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Tag: Senator Tinubu

Lawani berates Melaye for attack on Senator Tinubu

The Executive Director of Women for Development and Leadership Mrs. Ayoka Lawani has condemned the attack of Senator Dino Melaye on Senator Remi Tinubu.

Such incident, she said, is capable of intimidating women and discouraging them from political participation.

Describing Melaye’s action as utterly despicable, Lawani, in a statement yesterday, said: “Such behavior discourages women from participating in politics and accounts for the dearth of women in our public life.”

She stated that Senator Tinubu, having known her for several years, is capable of holding her own in the face of harassment from intimidating men.

July 17, 2016
Government is battling unemployment, says Senator Tinubu

Senator Oluremi Tinubu yesterday said the federal government was working hard to eradicate youth unemployment in the country.

She urged well meaning Nigerians to support the project.

Speaking during the flag off of the Lagos Central Senatorial District Skills Acquisition Training in collaboration with National Directorate of Employment (NDE) at Women Vocational Centre, Yaba, Lagos, Tinubu said government has outlined programmes that would solve unemployment.

She said the major challenge facing the country was unemployment, noting that the country has more citizens belonging to this category.

“There is no doubt that the major challenge facing the country today is the alarming rate of youth unemployment. Nigeria has more citizens belonging to the age bracket.

“This is what formed our determination to provide job opportunities, skills training and guidance to our teeming youth.

“This is in line with government change mantra and the need to secure the future of our youths.”

The senator, who said over 50 youths covering five different trades would benefit from the gesture, noted that they would be assisted to be self-reliant in their various skills after training.

She added the youths deserve the means of subsistence, stressing that well- meaning Nigerians in private and public life should rise up to the occasion.

“In 2004, I made a statement to the effect that we owe society our best efforts at ensuring a brighter, better and safer future for the youth population.

“Since then I have worked assiduously both with private and public sectors in furtherance of this objective.

“I am pleased to say that this initiative is now a reality. This exercise will mark the commencement of a three month intensive training in barbing/hairdressing, catering and small chops, smoked fish business, photography, video recording and handset/mobile phone repairs.”

Also speaking, the Acting Director General of NDE, Mr. Kunle Abayan said the changing nature of unemployment had constrained the directorate to adjust its strategy to tackling mass unemployment.

He charged beneficiaries to apply themselves to the training for others to equally tap from their skills.

April 3, 2016
Senator Tinubu to empower constituents on Thursday

Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged her colleagues to accord priority to the people’s needs when deciding on constituency projects.

She enjoined the National and Houses of Assembly members to support government at the federal and state levels to fasttrack socio-economic development.

Senator Tinubu, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, gave this charge in a statement ahead of the 17th edition of her Town Hall meeting scheduled for Thursday at Eko Club in Surulere.

She said the meeting was geared towards promoting transparency, accountability, adding that it serves as feedback mechanism for her constituents who gave her mandate to represent them in the Senate.

Senator Tinubu explained that the Town Hall meeting tagged: From Dreams to Reality – A call to duty would provide avenue to deliberate on her constituents’ challenges and how to resolve them.

At the forum, she will empower some people under her Petty Trader Empowerment Scheme.

March 8, 2016
Senator Tinubu donates boat to community

To facilitate movement in the riverine areas, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has donated a boat to Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.

Boat mishap has been on the rise in riverine communities with attendant loss of lives. Senator Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, handed over the boat to the Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area Executive Secretary Prince Abayomi Daramola at Tarzan Jetty on Victoria Island, Lagos, last Saturday.

Accompanied by some leaders of the district, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Omoba Murphy Adetoro and Alhaji Mutiu Are, Senator Tinubu appealed to ministries handling constituency projects to ensure their completion.

She said: “We owe our people back home the duty to make their communities habitable and improve their standard of living. When we have constituency projects, we appeal to them to finish it irrespective of party affiliation.

“Most of the constituency projects are either not completed or abandoned and we don’t know the contractors. I believe that as Nigerians, if you get a contract, you should be able to do it. Though, I learnt the contractors complained that they didn’t give them enough mobilisation fees. If you give out contracts, give enough mobilisation fees so that they can be completed on time.”

