As a Senator, I Am Superior to Ezekwesili, a Former Minister – Sen. Nwaebonyi

Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, has stated that his position as a senator ranks higher than that of former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili. He made the claim during an interview on Arise TV while addressing a heated exchange between them at a Senate ethics committee hearing.

The confrontation took place on Tuesday when the committee reviewed a petition submitted by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Tensions escalated when Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi to “shut up,” prompting the senator to criticize her choice of words.

Nwaebonyi, who serves as the Senate’s deputy chief whip, later admitted that his response may have been inappropriate, considering Ezekwesili’s age. “I must also say that I regret my choice of words towards her. She is old enough to be my mother,” he said. However, he maintained that his reaction was triggered by Ezekwesili’s actions and commended her for publicly admitting to her remarks.

Defending his stance, Nwaebonyi insisted that respect must be earned and that his position as a senator places him above Ezekwesili in the country’s political hierarchy. “I am a senator of the Federal Republic by social stratification, I am higher than her in this country. She was a minister, but a senator is more senior than a minister,” he asserted.

Responding to concerns about whether such incidents discourage women’s participation in politics, Nwaebonyi highlighted his support for women’s political involvement. “I’m one of those senators that has been supporting women’s emancipation and participation in politics,” he said.

Ezekwesili, who previously served as Minister of Solid Minerals and Minister of Education under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledged that she told Nwaebonyi to “shut up” after the panel prevented them from speaking. She described his reaction as an example of the “indecorous behaviour” displayed by some public officials.