Some Ebonyi indigenes living abroad has condemned the role being played by Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North in the Senate, in the Senators Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan/ Godswill Akpabio saga, describing the state’s senator as ‘an attack dog’ for the Senate President .
Under the aegis of Association of Ebonyi Indigenes, Socio-Cultural in the Diaspora, AEISCID, the body of Ebonyi in Diaspora has threatened to institute a recall process against Senator Nweebonyi if he failed to change his ways.
Recall that the Ebonyi senator recently had a confrontation with former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili during the Senate Committee on Rule and Ethics which investigated the clash between senate President Akpabio and Natasha on February 27 on the floor of the senate over sitting arrangement.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan who also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, has since been suspended by the Senate, but the controversy has continued, even as the role played by senator Nwebonyi has not escaped scrutiny from not a few Nigerians, particularly after his clash with the former minister.
Describing the role played by Senator Nwaebonyi to be disgraceful, unbecoming of a lawmaker, the AEISCID said in a statement that the senator has abandoned his role of making laws and representing the state in the Nigeria’s Upper legislative
Chamber, instead, he had engaged himself in unnecessary controversy that does not benefit the people of the state.
The group also accused him of trying to use the Senate saga to achieve his 2027 governorship ambition, saying some powerful forces in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are planning to throw him up as the party’s governorship candidate against incumbent Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in 2027.
The statement signed by the group’s President, (Worldwide), Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu said Nwebonyi conduct and utterances are “totally un-parliamentary.”
The group leader wondered whether the senator still understand his role as a federal lawmaker as he has made himself “a bag-carrying thug” for Akpabio.
The statement erads in part, “We have watched, read and listened deeply with concerning compunctions, the heedless vibrations of one of our sons, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi who represents the Ebonyi North Senatorial zone at the 10th National Assembly. Like the rest of Nigerians who have watched with reservations, how an ordinarily ‘distinguished Senator’ verbally attack any and every one including but not limited to Nigeria’s former Minister of Education and foremost women advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, other respected Nigerians and the character of the alleged victim, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan since the allegations of sexual harassment against the nation’s number three citizen came to the fore.
“Ordinarily, we had contemplated letting the matter to gently slide, but we are forced to speak up due to the continuous media umbrages of our brother, Nwebonyi, who appears to have completely forgotten that he was elected to make laws for the benefit of his constituents and also to attract other such dividends of democracy while yet carrying himself in a most distinguished and honourable way as a lawmaker.
“For whatever it is worth, the voyages of Nwebonyi in defense of the accused, almost crying more than the bereaved leaves so much to be desired and therefore has left the rest of Ebonyians utterly ashamed of his undignifying behaviour to the extent that we fall short of labeling him “an attack dog”.
“We query the rationale behind the reckless abandonment of legislative duties by Nwebonyi to turn himself into a bag-carrying thug for his colleague who is merely a first among equals? What must have been promised or offered to the lawmaker to reduce himself and by extension ridicule the rest of Ebonyians with his shameful name-callings, limitless defenses and totally unprovoked anger against reasonable Nigerians who are lawfully calling for a thorough and proper investigation into the allegations and condemning the undemocratic suspension of Senator Natasha from the red chambers by the Senate President.
We at AEISCID wish to not only condemn Nwebonyi’s rather ridiculous conducts but also call for strong caution and respect for the Ebonyi brand he wears. Already, rumours are thickening that he may have been promised or tipped by the ruling party’s hierarchy in Abuja for the plum job of replacing the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi State, Right Honourable Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in 2027. This, we wish to inform him is not tenable because Ebonyi cannot continually be governed by the worst among us even in the guise of equity.
“With his dishonourable conducts so far in the 10th NASS, we urge the Ebonyi North constituents to immediately begin his recall process should he indulge himself again in such disgraceful expedition of defending the NASS leader in such a way and manner he has so far done. Enough, should be enough already,” the statement concluded.
The magazine reported that plans to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan failed recently after the INEC declared the process to be short of legal scrutiny.
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