Senator Tinubu said she handed over the boat to the council for monitoring and upkeep, adding: “It is a new boat and I believe it will go a long way to serve the communities and ameliorate their sufferings.”

Daramola thanked her for the gesture, saying: “The donation will no doubt assist us in reaching out to the people in the riverine areas especially in the delivery of adequate and prompt primary health care and educational services.”

He urged other elected officers to emulate Senator Tinubu so that “we may together lift our people, communities and nation at large.

“We have a lot of staff working in the riverine area; some of them work in our primary health centres and schools. Moving there twice daily has been cumbersome, but with this, it would ease their movement. Likewise, the community would use the boat in case of emergency and in other cases.”

February 29, 2016
Senator Tinubu faults N4b vote for Women Affairs in budget

Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday faulted the N4 billion allocation to the Ministry of Women Affairs in the 2016 budget.

Senator Tinubu, who made the observation while contributing to the debate on the 2016 Appropriation Bill, asked relevant committees to ensure the vote of the ministry was reconsidered.

The Lagos Central lawmaker spoke of the need to recognise the activities lined up for the Women Affairs Ministry.

She insisted there was no way the ministry could perform and conduct its functions without adequate funds.

He reminded her colleagues that when a girl is educated, the nation would benefit.

Senator Tinubu said: “The APC, in its manifesto, mentioned that there is need for an all-encompassing empowerment programmes for women.

“Such comprehensive empowerment requires fund which should be included in the budget for implementation.

“Going through the budget for the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, I discovered that the allocation to the ministry is meagre and I think it would be the least allocation to a ministry.

“When we look at the functions of this ministry, we see that the ministry is divided into two divisions; human resources and capacity-building, economic services and women cooperatives.

“When we look at the first division, which is human resources and capacity-building, they are supposed to promote education, development of women in the civil, political, socio-cultural and economic sectors.

“Also to promote motherhood, women’s health especially maternal mortality and not only that they are to give subventions and grants to NGOs, Nigerian women trust fund, management of shelters for female victims of violence, 100 women lucky groups, welfare support for indigent women.

“When we also look at the headquarters of the ministry, which is supposed to be a national library for children, which during the Jonathan administration was consented to the ministry to become the Women Affairs Ministry, which is a laudable move and that was done in 2013.

“We discovered that you can’t really do much for the Nigerian women with the allocation. And with all I have mentioned, it requires capital for the women ministry to attend to women issues.

“We look at the Nigerian woman in particular and we are talking about fighting terrorism and the IDPs that are scattered over the Northeast and Nigeria; who is there to take care of children displaced or the family?

“The ministry is left with the burden for the woman.

“Looking at this budget of less than N4 billion and they have capital of almost N3 billion, the ministry can’t really do anything.

“So when you look at it, what is left to do any work? I am making this case on behalf of the Nigerian women that the allocation does not go down well with the Nigerian women.

“It is as if we have been used during the campaign and we said this is a government of change that the change mantra is supposed to change things across board.

“But what they have allotted to the Nigerian woman is not really encouraging.

“When we talk about change that doesn’t mean we are going to support what will not work but we are just starting and this is the best way to start and this is not going down well with us.

“On behalf of the Nigerian woman, am making their case today that this budget is not telling anything and not making any promises.

“So when we get to the committee level we should try to amend this budget so that it will meet the needs that the Nigerian women are expecting.

‘’There are some agencies which are supposed to be under the Ministry of Women Affairs.

“We are talking about refugees and trafficking persons.

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, and chairman, Committee on Appropriation, these are things we want them to look into.’’

January 27, 2016
Obasanjo, Senator Tinubu for hoteliers’ retreat

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Remi Tinubu and governors of Southwest are among dignitaries expected at the Hoteliers Association of Nigeria (HAN) Southwest zonal retreat holding in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, between October 13 and 15.

A statement by the association’s Public Relation Officer Mr. Jamiu Talabi said the maiden business retreat which will hold at Indices Suites and Garden, Onikolobo, in Abeokuta, Ogun state is parts of measures towards fulfilling some of the mandates of the association.

