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Tag: Sen. Tinubu

  • Law to ban petrol vehicles coming, says Sen. Tinubu

    Law to ban petrol vehicles coming, says Sen. Tinubu

    Senate Committee Chairman on Environment, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has said the committee in three years will sponsor a bill banning vehicles that run on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Tinubu said it is the responsibility of the Senate to promote legislative superstructure that will help the nation achieve green economy.

    She spoke at the 10th Anniversary of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and 11th National Stakeholders’ forum themed: “Environmental Governance, a key to achieving green economy,” held at the weekend in Abuja.

    She said: “When we are discussing the environment and greening the economy for sustainable development, there has to be a legislation on ensuring all industries in Nigeria are running on green fuel, solar energy and other alternative systems.

    “We need to strengthen NESREA. We also need a law that says in the next three years, all automobiles in Nigeria must use gas and other non-fuel systems, fuel cells, solar power and the rest.

    “The time to set the framework is now, if we don’t do that now we would delay dooms day, other countries have setup their green policies economies and Nigerians cannot drive their cars to such countries. In India today, all the tricycle and all the public transport systems go on compressed gas.

    “The standard needs to be set in Nigeria. The European Union (EU) have set their own standards that in less than 10years, we would not have anything to do with petroleum products as sources of fuel except compressed natural gas or natural gas as it is in the air.

    “If we don’t get it right through the law and penalties set in that law that will punitively punish those who disobeyed it, we would not get to where we want.”

    Represented by the Committee Vice Chairman, Ogola Foster, the committee chairman, said it was imperative because of the implication of gas emissions in the nation, unlike other progressive countries that adopt renewable energies.

    The NESREA Director General, Dr. Lawrence Anwuka, in his remarks described the action against pollution and protection of the environment as a collective responsibility.

    He expressed optimism on supports from the lawmakers stressing that proper legislative framework will smoothen operations of the agency.

    However, he noted that the 34 regulations have so far been enacted and being implemented since commencement of their operations.

  • Sen. Tinubu humbled by women support

    Sen. Tinubu humbled by women support

    Lagos Central Senator Oluremi Tinubu last night said she was overwhelmed by the support from women following the attack on her by Senator Dino Melaye.

    She also said her choice as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, announced yesterday by Senate President Bukola Saraki was not new because she had been managing the committee as acting chairman for some months.

    She said assigning her the committee was neither a favour nor a product of any compromise politics in the Senate.

    She dismissed insinuations that she met the Senate president for four hours. “My meeting with him was for less than an hour,” she said, adding that Melaye was not at the meeting.

    Senator Tinubu, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent in Abuja, said she will continue to fight for women.

    She said: “I have been overwhelmed. To me, I want to really appreciate the Nigerian women for rising up to the occasion. When you say women, I am part of them. I am a woman – to start with.  And this is a terrain that is quite familiar to me. I have worked with them in many capacities even when my husband was the governor of Lagos State.

    “Throughout the course of this incident, I have been deeply comforted and encouraged by the support of women from all parts of the country and all walks of life.

    Women have strongly expressed their views on this matter because they recognise an important issue was at stake.

    “These women sought to affirm what must stand as an unbreakable principle in our social and political life: that there is no room for gender discrimination in our institutions of public governance and in our political behaviour.

    “These women react because they understood that such a blatant and unfair attack against one woman is an attack on all. Nigerian women have taken a stand that the voice of a Nigerian woman is as important as the voice of any other.”

    In her view, “for the nation to progress, the voice of women must be given equal respect and value instead of being denigrated”.  “In standing up for this principle, I applaud these women as well as those men who also came out to affirm that gender discrimination has no place in our public life.

    Sen. Tinubu said the show of solidarity and love by women was an appreciation of her little contributions to their cause.

    She said: “If I didn’t serve very well in Lagos, women won’t rise up. They have seen me help many. With as much grace that God has given me, I have really been compassionate to social causes, I do run a lot of social courses. I have been doing my bit. And they know that I have really supported women causes. Is it the widows? Is it giving scholarship to children? Is it empowering women and the less privileged? I have been doing a lot of other things and I am still doing up till now.

