Sunday Aborisade, Abuja
Two senators from Lagos State, Messrs Olugbenga Ashafa and Solomon Adeola on Wednesday, condemned the alleged verbal assault on their colleague, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, by Senator Dino Melaye, during an executive session within the Senate chamber on Tuesday.
Melaye was said to have annoyed the Senator who is the wife of the All Progressives Congress leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, by allegedly using unparliamentary languages on her during a heated debate at the closed session.
The senators in a statement jointly signed by them in Abuja condemned the alleged “use of any vulgar and un-senatorial language” on their female colleagues.
The statement reads, “We the two senators representing Lagos East and Lagos West having reviewed the recent happenings in the hallowed Chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly at the executive session of 12th July, 2016.
“The session dwelt on the running of the Senate and now in the public domain without any denial from the affected parties, feel compelled to state as follows:
“That we deplore in very strong terms the use of abusive, threatening, uncouth, vulgar and un-parliamentary language by any senator against any other senator, particularly our female colleagues.
“As distinguished members of the Red Chamber, we are strongly in favour of resolving any conflict that has arisen in course of our representation and national duty through dialogue and due process.
“We will not be part of any solution obtained through any form of coercion, threat, intimidation and ungentlemanly conduct of the distinguished office of a senator.
“We dissociate ourselves from the comments and behavior of Senator Dino Melaye (APC – Kogi West) at the Executive Session of 12th July 2016 as we represent people known for finer character and noble culture of social interaction.
“We equally state that we will be part of efforts to instill and enshrine decorum and gentlemanly conduct associated with the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“While condemning the use of any vulgar and un-senatorial language in all ramifications, we particularly take offense to the use of such abusive and denigrating words against the person of Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC- Lagos Central).
“As such words greatly demeaned the female gender and the hallowed chamber of the Senate.
“Finally, pursuant to the threat of physical abuse against Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC- Lagos Central) by Senator Dino Melaye (APC- Kogi West).
“We state that we are not lily-livered and cannot be intimidated or deterred from our primary assignment of representing the good people of Lagos State and carrying out our National duties of law making, even if it entails testifying in court on the side of the truth as part of the resolution of any conflict in the upper chamber.”
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