TheCable

Women under the aegis of Concern Group staged a peaceful protest to the office of Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, on Monday.

The women, who are from the three senatorial districts in Lagos, said they decided to march to the governor’s office to protest the alleged verbal attack launched on Oluremi Tinubu, lawmaker representing Lagos central senatorial district, by Dino Melaye, her colleague from Kogi west.

They wielded placards with inscription such as: ‘Melaye, Senate is not Your Father’s House’, ‘Dino, Leave Tinubu alone’, ‘We Say No to Violence Against Women’, ‘Women folk Stand Up Against Dino’.

Delivering a protest letter to the governor “for onward transmission” to President Muhammadu Buhari, Anike Adekanye, leader of the group, said with the development, Melaye had exhibited that he lacked the “poise, panache, fitness and minimum character to occupy a seat among sane, revered and distinguished men and women in the hallowed chamber of the sacrosanct Nigeria senate”.

“Dino Melaye’s uncouth and unguarded vituperation so towards Senator Oluremi Tinubu have not only brought unquantifiable shame to himself and Kogi West, but also to the Senate and the entire country,” she said.

“On this note, we the Concern Group condemn in very strong term, Dino Melaye’s assault on Senator Oluremi Tinubu and therefore call on him to tender unreserved public apology to the hallowed chamber of the Senate and more importantly to the person of Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the entire Nigerians which he has brought into great disrepute.”

The group urged Buhari to direct relevant security agencies to institute criminal action against Melaye if he fails to apologise over his “disgraceful action”.

Receiving the protesters on behalf of Ambode, Lola Akande, commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation, assured the women that the letter would be delivered to the president and that necessary action would be taken on the request.

“I want to commend all of you for coming out to condemn the assault on a ranking Senator by Melaye. This is a cause worth coming out for and we condemn his action in all it’s totally,” she said.

“We say no to women abuse and we are of the strong view that Melaye should be recalled by the people of Kogi West if he fails to apologise for his shameful conduct.

“If we don’t resist it now, they will continue to treat all of us in that manner and that is why we must stand against such behavior now.”