Senator Oluremi Tinubu yesterday told Senate President Bukola Saraki and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman John Oyegun that Senator Dino Melaye threatened to assault her during the Senate’s July 12 Executive Session.
Melaye, Sen. Tinubu said, boasted that he would “face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats”.
In separate petitions yesterday, Sen. Tinubu complained about the Kogi State lawmaker’s “gross misconduct” and warned that he remains a danger to her and the Senate.
“The totality of that misconduct amounted to an assault against my person, as a Senator, as a female and a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria.
“I take the cautionary step of submitting this letter in order to seek proper recourse that will protect me against criminal assault on the floor of the Senate (or elsewhere), that I and other lawmakers may exercise our rights as Senators to represent our constituencies in the manner and with the decorum befitting this hallowed chamber.
“I write that such misconduct as that exhibited by Senator Melaye shall never be repeated against me or any other Senator and so that reputation and the vital functions of the Senate as a respectful deliberative body shall not be undermined,” Tinubu said.
She noted that a week had passed “since the indecorous eruption by Senator Melaye,” but, the Senate leadership has been silent and has not reacted to his threatening misconduct.
Sen. Tinubu continued: “So that this serious transgression is not allowed to pass, I formally submit for the record that I object to the reckless misconduct of Senator Melaye.
“What he did was completely unjustifiable and contrary to the established customs and norms that govern the behaviour of members of this body.“
“For merely voicing my opinion on the floor of the Senate, which is the fundamental right and duty of every lawmaker, I was verbally abused and threatened by Senator Dino Melaye.”
Melaye, she added, “used blatantly sexist and misogynistic language offensive to every woman in Nigeria and offensive to every person who truly believes that gender discrimination has no place in the Nigeria we are trying to build for ourselves and all future generations.”
Sen. Tinubu added: “Unless Sen. Melaye is appropriately disciplined, he remains a danger to me and to the Senate at large. He has promised twice within one week to attack me.”
Despite her refraining from saying anything in public about the incident, Melaye, she said, had “paraded his misconduct in public as if to threaten a female Senator is a badge of pride”.
She urged the Senate leadership to “recognise the gravity of the situation and take appropriate action”.
Describing the incident, Sen. Tinubu told Odigie-Oyegun that ‘What took place at that session was nothing short of a threat of physical assault and abuse against me by Senator Melaye.”
She added: “I would like to place on record for the party this formal complaint in the hope that the party will act to appropriately sanction Senator Melaye for his malign behaviour.
“In this way, the party will affirm its policy of zero tolerance for gender discrimination and restore its reputation as a vehicle for positive change and not an arm of regression and intolerance towards women.”
Explaining how Melaye’s attacks occurred on July 12, Sen. Tinubu said: “I was duly recognised by the Senate President after Senator Melaye had spoken and berated some Senate colleagues over their perceived roles in the judicial case involving the Senate leadership.
“Although I remained silent and attempted no interjection during his statement, Senator Melaye tried to abridge my rights as a Senator by hectoring at me and interrupting my contribution.”
Tinubu said at one point, she cautioned Melaye that other Senators were there by equal right as he and represented their constituents.
She continued: “In a burst of apparent rage, Senator Melaye charged at me in what can only be seen as an effort to physically attack me. The attack was only prevented by some respectful Senators who moved to impede his path or otherwise block him from approaching closer to me. I thank those Senators for their personal courage and sense of decorum.
“Senator Melaye hurled foul and vulgar language at me. What he said should never be heard in any public institution let alone the floor of the Senate. Denigrating me as a woman, Senator Melaye threatened to beat me on the floor of the Senate simply because I dared to express an opinion different from his.”
She added: “I am both a ranking Senator and a woman. But Senator Melaye took neither into consideration as he issued threats of rape and assault, while boasting that he would face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats.
“Compounding the damage inflicted by Sen. Melaye is the fact that we are both of the APC. Thus, I am compelled to report this incident. It also gives me great concern that the Senate leadership has heretofore been silent on this matter as if condoning the errant behaviour of the Senator.”
Tinubu urged the party to “investigate this matter in order to restore the public image and moral standing of the party and of APC members in the Senate.”
“In this manner, we show that we reject the misconduct that has wronged our nation and people for so long. Only if we act against such excesses will the people truly believe we are committed to the reforms we have promised them. We must start by ensuring that our own members know how to behave, according to the decorum befitting their elect. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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And then,pls woman stop distracting the senator so that they treat something more important on moving this country forward,if hv issues with Dino,go and settle amicably
ReplyDeleteNigerian Eye, we are tired of this useless hero worshiping. Tinubu this Tinubu that. Is this part of our national problems. Please save from the nonsense
ReplyDeleteShut up tonight or what they call u. He didn't say he will rape you.
