Senator Dino Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye has been issued a new threat by the Women
Advocacy Research and Development Centre (WARDC) on Thursday to
immediately apologise to Senator Oluremi Tinubu over his verbal assault against the senator from Lagos central or face the consequences.
In a statement by its Coordinator, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the said the raging case of verbal abuse from Melaye “is
another case to buttress the lackluster attitude to the issue of
women’s human rights protection and gender equality in Nigeria”.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) threatened to occupy the
National Assembly if Melaye failed to do so within three days.
Akiyode-Afolabi said: “Failure of Senator Dino Melaye to take this appropriate step will lead to OCCUPY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY by well meaning Nigerians”.
The statement read further, “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."
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