Ebonyians are presently demanding for the recall of Senator representing Ebonyi North, Onyekachi Nwebonyi and Senator representing Ebonyi South, Prof. Anthony Ani, over poor representation of the state at the National Assembly.
Social media is presently ablaze with videos of Nwebonyi using uncultured language to attack former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, over investigation of the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.
In the trending video, Nwebonyi is seen calling Oby Ezekwesili unprintable names and referring to her as “a fool, a hooligan and an insult to womanhood” during the Senate Committee Hearing on Tuesday, March 25.
In a press statement made available to New National Star, National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Comrade Delaw Eze Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that Nwebonyi’s outburst is unworthy of a lawmaker, let alone a representative of Ebonyi North.
He said: “In Ebonyi, we are trained to be humble and well behaved. We grow up respecting elders. Our men are gender sensitive and respectful to women, knowing how crucial our women are in our families. This continuous outburst against women by Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, as we have seen with the case of Senator Natasha Akpoti and now Oby Ezekwesili, does not represent the character of an Ebonyi man.
“Therefore, on behalf of Ndi Ebonyi, I apologise to Dr Obi Ezekwesili, a global figure of repute that deserves only but accolades. Find a place in your heart to forgive his misbehaviour. This is not how an Ebonyi man behaves. We have home training. You are nothing but a pride of womanhood. You are highly educated and well behaved. You have been an asset in this generation and we are proud of all you do for the society.
“I am also calling on those who voted Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi to power to start his recall for misconduct and public display of a shameful outburst. This is not the essence of your votes for him and he has shown that he’s not qualified to hold any public office. After dancing naked on national television, presenting Ebonyi and Ebonyians in a bad light, we expected an apology and not a repeat.
“In the same vein, I am calling on my own senatorial zone, Ebonyi South, to start the process of recalling Prof Anthony Ani for missing in action. Since he was elected, his presence has not been felt in the zone and this is affecting the progress of the zone. He should be recalled to what he knows to do in the university and not remain in the job he’s forced to do.”
Apart from Comrade Delaw Eze Onyebuchi Chukwu, many Ebonyians have said that Senator representing Ebonyi South, Prof Anthony Ani, does not have any business in the Senate, especially as he has not attracted any project to the zone since he found his way into the National Assembly.
Recently, Senator Ani sponsored a medical outreach in Abuja, with many Ebonyians asking why he couldn’t hold the outreach in the state he is representing and for him to be recalled from the Senate over poor representation.
In a Facebook post, Odinaka Emmanuel said Nwebonyi is not even qualified to lace the shoes of Ezekwesili as she has held many national and international positions even before his entrance into the political arena.
He said: “Sen Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi asked Dr. Oby Ezekwesili who is she. Someone should tell him that Oby Ezekwesili is an economic policy expert. She was a Minister of Solid Minerals of Nigeria as of 2005, when Nwebonyi never knew much about politics.
“She was later made a Minister of Education. She is a former Vice President of World Bank (Africa region), and a co-founder and founding director of Transparency International.
“She is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; the University of Lagos; and the Harvard University, United States of America. She has served on different national and international boards of directors and has also contested for President of Nigeria.
“Someone should inform Nwebonyi to take it easy, as the Senate is not the same as the dirty jobs he did for Umahi when he served under him. He shouldn’t see every woman as maybe those in his house or around him. If recalling someone from the Senate is an easy task, Nwebonyi deserves to be recalled home.”