    “I am just doing my work; it is not for popularity. My family has always been a very compassionate one. We have done the best we can to keep alleviating the suffering of our people. To the women, I have always respect my kind, my fellow women. I cannot disrespect women; they are my constituents to say. That is who I am.

    “It is quite overwhelming for me for the way I have seen them rise up. Over the years, I have met with a lot of women group, either through a lot of social functions. What they did in the past couple of days, it is something I cannot really explain to you. It is something I had thought, do I really deserve this? I didn’t know how it happened. I was overwhelmed, I thank Nigerian women.”

    On her appointment as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Sen. Tinubu said it was not a product of favour or a consequence of any reconciliation in the Senate.

    She said she had been the Acting Chairman of the committee for some months.

    She added: “No, no. It is not a favour.  I was quite comfortable with being the chairman of the Committee on Women Affairs because that is my territory and my terrain.

    “It is not new. I have been Acting Chairman of that committee for many months back since the issue of re-run started in Rivers State.

    “Along the line, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Sen. Olaka, is PDP from Rivers State, went for rerun. You know what has been going on with the politics in Rivers State.

    “But like this evening (Thursday) when we were going, it was like something shocking. I was thinking that the election of Rivers State is only just a few days away, I would have thought we would have waited and see what happens because I was just still acting as the chairman of the Committee on Environment.

    “As it is now, the Committee on Women Affairs has been reassigned to someone else. Nobody has the opportunity to really say much to it.

    “Being the chairman of the Committee on Environment is not something that is new, I have been acting all along for many months back. I was able to do public hearing and a lot of assignments that are required of the chairman to do.”

    On her meeting with Saraki, Senator Tinubu said it was less than an hour, not four hours.

    She said Sen. Melaye (Kogi West) was never part of the audience she had with Saraki.

    She added: “It wasn’t four hours but the press will say whatever they want to say. I don’t think I can sit with somebody for four hours. That is too cumbersome. I had a private meeting with him for less than an hour. And I had the opportunity to tell him why I didn’t shake his hand after my inauguration as a Senator. I told him the reason. I said you deprived us from having swearing in ceremony. I said that was why I was angry. I said I was angry and that was it. And I have talked to him afterwards. That was the first time I will sit with him in a meeting. I have never had the opportunity.

    “No, Dino wasn’t part of the meeting. Even when the Senate President said I should see him after the plenary, I went to his office, I met Dino Melaye and another person. I said, ‘what do you want me to do? He said I should give him few minutes. So I sat in his waiting room and after 15 minutes I went in to see him for about 30 to 35 minutes.”

     

  • Saraki names Marafa, Sen. Tinubu committee chairmen

    Saraki names Marafa, Sen. Tinubu committee chairmen

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday announced a major shake-up in the Senate committee membership.

      Saraki named senators who were opposed to his election as Senate President as chairmen of key committees.

     The spokesman of the Senate Unity Forum Senators, Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) was taken from the Committee on National Identity Card/ National Population to head the  Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). The committee was vacated by Senator Uche Ekwunife whose election was nullified by the Appeal Court.

      Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) oversaw the committee in the absence of Ekwunife.

     Another opponent of Saraki, Senator Suleiman Hukunyi, was named the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity/national population.

     Senator Oluremi Tinubu was redeployed from Women Affairs Committee to chair the Senate committee on Environment.

      Others are: Senator Hope Uzodinma (Committee on Customs); Senator Adamu Aliero (Senate Committee on Aviation); Senator Barau Jibril (Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions); Senator Joshua Dariye (Committee on Public Procurement);Senator  Babajide Omoworare (Committee on Legislative Compliance); Senator Adokwe Suleiman (Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation); and Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Committee on Rules and Business).

    Also appointed chairmen are: Senator Tijani Kaura (Committee on Federal Character);Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (Committee on Power); and Senator James Manager (Committee on Solid Minerals).

     Senator Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central, PDP) was appointed vice chairman of the Committee on Marine Transport. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central, Labour Party) was named vice chairman of the Committee on Land Transport.

