By: John Okiyi Kalu
Will we ever call a spade a spade or just allow the shouting side to be the winning side in Nigeria?
1. Senator Onyekachi obviously reacted badly because we expect better standard of behavior from someone occupying high public office in our country. It doesnât matter if provoked or not, keeping oneâs cool is expected always as a matter of official responsibility.
But
2. Does that reaction excuse the provocation and subsequent negative responses of Pastor Oby Ezekwesili who also called him names? Do we not have expectations of her, in terms of public conduct, as a former public official who served as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a respected member of our society? Is it now the case that she can do no wrong because she is who we perceive her to be?
In my personal view:
I. Pastor Oby was wrong to tell the senator to shut up when he was not addressing her at the time. The chairman of the committee was the one expected to moderate the engagement and not her. Her action was provocative and inappropriate, to say the least.
II. Senator Onyekachi was within his right to address the Committee Chairman as a witness and member of the senate. Asking him to shut up abridges that right especially when you are not moderating the program. If you believe you have the right to speak and be heard on behalf of whoever you are standing witness for he also has the right to speak and be heard on behalf of whoever he is standing witness for. You cannot seek protection from democracy and rule of law while also violating the right of another. Moreover, he was not specifically directing his comments to or against you so you shouldnât arrogantly shut him up no matter how important you think your advocacy is and your standing in our society. We made both of you who you are within the public service space, directly and indirectly, through the ballot box so we expect same standard of good behavior.
*Senator Onyekachi was elected by the people.
*Pastor Oby was appointed by a President elected by the people.
III. Even at the global stage it is disrespectful to interrupt someone and/or tell him to shut up when he is not addressing you and you are not the moderator of whatever program. As someone who has worked at the world bank I expected Pastor Oby to know and observe that in her conduct at a forum like the Senate floor.
IV. Senator Onyekachi is deemed to have been dully elected by his constituents to represent them at the senate and has the mandate of the people to speak without being shut up by anyone, especially a visitor to the senate, no matter how highly placed. Questioning his right to be there is a direct insult to those who elected him and by extension to the senate of our Federal Republic. Likewise calling Pastor Oby names in public is an insult to her spouse, according to Igbo tradition, even if she provoked it. Senator Onyekachi ought to have known and respected that tradition at the senate chambers even when provoked.
V. While it is established that Senator Onyekachi was provoked by pastor Oby his response does not in my view cover him in glory as he could have ignored her or deliberately refrained from shouting back. Exchanging abuses with Pastor Oby at the floor of the senate shows a lack of self restraint that is worrisome. Distinguished Senator will need to go for anger management while Pastor Oby goes to revise her notes on public etiquette.
Crucially, it beats me how some will find the Senatorâs behavior distasteful and at the same time seek to applaud or make excuses for the behavior of Pastor Oby. Is it now right to provoke a Senator at the senate chambers and shout back at him if he responds badly? No more respect for the hallowed chambers of the senate because someone that is âhighly respectedâ is involved?
Haba Nigerians!!!
From here to thy kingdom come, in my view, Pastor Oby was wrong and Senator Onyekachi was also wrong. If you cannot blame them equally you are also wrong and obviously beholden to social media popularity to the extent that it has affected your ability to reason without bias. No matter what I say you can still disagree but I will say my bit and then defend your right to disagree politely. We are running a democratic system: the more we agree or disagree the more we learn.
Trying to make this altercation a gender issue is very wrong, manipulating and evil. That should not be accepted by right thinking Nigerians. No gender has earned the right to public discordance in the world and not even one of the combatants represented his or her gender well.
Both Pastor Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwabuenyi should apologize to Nigerians, especially young people who watch television. ;for this national show of shame today. I stand with the first to apologize because that is the redeemable actor.
-John Billions
John Okiyi Kalu is a former Commissioner of Information in Abia state
