takeover of the Group’s real estate division by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, (AMCON), “is not so much a setback.”
“In 1939, Awolowo’s assets were auctioned. But he overcame the setback. With God’s help, I will also,” he told the Guardian.
Murray-Bruce, who established the Silverbird Group in 1980, explained that only the real estate division was affected by the takeover and that other subsidiaries of the Group were not affected contrary to media reports.
“I run several successful firms. Only the real estate division is affected. Our other businesses are not. Silverbird Communications, owners of STV, Rhythm FM, Silverbird Cinemas and Film Distribution are not affected,” he said.
Reacting to a comment made by Mr. Kunle Adegoke, an attorney working with Muiz Banire (SAN), the debt recovery manager appointed by AMCON, Murray-Bruce said he had no regret taking the loan and that it was expedient for him to have done so.
Adegoke, according to an online medium, had accused the senator and his brothers “of living large and feeding fat without recourse to the interest of the real labourers who own the money.”
But Murray-Bruce chided the attorney for his comment, saying that “our habit of celebrating downfall has to be purged from our national psyche for Nigeria to grow.
“There is no shame in taking a loan. If I didn’t take loans I wouldn’t be able to employ 1000 Nigerians,” he said further.
“The man accusing me of living large: Sir, I lived large by paying 1000 Nigerians above minimum wage.”
While expressing his belief in the Nigerian project, Murray-Bruce said his business would survive in spite of the current state of the Nigerian economy. But for this to happen, Nigerians have to embrace the #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira campaign, which he started.
“The Naira must pursue made in Nigeria goods, not foreign goods for our currency and economy to grow,” he said.
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13 Comments
Ha!ha!!. Nigeria is in troubles with Ben Murray type. He gladly bought electric car(Buy Naija!)
These folks are taking us for mumu
Look at this fowl. He is saying it is not a set back. Who are you trolling. Hide your big head in shame
That was a very stupid comment coming from the son of Ikenga. i expected such crass talk from algae soup-eating ofe mmanu.
You are as stupid as your comments. Tribalistic nonentity. You are the reason the country cannot heal.
Yes, according to you, “the country cannot heal”. You are a prophet.
You are a troll. Ride on
So the prophet versus the troll! All in Angry Peoples Country.
what is tribalistic about what i said? did i mention any tribes? what are you referring to? bet you grew up in the SW. Omo kobo-kobo, Okoro, Yibo, Biafraud are not all tribalistic abi? bet you were conceived from masturbation. efulefu, ezi Bida!
You are a product of incest and that gives reason to your spewing rubbish all the time. Silence like they say is the best answer to a fool. Go take a well deserved nap and see if you can make sense to yourself first and then to other people, ewu ohia. Nonsense.
nne gi. iya e!
Proof of what I called you. After all the blab what next. Rubbish!
Life is full of risk..
Some Nigerians are just dumb. Even people who are owing their friends are complaining about Ben Bruce owing for a business he owns.
We will review and take appropriate action.