Tinubu petitions Saraki, Oyegun to sanction Melaye
Wed Jul 20, 2016 07:11:am Politics
2.7K By Buchi Obichie
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator representing Lagos Central, Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday petitioned Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, demanding sanctions against her colleague, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi), over alleged threats of harassment.
According to Tinubu, Melaye would remain a threat to her and all women of good standing in the society, unless he was severly punished.
In a July 12 closed door session of the Senate, Melaye had been alleged to have used violent language against Senator Tinubu; allegedly threatening to rape her.
In her letter to the Senate President entitled, 'Formal complaint against Senator Dino Melaye regarding gross misconduct at the July 12, 2016 Senate Executive Session,' Tinubu stated:
"I write to lodge a formal complaint concerning the improper behaviour of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) that transgresses all norms of legislative etiquette and decorum. The Gross misconduct took place during the day executive session of the Senate on Tuesday July 12, 2016 over which you presided as Senate President.
"The totality of that misconduct amounted to an assault against my person, as a Senator, as a female and a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria. l take the cautionary step of submitting this letter in order to seek proper recourse that will protect me against criminal assault on the floor of the Senate (or elsewhere) that l and other lawmakers may exercise our rights as Senators to represent our Constituencies in the manner and with the decorum befitting this hallowed Chamber.
"I write that such misconduct as that exhibited by Senator Melaye shall never be repeated against me or any other Senator and so that reputation and the vital functions of the Senate as a respectful deliberative body shall not be undermined.
"l note that a week has passed since the indecorous eruption by Senator Melaye. However, the Senate leadership has been silent and has not reacted to the threatening misconduct of Senator Melaye.
"So that this serious transgression of legislative behaviour is not allowed to pass, I formally submit for the record that l object to the reckless misconduct of Senator Melaye during the July 12 Executive Session. What he did was completely unjustifiable and contrary to the established customs and norms that govern the behaviour of members of this body.
"For merely voicing my opinion on the floor of the Senate, which is the fundamental right and duty of every Senator, I was verbally abused and threatened by Senator Dino Melaye. He did not stop there, he used blatantly sexist and misogynistic language offensive to every woman in Nigeria and offensive to every person who truly believes that gender discrimination has no place in the Nigeria we are trying to build for ourselves and all future generations.
"In summation, unless Senator Melaye is appropriately disciplined, he remains a danger to me and to the Senate at large. He has promised twice within one week to attack me.
"In an attempt to preserve the dignity of the Senate, I have refrained from saying anything in public outside of the Executive Chamber about this incident. However, Senator Dino has become unmoored and has since paraded his misconduct in public as if to threaten a Female Senator is a badge of pride. It is a sad day for Nigeria if such misconduct is to be condoned and smiled upon.
"Consequently, I submit this letter to formally record my objections to Senator Melaye's untoward misconduct and to ask the Senate Leadership to recognise the gravity of the situation and take appropriate action."
Her letter to the APC National Chairman read:
"I submit to the Chairman of the APC this formal complaint regarding the improper and harmful conduct of Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi State toward me which occurred at the Executive Session of the Senate on July 12, 2016. What took place at that Session was nothing short of a threat of physical assault and abuse against me by Senator Melaye. As such, it was an affront to the Senate, this government and to 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.
"Much of what took place has been widely reported in the media. However, I would like to place on record for the Party this formal complaint in hope that the Party will act to appropriately sanction Senator Melaye for his malign behaviour. In this way, the Party will affirm its policy of zero tolerance for gender discrimination and to restore its reputation as a vehicle of positive change and not an arm of regression and intolerance towards women.
"During the 12 July Executive Session, 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.
"Although, I remained silent and attempted no interjection during his Statement, Senator Melaye tried to abridge my rights 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 that other Senators were there by 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 physically attack me. The attack was only prevented by some respectful Senators who moved to impede his path or otherwise block him from approaching closer to 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 simply because I dared to express an 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 that he would face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats.
"Compounding the damage inflicted by Senator Dino Melaye is the fact that we are both of the APC. Thus, I am compelled to report this incident. It also gives me great concern that the Senate leadership has heretofore been silent on this matter as if condoning the errant behaviour of the Senator.
"Through this letter, I officially inform the Party about the improper behaviour of Senator Melaye and ask the Party to investigate this matter in order to restore the public image and moral Standing of the Party and of APC members in the Senate. In this manner, we show that we reject the misconduct that has wronged our nation and its people for so long. Only if we act against such excesses will the people truly believe we are committed to the reforms we have promised them. We must start by ensuring that our own members know how to behave, according the decorum befitting their elected positions."
