Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and former Information Minister Frank Nweke Jr. have urged Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi to apologize for his remarks against Oby Ezekwesili.
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges hearing on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment claim against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday reportedly featured a confrontation between Ezekwesili and Senator Nwaebonyi.
According to Nweke, former Education Minister Ezekwesili is entitled to hold public servants accountable.
“The derogatory language used by Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi against Oby Ezekwesili during a public hearing on the sexual harassment allegation made by Natasha Akpoti against Senator Godswill Akpabio horrifies me and is completely unacceptable.” Oby Ezekwesili is entitled to hold public officials responsible, just like any other Nigerian. In addition to reflecting how male public officials view Nigerian women after elections, the hostility on exhibit today supports the lived experiences of women in leadership roles.
Any citizen, including women, should not be subjected to harassment or dehumanization for calling for accountability, which is essential to carrying out their positions effectively. Those in positions of authority need to keep in mind that our kids are observing and picking up on their behavior.
As husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons to women, we must all feel indignant at such instances of disrespect in public. Participatory democracy is undermined by the growing dysfunction in our public institutions, which has a negative impact on society, he stated.
The senator from Ebonyi North should face disciplinary action from the Senate, Ejiofor said. The senator was asked to maintain the culture of accountability, integrity, and respect.
The now-viral video of Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing the Ebonyi North Senatorial District, engaging in a heinous display of verbal abuse and disruptive behavior toward the respected former Minister of Education, Madam Oby Ezekwesili, also known as Madam Due Process, during a Senate Committee hearing yesterday deeply disappointed me.
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“No public official should disrespect their office with such behavior, much less a senator who has been given legislative authority. If accountability is valued in society, Senator Nwebonyi would already be subject to severe disciplinary action, such as suspension. In what way did we arrive here?
They will eventually be held responsible by posterity.
In response to this egregious misbehavior, I urge the Senate leadership to act swiftly and forcefully. Given his publicly expressed views on the subject, Senator Nwebonyi should be barred from taking part in any findings, discussions, or investigations. His prejudice against Natasha is that severe.
The Senate needs to step up and make sure that this culture of impunity is not tolerated. His statement said, “The Nigerian people deserve a legislature that upholds the values of integrity, accountability, and respect.”
