I’ll never stop holding public officials accountable, Ezekwesili tells critics

Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, says no level of insult will deter her from demanding accountability from public officials.

Ezekwesili’s comment came in the wake of her altercation with Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, senator representing Ebonyi north over a fresh petition from Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

BACKGROUND

Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her.

The allegation came in the wake of her seating arrangement altercation with Akpabio at the red chamber

She was subsequently suspended from the senate for six months for “gross misconduct” over the incident.

Ezekwesili joined Abiola Akiode, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan; and the petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu; at the senate committee hearing as a witness on Tuesday.

Nwaebonyi, the senate’s deputy chief whip — who appeared as a witness for Akpabio — repeatedly interrupted the former minister during the hearing.

Ezekwesili then asked the senator to “compose himself and stop making noise” and said “please, will you shut up?” — a remark that instantly provoked an outburst from Nwaebonyi.

‘NATASHA AKPOTI MUST BE GIVEN A FAIR HEARING’

In a post on her X page on Thursday, Ezekwesili said Nigerians finally witnessed a physical version of the “barrage of online insults and cyber-bullying” she faces daily from “political and government hirelings”.

Ezekwesili said the suspended Kogi lawmaker must be given a fair hearing in her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.

“No amount of insults can ever make me stop demanding Accountability in our Democracy,” the post reads.

“They want all of us to be quiet, endorse and enable their bad governance, selfish behaviors. injustice and criminality.

“Those who have been on social media since 2014 and followed activities on my handle would probably be surprised that anyone is shocked at the invectives thrown at me at that Senate Session.

“The ally-internet-trolls of Politicians and the 3 administrations of @NigeriaGov that have governed between 2014 to date have actually called me worse things on here and elsewhere.

“I hardly dignify insults because they really are like water on the back of a duck.

“Senator @NatashaAkpoti must be given a fair hearing by the @NGRSenate on her petition against the Senate President @Senator_Akpabio for Sexual Harassment.

“All the shenanigans being thrown out to prevent this will fail. Senator Uduaghan has the legitimacy conferred on her by the Good People of Kogi Central.

“No fraudulent recall will prevail over the will of the people who genuinely believe in her representation of their interests at the senate.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan would later apologise to Ezekwesili after her altercation with Nwaebonyi, adding that the former minister took the insult on her behalf as a mother and leader.