Senator Remi Tinubu has said that she never called a woman in which she was involved in an argument a thug.
Rather, she said, she only asked he if she (Arinola Oloko) was one, based on the way she behaved.
The senator has been under serious criticism based on how she spoke to the woman, who is a younger politician, during the argument that ensued during the Constitutional Review Session where the fellow and others were disallowed to enter the venue.
Speaking on the matter on a TVC programme, however, 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 outright?”
