Prof Sola Adeyeye, Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District, has responded to the accusation of Senator Ben Murray–Bruce that he, (Murray-Bruce) was barred by the Department of State Services from greeting President Muhammadu Buhari, at the state diner organized to mark the 2016 Democracy day.
Murray- Bruce had tweeted: “I was at the Presidential Villa today, went to the president’s table. DSS wouldn’t allow me greet him, but let another senator greet him. I have nothing against the President. However, nobody is too important to be criticized and my mouth will never be silenced!”
However, Adeyeye said that Murray- Bruce was prevented from meeting the president because he breached protocol.
He explained: “…I am disappointed by this comment from a respected colleague. I have on two occasions provided robust defense of Sen Ben Bruce. Not this time!
“It was Dino Melaye who first went to greet those seated at the President’s table, including President Buhari. He was well greeted. No one in the senate has criticized President Buhari more than Senator Melaye. But as others rose to do what Dino had done, the scene got clumsy and indecorous because people were approaching the President’s table from different directions… clearly a breach of dinner protocol.
“At that level, if dinner was served or being served, good etiquette demanded that the President’s table should not be approached. One should wait until people had finished eating. No senator in the USA would breach such elementary protocol…the first person to be turned back was Sen Barnabas Gemade who was visibly embarrassed. He belongs to the APC; he is not a known critic of the President.
“When I noticed that most people had finished their food, I approached the table and offered my pleasantries. Others followed suit…”
