- Blasts Ministry Officials For Organising Event Without Her Permission
By Abiola Olawale
Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, on Friday, disrupted a workshop organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs held in Abuja.
The visibly angry Minister was heard lambasting the ministry officials for allegedly organising the workshop without her permission.
In a viral video making the rounds, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the workshop lacked awareness on empowerment of women, which is the core aim of the Ministry.
According to her, the workshop has no direct impact on women. She said: ‘’Let this be the last time Women Affairs will organize anything that I am not aware of. You try next time, I will come here and get you people disgraced. I know what I am going through in this country. For a while, this is what we keep on organizing. A few weeks ago, there was a hunger protest, and they talked about peace and security. Women are not empowered. Children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering but we waste money all the time in frivolous things that don’t make sense. I am sorry. Many people may misunderstand me but I am ready to be misunderstood. I am ready to be tortured. I am ready. I have changed the narrative, I said no programme without empowerment.
“You are talking about peace and security. With poverty, how can you solve it? You keep talking and doing workshops. With poverty, where are we heading to? How do we solve that poverty? By directing money to the wrong channels that don’t make an impact on humans? On those people you want them to change and give you peace?
“I have changed the narrative. I said do not do any programme without empowerment. They give money to the Ministries, and it is used for travel and programmes. Nothing that will impact the nation. If you hear the money the government gives out to ministries, you will be shocked. Why should it continue like that? Why should we fold our hands and these things will continue? Who do you think will save you? It’s you who will save yourself. Let them call me names, troublemaker’, ‘mad woman’, I am ready to take it.”
The New Diplomat reports that this is the latest of the public altercation the Minister would be involved in.
It would be recalled that Kennedy-Ohanenye and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development chaired by Hon Kafilat Ogbara had in the past engaged in heated arguments over alleged corruption cases in the ministry.
The House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development had summoned the Minister for questioning over an alleged failure to make the payment of N1.5 billion to contractors after the release of funds for the purpose.
The committee was investigating the alleged diversion of the N1.5bn meant for the payment of contractors after it received a petition from the contractors over non-payment for contracts they executed for the ministry.
However, the hearing turned rowdy as Kennedy-Ohanenye engaged in a shouting match with the committee members, throwing accusations and counter-accusations.
