By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – Senator Remi Tinubu is in the news again.
The Lawmaker representing Lagos Central and wife of All Progressives Congress chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, seems to only be in the news for uncomplimentary behaviour.
An ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, she has never been known to shy away from voicing whatever comes to her mind, not minding how it would reflect on her or her husband’s personalities.
On several occasions, Remi Tinubu was caught in verbal altercation with her colleagues in the hallowed Senate chamber, much to the consternation of Nigerians.
Her choice words for provocation seem to be “thug” and “dogs” and no one is spared – her tongue lashes opposition, political enemies, fellow party members or anyone who happens to cross her path at the time.
She again made headlines after engaging in a heated exchange with some Nigerians who attended the Southwest Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
According to the procedure of entry, residents were to queue up to register before they will be allowed entry into the hall. While they waited, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, came in and was ushered in through the backdoor, after which the front door was shut.
The ushers then informed those on the queue that registration had closed for the day and this did not sit well with those who were unable to register, and they refused to leave the queue.
It was at this moment that some Lawmakers from Oyo State passed the queue and were about to be ushered in, leading to commotion at the front entrance.
As the shouts continued near the front door, with those on the queue insisting that they had been unfairly treated, the Oyo Lawmakers were about to be hurriedly ushered through the backdoor, but some people followed them, preventing all of them from being allowed into the hall.
After consultation with the personnel at the door, Madam Tinubu showed up at the backdoor to allow the Lawmakers in but as she was about to do this, a woman, later identified as a politician and educationist, Arinola Oloko, complained about being denied entry, the partial treatment and the choice of a hall which only has capacity for 250 people.
According to Ms Oloko, in an interview with Arise Television’s Morning Show, on Friday, May 28, 2021, she had only complained about the limited space at the venue of the hearing which she said could only contain 250 people before Ms Tinubu told her to “shut up” and called her a thug.
In reaction, the Senator beckoned on her and two others and called her a “thug” for speaking too loud. Her statement infuriated those on the queue, who insisted that such derogatory word shouldn’t have come from someone of her status.
They asked her to apologise but instead, she stood by her words, saying: “I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it.”
Her latest encounter is coming barely a month since she was involved in a verbal altercation with her colleague in the Red Chamber.
Remi Tinubu versus Smart Adeyemi
On the 28 of April 2021, during a plenary session in the Senate on the state of insecurity in the country which lasted for over an hour, Senator Smart Adeyemi, the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, joined other Senators to complain about the insecurity as well as proffer possible solutions.
Adeyemi, who spoke emotionally for over five minutes, described the current state of insecurity in Nigeria as the worst so far. He said despite being a member of the ruling APC, the insecurity had gotten to a point where he and his supporters could no longer keep quiet as the situation was worse than a civil war.
But while Adeyemi was venting his frustration at the situation in the country, Mrs Tinubu, who sat beside the Senator, interjected with a rebuke: “Are you in PDP? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing?”
He, however, ignored her and continued with his presentation.
Remi Tinubu versus Elisha Abbo
On July 4, 2019, at a Senate hearing on Senator Elisha Abbo’s assault of a woman in a sex toy shop, there was a heated argument between Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Adamawa Senator.
While trying to emphasise the extent of the damage his action had brought on the institution of the Senate and on her as a woman, Tinubu, who is the chair of the Committee, had dressed him down with her words
He then reminded her that he had not waived his rights and privileges as a sitting Senator. He had then been arraigned for assault in a regular court, where he pled not guilty.
Remi Tinubu versus Dino Melaye
On the 12th of July, 2016, at a closed-door meeting held by Senators to debate on the alleged forgery of Senate standing order, Sen. Tinubu and ex-Senator, Dino Melaye, had an episode of verbal exchange turned ugly.
Trouble started when Melaye urged the Senate to descend heavily on members who had offered to serve as prosecution witnesses in a forgery case against the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
When Mrs. Tinubu was recognised to speak, she rose, and said: “I’m just wondering why whenever Senator Dino speaks in this chamber, he is always threatening people and behaving childishly and at times like a thug.
“I think he needs to know that every Senator here represents their constituencies. And that there is no need to threaten anyone. We are seeking and working towards reconciliation, yet you are busy issuing threats.”
At that this point, Sen. Melaye jumped up from his seat and charged towards her, saying, “Look this is not Bourdillon (referring to the famous Lagos residence of Mrs Tinubu’s politician husband). I will beat you up, I will impregnate you and nothing will happen.”
Witnesses said as Melaye charged towards the Lagos Senator, other senators, especially those from the Southwest geopolitical zone, waded in and shielded Mrs. Tinubu from attack, and then calmed her down.
“You should go and tell those who sent you that nobody, I said nobody, no matter who he is, can ever control this Senate, ” Melaye was quoted as saying.
Tinubu later petitioned the leaderships of the APC and the Senate over the clash, saying she was scared her life was in danger.
She asked the then acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for “adequate security” for fear Melaye might kill her.