Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, has asked women in politics to show respect to their male counterparts.
Speaking during an empowerment event at the Abakaliki Local Government headquarters on Wednesday, April 23, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, criticised women who allegedly display disrespect toward men.
Though he didn’t mention any names, Nwebonyi warned that such behaviour sends a bad signal regarding the future of women in Nigerian politics.
“I am one of those championing the emancipation of women in politics. But that does not mean that the rights and dignity of men should be undermined,” he said.
“In any situation where a woman unfoundedly accuses a man, it should be condemned. Telling a man to ‘shut up’ in the Senate or anywhere else is unacceptable. We must support and respect our mothers, but those not with us should be shown the way out of power and politics,” he stated.
It will be recalled that Nwebonyi has engaged in verbal exchanged with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during the hearing on a petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Kogi Central, accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central also filed a defamation lawsuit against Nwebonyi, demanding a hefty N5 billion in damages.
The suit comes after Nwebonyi made several inflammatory and damaging remarks about Akpoti-Uduaghan during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily program on March 6, 2025.
In the interview, Nwebonyi branded her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer,” accusations Akpoti-Uduaghan argues are entirely false, malicious, and defamatory.
