Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has doubled down on his comments against former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, saying he has no regrets about the harsh words exchanged during a Senate hearing. The senator, who clashed with Ezekwesili over a petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, insists that she provoked him and deserved his response.
Senator nwaebonyi
The dramatic confrontation happened during a Senate hearing on a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The tension started when the petitioner, alongside Ezekwesili and her legal counsel, questioned the neutrality of the Senate Committee handling the case. They asked the Chairman to step aside, claiming he had ties to Akpabio and could not be fair. This statement angered some senators, who saw it as an attempt to discredit the committee.
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Ezekwesili, known for her bold stance on governance issues, demanded to be heard and insisted on being placed under oath as a witness. But this did not sit well with some lawmakers. As the discussion got heated, Senator Nwaebonyi lashed out at Ezekwesili, calling her a “fool” and an “insult to womanhood.” In response, Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan.” The war of words escalated, temporarily halting the session before order was restored.
Later, in a media interview, Senator Nwaebonyi defended his outburst, claiming Ezekwesili was the one who provoked him. According to him, she told him to “shut up” and called him a hooligan first. He insisted he had no regrets, saying, “I gave it to her. A former minister and grandmother should not talk to a senator that way.”
Ezekwesili, on the other hand, remained firm in her position, criticizing the Senate for dismissing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition. She described the Senate’s handling of the case as a disgrace and a sign of deeper problems in Nigeria’s democracy.