ReplyDeleteShut up! Idiot. You are not well breed. So Ekweremà du did same to you too when you went and sat on his sit? Saraki too when you snubbed him openly by hanging his hand s5retched for handshake and giving him a very scornful look. Could you address Dino the way you did had it being you were in Saudi Arabia Parliament or house of rep? It is sad that a Yoruba women should be displaying this sort of character cos Yorubas especially their women are reputed ro4 being respectful and humble.
ReplyDeleteGana-must-go, or what ever you go by. From your reaction and comment to the story, I believe you have no iota of respect for any woman including your mother, sister and wife because Mrs Tinubu is all of these which we can not say of Dino Melaye who is neither married currently to any woman. Let's face issues and not sentiments because you hate Asiwaju Bola tinubu her husband then you ignore the harassment meted out to her.
DeleteWere u there?
ReplyDeleteDis woman is a carnage, wats her problem wit melaye. So cos ur a woman Ull hurl insults on an able man who can get u pregnant and expect him 2 give u an applause, sorry u got more dan wat u bargained 4, and pls allow d honorable hollowed chambers 2 do der work of moving d nation forward cos u ppl has really plundered dis nation and brought d economy it's knees.
ReplyDeleteSenator melaye said he will rape you? hmmmm!!! sometimes I wonder if these are primary school pupil. a threat to you and the senate you said? weda melaye wants to rape u or you wishes to sleep with melaye, abeg both of u should focus on ur senate job and find solution to the current problem Nigeria is facing now.
ReplyDeleteirrant nonsense! So after sponsoring some idle people to stage protest in Lagos to win sympathy in ur favour you did not get the public outcry you were expecting, now you are going about campaigning for support in the upper chamber you are never going to get. Even reporting to saraki you never supported when he emerged as the senate president.
ReplyDeleteDid you call Sen. Dino a dog.. Yes Or no! So if you rightly said he threatened to impregnate you, he was simple alluding to the mate process of a male and female dog. So what has he done wrong then?
You said the leadership of the senate were silent ehnn,that is actually what they consider you to be, a F**L. "Silence they say is the Best answer for a.. " so Please be wise.
Don't use gender inequality to win sympathy, this is your own cross you have to carry for insulting Dino. I think has has placed you were you rightly belong . So if you must air your view next time you speak in the upper house, i know you would take caution!
Nigerians desrve true leadership to move forward and not the type we currently have.
Bundle of distractions, Nigerians are staving, Muslim killing Christians, herdsmen killing pple, no light,no fuel no job..and this woman is ranting up and down wasting the time of Nig house of Reps. U called for d insult so swallow it and stop this rubbish of seeking sympathy wht a Shameless woman pls go n seat down joo!!
ReplyDeleteTinubu has been sponsoring mediocres as senators, house of reps members, governors and commissioners , now even president, his worst mistake is his wife. She has been a continuous nuisance to everybody. Please go and pay up the ignorant and poor village women you sponsored to villify and wipe up ethnic sentiments agains melaye. You are a big disgrace to all.
ReplyDeleteWoman, you are rude to him therefore, you got exactly what suit you, I am a woman like you, don't use your position in the office or your husband influence to talk to people or an able man like Dino, he is a man like your husband, he deserve all the respect from you, so no room for nonsense, get it right.
ReplyDeleteSo, Melaye will have to pay all ur security guards for them to allow him to rape u, abi? Madam, if u dey trip for d guy just let us know. Cos am sure he's beta dan ur husband in bed.
ReplyDeleteu see, u see ur life outside?
ReplyDeleteI love my country NIGERIA, loll. Ride on my people. True talk
ReplyDeletePlease can someone show me where I can go and throw up. I am totally disgusted by the poor level of English used by some of those commenting here. Perhaps we should speak in our own mother tongue or in "broken" English so as to not display any further the lack of prowess or knowledge of the language.
ReplyDeleteThat been said, as a man I think its sad that men even as seen from comments here would condone such an action by an honorable member of our Senate, and a man for that matter. One who ought to be able to keep his emotions in check especially when faced with comments from a woman and colleague and in such a setting as the house.
Sen. Dino's comments, if he actually made them, were uncalled for as he could have simply waited for another opportunity to hold the floor of the house and speak in response to whatever Sen. Remi said that offended him, using as many courteous retorts as he would wish. But threatening a woman, a married woman for that matter, with violence and sexist comments, is totally unacceptable. No man should talk like this to any woman. Its beneath us as men.
He should learn from Mr. Jega of INEC. That man will always be an example of how public servants and even others should behave when faced with public insults and ridicule. Cool and calm, having confidence in who you are and what you know.
There I've said it. Now let my insults begin.
Cheers.
For sure you are a big fool, who cares about grammar when it comes to public commentary as this.In African culture, woman remain under man no matter what position she occupied. However if not for her husband's re known thuggery can she win election even for councillorship seat in Lagos? How can she talk nonsense to reputable man who legitimately won election? please madam or whatever you called yourself, allow Dino to deliver the dividend of democracy to his constituency jooooooo!!!!!
ReplyDelete