Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has expressed regret over his choice of words during a heated exchange with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Nwaebonyi acknowledged that his remarks were inappropriate, particularly given Ezekwesili’s age.
“I regret my choice of words to her because she’s old enough to be my mother,” he admitted. However, he maintained that his reaction was provoked by Ezekwesili’s actions.
He stated, “But like I said, it is her action that brought up my reaction. But having admitted publicly that she said so, I give it to her.”
The confrontation occurred during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions regarding a fresh petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Tensions escalated when Ezekwesili attempted to intervene after a petitioner’s microphone was turned off. Nwaebonyi, who was present as a witness for Senate President Godswill Akpabio, took offense at Ezekwesili’s comment instructing him to “compose himself and stop making noise.”
In response, the senator lashed out, calling Ezekwesili a “fool” and “an insult to womanhood.” She, in turn, branded him a “hooligan,” sparking a dramatic verbal clash that temporarily disrupted the proceedings.
Addressing the incident during the interview, Nwaebonyi insisted that “respect is earned, not commanded,” and justified his initial outburst by asserting that Ezekwesili had no right to address him in such a manner. However, he later conceded that her public admission of her remarks was commendable.
He said, “She has no right to talk to me and to talk to me in that way, for me to shut up my mouth, it means that she’s not mature. She got to her level by accident and I maintain my stand. She has admitted publicly and having done so, I commend her.”
When asked whether such incidents might discourage female participation in Nigeria, Nwaebonyi defended his record.
“I’m one of those senators that has been supporting women’s emancipation and participation in politics,” he stated.
