Lifestyle
Why I Returned Money To Elumelu, Arthur Eze After Tinubu Sacked Me – Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Video)
By Gideon Ayeni
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, has expressed no regrets about her time in office, despite the controversies that marked her tenure saying she returned money collected from prominent Nigerians pledged to carry out her agenda.
Uju-Ken Ohanenye, arguably one of the most controversial ministers first appointed by President Bola Tinubu has said that she returned money from some prominent personalities pledged to her campaign to remove underage girls from the streets following her sack.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Ohanenye stated that she did her best to make an impact during her tenure and stood by her decisions.
Appointed in August 2023, Ohanenye’s time as minister was riddled with challenges, including her widely criticized threat to sue the United Nations (UN) over alleged mismanagement of funds meant for Nigeria. She was eventually dismissed by President Bola Tinubu on October 23, alongside four other ministers, including Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), Tahir Mamman (Education), and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (Housing and Urban Development).
Reflecting on her tenure, Ohanenye said, “I had a responsibility to ensure things were done right. I wouldn’t tolerate anyone undermining the work entrusted to me. I’m glad I stood my ground and have no regrets about how I handled my role. That was the best I could do in the circumstances.”
The former minister also revealed details about her initiatives to support vulnerable Nigerians, including mobile courts and efforts to rescue young girls from street hawking. She admitted that funding for these programs was not part of the ministry’s budget, prompting her to seek public donations.
“I was overwhelmed by the response from Nigerians. Many came together at the villa and donated over ₦200 million to support these initiatives. Unfortunately, less than two weeks after the donations, I was removed from office,” she said.
Ohanenye disclosed that after her dismissal, she instructed the ministry to reverse the donations. “When I was sacked, there was no way I could oversee the use of those funds. I asked the secretary in charge to write to the bank and initiate a reversal,” she explained.
Watch the video below;
Despite her abrupt exit, Ohanenye remains firm in her belief that her actions were in the best interest of the ministry and the Nigerian people.
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