The lawmaker representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has defended his widely condemned verbal altercation with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a heated exchange at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The clash, described as a “show of shame” occurred during a hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was deliberating on a petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
During the proceedings, tensions flared when Nwaebonyi was heard hurling derogatory remarks at Ezekwesili, referring to her as an “insult to womanhood” and a “hooligan.”
However, in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday evening, Nwaebonyi claimed that Ezekwesili had instigated the confrontation by calling him a hooligan and telling him to “shut up” despite his position as a senator.
“It started when she was asked to take an oath because she said she was a witness. She refused, saying she couldn’t be placed under oath. As I was addressing the presiding officer, she turned to me and said, ‘Will you shut up your mouth? You are a hooligan,’” Nwaebonyi said.
He insisted that his response was justified, adding that he had no regrets about the incident.
“You are the hooligan,” he said he told Ezekwesili. “For a mother like you, a grandmother of your age, a former minister of the Federal Republic to tell a sitting senator to shut up and call him a hooligan, that’s unacceptable.”
Asked whether he regretted the altercation, Nwaebonyi was resolute: “How can I regret the scenario? I gave it to her. Is it fair for her to address me that way? As a former minister and a grandmother, ask her first.”
The dramatic encounter has generated global reactions, with some condemning the senator’s remarks as inappropriate.
Meanwhile, the Senate hearing was convened to address a petition from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of alleged misconduct.
Ezekwesili, an advocate for good governance, was present at the hearing in a witness capacity, which ultimately led to the verbal confrontation.
Ezekwesili had, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said that instead of probing the sexual harassment allegations levelled by Natasha against Senate President Akpabio, the red chambers “decided to choose the ignoble path of vicious abuse of power and desecration of our public institution”.
She added in the post, “When men because of little power fleetingly acquired start speaking like they are God, we all must remember what history reveals of their kind.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. You have inspired a Generation. You have inspired all credible citizens. You will never walk alone.”
