*Demands apology from Ebonyi lawmaker
FixPolitics has petitioned the Senate over Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi’s verbal assault on former Vice President of the World Bank, Co-Founder of Transparency International, and Chairperson of the Board of the global body, Women Political Leaders, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili.
In a formal complaint to Chairman, Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, Neda Imasuen, the Executive Director of #FixPolitics, Anthony Ubani, described as his unruly, disruptive and disrespectful Nwaebonyi’s conduct during a session of the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, particularly in his engagement with Ezekwesili.
Ubani stated, “Having obtained and reviewed the video of the proceedings, we take the view that Senator Nwaebonyi’s behaviour was most unbecoming of a legislator. His persistent lack of restraint and disregard for both his presiding colleagues and other participants gravely compromised the atmosphere of decorum, which should have prevailed during the session and undermined the ethical standards, which ought to underpin the conduct of business in Nigeria’s Senate.
“While we acknowledge that witnesses appearing before the committee should allow presiding officers to manage the proceedings, it became evident that Ezekwesili and her colleagues were compelled to assert their right to speak due to the difficulty the presiding officers appeared to have had to adequately protect them from verbal hostility.”
During the encounter, the senator from Ebonyi State was heard using unprintable words on the two-time minister of the federation and former presidential aspirant, adding that she could not be a senator.
While acknowledging that being asked to “shut up” might have been perceived as offensive by Nwaebonyi, #FixPolitics firmly maintains that it was in no way sufficient to justify the vitriolic and deeply personal aspersions he proceeded to cast on Ezekwesili.
It lamented, “His words were not merely inappropriate but were a blatant and most distasteful affront to the principles of civil discourse and respect that should govern parliamentary engagements.
“It is imperative that legislators and public officials remain mindful that they are public servants. They are neither superior to the citizens they serve nor are they exempt from the common principles of accountability and respect. The troubling pattern of conduct displayed in recent weeks by some members of the legislature calls into question their understanding of the fundamental relationship between elected representatives and the public.”
#FixPolitics acknowledged that the use of decorous language must be practised by all citizens at all times, especially when engaging in public discourse. “However, we equally maintain and affirm that no citizen, man or woman, young or old, rich or poor, should be subjected to the kind of assault Nwaebonyi directed at Ezekwesili,” it added.
Consequently, it demanded public apology from Nwaebonyi to Ezekwesili and appropriate sanction on the senator by the red chamber.
Expressing its commitment to advancing democratic values, civic participation and good governance in Nigeria, #FixPolitics added, “We trust that the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee will take decisive action to uphold the integrity of the National Assembly and ensure that all individuals engaging with the legislature are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve as citizens.”
Comments