By Sharpedgenews, Kansas City
Women advocacy groups in the Nigerian civil society are up in arms against the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Mr. Dino Melaye,
over alleged verbal threat to beat up and rape a female colleague, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, during a heated close session of the upper legislative chamber.
The Lagos Chapter of the “#Bring Back Our Girls”, through its chairperson, Ms. Yemisi Ransome Kuti, said the blatant attack against Mrs. Tinubu ought to be investigated by the ethics committee of the Senate.
Senator Melaye allegedly spoke with unguarded temper in a bid to assert the need for the leadership of the executive arm of government in Nigeria to inspect the sanctity and independence legislature.
Dino Melaye was said to have used the opportunity of a close session of the senate to call for disciplinary actions against lawmakers who purportedly sold out to the presidency and actively connived in order to humiliate the Senate President and his Deputy over alleged forgery of standing rules, a matter that is currently being prosecuted by the Attorney General of the federation.
The brawl that ensued over his call was later leaked to the media. Melaye allegedly told his colleagues that those who had turned themselves to snitches must be cautioned that such action would come with consequential backlash. He reportedly told such lackeys of the presidency to go back and tell their sponsors that the senate would not be pocketed or turned to an appendage of the presidency.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu from Lagos state, having being duly recognized to contribute was said to have described as childish and unbecoming of Melaye to always issue threats against his colleagues who had equal rights of representation on behalf of those who elected them. Senator Tinubu was also quoted to have said that Melaye often behaved like a thug.
Without waiting to be recognized for further contributions, Senator Melaye allegedly jumped to his feet and thundered out, drowning the voice of Tinubu who was still standing and talking that the upper legislative chamber was not Bourdillon street, in reference to the private home of Tinubu’s husband, a political mecca of some sort, approaching her, he reportedly said that Mrs. Tinubu would be beaten up and impregnated.
Other senators allegedly rose in order to protect the female lawmaker from possible physical assault.
In a statement issued and jointly signed by Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Aisha Oyebode, Ayo Obe, and Habiba Balogun, the group described Mr. Melaye’s actions as “disgusting”.
“While the matter of the senate and their disagreements remain strictly their issue, it is pertinent to put an end to this recurring act of threat of violence against women,” the group said in the statement also signed by Yemi Adamolekun, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Ngozi Iwere, Olalere Babasola, and Adwoa Edun.
“It is further disheartening that there is no indication to suggest that the leadership of the Senate has referred this weighty allegation for investigation by its Committee on Ethics and Privileges.”
The #BringBackOurGirls group said Mr. Melaye’s actions sent the country back to the dark ages, and called on the National Assembly to stop tolerating “misogynists” like Mr. Melaye in their ranks.
“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,” the group said.
“How can we encourage women to take elective positions without fear when the senate, which has only seven (7) female members out of the 109 members, has men like Senator Dino Melaye threatening the few that have dared the odds to get into politics?
“How can we put an end to violence against girls and women when those who lead/make these laws are guilty of the same acts? Are there no rules and code of conduct in The Senate? Are there no penalties for irresponsible behavior?
“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 group noted that with the Lagos #BringBackOurGirls group being members of the constituency represented by Mrs. Tinubu, they are calling for an action against Mr. Melaye.
“The Nigerian Senate should not aid and abet him this time,” they said.
“If we, as BBOG Group, are asking the State to protect our girls, then such statements in our hallowed chambers should most definitely be strongly condemned and properly dealt with.”