BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE,

Senator Muniru Muse, who  represented Lagos Central Senatorial District of Lagos State between 2003 to 2011 spoke to reporters at a gathering of South_West Senators Forum in Lagos recently on the rising wave of insecurity in the country, why states should not get additional revenue from the federation account and he did not participate in the campaigns of his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) after he was denied return ticket for Lagos Central, which the party hierarchy gave to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of former Lagos State Governor and ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Excerpts:

What informed the senator’s forum?
Nigeria is a developing nation. If we, by the experience we have gathered in the Senate don’t interact after leaving the Senate we will be losing a lot. And those who are coming behind us will not be sharing this beautiful experience with us.

What is the gain of this meeting?
So many senators who had left before I entered the Senate, I am meeting them for the first time. That is enough camaraderie.

What is your take on rising insecurity in the country especially the Boko Haram issue? What should the government focal point be?

What the government should come up with is to ensure security and intensify efforts in their job. It has happened about four times in Abuja. I remember vividly what happened on the 50th independence anniversary in Abuja. After that, there has been series of bomb blasts. That is not good for our security agencies. They need to be more alive to their responsibilities.

What do you make of clamour by states for increment in the allocation formula in favour of the states?
I am telling you in the next one or two years some people will be asking for more. It is like creation of states. We have 36 states now. How many states are actually performing? And we are still asking for more. If we create more, we will continue to ask for more until all localities will want to become states.

The states said they would be unable to pay the N18,000 minimum wage without more revenue to states.

That is why I said if the review is done upward today, by next year some people will be asking again. The way out is for the states to spend money judiciously.

How true is it that you have left ACN?

Who is saying that I have left ACN? People can say anything. When I was about to go to the senate in 2007, some people came to me and asked would you behave like your predecessors? They were referring to Dosunmu and Musiliu Obanikoro who left the party. I told them, I am constant as the northern star, I will remain where I am and will remain there for four years.

You said you would not leave because of the mandate of the people. After the mandate, what next? You were not visible during the ACN campaigns for the 2011 elections.

How do you expect me to be visible when, apart from the fact that I was not given a chance, I  was booed at our head quarters a time when I was supposed to go for screening. In fact, I did not get the notice that I was going to be screened that day until I sent my completed forms and I received a telephone call that they were screening that day. I had to leave home, I got there to meet a mob right inside the office not outside shouting Muse Ole! Muse Ole!! What for? Which money have I stolen?

Until a security man came with two or three of his men armed and they called me: ‘Are you Senator Muse?’ I said ‘yes.’ He said, ‘I am here to ensure that you leave this place without being hurt.’ And he escorted me to my vehicle.

What do you think would have warranted that?

I don’t know their motive.

was responsible?

How would I know the people who were responsible. I don’t know the people who were responsible. They know themselves.
Would you say you were not fairly treated after four years?

I would not say I was not fairly treated. What I have said is that at least the leadership should have known what is better, call the attention of Senator Muse. This is what I require from you. If that had been done, I would have quietly left the stage for them.