Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has defended his clash with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.
In an interview with Channels Television Monday evening, Nwaebonyi claimed Ezekwesili instigated the confrontation by calling him a hooligan
When asked if he regretted the clash, he maintained his stance, saying that it is unfair for Ezekwesili, as a former minister and grandmother, to address him that way.
Asked again if he would reciprocate if Ezekwesili apologized to him, he gave an affirmative response, saying he would, considering the fact that Christians are in the lenten season.
There was a heated exchange between the Senator representing Ebonyi North central senatorial district, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili Monday, at the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing on a fresh petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili was present at the hearing alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the chief petitioner from Kogi Central, Zubairu Yakubu.
Nwaebonyi and Ezekwesili clashed over the handling of the sexual harassment allegations, exchanging words and calling each other names, following Yakubu’s call that the Chairman of the Committee, Neda Imasuen, step down in the case following the controversial manner in which he had so far handled it.
While the remarks angered some lawmakers, who accused him of attempting to undermine the committee’s credibility, the committee ruled that it could not sit on the petition, in view of a pending case filed against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan by Dr. Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President.
During the proceedings, tension rose as Nwaebonyi described Dr Ezekwesili as an insult to womanhood, after Dr Ezekwesili and other attendees’ refusal to take an oath during the hearing.
