Tinubu denies calling educationist, Arinola Oloko a thug

Senator Oluremi Tinubu of Lagos Central has denied calling educationist, Arinola Oloko a thug at the South-West zonal public hearing of the Constitution Review on Wednesday.

She said she only asked the lady if she was a thug and did not categorically call her one.

Senator Tinubi clarified her statement when she spoke on the TVC breakfast show, ‘Your View’.

Recall that The Herald reported that the senator, who led the Constitution Review committee in the South-West, was engaged in a shouting match with would-be participants.

The incident occurred at Marriot Hotel in Lagos.

Oloko, like many other would-be participants, decried her exclusion from the exercise and Senator Tinubu lambasted her for being “rude”.

Explaining her side of the story, Senator Tinubu said, “It was the noise I heard and as somebody concerned, I went there, that they will be a bit respectful when they see that they put my name as chair and I came out to see them.

"At least, we will be able to talk and dialogue. I didn’t know that it will turn into a noisy field and people will start screaming.

“I looked at them and I saw a woman. I will tell you, most of the works I’ve done have been supported by women. I understand women more than men despite the men I work with and even the men I work with, I respect them when I have to respect them but in this particular incident, I looked at the man, he was angry, possibly he could have waited for a long time. I didn’t know who registered, I wasn’t on the registration desk but I looked at the woman screaming and I said I can talk to a woman.

“I said, let me talk to you outside where everybody is, I’ve had COVID and I don’t think I want to be in a cramped place to want to be speaking. And I said, let’s go outside so that I can hear you and hear your complaint.”

“Then, she kept screaming and I said what is going on, are you a thug? I am not going to take that. Are you a thug? Am I talking to a thug? Then her eyes were popping and popping. She is younger than I am, why would I call her a thug outrightly?” Tinubu said.