He listed the mandates to include promoting the hotel industry towards sustainable development and efficient resources management, understanding of the principles and practices and effective service delivery through deployment of modern management skills and capacities.

According to him, the retreat with the theme ‘Promoting industry growth, efficient resource management, service delivery and stakeholders relationship through a virile, functional and responsive regional hoteliers platform is to create a synergy for the growth and development of the industry through a viable partnership business network amongst the various players operating within the hospitality value chains.

He said, ‘‘it will also create awareness about the existence of the association and promote its immediate and future acceptance by the various stakeholder publics. It will also emphasise on the commitment of the association to the improvement of individual and corporate well–being of its members.’’

Managing Director, MV Consulting Limited, Mr. Akin Bashiru (the firm in charge of the Retreat) said that the 3-day retreat will feature paper presentations by former President of HOPSEA and Company Secretary EKO Hotel and Suites, Lagos Chief Samuel Alabi and Comrade Denja Yaqub, Assistant Secretary Nigerian Labour Congress while Mr. Tomi Akingbogun, President, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria and Mr Bimbo Olaleye of International Breweries are also expected to deliver goodwill messages.

According to him, the event will also feature dinner and award night, where dignitaries including wife of the governor of Ogun State Mrs. Olufunso Amosun,,and founder of Uplift Development Foundation,Chief Alaba Lawson, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Erelu Olusola Obada, and Mrs.Folashade Afolabi, Executive Chairman, SIFAX Off-Dock will be given awards for their roles in the growth of the industry.

October 7, 2015
Senator Tinubu: I didn’t get my husband’s support for re-election

Senator Oluremi Tinubu yesterday said she did not get the support of her husband, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to run for second term.

Tinubu, Lagos Central Senatorial District, spoke while answering questions at the ongoing “Women in Government” conference organised by the South-West Region of the Department For International Development (DFID).

The conference was organised in collaboration with the Lagos State Office of the Deputy Governor.

She said it was her district leaders who got the form for her and talked her husband into allowing her to run for the position.

She said: “ Asiwaju likes his wife to be at home and what is more confusing to me is that most Muslim men do not want their wives to work, but I am a hard worker.

“People have been saying that I got to this position because I am Asiwaju’s wife.

“What they did not realise is that in the past election, my husband asked me not to go for a second term.

“It was the leaders in my district that got me the form and talked to him that they wanted me to go back.

“You can go to my district, the elites might not know me but the grassroots are the ones supporting and voting massively for me.

“I think that is enough for me and that is how you can get elected, you have to really identify with your people; if really know your people, they will stand up for you,’’ she said.

Tinubu said she fought and worked hard as it was difficult getting the vote of the masses.

“When I got the bill to run for primaries, I told my husband that I needed money and he said no money.

“I fought with the people in my constituency because they said I have to give them more money and I said no, what about the ones I have been giving to you before?

“If you are not going to vote, so be it. They said that they were just voting for me because of Asiwaju and I responded that Asiwaju is not even supporting me, then, you can go and vote for him. But I’m grateful they voted for me.

“I have realised that when you are elected, you have to go back and work with your constituency because that is where your support and vote rests,’’ she said.

September 30, 2015
We’ve lost a woman of substance, says Senator Tinubu

•Dare, Anenih condole family

The senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, ace columnist and member of the editorial board of The Nation, Prof Olatunji Dare, yesterday joined other Nigerians in Ikenne, Ogun State, to condole with the children of the late Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

Senator Tinubu described Mrs. Awolowo as an enigma, a political icon and a woman of substance who came, saw and conquered.

The lawmaker said Mama Awolowo was a woman of many parts, adding that she gained a lot of positive things from her.

Mrs Tinubu said:”We have lost a woman of substance. An enigma, a woman of all seasons who touched virtually all spheres of life. She came, saw and conquered. A mother, wife, political icon.

“A woman of many parts. A role model personified. A mother I loved and admired. A loss not only to her biological children, but to the Yoruba and Nigeria at large.

