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Nigerians flay Senator Melaye over alleged assault on female colleague

By Azimazi Momoh Jimoh and Segun Olaniyi, Anthony Otaru, Abuja and Seye Olumide, Ijeoma Thomas-Odia (Lagos)
15 July 2016   |   3:10 am
Eminent Nigerians and groups have expressed concern over the rowdy development that ensued from the Executive session of the senate on Tuesday, which degenerated into an altercation ...
Dino Melaye

Dino Melaye

I have no regrets, he insists
Eminent Nigerians and groups have expressed concern over the rowdy development that ensued from the Executive session of the senate on Tuesday, which degenerated into an altercation between Senators Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dino Melaye, who represents Kogi West.

Melaye was alleged to have threatened to beat and impregnate Senator Tinubu, a colleague from the same party platform during the senate session.

Reacting to the development, a group Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) condemned in strong terms the verbal abuse on Senator Oluremi Tinubu by Melaye.

In a statement yesterday, the Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi described the altercation as another case that buttressed the issue of women’s rights protection and gender equality in Nigeria.

While recalling similar incidences, Akiyode-Afolabi said, “Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, was slapped by another colleague at the National Assembly while another female lawmaker from Delta State was battered by an aide to an Immigration Officer at the Assembly Complex earlier this year.

He recalled that Funmi Tejuoso was also physically assaulted at the Lagos State House of Assembly sometimes ago and now this gender insecurity against Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

In another reaction, Coalition of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Good Governance (COCMEGG) urged leaders of the APC, as a matter of urgency, to call Malaye to order and that he should tender unreserved apologies to Nigerian women and youths for his utterances against Tinubu at the hallowed chambers of the Senate.

In a statement issued yesterday, the President of COCMEGG, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbeje condemned the development as a despicable un-parliamentary behavior in its entirety, saying: “It deserves unreserved apology on the floor of the Senate that must be published in five national dailies within seven days.”

The group said failure of which it would be forced to mobilise and commence recall proceedings against Melaye.

Aigbegbeje wondered how Melaye, a distinguish Senator could have degenerated to such level in the hallowed chambers of the Nigeria Senate.

Meanwhile the Lagos State chapter of the APC said if indeed it was true that the statement came from Melaye, his actions and deeds in recent times has contributed in no uncertain terms the various setbacks the 8th Senate has witnessed since its inception.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said, “The hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a prestigious place for serious-minded, cerebral men and women of integrity.

It added that Melaye’s conduct has reached a point of diminishing returns “he should move quickly to apologise to Senator Oluremi and her beloved husband over the statement credited to him.”

In a similar vein, the Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Professor Ajayi Boroffice described the threat issued by Melaye as unfortunate.

He said, “In actual sense, the utterances of Senator Melaye constitute threat to the life of a fellow Senator. It is not only condemnable it is also criminal.

“At a time when Nigeria is faced with rising cases of violence against women, it is utterly unfortunate that a Senator threatened to beat up a fellow Senator. To say the least, that nature of threat should not be associated with the Nigerian Senate.

Meanwhile, Melaye said he has no regrets about his actions as he also denied using any obscene and vulgar language against Tinubu.

The Senator however vowed that should Oluremi insult him in the future, he would not hesitate to return abuse for abuse.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Melaye rejected calls to tender apology to both Oluremi and her husband.

He said he was yet to confirm that the APC leaders actually demanded for apology without hearing from both parties.

Melaye said it was Tinubu that first rained insults on him at the executive session by allegedly calling him unprintable names.

He traced the genesis of his face off with Oluremi Tinubu to his submission at the executive session to the effect that all Senators behind the petition to the police regarding the alleged forgery case should withdraw their petitions and suit from court.

Melaye explained that he never mentioned Oluremi’s name in his submission pointing out that Senators were shocked when she stood up and began to insult him using obscene languages.

In a reference to threats posed by his faceoff with Oluremi, Melaye said he would never be a coward to admit his actions, adding that he had no reason to entertain fears from anybody because his support had always come from God and not from any human being.

His words: “On Tuesday, the 12th of July, 2016 we had an executive session to discuss basically on the issue of forgery case in court and when I stood up to address and I want to say that on my honour as a Christian, on my honour as a father and on the oath of my office as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria I am telling you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have never been a coward; I will not start an apprenticeship programme now on how to become a coward. Whatever I say anywhere I can boldly repeat everywhere.”

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