Goofing Tinubu’s Minister threatens to sue UN, an embarrassing goof
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Women Affairs Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has asked the United Nations (UN) to publish funds collected for Nigeria from donors within 30 days or prepare to be sued to court by the ministry.
Kennedy-Ohanenye claimed in Abuja on Monday the United Nations has not been transparent in the manner in which it utilises funds collected from donors for Nigerians, a claim ridiculed within 24 hours on Arise News in Lagos.
Reuben Abati, a co-anchor on The Morning Show on Arise News on Tuesday faulted the alarming ignorance of Kenneddy-Ohanenye, saying it is an embarrassment she does not know the UN does not collect funds on behalf of recipients.
Abati, supported by co-anchors Rufai Useni and Ayo Mario-Ese, repeated his earlier suggestion for a retreat to be organised for new Ministers where experts would put them through the workings of local and international systems, and for them gain other insights.
Bola Tinubu has only met twice with his Ministers at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) since he became President on May 29 and inaugurated the FEC in August.
He disclosed on Monday the FEC will no longer meet on Wednesdays as convened by his predecessors and will only meet on Mondays “on schedule” – that is, when required.
That means Tinubu relies more on his kitchen cabinet of his inner circle of Lagos men to take decisions for the entire country, without the cross fertilisation of ideas from all Ministers offered through regular FEC meetings.
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Account of donor funds
Kennedy-Ohanenye, who spoke on Africa Independent Television (AIT), gave the UN a one-month ultimatum running from October 16 to November 15 to comply with her demand or get sued to court, per reporting by Vanguard.
The ministry is already working on a pre-action notice to be served on the UN, she announced.
Her words: “I stand here as a Minister of Women Affairs to demand from UN, all the UN; that we want account of all the money they sourced from donors in the name of Nigeria.
“We want to see the account of it and if you don’t give us this account, at least let Nigerians see what has been going on. Then you [the UN, should] plead with them, apologise to them and change your ways.
“From 16th of October to November 15th, If we don’t see these reports published for Nigerians to see, we are heading to court. From 16th of October to November 8, they get our pre-action letters.
“That is to prepare them on the 15th, we are heading to court. And I am promising Nigerians that immediately it is that 15th, by the next day, you will hear the suit number and all of you.
“We will gather to that place for the case to come on, and call for them to call for them to defend the money they are using you to collect from donor[s].”