Following the verbal attack Dino Melaye launched
on his colleague, Senator Remi Tinubu during the senate’s plenary
yesterday July 13th, a women based group, the Women Advocacy Research
and Development Centre (WARDC) has given him three days to apologise to
Mrs Tinubu or they will picket the National Assembly. The group made the
threat in a statement released today and signed by its Coordinator, Dr.
Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi. Read the statement below:
“Failure of Senator Dino Melaye to take this appropriate step will lead
to OCCUPY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY by well meaning Nigerians”the statement readThe women group condemned the seeming silence of the senate to Dino’s
verbal attack on a woman.
“Verbal abuse, assault and battery of women is becoming a pattern in our
democratic dispensation and it is a reflection of the numerous abuses
that women face on a daily basis in the society
According to National Demographic and Health Survey Report (2013), 28
percent of women age 15-49 have experienced physical violence at least
once and 7 percent have experienced sexual violence in Nigeria and it is
believed these figures are not representative of the magnitude of the
problem. Between 2003 till date, notable women lawmakers have
experienced physical and verbal abuse from men who are supposed to
protect their rights. Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, was slapped by another
Lawmaker at the National Assembly while another female lawmaker from Edo
state was battered by an aide to an Immigration Oficer at the Assembly
Complex earlier this year. Honourable Funmi Tejuoso was also physically
assaulted at the Lagos State House of Assembly sometimes ago then this
gender insecurity against Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Unfortunately, despite
the public outcry against the security threat to Senator Oluremi
Tinubu, the senate and the APC have not yet responded to the matter. The
silence on the matter by the Senate and other members of the National
Assembly vividly explains a tacit support from the hallowed Chamber on
violence against women”the statement read.