5 Controversies That Led To Uju-Kennedy’s Removal From Tinubu’s Cabinet

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenyeplay video

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye was relieved of her duties by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, October 23, 2024

She joins four others whom the president believes underperformed during the last one year of his administration.

Uju was known to be the first female candidate for the presidency under the All Progressives Congress (APC) prior to the 2023 general elections but stepped down for Tinubu.

Reports suggest that her appointment as Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development on August 21, 2023, was compensation from Tinubu.

However, during her tenure as Minister, Uju was involved in some controversies.

1. In October 2023, Uju attempt to sue the United Nations for allegedly mismanaging funds meant for Nigeria. She later apologized after being informed that the UN is not part of the Nigerian government.

2. In August 2024, the former minister disrupted two separate events organised without her permission in Abuja. It was reported that the organisers proceeded with the events in her absence. Upon learning of the events, she stormed the venue with her aides and threatened to jail her junior colleagues.

3. In May 2024, Kennedy-Ohanenye filed a lawsuit against the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, for planning to marry off 100 orphans from his constituency.

The issue sparked outrage, prompting the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, to intervene. They urged the former minister to withdraw the lawsuit and petition she wrote to the Inspector General of Police. Uju later apologized and withdrew the law suit.

4. In September 2023, Uju visited the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and called the victims of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, who had accused him of sexual harassment, warning them never to come forward with the case again. The professor was later suspended after an investigation. Uju later apologized citing an “oversight” after a coalition of over 500 gender rights activists demanded a retraction and public apology.

5. In September 2023, during the Anambra Investment Summit, Uju advocated for the use of schoolchildren as workers to manufacture essentials such as toothpicks, sanitary pads, cotton buds, and matchboxes. She was immediately accused of promoting child labour and violating the rights of children at the event and forced to apologize. She said, “I am pleading for us to look into more production of some of these things in our society. The children can be used to help pick toothpicks, cotton buds and sanitary pads”.

It is alleged that all of the above led to her removal from President Tinubu’s office. Uju-Kennedy has since issued a statement expressing appreciation for the support and opportunity given to her to serve her country.