“You’re a Fool” – Senator Nwaebonyi clashes with Oby Ezekwesili at Senate hearing, what led to altercation

There was a heated exchange at the Senate Ethics Committee hearing on Tuesday when Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North clashed with former Minister of Solid Minerals, Oby Ezekwesili, over an ongoing investigation into sexual harassment allegations leveled against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio by suspended Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a viral video from the hearing, Nwaebonyi was heard calling Ezekwesili “a fool” and “a disgrace to womanhood.”

The confrontation took place as the committee reviewed claims that Akpabio had allegedly harassed Akpoti-Uduaghan and abused his office.

The controversy began after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate President of inappropriate conduct and raised concerns about a dispute over seat arrangements in the Senate chamber.

The Senate found her guilty of misconduct and handed her a six-month suspension.

The lawmaker later narrated what transpired at the Senate Ethics Committee’s hearing.

Tensions flared when Nwaebonyi resorted to derogatory remarks, labelling Ezekwesili an ‘‘insult to womanhood’’ and a ‘‘hooligan.’’

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Senator berated the ex-minister for first calling him a hooligan and asking him, a serving lawmaker, to shut up.

He said, “It started when she was asked to be an oath because she said she was a witness. She said, ‘no she can’t be on oath, she can’t oath.’

“As a person, I said I am willing to be sworn on oath so that I can give my own evidence. I was addressing the presiding office. She turned to me and said, ‘Will you shut up your mouth, you are a hooligan.”

According to the Ebonyi lawmaker, he replied Ezekwesili saying: “You are the hooligan. For a mother like you, a grandmother of your age, a former minister of the Federal Republic to tell a sitting senator to shut up his mouth and added that I am a hooligan.”

Nwebonyi said regardless of what transpired, he has no regret, though he respects Ezekwesili as a woman.

When asked if his response to the former Minister was fair, the lawmaker queried why she would treat him in that manner.

“How can I regret the scenario? I gave it to her. Is it fair for her to address me that way? As a former Minister of the Federal Republic and a grandmother, ask her first,” he added.