Senator representing Lagos Central, Remi Tinubu, has come under fire for reportedly calling a woman a ‘thug’ at south-west zonal public hearing of the constitution review on Wednesday.
According to The Cable, the lawmaker was involved in a brawl with some Nigerians who attended the event at Marriot Hotel in Lagos state.
Tinubu is leading the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution in the South-West.
It was reported that residents queued to register before they were allowed into the venue of the event.
While residents waited on the queue, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, came in and was reportedly 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.
Those who were yet to register were said to have stayed in the queue, protesting their exclusion from the event.
As the shouts continued near the front door, with those on the queue insisting that they had been unfairly treated, Oyo lawmakers were about to be hurriedly ushered through the backdoor, but the people followed them, preventing them from being allowed into the hall.
Tinubu was said to have shown up at the backdoor to allow the lawmakers in.
However, a woman, who reportedly complained about being denied entry, was said to have decried the partial treatment and voiced out her frustration.
The former First Lady of Lagos state, after beckoning on her and two others, reportedly called the woman a ‘thug’ for speaking too loud.
The remark was said to have caused an altercation between Tinubu and those who heard her.
“I am not a thug, I am a representative”
Reps member insists as Queen of “Thugs”, Sen. Remi Tinubu calls her a thug while she herself exhibits thuggery pic.twitter.com/lAYqtb06vB
— Morris Monye💙 (@Morris_Monye) May 27, 2021
While expressing their reservation for the tag on the woman, the people demanded an apology from Tinubu.
“I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it,” she reportedly said.
“Madam senator, don’t call her a thug. You begged us to vote for you…” a man at the scene said.
Watch the video below;
“I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it”
Senator Remi Tinubu response to the people who wanted her to apologize after calling a woman “thug” for speaking too loud at the South West Constitution Review hearing. pic.twitter.com/dHMDvqGcvg
— Gbemi Dennis™ (@GbemiDennis) May 26, 2021
Reacting to this, many Nigerians took to Twitter to express their displeasure at Tinubu for the reported action.
Others recalled how Tinubu had in time past been involved in different brawl, which of recent was about her and Senator Smart Adeyemi.
The ordained pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God tackled her colleague, who raised pertinent questions about the growing insecurity in the country.
Adeyemi had during a plenary session said that Nigeria was facing the worst instability since the civil war.
“This is the worst instability we are facing. In fact, this is worse than the civil war,” he had said.
However, Tinubu interrupting him, asked, “Are you in PDP (Peoples Democratic Party)? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing?”
Adeyemi ignored her comments and continued speaking, which backlash from many Nigerians against her for politicising insecurity in the country.
In 2015, Tinubu also raised a storm at the Senate when she sat on the chair meant for Ike Ekweremadu, the then Deputy Senate President.
The former Lagos State First Lady, who wanted to second a motion on the approval of the Lagos state development policy operation loan, earned the rebuke of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, when she stood up to speak while standing in the Deputy Senate President’s corner.
In July 2016, there was an altercation between Tinubu and Senator Dino Melaye from Kogi state which saw both lawmakers calling each other names and charging at each other.
In July 2019, Tinubu also had an open confrontation with another colleague of hers, Elisha Ishaku Abbo from Adamawa state.
Abbo, who was caught on camera assaulting a woman in an Abuja sex toy shop, had appeared before a Senate committee set up to investigate the incident.
The Adamawa senator said he had refused to allow journalists to interview him over the matter, and did not understand why he came in for the hearing to be “ambushed” by journalists.
Insisting that the hearing be done privately, Abbo said, “I am not addressing the camera, I am not addressing the press.”
Tinubu then told Abbo he was new in the Senate and could not tell the committee how to handle the hearing.
She said;
Do you want us to protect you, or do you want us to defend you, or you want to be on your own? Do you realise that the Senate when we constitute this, whatever the law gives, we can also suspend you?
Interrupting Tinubu with a protest, Abbo said the senator should not threaten him with suspension.
See some reactions to the recent development from Twitter users below;
With Patience Jonathan,
You have a woman who actually cared.With Aisha Buhari,
You have a woman who spoke against her own husband’s madness.With Remi Tinubu
You will have a First Lady who harass and tyrannise anyone who speaks against govt.May this disaster not hit Nigeria.
— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺🇳🇬🇬🇧💎 (@DrOlufunmilayo) May 27, 2021
I wonder when our future First Lady, Remi Tinubu will be in the news for the right reasons.
No class whatsoever.
— Morris Monye💙 (@Morris_Monye) May 27, 2021
Oluremi Tinubu, Jagabans wife and APC senator yesterday ordered DSS agents to throw people out of the ongoing Southwest public hearing on constitutional reforms bcus in her opinion,the public hearing is only open to APC supporters
This woman must never b allow close to Aso rock
— DEMAGOGUE PhD.💘senior advocat (@von_Bismack) May 27, 2021
Happy #ChildrensDay, but if you’re praying, working or rooting for a thug like Remi Tinubu to become our first lady, thunder fire you, fire Remi, fire Desmond Elliot and Bashir 🥴🥴
— Communicator ♚ (@DE_COMMUNICATOR) May 27, 2021
Remi Tinubu is too loud, arrogant and controversial for someone that is likely to be the next first lady.
— Premier (@SodiqTade) May 27, 2021
What procedure did Redeem Christian church of Christ put in place, before making Remi Tinubu a pastor? This woman is a disgrace to the church, the body of Christ & her family at large. She has never made the news for the the right reasons. Always fighting with people. God forbid.
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) May 27, 2021
Tell me one time Remi Tinubu has ever been in the news for anything worthy? It’s either she’s fighting, blackmailing or threatening citizens. That’s Nigeria’s First Lady that never was. Agbero Senator, Fake Pastor. Gees!!!! Aunty, you are just as razz as you come.LEEMAO !!!
— theonly1acre (@theonly1acre) May 27, 2021
I just saw that video, God forbid Remi Tinubu will be our next First Lady.
Power intoxication will be the order of the day.
— Peng Man ⚡️ (@pengmanmodel) May 27, 2021
An aspiring first lady of NIGERIA (tufiakwa), a supposed pastor in rccg, in person of Remi tinubu publicly called her fellow woman a Dog and walk away without an apology…
🤡— CERTIFIED TROUBLE MAKER (@iam_Kingbuchi) May 27, 2021
And u all will agree that Remi Tinubu is like those ones that act like head girl back den in secondary succession and come to the future to act like thug’s
“Don’t mess with the fcking peaky blinders”
— Nonye (GHOST) (@Xprosive) May 27, 2021
How could Remi Tinubu call her a thug, does she look like one of those thugs she hired? I mean, is that the woman some of you are rooting for as the next First Lady?
I am glad the representative knew her right and gave it back to her instantly.
— Sa♏aritan (@wisdomsamaritan) May 27, 2021