Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has defended her verbal clash with Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North) at a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday, stating that the incident has exposed the challenges women face in a patriarchal society.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Wednesday, Ezekwesili expressed satisfaction with how the exchange unfolded, saying it brought long-overdue attention to gender-based discrimination.
“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,” she said.
“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 took place during a Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions hearing on a fresh petition submitted by suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili attended the hearing alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan and Zubairu Yakubu, the chief petitioner.
Tensions flared after Yakubu called for the recusal of Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen, alleging that some committee members had pre-existing ties to Akpabio, compromising their neutrality.
The request sparked outrage among some lawmakers, who accused Yakubu of trying to discredit the committee. Ezekwesili also faced pushback, with senators objecting to what they perceived as her interference in the proceedings.
Defending her right to be heard, Ezekwesili asserted, “I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.”
Her insistence led to a heated argument with Nwaebonyi, who 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.”
In response, Ezekwesili called him a “hooligan,” escalating the confrontation. The verbal battle briefly disrupted the hearing before order was restored.
The Senate later dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition against Akpabio, citing ongoing court proceedings.
The incident has since sparked widespread debate, with many Nigerians condemning the Senate’s treatment of Ezekwesili and calling for more accountability in handling sexual harassment allegations within the government.
