Remi Tinubu Writes IG, Seeks Police Protection from Melaye

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• I have moved on, Kogi senator tells Tinubu
• Women’s group prorests Melaye’s action

The senator representing Lagos Central senatorial district, Oluremi Tinubu, has written the acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, urging him to provide her with police officers for protection against possible assault from Senator Dino Melaye.

In the letter dated July 18, 2016 which he personally signed, Tinubu explained that the request had become imperative in view of the threat issued by Melaye to her during the Senate’s executive session on July 14, 2016.

The four-paragraph letter by Tinubu to the acting IG read:
“I am Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central senatorial district of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“During the proceedings of the Senate on July 14, 2016, I had cause to contribute to a matter of national importance. Apparently dissatisfied with my contributions, Senator Dino Melaye threw cautions to the winds, resorted to vulgar abuse of my person and wanted to assault me.

“It was the timely intervention of a number of colleagues, which prevented Melaye from unleashing physical attack on me. However, as the leadership of the Senate did not call him to order in the circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my life without any provocation whatsoever.

“In view of Melaye’s antecedents, particularly in the House of Representatives where a brawl led by him had led to the untimely death of a member, I have decided not to ignore his threat to my life. Therefore, I am compelled to urge you to use your good offices to provide me with adequate security.”

However, Melaye who is Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has told Tinubu and their party, All Progressive Congress (APC), that great minds do not dwell on issues, but act and move on.

According to him, it would amount to waste of time and energy to continue with the action as he has acted and the next thing to do as a great man, would be to move on.
Speaking last night, Melaye said: “Great minds don’t dwell on issues, they act and move on. I have moved on.”

Meanwhile, Scores of women under the aegis of Concern Group yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Lagos where they condemned in strong terms the verbal attack on the senator representing Lagos Central in the Senate, Tinubu, by her colleague from Kogi West senatorial district, 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 (Melaye) allegedly threatened to beat up and impregnate 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 o reactions to the disgraceful action of the Kogi State senator was a testament to the fact that such action was unbecoming of a senator.

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, “Melaye’s uncouth and unguarded vituperation towards 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 term Melaye’s assault on Tinubu and therefore call on him to tender unreserved public apology to the Senate and more importantly to her person 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 civilised society.

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

She commended the women for coming out to defend one of their own, saying the cause was worth coming out for, as the action of Melaye was totally condemnable and unexpected from a senator.
Akande said: “I want to commend all of you for coming out to condemn the assault on a ranking senator by Melaye. This is a cause worth coming out for and we condemn his action in all it’s totally. We say no to women abuse and we are of the strong view that Melaye should be recalled by the people of Kogi West if he fails to apologise for his shameful conduct.

“If we don’t resist it now, they will continue to treat all of us in that manner and that is why we must stand against such behavior now,” Akande said.

While at the Lagos State House of Assembly, the protesters were received by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun, and about 20 lawmakers, who all condemned Melaye’s action and promised to transmit the letter to the president.

While also commending the women, Eshilokun said: “This is what should happen in any decent democracy rather than resorting to self help. Let me say that we will deliver your message to Mr. Speaker and let me also tell you that we are not unaware of the verbal diarrhea and vituperation of that irrational rabble rouser.

“I also want to assure you that we will treat this letter on the floor of the House and we will do all that is needful and deliver your message to the appropriate authorities,” he assured.