Senator Nwaebonyi Swallows Words, Regrets Calling Oby Ezekwesili ‘fool’

Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the 44-year-old Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, who caused the upper chamber further embarrassment on Tuesday with his vituperation during a Senate hearing, has expressed regret over his choice of words.

The young lawmaker had, during the senate hearing on a fresh petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, hurled verbal missiles on former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, calling her “a fool”.

However, in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Nwaebonyi acknowledged that his remarks were inappropriate, particularly given Ezekwesili’s age, 62.

“I regret my choice of words to her because she’s old enough to be my mother,” Nwaebonyi admitted. But he maintained that his reaction was triggered by Ezekwesili’s actions.

“But like I said, it is her action that brought up my reaction,” he insisted. “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 boiled over 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, flew into a rage when Dr. Ezekwesili told him to “compose himself and stop making noise.”

The young senator replied with barrage of unprintable words, calling Ezekwesili a “fool” and “an insult to womanhood.”

The former Minister, in turn, called him a “hooligan”.

The fierce exchange by the duo forced a temporary of  the proceedings.

In his interview with ARISE NEWS, Nwaebonyi insisted that “respect is earned, not commanded”. He justified his outburst saying 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.

“She has no right to talk to me,” Nwaebonyi continued. “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.”

Asked whether such incidents might discourage female participation in Nigeria, Nwaebonyi responded with his record:

“I’m one of those senators that has been supporting women’s emancipation and participation in politics,” he said.