Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili expressed satisfaction with her interaction with Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi at a Senate Committee panel on Tuesday, describing the episode as a revealing moment that highlighted the challenges women face in a patriarchal society.
Ezekwesili shared her thoughts on Channels Television on Wednesday, March 26, recounting the events that unfolded during the Senate panel’s session concerning the sexual harassment allegations involving suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She explained, “In this society, there is a long-standing attitude toward voice— not just the voice of women, but anyone who challenges the status quo or, like me, persistently demands public accountability from those in positions of power. This attitude is ingrained in our culture, and it influences how lawmakers behave. I was actually pleased with what happened yesterday because it has brought to light what women endure in many situations— things that the public may not fully understand or have focused on.”
On Tuesday, March 25, tensions escalated during the panel sitting in Abuja when Ezekwesili, along with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, represented the Kogi lawmaker. A heated verbal exchange erupted between Ezekwesili and Senator Nwebonyi, a male lawmaker from Ebonyi North Senatorial District. The confrontation escalated into name-calling and gender-shaming.