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The recent action of Senator Oluremi Shade Tinubu, wife of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in snubbing the new Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, when he offered to handshake her, during her formal swearing in today as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, could best be described as being childish and uncultured.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu was reported to have shunned Dr. Saraki’s attempt at friendliness as he inaugurated her and the other Senators who were absent during the official inauguration of the Senate on Tuesday, June 9.
According to the reports, instead of shaking hands with Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senator Tinubu left Saraki’s outstretched hand hanging when it was her turn for the customary handshake, merely muttered some words to the senate president in a hushed tone and walked off. However, the other Senators who were also being sworn in accepted handshakes from the Senate President.
It would be recalled that the former First lady of Lagos State had acted a very similar drama at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly sometimes ago when the former Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, visited National Assembly for ministerial screening. Senator Oluremi Tinubu was shown on National Television shouting on top of her voice in an attempt to embarrass and rubbish Musiliu Obanikoro. While there was nothing wrong in protesting against a particular interest or agenda, as in the case of Obanikoro then, it was totally wrong for Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who many consider their role model, to have reacted unreasonably in such a public place. After all, she was not the only APC senators at the floor that very day. Indeed, other members of her party also protested against the ministerial screening of Musiliu Obanikoro, but they did so with decorum and respect.
By refusing to acknowledge the greetings of Musiliu Obanikoro then, and now Senator Bukola Saraki, what message is the former Lagos State First lady and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria trying to pass across to the younger generation who look up to her as role model? Is she trying to tell them that politics is a game of bitterness? Is she trying to tell them that others who share different political ideologies with theirs should be considered and treated as enemies?
In the same vein, it is important to remind Senator Tinubu that she is a public figure and what she says and how she acts matter a lot. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seen by many to be treading the line of the late Yoruba leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Senator Oluremi Tinubu should also take after the wife of Chief Awolowo. Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo is known to be a very cultured and reserved woman. There was never a time HID had behaved the way Senator Oluremi Tinubu behaves. Not quite long during a mini dispute between the former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, there was an allegation that Senator Oluremi Tinubu had interfered and was quoted to have said that “by the time we are through with Fashola, people would forget he was at a time a governor of Lagos State.” Senator Tinubu should call herself to order.
She has a right of expression and she is first and foremost accountable to her constituent before any other interest.
She is indeed a true blood of a noble race to have rejected the handshake as a true daughter of the yoruba heritage. A spade will always be a spade!
Cant believe you said that @Carew. She should have conducted herself properly. Then deal with other issues later. she’s a big embarrassment to the APC. Stop supporting rubbish
You are right! They are both Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that makes Saraki her colleague. She’s bold enough to show her displeasure publicly like every faithful progressive person will do unlike the double-face Senators. Am with you!