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Chronicle of Remi Tinubu/Dino Malaye spat

The standoff between Senator Remi Tinubu, wife of All Progressives  Congress (APC) National leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, representing Lagos Central, and Senator Dino Malaye, who is representing Kogi west senatorial district, which started during the plenary of Tuesday, July 12, 2016, in Senate’s closed door session has generated lots of reactions with majority condemning the Kogi Senator.

On the said date, the senators were deliberating on how to move the house forward and end the rift between the Leadership of the Senate and the executive on the alleged forgery case ongoing in court by asking aggrieved members of the house to withdraw from the case.

However, events  took a dramatic turn when Senator Remi Tinubu and Dino Malaye, both members of APC, started exchanging words and calling themselves all manner of names.

Dino Malaye had addressed the house, during which he expressed his support for Senate President Bukola Saraki and he asked the anti-Saraki Senators to withdraw from the case. Remi Tinubu was reported to have openly attacked Dino Malaye during her address, triggering the rift between the two senators.

We examine the series of reactions triggered by the event :

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

 Senate closed door session –  It was reported that Remi Tinubu accused Malaye of threatening senators. She went on to call him a thug. Malaye responded by calling her stupid and he threatened to beat her up. Report also had it that Remi called him a dog and Maleye was reported to have threatened to sleep with her.

Wednessday July 13, 2016

Bola Tinubu reacts – APC National leader Bola Tinubu, who is the husband of Remi Tinubu was reported to have tongue lashed Dino Malaye. Bola Tinubu who is a former Lagos State governor speaking through his spokesman man, Sunday Dare called Malaye a disgrace to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and he threatened to end Dino Malaye’s career.

Lagos Senators Reaction – Senator Olugbenga Ashafa and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola representing Lagos East and Lagos West respectively, in a joint statement, condemned Malaye’s action and warned him to desist from intimidating Remi Tinubu. They also expressed their readiness to testify in the ongoing trial of Senate president Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu.

Lagos APC asked Malaye to apologize  –  In a statement signed by its Publicity secretary Joe Igbokwe, the Lagos state chapter of the APC in strong words condemned Senator Malaye. He was asked to seek psychiatric help if indeed he uttered those statement from his heart.

He was asked to apologize to Senator Remi Tinubu and her husband Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and immediately withdraw his statements.

Okun-Parapo berates Malaye – A socio-cultural group of Yoruba speaking areas in Kogi state expressed their displeasure in the action of Senator Malaye threatening to beat Senator Remi Tinubu. Part of the statement signed by Mr Adekunle Adeite on behalf of the group read thus, “Okunland, in Kogi, Nigeria can boast of many prominent and illustrious sons. Notable among them are Cardinal Onaiyakan, Shola Ameobi (soccer player), Eyitayo Lambo, David Jemibewon, Darey Art Alade, Bayo Ojo… How this great land ended up with a senator like Dino still beats me.”

BringBackOurGirls group, Lagos State chapter condemns Malaye – according to a statement jointly signed by Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Aisha Oyebode, Ayo Obe and Habiba Balogun, the BringBackOurGirls group, Lagos State chapter berated Senator Malaye.

The statement said, “With the likes of Senator Dino Melaye in the Nigerian Senate, the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill which we are campaigning for might never see the light of day…. Our future and that of our children depend on the actions we take now and we must put an end to this recurring act of violence, abuse and threats…. The Nigerian Senate should not aid and abet him this time,”

APC Lagos Central Senatorial District calls Malaye investigation – The statement signed by ‎the APC chairman of Lagos Central Senatorial District, Chief Tajudeen, vice chairman, Mr Fouad Oki, and acting secretary, Hakeem Bamgbola read :  “We consider Senator Dino’s behaviour as unbecoming of the exalted office he holds and want to remind him that he cannot muscle a colleague and a ranking senator for that matter.” They also expressed their support to Senator Remi Tinubu whom they say “has a tradition of speaking truth to power and never one to be cowed.”

Thursday, July 14, 2016

 Dino Malaye press conference – Malaye who is also the Chairman Senate committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), addressed a press conference where he cleared the air on what transpired at plenary on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, during Senate closed door session. He denied ever threatening to impregnate Senator Remi, whom he said had reached menopause.

“How could I have said I would beat and impregnate her at the same time?” he asked.

He denied using “insolent, abusive, degrading and manner less language against any Senator” during his address to the house.

Mr. Melaye who admitted to have used harsh words, said he was he was provoked by Senator Remi.

