Apologise to Remi Tinubu or risk criminal trial, protesting women tell Melaye

Scores of women under the aegis of Concern Group on Monday staged a protest in Lagos where they condemned in strong terms the alleged verbal attack on Senator Remi Tinubu of Lagos Central by her colleague from Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye.

The women, drawn from the three senatorial districts in Lagos State, said they were shocked and saddened by the derogatory attack of Melaye against Tinubu during the closed-door session of the Senate on July 12 where he allegedly threatened to beat and impregnate the wife of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu.

The protesters, who displayed placards of various inscriptions, said Melaye’s action was not only highly condemnable and disgraceful but also disgusting, irritating, shameful and most embarrassing to the collective psyche of not only the women folks but to the entire nation.

They added that the obvious avalanche of reactions to the action of the Kogi politician was a testament to the fact that such action was unbecoming of a distinguished Senator of the federal republic.

While delivering a protest letter to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Lagos House in Alausa for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari, leader of the group, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, said with the development, Melaye had exhibited convincingly that he lacked the “poise, panache, fitness and minimum character to occupy a seat among sane, revered and distinguished men and women in the hallowed chamber of the sacrosanct Nigeria Senate.”

According to Adekanye, “Dino Melaye’s uncouth and unguarded vituperation towards Senator Oluremi Tinubu have not only brought unquantifiable shame to himself and Kogi West, but also to the Senate and the entire country.

“On this note, we the Concern Group condemned in very strong terms Dino Melaye’s assault on Senator Oluremi Tinubu and therefore call on him to tender unreserved public apology to the hallowed chamber of the Senate and more importantly to the person of Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the entire Nigerians which he has brought into great disrepute.”

The group urged President Buhari to direct relevant security agencies to institute criminal action against Melaye should he fail to apologise within an acceptable time frame to serve as deterrent to others as well as send strong signal to young people who may have erroneously viewed Melaye’s “disgraceful action” as ideal conduct in a sane and civilized society.

While receiving the protesters on behalf of Governor Ambode, the State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lola Akande, assured the women that the letter would be delivered to the President and that necessary action would be taken on the request.

The protesters also went to the Lagos State House of Assembly, where they were received by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun, and about 20 lawmakers, who all condemned Melaye’s action and promised to transmit the letter to the President.