By Ayomide Otitoju
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has praised former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili for standing in her defense during a heated exchange at a Senate Committee hearing on Tuesday.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan lauded Ezekwesili for her courage, integrity, and dedication to accountability, describing her as a “champion of good governance.”
“Ma’am, I apologise for the insults. Know you took them for me… for us … as a mother and as a leader. You are a true icon of integrity, courage, and visionary leadership,” the senator wrote.
Ezekwesili, in her response on X, dismissed the insults she faced, stating that they were a small price to pay in the pursuit of justice and accountability.
“A torrent of insults from any source is but a little price to pay in our resolve to see a Nigerian that becomes,” she wrote. “Our daughters and granddaughters must never inherit battles and wars we should have fought and won for them.”
The confrontation erupted during a Senate committee hearing investigating sexual harassment allegations leveled by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Tensions escalated when Ezekwesili and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, questioned the neutrality of the committee chair, Senator Nedamwem Imasuen, calling for his recusal.
During the proceedings, Ezekwesili clashed with Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi of Ebonyi North, with both engaging in a heated verbal exchange that included accusations of bias and gender-based insults.
Ezekwesili accused the Senate panel of evading the core issue of sexual harassment, insisting that Akpoti-Uduaghan deserves justice. She further vowed to resist any attempt to silence calls for accountability.
The hearing remains ongoing as public scrutiny intensifies over the Senate’s handling of the case.