“Mama was like a mother to me and we know that from her political history with my late mother in-law they were very close, so by extension, I knew Mama HID. I would come here once in a while and we would talk.

“Mama was a great woman unlike my mother-in-law, she was feistier. Mama was a goal getter. I gained a lot from the two great women.

“For us women, this is the end of the era of women emancipation. They lived and died for a cause. How many women today have a cause to even live for?

“How many role models do we have out there? I keep looking around, don’t look at me because I don’t even know if I’m one yet but these were the role models we had.

“These are the people who kept us going. It is a great loss for womanhood and this is a time for us to revamp our political history and what we stand for as women.

“It’s quite sad for me as a person because she is someone I loved so much. She was young at heart, open, cheerful, a fashionista. At any time, Mama’s gele was always in place. She challenged us and at all times, she will live in our hearts.

“Mama was a subject that I think someone should write about. Sincerely, not the way we write about people nowadays because we write as big as the pay cheque is.

“If we want to really write about Mama HID, women can learn so much from her. Indeed, she was an achiever. I’ve not seen anyone in our society who has followed that line.

“They didn’t care whether people recognise them or not. They went out there and made sure they lived and got known along the way and not the way we do things today, making noise over little to be popular without any known cause.

“You can’t come to Mama’s house and find the place empty. There are always people around, eating, drinking and Mama fed them.

“I’m not in a position to write her book but I’m privileged to have known her and I can count myself as Mama’s child. No contest about HEAVEN, check your ways.”

Also, Prof Dare, in his trenchant condolence, stated that Mama was an “exceptional matriarch” and a “monument”, wishing her eternal peaceful rest.

“Adieu, exceptional matriarch, model and monument. Rest in peace,” Dare wrote.

Mrs. Josephine Anenih, in her tribute, described Mrs. Awolowo as one of the founding mothers of Nigeria.

She said she wanted to be like Mama who she reckoned to be a strong woman.

Mrs. Anenih said she had known Mama since early 70s when she was a student at the University of Ife – now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

She noted that throughout the struggles for the making of Nigeria, the late Yeye Oodua stood solidly behind her husband.

“In our history books where we record Awolowo as the founding father of Nigeria, I have never heard of the founding mother, Mama H.I.D Awolowo is the founding mother, because throughout the Papa’s struggle for the founding of Nigeria, Mama was solidly and consistently behind him that was why he called her his jewel of inestimable value. She was not only the mother of Yoruba but the mother of Nigeria.”

September 23, 2015
Nigeria facing trying times, says Senator Tinubu

The difficult times Nigeria is going through will not last if everyone contributes towards making a difference, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said yesterday.

She spoke in a keynote address at the Women of Vision International Conference organised by the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) International, with the theme: “Go! Make a difference.”

“The theme is very apt at this point in time in our nation Nigeria. There is no better time for such charge than now… These are indeed trying times, with the present economic atmosphere which is not only in our nation but quite global,” she said

Mrs. Tinubu, represented by an aide, Mr Agboghoroma Emiko, urged the women to imitate the Biblical Zarephat who used her last meal to feed a man of God.

“This is for us to know that no matter what state we are in, we need to get up and make something out of life – it is a command to use whatever you have and allow God to turn it around to make you a blessing.

“This is the time to launch out in faith and go out there with whatever we have because there is no one God created empty…My advice is for us to take what we have, launch into the deep in faith and go make a difference,” she said.

CPM’s National/International Coordinator Rev. Mercy Ezekiel urged the women to put Christ first in their lives. “Without Jesus you cannot make it in life,” she said. According to her, women of faith should see themselves as “unstoppable moving trains”.

General Overseer of the Solid Rock Chapel, Rev Christy Tetteh, in a sermon, said no one should feel too “sophisticated” to make a difference no matter how little, urging the conferees to return home as changed people.

“It does not matter your status in life. Go back a changed woman. Let your husband see the changes. Begin to change things in the house – that towel your husband has been using for years, change it.”

CPM’s General Overseer Rev Obiora Ezekiel prayed for the women’s safety, saying: “No demon will stand in your way. You’re marked with mercy and goodness.”

