No Regrets in How I Did My Job,” Says Former Minister

A former minister reflects on their time in office, stating they have no regrets about their decisions and actions, despite controversies and challenges during their tenure.

On Wednesday, Uju-Ken Ohanenye, the former Minister of Women Affairs, stated that she has no regrets about some of the decisions made during her tenure.

Since her appointment in August 2023, Ohanenye’s tenure has been fraught with controversy, including a threat to sue the United Nations (UN) over alleged mismanagement of funds intended for Nigeria.

On October 23, President Bola Tinubu dismissed her along with four other ministers: Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), Tahir Mamman (Education), and Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo (Housing and Urban Development).

Two months later, she shared her perspective on various issues related to her time in office, stating that during the year she led at the Women Affairs Ministry, she did her best as minister.

“I have been entrusted with the responsibility to manage that place and ensure everything runs smoothly. I wouldn’t tolerate anyone attempting to undermine or deceive me,” she stated on Channels Television’s “Politics Today.”

“It must have affected people. I’m pleased I didn’t provide an opportunity for that, and I feel no regret about how I handled my job. That was the best approach I could have taken.”

During the interview, she discussed several donations made by many Nigerians on October 15 to assist vulnerable individuals in the country.

She stated that she was dismissed as minister two weeks after the ministry collected over N200 million.

I didn’t have the funds for initiatives like mobile courts and rescuing young girls from street hawking because they weren’t included in the budget.

When I reached out to Nigerians, I was amazed by how many gathered at the villa and contributed money for this cause. They were genuinely enthusiastic about supporting it.

Regrettably, less than two weeks after receiving the donations, I was dismissed. As a result, I couldn’t utilize that money. I requested the secretary responsible to contact the bank and initiate a reversal of the funds,” she explained.