     The re-composition of the Senate committees was one recommendations of the Senate Peace Committee chaired by Senator Manager.

     Saraki adjourned plenary till September 13 after the announcement.

     He urged the committees to use the holiday to conclude their annual reports.

  • How Melaye threatened to assault me, by Sen. Tinubu

    How Melaye threatened to assault me, by Sen. Tinubu

    Odigie-Oyegun, Saraki get petition

    Kogi Senator declines to apologise

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu yesterday told Senate President Bukola Saraki and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman John Oyegun that Senator Dino Melaye threatened to assault her during the Senate’s July 12 Executive Session.

    Melaye, Sen. Tinubu said, boasted that he would “face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats”.

    In separate petitions yesterday, Sen. Tinubu complained about the Kogi State lawmaker’s “gross misconduct” and warned that he remains a danger to her and the Senate.

    “The totality of that misconduct amounted to an assault against my person, as a Senator, as a female and a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria.

    “I take the cautionary step of submitting this letter in order to seek proper recourse that will protect me against criminal assault on the floor of the Senate (or elsewhere), that I and other lawmakers may exercise our rights as Senators to represent our constituencies in the manner and with the decorum befitting this hallowed chamber.

    “I write that such misconduct as that exhibited by Senator Melaye shall never be repeated against me or any other Senator and so that reputation and the vital functions of the Senate as a respectful deliberative body shall not be undermined,” Tinubu said.

    She noted that a week had passed “since the indecorous eruption by Senator Melaye,” but, the Senate leadership has been silent and has not reacted to his threatening misconduct.

    Sen. Tinubu continued: “So that this serious transgression is not allowed to pass, I formally submit for the record that I object to the reckless misconduct of Senator Melaye.

    “What he did was completely unjustifiable and contrary to the established customs and norms that govern the behaviour of members of this body.“

    “For merely voicing my opinion on the floor of the Senate, which is the fundamental right and duty of every lawmaker, I was verbally abused and threatened by Senator Dino Melaye.”

    Melaye, she added, “used blatantly sexist and misogynistic language offensive to every woman in Nigeria and offensive to every person who truly believes that gender discrimination has no place in the Nigeria we are trying to build for ourselves and all future generations.”

    Sen. Tinubu added: “Unless Sen. Melaye is appropriately disciplined, he remains a danger to me and to the Senate at large. He has promised twice within one week to attack me.”

    Despite her refraining from saying anything in public about the incident, Melaye, she said, had “paraded his misconduct in public as if to threaten a female Senator is a badge of pride”.

    She urged the Senate leadership to “recognise the gravity of the situation and take appropriate action”.

    Describing the incident, Sen. Tinubu told Odigie-Oyegun that ‘What took place at that session was nothing short of a threat of physical assault and abuse against me by Senator Melaye.”

    She added: “I would like to place on record for the party this formal complaint in the hope that the party will act to appropriately sanction Senator Melaye for his malign behaviour.

    “In this way, the party will affirm its policy of zero tolerance for gender discrimination and restore its reputation as a vehicle for positive change and not an arm of regression and intolerance towards women.”

    Explaining how Melaye’s attacks occurred on July 12, Sen. Tinubu said: “I was duly recognised by the Senate President after Senator Melaye had spoken and berated some Senate colleagues over their perceived roles in the judicial case involving the Senate leadership.

    “Although I remained silent and attempted no interjection during his statement, Senator Melaye tried to abridge my rights as a Senator by hectoring at me and interrupting my contribution.”

    Tinubu said at one point, she cautioned Melaye that other Senators were there by equal right as he and represented their constituents.

    She continued: “In a burst of apparent rage, Senator Melaye charged at me in what can only be seen as an effort to physically attack me. The attack was only prevented by some respectful Senators who moved to impede his path or otherwise block him from approaching closer to me. I thank those Senators for their personal courage and sense of decorum.

    “Senator Melaye hurled foul and vulgar language at me. What he said should never be heard in any public institution let alone the floor of the Senate. Denigrating me as a woman, Senator Melaye threatened to beat me on the floor of the Senate simply because I dared to express an opinion different from his.”