The week-long event featured a march pass by delegates, seminars in entrepreneurship and skill acquisition, drama, quizzes, among others. Awards and prizes were also given the to the best performers.

September 14, 2015
Shun bribery, corruption, Senator Tinubu tells constituents

The lawmaker representing Lagos Central, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday admonished her constituents to shun bribery and corruption to move the nation forward.

She gave the admonition at her 15th Town Hall Meeting held at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The theme of the programme is: ‘New chapter, hope renewed’.

Senator Tinubu urged the people to be the change they wanted to see by shunning corruption and corrupt practices.

She said: “This is the time for us to rededicate ourselves to getting Nigeria to the promised land. It is time to differentiate the goat from the sheep and the wheat from the chaff.

“All hands have to be on deck to achieve that ‘new Nigeria’ we voted for.

“Let us all think of what we can contribute individually or collectively, rather than what we can get from our country.

“It is time to turn a new leaf; time to change from the old ways of doing things. Let us all shun bribery, corruption and respect the rule of law.

“Let us not be an accomplice in crime, as the Sultan of Sokoto admonished women recently to refrain from collecting ‘proceeds of corruption from their husbands.’ I believe we can all make the necessary sacrifices.”

On the activities of the Eighth Senate, Senator Tinubu said 17 motions had been debated and resolutions made; 15 Bills scaled first reading.

She, however, declined to comment further on the Eighth Senate, saying its constitution was subject of a litigation.

“We know how this present Senate was constituted. It is not really pleasing yet. We are the majority and I don’t see what an opposition is doing in the majority.

“There are proven laws, but we are waiting for the court to decide. At least, we are a country praying for respect for the rule of law.

“So, I am not going to go into whatever work the Senate is doing now. The court is not what I want to discuss.”

She denied insinuations that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was slow, noting that in the last 100 days, the government had been engaged in house cleaning.

Senator Tinubu said: “When you move into a new house and it is filthy, do you start furnishing immediately? You have to sweep it.

“That is what is going on in Nigeria. Every sector has to be overhauled and has to be visited. Be it power, health, education; every sector.

“The most urgent now is security. If security is not fine, investors won’t be attracted. This is why the President is taking the issues of security and power seriously.

“Security is taking its shape, power too is getting steady by the day. You can see that a lot has to be addressed in the area of corruption.

“Corruption is like cancer; if it is not addressed in Nigeria, it will kill this country. It has already started crippling our development. Before you know it, this country is flat on its face.

“He has started on a good note. We just have to give him support. Nobody can please everybody. This is the first time a President and his deputy are declaring their assets publicly. They have set a precedent and that is what will follow in future.

“So I think fighting corruption, making sure that power is steady and stable, securing our borders and the country are the things we need to achieve, then we can start breathing.”

The lawmaker, who turned 55 this month, noted that the Nigeria of her dream was yet to be achieved, expressing confidence in the ability of the present administration to deliver.

“With what we are experiencing in the Senate today, would you say our democracy has matured? I don’t know, but we are still in the peeping stage and we will get there.

“This is a new chapter and our hope has to be renewed, but all hands have to be on deck. We all have parts to play. I am playing my part and so it is left to you to do yours.

“If the head is corrupt, the whole body will be corrupt. We are looking at the leadership President Buhari has promised us, to see what it will give to Nigerians.

“We are hopeful. He is a man of integrity and even the outside world has acknowledged that. Nigerians have to have faith, we are supporting the vision he has and what he stands for.”

The Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said in 100 days, Buhari had done what the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not do in six years.

He said security, power and credibility had improved, adding that corruption was being fought.

Gbajabiamila, who praised the people for their massive support for him during the House leadership tussle, noted that the outcome was the will of God.

A member of the House of Representatives, Jide Jimoh, who spoke to The Nation, said the fight against corruption could be won if everyone stayed committed to it.

He enjoined the constituents to avoid pressuring their legislators, noting that it would help stop corruption.

At the gathering were All Progressives Congress (APC) state Chairman Henry Ajomale, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Mr. Wale Edun, Aro Lambo and Tunde Balogun, among others.

September 10, 2015