According to Tinubu, Melaye would remain a threat to her and all women of good standing in the society, unless he was severly punished.
In a July 12 closed door session of the Senate, Melaye had been alleged to have used violent language against Senator Tinubu; allegedly threatening to rape her.
In her letter to the Senate President entitled, 'Formal complaint against Senator Dino Melaye regarding gross misconduct at the July 12, 2016 Senate Executive Session,' Tinubu stated:
"I write to lodge a formal complaint concerning the improper behaviour of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) that transgresses all norms of legislative etiquette and decorum. The Gross misconduct took place during the day executive session of the Senate on Tuesday July 12, 2016 over which you presided as Senate President.
"The totality of that misconduct amounted to an assault against my person, as a Senator, as a female and a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria. l take the cautionary step of submitting this letter in order to seek proper recourse that will protect me against criminal assault on the floor of the Senate (or elsewhere) that l and other lawmakers may exercise our rights as Senators to represent our Constituencies in the manner and with the decorum befitting this hallowed Chamber.
"I write that such misconduct as that exhibited by Senator Melaye shall never be repeated against me or any other Senator and so that reputation and the vital functions of the Senate as a respectful deliberative body shall not be undermined.
"l note that a week has passed since the indecorous eruption by Senator Melaye. However, the Senate leadership has been silent and has not reacted to the threatening misconduct of Senator Melaye.
"So that this serious transgression of legislative behaviour is not allowed to pass, I formally submit for the record that l object to the reckless misconduct of Senator Melaye during the July 12 Executive Session. What he did was completely unjustifiable and contrary to the established customs and norms that govern the behaviour of members of this body.
"For merely voicing my opinion on the floor of the Senate, which is the fundamental right and duty of every Senator, I was verbally abused and threatened by Senator Dino Melaye. He did not stop there, he used blatantly sexist and misogynistic language offensive to every woman in Nigeria and offensive to every person who truly believes that gender discrimination has no place in the Nigeria we are trying to build for ourselves and all future generations.
"In summation, unless Senator Melaye is appropriately disciplined, he remains a danger to me and to the Senate at large. He has promised twice within one week to attack me.
"In an attempt to preserve the dignity of the Senate, I have refrained from saying anything in public outside of the Executive Chamber about this incident. However, Senator Dino has become unmoored and has since paraded his misconduct in public as if to threaten a Female Senator is a badge of pride. It is a sad day for Nigeria if such misconduct is to be condoned and smiled upon.
"Consequently, I submit this letter to formally record my objections to Senator Melaye's untoward misconduct and to ask the Senate Leadership to recognise the gravity of the situation and take appropriate action."
Her letter to the APC National Chairman read:
"I submit to the Chairman of the APC this formal complaint regarding the improper and harmful conduct of Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi State toward me which occurred at the Executive Session of the Senate on July 12, 2016. What took place at that Session was nothing short of a threat of physical assault and abuse against me by Senator Melaye. As such, it was an affront to the Senate, this government and to 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.
"Much of what took place has been widely reported in the media. However, I would like to place on record for the Party this formal complaint in hope that the Party will act to appropriately sanction Senator Melaye for his malign behaviour. In this way, the Party will affirm its policy of zero tolerance for gender discrimination and to restore its reputation as a vehicle of positive change and not an arm of regression and intolerance towards women.
"During the 12 July Executive Session, 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.
"Although, I remained silent and attempted no interjection during his Statement, Senator Melaye tried to abridge my rights 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 that other Senators were there by 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 physically attack me. The attack was only prevented by some respectful Senators who moved to impede his path or otherwise block him from approaching closer to 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 simply because I dared to express an 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 that he would face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats.
"Compounding the damage inflicted by Senator Dino Melaye is the fact that we are both of the APC. Thus, I am compelled to report this incident. It also gives me great concern that the Senate leadership has heretofore been silent on this matter as if condoning the errant behaviour of the Senator.
"Through this letter, I officially inform the Party about the improper behaviour of Senator Melaye and ask the Party to investigate this matter in order to restore the public image and moral Standing of the Party and of APC members in the Senate. In this manner, we show that we reject the misconduct that has wronged our nation and its people for so long. Only if we act against such excesses will the people truly believe we are committed to the reforms we have promised them. We must start by ensuring that our own members know how to behave, according the decorum befitting their elected positions."
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