    She added: “I am both a ranking Senator and a woman. But Senator Melaye took neither into consideration as he issued threats of rape and assault, while boasting that he would face no consequence even if he fulfilled these criminal threats.

    “Compounding the damage inflicted by Sen. Melaye is the fact that we are both of the APC. Thus, I am compelled to report this incident. It also gives me great concern that the Senate leadership has heretofore been silent on this matter as if condoning the errant behaviour of the Senator.”

    Tinubu urged the party to “investigate this matter in order to restore the public image and moral standing of the party and of APC members in the Senate.”

    “In this manner, we show that we reject the misconduct that has wronged our nation and people for so long. Only if we act against such excesses will the people truly believe we are committed to the reforms we have promised them. We must start by ensuring that our own members know how to behave, according to the decorum befitting their elect.

    ‘Senator’s conduct brings Senate into disrepute’ 

    Senator Dino Melaye yesterday apologised to the Senate for making uncomplimentary remarks about Senator Oluremi TInubu and for charging at her during last Tuesday’s Executive Session.

    He however refused to apologise to Senator Tinubu, saying: “For me, I have moved on with life.”

    But President Bukola Saraki promised to talk to Sen. Tinubu and Sen. Melaye, The Nation learnt.

    Melaye apologised to the Senate at its Executive Session yesterday almost a week after he charged at Sen. Tinubu, a source said.

    The session was provoked by a letter Sen. Tinubu wrote to Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris seeking police protection over Melaye’s threat.

    A source said: “At our session, Senators James Manager, Ahmed Lawan, Enyinaya Abaribe and Danjuma Goje drew the attention to Sen. Tinubu’s letter to IGP and expressed concern that the feud was degenerating.

    “They called for amicable solution to the crisis, requesting Saraki to take the initiative to resolve the feud in the overall interest of the unity of the chamber.

    “Some of the Senators also said Melaye ought to have been more circumspect in line with parliamentary norms.”

    A source quoted Melaye as saying:  “I apologise to the Senate for any misconduct noticed at the Executive Session.”

    The senator representing Kogi West said he should have “restrained himself by not speaking but it is not every individual God has given the anointing to be silent in a situation like this”.

    Saraki, who broke his silence on the feud, said he would address it as mandated by the Senate.

    The Senate President also pleaded with Senators from Lagos State to prevail on some constituents  from Lagos Central Senatorial District planning to march on the National Assembly in solidarity with Sen. Tinubu.”

    Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce,  told reporters that the Senator Tinubu and Senator Melaye  feud was discussed at the closed session.

  • Attack by Melaye: Sen. Tinubu writes IG

    Attack by Melaye: Sen. Tinubu writes IG

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu is seeking police protection, following last week’s attack on her by Senator Dino Melaye.

    She yesterday wrote to police chief Ibrahim Idris, saying:  ”During the proceedings of the Senate on Tuesday July 14, 2016, I had a cause to contribute to a matter of national importance.

    “Apparently dissatisfied by my contributions, Senator Dino Melaye threw caution to the winds, resorted to vulgar abuse of my person and wanted to assault me.

    ”It was the intervention of a number of colleagues which prevented Senator Melaye from unleashing physical attack on me.

    “However, as the leadership of the Senate did not call him to order in the circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my life without provocation whatsoever.

    “In view of Senator Melaye’s antecedent, particularly in the House of Representatives, where a brawl led by him led to untimely death of a member, I have decided to not ignore his threat to my life. Therefore, I am compelled to urge you to use your good offices to provide me with adequate security.”

    Yesterday in Lagos, the House of Assembly resolved to ask the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to discipline the Kogi West senator.

    The House debated a protest to the Assembly by the Concerned Group, made up of Lagosians from the three senatorial districts, over the attack on Senator Tinubu by Melaye.

    The House also resolved to write and attach its letter to the petition submitted to the House by the protesters for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate, calling on it to investigate the matter and the APC, for disciplinary action.

    Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, who received the protesters, raised the issue at plenary under matter of urgent public importance.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the protest showed that Lagosians are very sophisticated, advanced and so much concerned about the mandate given to their representatives.

    “The protesters are sending a message in strong terms through that protest that we have not abandoned our representative, that we are behind her and that Melaye must not molest or assault her and to warn him to desist from such action,” Obasa said.

    All the members who contributed to the debate condemned Melaye’s behaviour, calling it a shame on the highest legislative institution in the country and that Melaye should tender a public apology on the floor of the Senate to Senator Tinubu to the Senate, the APC and Nigerians.

    Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade said the assault is a deliberate affront on her husband and National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all those who believe in his leadership.

    “It is a desecration of the sanctity of the highest legislative institution in the country where people with the highest impeccable character should operate and which should not permit disgusting behaviour,” Agunbiade said.

    The protesters presented a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari on the attack and derogatory statements of Melaye to Tinubu to the Deputy Speaker.

    The letter is signed by Mrs. Eunice Ogunleye.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like: “Melaye, senate is not your father’s house”; “Dino, leave Tinubu alone”; “Senate should investigate Dino Melaye”; and “Remi Tinubu is our choice”, etc.

    The group described Melaye’s action at the executive session as “condemnable, disgraceful, disgusting, irritating, shameful, and most embarrassing to the collective psyche of not only the women folk but to the entire nation as evidenced from the avalanche of reactions this disgraceful act has generated”.

    Mrs. Ogunleye said by Melaye’s action at the executive session, “he has exhibited convincingly that he lacks the poise, panache, finesses and minimum character to occupy a seat among sane, revered and distinguished men and women in the hallow chamber of the sacrosanct Nigeria Senate”.

    She said Melaye’s “uncouth and unguarded vituperations against Tinubu have not only brought unquantifiable shame to himself, Kogi West, but also to the Senate and the entire country”.

    Condemning Melaye’s ‘assault’ on Senator Tinubu, the group called on him to tender unreserved public apology to the hallowed chamber of the senate and more importantly to Senator Tinubu and the entire country which he has brought great shame.

    Failure to do that within an acceptable frame of time, the group called on relevant authorities to expedite measures within the legal system against Melaye “not only to serve as deterrent to others but also send strong signal to young people, so as not to see Melaye’s character as an ideal conduct in a sane and civilised society”.

     

  • Sen. Tinubu hails Olayinka’s works

    Sen. Tinubu hails Olayinka’s works

    •Akinjide, lawyer mourn Ekiti Deputy Governor

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central District) yesterday visited Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to condole with him on the death of his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

    The senator described Mrs. Olayinka’s death as “a deeply felt loss”, adding that the deceased would be remembered for her contributions to the state.

    She said: “I express my heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state. No doubt, Mrs. Olayinka’s death is a deep loss to the state. What can anyone say but to thank the Almighty God for a life well lived by a beautiful and alluring woman. Can anyone argue with death?

    “We take solace in the fact that she lived well in her short life. Her achievements are immeasurable. We should always make use of the best opportunity God grants us.

    “I urge her family, supporters and admirers to take heart and rejoice in the fact that she died an accomplished woman. What I consider most important now is to care for and support the family she left behind and ensure that her legacies do not go to waste.”

    The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide, also condoled with Fayemi and Ekiti people.

    In a statement, she described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “an accomplished banker and a quintessential politician, who demonstrated a perfect blend of grace, dignity and intelligence”.

    Praying for the repose of Mrs. Olayinka’s soul, she said: “My heart goes out to the family of the late deputy governor, who was an accomplished banker and quintessential politician.

    “I pray God grants her eternal rest and give her family the fortitude to bear this great and irreparable loss.”

    Rights activist Morakinyo Ogele urged political office holders to emulate the late Mrs. Olayinka.

    He said she left the political circle “with clean hands.”

    Ogele said her death was a huge loss to Ekiti, as it is rare to find politicians who honestly dedicate their lives to the service of the people.

    He said: “She was an excellent politician and a paragon of efficiency. She did not allow her position to change her. She was honest and humble.”