Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North has defended his heated exchange with former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili during a Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing on Tuesday.
The incident unfolded amidst a petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with Ezekwesili present, accompanied by legal counsel Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and chief petitioner Zubairu Yakubu.
Tensions flared when the petitioner raised concerns about the impartiality of committee members, alleging connections to Akpabio. This infuriated several lawmakers, who felt the comments undermined the committee’s credibility. Ezekwesili also faced backlash for inserting herself into the proceedings.
As she sought to make her voice heard, she requested to be placed under oath, declaring, “I am a citizen of Nigeria.” This led to a confrontation with Nwaebonyi, who retorted, “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you speaking to me like that? I won’t accept it. You’re an insult to womanhood. Individuals like you shouldn’t be here.”
In response, Ezekwesili called him a “hooligan,” intensifying the altercation before order was restored.
In an interview with Channels Television later that evening, Nwaebonyi asserted that Ezekwesili provoked the confrontation by calling him a hooligan and telling him to “shut up.” He argued that his reaction was warranted, stating, “For a mother and grandmother of your stature, a former minister, to tell a sitting senator to shut up and label him a hooligan is unacceptable.”
When asked if he regretted the incident, he replied resolutely: “How could I regret the situation? I stood my ground. Is it right for her to speak to me that way? Considering her position as a former minister and a grandmother, she should know better.”
