Senator
Oluremi Tinubu, says as a Christian she has forgiven her Kogi-West counterpart,
Dino Melaye, for abusing and threatening her.
Tinubu,
however, said would not be intimidated by anybody and that she would continue
to fight for her right.
She said
this on Wednesday when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly from
Lagos Central and members of the All Progressives Congress caucus as well as
some party leaders paid her a solidarity visit at the National Assembly
Complex, Abuja.
The
Lagos-Central caucus was led by Sen. Muniru Muse, while the National Assembly
caucus was led by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa.
Tinubu
had accused Melaye of assaulting her verbally during an executive session of
the Senate last week Tuesday.
Melaye
had, however, denied the allegation, claiming instead that Tinubu insulted
him.
Tinubu
said when she started to think about all that transpired in the Senate for some
days on Wednesday, she shed tears for the first time since her encounter with
Melaye.
She
said, “When the Senate President invited me yesterday and I gave my word. You can
see the channel I have taken in the aftermath of the event. I reported to the
IGP; I wrote to him also, after I waited for one week. When it happened, it was
him I went to. I waited for one week and nothing was done. I also wrote to the
party (APC) chairman.
“I
met with the Senate leadership yesterday (Tuesday) after one week; I met with
him (Senate President Bukola Saraki) yesterday. And as a Christian, I said I
had already forgiven him (Melaye) for even with the way I was treated. But the
point is that what people don’t realise is that I am a very reserved person.
“After
I gave my word to him (Saraki) yesterday, I told myself that at 55 I am not a
wimp of anybody.
“I
witnessed the Sani Abacha regime and I know what I saw and why I am committed
to this cause. But now, my hands are tied to say I forgive people. I am a
Christian; when I give my word, I must abide by it. But I am not scared to
follow this through.
“I
am not championing a cause for women. I am only standing in my space and if my
space is encroached upon, I have to fight back. Rosa Parks wasn’t an activist;
she just decided to sit in her space and not give up her space anybody in a
bus. And that sent a message.
“I
want to use this opportunity to thank all the Nigerian women who rose up; the
women rights groups who are calling, conducting press conferences and doing a
lot of things.”
The
senator also denied sponsoring women groups to protest on her behalf against
Melaye. She stated that she had given her best to her constituency in five
years and that inspired the protests that have trailed the verbal assault on
her.
“I
didn’t give anybody (any money); I don’t even have N80m in my personal salary
account in the Senate. And I don’t think if I have any other savings I want to
use it to mobilise women to protest. What about the investments we have put
into politics? How much has that done for this country?” Tinubu said.
Tags
Politics