Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, senator representing Ebonyi north, says he ranks higher by “stratification” to Oby Ezekwesili.
He also expressed regret over his choice of words to
Ezekwesili, former minister of education, during the senate ethics committee
hearing on Tuesday.
Nwaebonyi and Ezekwesili traded words during the senate
panel hearing on a fresh petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the
suspended senator representing Kogi central.
The atmosphere grew tense when the former minister asked Nwaebonyi to shut up during the panel hearing.
The Ebonyi lawmaker had earlier criticised the former
minister for first calling him a “hooligan” and ordering a serving senator to
“shut up”.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, the deputy chief
whip of the senate admitted that his remarks were inappropriate, taking into
account Ezekwesili’s age.
Ezekwesili, the 61-year-old politician, served as the
minister of solid minerals and the minister of education under former President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
“I must also say that I regret my choice of words towards
her. She is old enough to be my mother,” Nwaebonyi said.
“However, her actions brought up my reaction. But having
admitted publicly to what she said, I acknowledge that, and I commend her for
it.”
Responding to whether such incidents deter female
participation in politics, Nwaebonyi defended his record on encouraging women
in politics.
“I’m one of those senators that has been supporting women’s
emancipation and participation in politics,” he said.
“Respect is earned, not commanded. If you respect me, I
respect you. If you yab me, I yab you.
“I am a senator of the Federal Republic by social
stratification, I am higher than her in this country.
“She is supposed to respect me. She was a minister, but a
senator is more senior than a minister.
“Respect is earned. She had no right to speak to me in that
manner, telling me to shut up. That was immature.
“She got to her level by accident. But since she has now
admitted publicly that she told me to shut up, I commend her for that.”
Late Tuesday, Ezekwesili admitted telling the lawmaker to
shut up after the panel prevented them from speaking.
She added that Nwaebonyi’s reaction reflected the
“indecorous behaviour” of some public officials in the country.
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