Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North, claims he ranks better than Oby Ezekwesili due to “stratification”.
During the Senate Ethics Committee hearing on Tuesday, he also expressed regret for his choice of words to former Education Minister Ezekwesili.
Nwaebonyi and Ezekwesili clashed at a Senate panel hearing on a new appeal filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central.
The former minister requested Nwaebonyi to stop speaking during the panel hearing, which heightened the tension.
The Ebonyi MP had previously chastised the former minister for calling him a “hooligan” and telling 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.
