The recent confrontation between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi and Dr. Oby Ezekwesili during a Senate Committee hearing has exposed deep-rooted gender dynamics within Nigeria's political institutions. What began as a hearing on serious allegations of sexual harassment quickly transformed into a troubling display of how power can be wielded to silence dissenting voices particularly women's voices.
During the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing, tensions erupted when concerns were raised about potential bias in the committee's handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's petition. When Dr. Ezekwesili insisted on being heard as a witness, Senator Nwaebonyi responded with a verbal assault that spoke volumes about the challenges women face in political spaces. "You're a fool. You're an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here," the Senator declared. These words were not merely an emotional outburst, they were a calculated attempt to delegitimise a woman's presence in a space traditionally dominated by men. By invoking "womanhood," Nwaebonyi wasn't just attacking Ezekwesili personally; he was suggesting that her assertiveness violated some unwritten code of how women should behave in political spaces.
Dr. Ezekwesili's response was as powerful as it was simple: "I am a citizen of Nigeria." With this statement, she reclaimed her fundamental right to participate in democratic processes. As a former Minister of Education, co-founder of Transparency International in Nigeria, and a leading voice in various social movements, Ezekwesili has consistently challenged systems that attempt to marginalise critical voices. Her characterisation of Senator Nwaebonyi as a "hooligan" was more than a retort, it was a refusal to accept the delegitimisation of her presence and a rejection of the notion that women must remain deferential in political spaces.
The incident revealed multiple mechanisms through which women are systematically excluded from meaningful political participation including verbal intimidation used to discourage women from speaking up, procedural barriers invoked to maintain existing power dynamics and gender-based expectations weaponized to control women's behavior.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze's subsequent statement that "you must be recognised before you speak" perfectly encapsulates how procedural rules can be weaponised to maintain existing power structures. It suggests that participation is a privilege bestowed by those in authority, rather than a democratic right. This confrontation doesn't exist in isolation. It represents a continuation of the systemic exclusion of women from Nigerian political spaces since independence. Despite making up approximately half of the population, women remain severely underrepresented in political leadership positions.
Addressing these deeply entrenched dynamics requires action on multiple fronts;
(i) Nigeria's political institutions need structural changes that go beyond tokenism. This includes implementing and enforcing stronger protections against gender-based discrimination and ensuring that institutional rules cannot be manipulated to silence legitimate concerns
(ii) Challenging stereotypes, normalising women's leadership, and creating environments where women can participate without facing gendered attacks.
Dr. Ezekwesili's stance represents a model of resistance that others can follow. By refusing to be silenced and by directly challenging attempts at marginalisation, women and their allies can gradually transform political spaces.
The exchange between Senator Nwaebonyi and Dr. Ezekwesili matters not just because of what was said, but because of what it reveals about the state of Nigerian democracy. True democracy requires the meaningful participation of all citizens, not just those who conform to traditional power structures.
The confrontation in the Senate committee room is a reminder that the struggle for gender equality in political spaces is far from over. But it also demonstrates the power of resilience and the importance of continuing to challenge systems that attempt to marginalise women's voices. As Dr. Ezekwesili's response shows, sometimes the most powerful act of resistance is simply refusing to be silenced and reminding those in power that all Nigerians have the right to be heard.
The path to genuine democracy is paved with such moments of courage, one voice at a time!