Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has defended her fiery exchange with Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North) during a Senate Committee hearing, insisting that she was pleased with how the confrontation unfolded.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Ezekwesili said the clash had exposed the struggles women face in a patriarchal society, calling it a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s public discourse.
“I was very pleased with what happened yesterday because now it is in the public domain what women endure in many instances. The rest of society may know a little about it, but it has not been a focus. It has now come to the top of our public agenda that we should not allow for a society that shuts down voices.”
The Heated Exchange at the Senate Hearing
The confrontation erupted during a Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing on Tuesday, where Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted a fresh petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili, present alongside human rights lawyer Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and petitioner Zubairu Yakubu, witnessed a tense moment when Yakubu demanded that Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen step down, citing bias in handling Akpabio’s alleged sexual harassment case. He also accused some committee members of having pre-existing ties to Akpabio, which he claimed compromised their neutrality.
His remarks sparked outrage among senators, with Nwaebonyi leading the pushback, accusing the petitioner of undermining the committee’s credibility.
“You’re a Fool” – The Outburst That Sparked Chaos
Tensions escalated when Ezekwesili requested to be sworn in as a witness, a move that appeared to anger some lawmakers.
“I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria,” she asserted.
This demand triggered a verbal onslaught from Nwaebonyi, who lashed out, saying:
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“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.”
A visibly outraged Ezekwesili fired back, branding the senator a “hooligan”, further fueling the heated confrontation. The altercation momentarily disrupted proceedings before calm was restored.
Reactions and Fallout
The verbal battle has since sparked national debate, with women’s rights advocates and civil society groups condemning the sexist undertones of Nwaebonyi’s remarks.
Meanwhile, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan later apologized to Ezekwesili, distancing herself from Nwaebonyi’s behavior. However, the Ebonyi North senator remained defiant, stating he had “no regrets” over the exchange.
The incident has amplified calls for greater respect for women’s voices in governance, with many insisting that the confrontation reflects a broader issue of institutionalized misogyny in Nigeria’s political landscape.