Apologise to Tinubu or face criminal charges, Group tells Melaye

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

The women representing 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 (Melaye) allegedly threatened to beat up and impregnate Senator Tinubu.

The protesters, who displayed placards of various inscription such as “Melaye, Senate is not your father’s house; Dino, leave Tinubu alone; We say no to violence against women;
Women folks stand up against Dino, among others, 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 reactions to the disgraceful action of the Kogi Senator 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 has 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 term 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 an ideal conduct in a sane and civilized society.