Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has defended her verbal clash with Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North during a Senate Committee hearing. The heated exchange, which took place on Tuesday, has sparked discussions about the treatment of women in Nigerian society.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Wednesday, Ezekwesili noted that she was pleased with the discussion, as it shed light on the challenges women face in a patriarchal society.
She stated, “I was very pleased with what happened yesterday because now it is in the public domain what women endure in many instances, and the rest of society may know a little about it but has not focused on it. It has now come to the top of our public agenda that we should not allow for a society that shuts down voices.”
The confrontation happened during a hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, where a petition had been filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Ezekwesili was present alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal representative, and the chief petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu from Kogi Central.
Tensions escalated when Yakubu requested that the committee chairman, Neda Imasuen, step down due to concerns over his handling of the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio. He also suggested that some committee members had ties to Akpabio, which could compromise their neutrality.
These remarks angered several lawmakers, who saw them as an attempt to discredit the committee. The situation worsened when Ezekwesili, insisting on her right to speak, clashed with Nwaebonyi.
She demanded to be sworn in as a witness, saying, “I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.”
Nwaebonyi, visibly agitated, lashed out at her, 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 responded by calling him a “hooligan,” which further fueled the argument. The heated exchange momentarily disrupted the hearing before order was restored.
