At last,
embattled Senator Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress, representing
Kogi west, has confirmed that he threatened and abused Senator Oluremi Tinubu,
the senator representing Lagos central, during the senate’s closed-door session
on Tuesday.
PREMIUM
TIMES reports that Melaye, however, denied using some of the words reported by
the media.
Senators
at the session told the online medium on Wednesday that Melaye verbally
assaulted Tinubu, and used offensive words against her.
A source
quoted Melaye as saying, “Look this is not Bourdillon (referring to the famous
Lagos residence of Mrs. Tinubu’s politician husband). I will beat you up, …..
impregnate you and nothing will happen.”
But
addressing a press conference Thursday, Senator Melaye said he never spoke
about impregnating Senator Tinubu, whom he said had reached menopause.
He said
he did not use “insolent, abusive, degrading and manner-less language against
any Senator”.
“How
could I have said I would beat and impregnate her at the same time?” Melaye
asked.
Melaye,
however, admitted using harsh words, but did not say what they were.
He said
he reacted furiously because he was provoked.
“I did
it because I am not a coward,” said Melaye, a former member of the House of
Representatives, who frequently demonstrated unruly conduct during sittings.
Giving
details of Tuesday’s altercation, sources said trouble started when Melaye
urged the Senate to descend heavily on members who had offered to serve as
prosecution witnesses in the ongoing forgery case against Senate President
Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The Kogi
senator is said to have accused the senators of being used by the presidency to
destabilise the Senate and warned them to be ready to face the consequences of
their action.
“You
should go and tell those who sent you that nobody, I said nobody, no matter who
he is, can ever control this Senate,” Melaye was quoted as saying as he pointed
at the affected senators, his face contorted in rage.
Sources
said Tinubu, wife of former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu, later addressed the
senate, saying: “I’m just wondering why whenever Senator Dino speaks in this
chamber, he is always threatening people and behaving childishly and at times
like a thug.
“I think
he needs to know that every senator here represents their constituencies. And
that there is no need to threaten anyone.
“We are
seeking and working towards reconciliation, yet you are busy issuing threats.”
Apparently
infuriated by the remarks, Melaye jumped from his seat and charged towards his
Lagos counterpart.
“Look
this is not Bourdillon (referring to the famous Lagos residence of Mrs.
Tinubu’s politician husband). I will beat you up, ….. impregnate you and
nothing will happen,” Melaye threatened.
Witnesses
said as Melaye charged towards the Lagos senator, other senators, especially
those from the South-West geopolitical zone, waded in and shielded Tinubu from
attack, and then calmed her down.
A few
other senators also prevailed on Melaye to take it easy and let peace reign,
sources said.
Labels: Senator Dino Malaye admits to threatning and abusing Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Dino Malaye and Senator Oluremi Tinubu fracas
