Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, has vowed to take action against former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, over what he described as a public insult.
Nwaebonyi stated that he would report Ezekwesili to Igbo traditional leaders after she allegedly told him to “shut up” and called him a “hooligan.”
Speaking during an interview on AIT’s breakfast program Kakaaki, the senator expressed his displeasure, saying the comments were not only offensive to him personally but also disrespectful to the esteemed Igbo red-cap chiefs.
“I am going to take her up within the Igbo traditional leadership because it has never happened,” Nwaebonyi stated. “As a person, I can’t talk to my wife like that in public. I can’t talk to my driver like that in public. I can’t talk to any woman like that. I have never done that in my life. I respect women.”
The lawmaker, who represents Ebonyi North, noted that he has a long history of advocating for women’s rights. He recalled several legal battles he fought to help women inherit property in cases where traditional customs had denied them their rights. Additionally, he mentioned his philanthropic efforts, including building homes for widows and sponsoring the education of more than 300 children.
Nwaebonyi insisted that Ezekwesili’s alleged remarks were unacceptable, particularly considering his status as a red-cap chief and an elected representative.
“But, for a woman to get up in public and tell me to shut up my mouth and call me a hooligan, a red-cap chief in Igboland that has made his mark… this is unacceptable,” he said.
He also criticized Ezekwesili’s political experience, noting that while he was elected to the Senate by over 500,000 voters, she has never won an election at any level.
“And for somebody who has never won a ward councillorship election to come to my office and tell me to shut up my mouth and call me a hooligan… this is unacceptable,” he added.
