Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has defended his heated exchange with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
The confrontation occurred during a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, where Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted a fresh petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili attended the hearing alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Zubairu Yakubu, the chief petitioner from Kogi Central.
Tensions rose when Yakubu questioned the neutrality of the committee and called for its chairman, Neda Imasuen, to step down. He also alleged that some committee members had ties to Akpabio, making them biased.
His comments provoked backlash from lawmakers, who accused him of attempting to discredit the committee. Ezekwesili also faced resistance for what was perceived as an attempt to assert herself into the proceedings.
However, Ezekwesili stood her ground, saying, “I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.”
This led to a fiery exchange between her and Nwaebonyi, who lashed out, saying, “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.”
Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan,” further escalating the confrontation before order was eventually restored.
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Following the hearing, Nwaebonyi defended his actions in an interview with Channels Television, claiming that Ezekwesili had provoked him by calling him a hooligan and telling him to “shut up” despite his status 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 stated.
He remained unapologetic about the altercation, saying, “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.”
