Gross Misconduct - Remi Tinubu Petition Melaye To APC Leader

The petition followed an earlier letter to the acting Inspector of Police, Ibrahim Idris, in which Mrs Tinubu asked for “adequate security” for fear that Melaye, who also belongs to the ruling APC, might kill her. 

Oluremi Tinubu, the Senator representing Lagos Central, has petitioned the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senate over acts of “gross misconduct” by Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi west, which occurred last Tuesday.

In the letters, dated July 18, Tinubu explained that she was complaining to the leadership of the APC and Senate about Melaye’s conduct at last Tuesday’s closed-door session, expressing worry that the Senate leadership had not taken action to address Melaye’s “threatening misconduct”.

“I was duly recognized to speak by the Senate President, after Senator Dino Melaye had spoken and berated some Senate colleagues over their perceived roles in the judicial case involving the Senate leadership,” she wrote in the letter to Mr. Oyegun.

“Although I remained silent and attempted no interjection during his statement, Senator Dino Melaye tried to abridge my right as a Senator by hectoring at me and interrupting my contribution.

“At one point, I cautioned him about the use of his language and the threats made, reminding him other Senators were there with equal right as he and represented their constituents.

“In a burst of apparent rage, Senator Melaye charged at me in what can only be seen as effort to attack me. The attack was only prevented by some respectful Senators who moved to impede his path or otherwise block him from approaching closer towards me. I thank those Senators for their personal courage and sense of decorum.”

“Senator Melaye hurled foul and vulgar language at me. What he said should never be heard in any public institution let alone the floor of the Senate.”

“Denigrating me as a woman, Senator Melaye threatened to beat me on the floor of the Senate just because I dared to express my opinion different from his.”

“I am both a ranking Senator and a woman. But Senator Melaye took neither into consideration as he issued threats of rape and assault, while boasting he would face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats.”

“As such, it was an affront to the senate, this government and our party. For a party member to so antagonise and hector another APC member in this fashion places the party in disrepute and undermines the unity needed to accomplish the sober task of reforming Nigeria for the better.”

“We must start by ensuring our own members know how to behave, according decorum, befitting their elected positions,” she said.

The senator said she hoped that the party would appropriately sanction Melaye for his “malignant” behaviour and affirm its policy of zero tolerance for gender discrimination and restore its reputation as the vehicle of change.