By Uche Akunebu
“I said shut up once already, with my mouth” – Daniel Woodrell , American novelist,and author of Winters Bone.
The nation was treated to what seems like the theatre of the absurd when Senator Obiageli Ezekwesili a former minister of education and Senator Onyeakachi Nwaebonyi , representing Ebonyi South, had a verbal showdown during the sitting of the Ethics,code of conduct and public petitions to look into the allegation of sexual harassment against the senate president,Godswill Akpabio.
From the clips of video of the public shame ,we saw the invocation of invectives that diminishes the drammatis personae in the eyes of people with decorum . Such words like “hooligan” “fool” , “insult to woman hood” and others rented the air.
The clip saw more of the reactions of senator Nwaebonyi who was like a bull in a china shop judging from velocity of his voice and derogatory words that flew like dirty flood water . In view of this , a floodgate of comments have accompanied the verbal debacle that occurred at the senate . As a mass communication scholar who understands what content analysis is about , Dr Ezekwesili seems to have more sympathisers after the verbal duel . A development that made this writer remember the statement of a former British Prime minister and Statesman, William Gladstone who once said ” All the world over, I will back the masses against the classes “. With what the masses have seen in the hands of our political class ,it was natural to see most people cuing behind the back of one of their own than that of a member of the political class.
This writer saw comments like such a towering figure as Dr Ezekwesili deserved not to be thrown under the train with abusive words . There were arguments posited that it was unAfrican to disrespect elders in the manner that we saw in the video clips that have gone viral . There was equally the gender side presented by the supporters of Dr Ezekwesili,as they frowned at a woman and mother being treated in the manner we saw in the clips,which speaks to the flip side of a patriarchal society that operates here . The points raised in support of Dr Ezekwesili are unassailable,but then we must put a principle in law into activation here ;which is Audi Arterem partem (hear the other side).
From the other side , Senator Onyeakachi Nwaebonyi had laid bare his case . He attributed his outburst to a law in chemistry that says action begets reaction. The action was the inappropriate use of word by the minister when he asked him to “Shut up” in the public glare . He added that he was called “hooligan” and that triggered his adrenaline. It only takes a practical Christian to turn the other cheek for another slap , which the Senator does not pretend to be ,as he flew off the handle and went into abuse overdrive.
To this writer,the former minister,did not conduct herself within the canons of civilised behaviour by the use of the word “shut up ” on a serving senator. Senator Nwaebonyi could pass for the age of the son of Dr Ezekwesili,but that is not the issue. It is the office that should be held in high esteem and not just the person occupying it. This writer ,is trying to visualise what would have been the response of Dr Ezekwesili,if when she was a minister of education, someone ordered her to “shut up ” in a public gathering.
What the former minister failed to realise is that individuals react to actions differently,and that the action of asking a senator to “shut up” was a no no . As a human right activist ,she ought to have known that she infringed on the senators right to speech,by trying to shut him up. Is she not aware of the immortal words of Voltaire ,the french philosopher and writer who once opined ” I may not agree witwhat you say ,but I will defend to the death your right to say it”?
This writer on the other hand ,must commend the former minister for admitting on a national television that she asked the senator to “shut up” as some other person may have denied that ,even when it is on tape. Yes , action begets reaction, the truth must be told that Senator Onyeakachi Nwaebonyi could be accused of lacking in emotional intelligence judging from his response to the action of the former minister. One with emotional intelligence would have handled the situation in a more refined manner.
From this writer standpoint, both Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili and Senator Onyeakachi Nwaebonyi should render public apologies for public conduct that diminishes their reputations . Two wrongs cannot make a right. Both were wrong on their vituperations and deserve to be remorseful and not to embark on ego trips that puts their reputations on tenterhooks.
Dr Uche Akunebu is the Head of Poets of the world, Nigerian chapter and editor of African book series of the International Human Rights Arts festival based in New York.