A tense confrontation unfolded on Tuesday between Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, senator representing Ebonyi North, and Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The hearing was convened to deliberate on a fresh petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili attended the session alongside Abiola Akiode, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu. The proceedings however took an unexpected turn when discussions became heated over the seriousness of the matter at hand.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, recounting the incident, Ezekwesili detailed the moment that led to the exchange.
“The word they used was that we do serious things here. We don’t have time for unserious things. At that point, I raised my hand and said that was a wrong choice of words. We are not unserious people, and this is a serious matter,” she said.
She explained that as the committee debated procedural concerns raised by the petitioner, they ultimately concluded that since Yakubu refused to proceed without assurance on his two objections, the matter could not be engaged further. The situation became more complex when committee members pointed out that the case was sub judice due to ongoing court proceedings involving the wife of the Senate President.
It was at this juncture that tensions flared between Ezekwesili and Senator Nwaebonyi. According to Ezekwesili, Nwaebonyi interjected, asserting that he was representing the Senate President as a respondent and was ready to proceed if the petitioner would not.
Ezekwesili, visibly irritated by the comment, responded sharply, saying, “Can you please shut up?” Her remark sparked reactions from members of the committee, further escalating the dispute.
She further praised Senator Natasha’s bravery, describing her as “heroic” and an example to young ladies.
“What became very obvious was that the idea that we as a people are so easily swayed by the superior powers of the people that hold the levers of our public institutions… I find that young woman (Senator Natasha) heroic. She is simply an example of what we need our daughters to be in terms of having a clear mind in seeking the justice that is due her.”