He said, “She got up again and said that this thug must be tamed. At that point, I got up and told her that she was very stupid. The next statement from her was ‘You are a dog’. She called me a dog, and when she called me a dog I stood up and reacted and I told her that this was not Bourdillon and she should look at my face, I am not one of those senators who normally come to prostrate to them in Bourdillon and I am from Kogi and not from Lagos.

“I did it because I am not a coward,” he added.

Malaye also reaffimed his support for Bukola Saraki after which he said APC national leader cannot threaten his political career. He said “Tinubu is no God.”

He said he would respond accordingly if Senator Remi calls him any name again.

Women group (WARDC) gives Malaye 3 days ultimatum to apologize – Women Advocacy Research and Development Centre (WARDC) gave Senator Malaye 3 days ultimatum to apologize to senator Remi Tinubu.

The non-governmental organization in the vanguard of promoting women’s participation in politics, speaking through its Coordinator, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the incident “is another case to buttress the lacklustre attitude to the issue of women’s rights protection and gender equality in Nigeria.”

Friday, July 15, 2016

South West APC call Malaye a wolf in a sheep’s skin – According to the  statement released by Zonal National Secretary of APC, Ayo Afolabi, the All Progressives Congress members (South West Zone) feel scandalized and traumatized that they are in the same political party with the likes of Senator Dino Melaye.

The statement further said, “We at the All Progressives Congress (South West Zone) call on the undistinguished Senator to publicly withdraw his tantrums and apologize not only to our own Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu but also to the entire Tinubu Family, Womanhood and the All Progressives Congress in the South West Zone.”

The statement went on to say :  “We call on the National Leadership and indeed the National Chairman of our Great Party, His Excellency Chief John Odigie Oyegun, to call the disgrace of a person in Senator Melaye, a wolf in a sheep’s skin to order.”

APC Osun women wing call for Malaye Imprisonment – Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde, Women Leader of APC in Osun State called for the prosecution of, Senator Dino Melaye, over his rant to assault his colleague Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

She said : “Senator Melaye’s attack and threat to beat up Senator Tinubu and impregnate her, were uncouth, indecent, demeaning, humiliating, sexist and criminal. It is a clear violation of the law which the same Senate passed in 2015, to protect our people.”

Ex Senator, Ayo Fasanmi calls for the suspension Malaye – Second Republic Senator, Ayo Fasanmi called for the suspension of Malaye at a meeting composed of Lagos Central District leaders and stakeholders, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos Mainland.

He said, “Senator Dino Melaye is rude to a woman of substance and a diligent senator who has brought pride to the party, her constituency and the womenfolk. He should be suspended from the Senate with immediate effect”.

APC Diaspora plans to block Malaye foreign trips – The forum of All Progressives Congress Diaspora strongly condemned Senator Malaye.

They said it in a statement signed by Dr Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC UK, Ayoola R. Lawal, Chairman, APC Scandinavia, Stephen Adeayo Tella, Chairman, APC  Spain, Chief Mohammed Suheed Olanrewaju Balogun Chairman APC France, Lawrence Adesola Adelekan, Chairman, APC Philippines, Mr Olalekan Ogunwede, Chairman APC Germany and Prince Hammed Adefioye, Chairman APC Republic of Ireland.

The group called on the leadership of the Nigerian Senate and the appropriate institution of state empowered to investigate such to act immediately and decisively in confirming the veracity of the incident between senator Malaye and Senator Tinubu.

The also threatened to block Senator Malaye access to all the countries of the signatories to the statement. They said, “We will forward the press reports of this case to all foreign missions/embassies with a request that Senator Melaye be denied visiting rights to those countries until he is cleared of this accusation as we do not want any of our leaders bringing disrepute or further inflicting intolerable dark blot on Nigeria and Nigerians.

“We deem this the right and appropriate thing to do as the sweat and blood of numerous Nigerians brought in the present government and we will not allow their memory and sacrifices be trampled upon or the image of Nigeria/Nigerians be maligned by inappropriate behaviours of our leaders” they added.

Civil group COCMEGG condemns and threatens Senator Malaye – Coalition of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Good Governance (COCMEGG) also added their voice to the saga calling Senator Malaye a disgrace to the senate.

According to a statement by its President, Kenneth Aigbegbele and Secretary, James Okoronkwo the group said, “Dino Melaye is a huge disappointment to his constituency, the Senate and the Nigeria’s democracy. It is unfortunate and reprehensible that Senator Dino had resorted to maligning the constituted authority on whose platform he rose to become a senator.

“We, therefore, condemn this despicable un-parliamentary behaviour in its entirety and demand an unreserved apology on the floor of the Senate, failure of which, we will be forced to mobilize and commence recall proceedings against him.”

  • Olalekan Olonilua for encomium.ng
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