In a nation where leadership should embody decorum, respect, and intellectual engagement, a Senate hearing quickly turned into a disturbing display of hostility, intimidation, and outright disrespect.
A viral video captures a shameful moment—Senator Onyekachi Nwenboyi, an ally of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, aggressively shouting at former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, pointing fingers, using derogatory language, and displaying behavior unbefitting of a public official. His uncontrolled rage was not just an attack on Ezekwesili; it was an attack on every woman who dares to speak, challenge injustice, and demand accountability.
This disgraceful outburst occurred during a hearing linked to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s harassment allegations—a case that has already exposed the deep-seated misogyny in Nigeria’s political system. Instead of engaging with intellect and reason, Nwenboyi resorted to public intimidation, reinforcing the toxic culture that seeks to silence women in leadership, governance, and beyond.
But let’s be clear: Women should not be silenced. Not in the Senate. Not in politics. Not in society. If a former minister can be publicly disrespected in the full glare of cameras, what happens to the everyday Nigerian woman with no platform, no title, and no national spotlight?
This is not just about one senator’s disgraceful behavior; it is about a much larger problem. It is about the entitlement that allows men in power to dismiss, insult, and harass women without fear of consequences. It is the same mentality that fuels workplace discrimination, domestic violence, and systemic oppression.
What example are these so-called leaders setting? If senators—public figures meant to uphold the law—resort to intimidation and public aggression, what hope is there for accountability? This is not leadership. This is lawlessness disguised as authority.
This moment must not be forgotten or swept under the carpet. Nigerians must demand better. Senator Onyekachi Nwenboyi’s actions must be condemned, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fight against harassment must not be ignored.
Nigeria cannot afford to keep normalizing violence—whether physical, verbal, or systemic—against women. A woman’s place is wherever she chooses to be, and her voice is as valid as any man’s.
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