The lawmaker representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi has apologized to the former minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili over the altercation that ensued between the duo on Tuesday during the hearing of a petition from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying he regretted his choice of words.
The duo clashed during the Ethics Committee hearing on sexual harassment allegations involving the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
During the altercation, as captured in a viral video, Senator Nwebonyi could be heard telling Dr Ezekwesili, “You are an insult to womanhood; you are a disgrace to womanhood. People like you can never be here.”
Speaking on the matter in an interview on Arise News as monitored by Roving Reporters, Senator Nwebonyi said Dr Ezekwesili’s comment annoyed him, in which she allegedly called him a hooligan.
He said, “What happened was that we were all there to prove our cases.
“She was for the complainant, which is Senator Natasha. They were called upon at the first instance to be on oath so that they can testify. She said no. She can’t be on oath. The same thing with the lawyer that she came with.
“At the end of the day, I now said to the presiding officer that if they are not ready to go on improving their case, that we are ready to put up our defense.
“Because I’ve also sat down with an affidavit. And I was addressing the presiding officer. I was not addressing my sister, Obie Ezekwesili.
“I was addressing the presiding officer. If what I’m saying is out of point, it is the presiding officer that will rule me out of order. Not a co-witness like me.
“So that’s what I’m saying. Respect is earned. She has no right to talk to me.
“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.
“She has admitted publicly. And having done so, I commend her.
“And I must tell you, I regret my choice of words to her. Because she’s old enough to be my mother. She’s old enough to be my mother.
“But like I said, it is her action that brought up my reaction. Having admitted publicly, that’s true. I give it up for her.”
