Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has declared that she harbours no regrets about her removal from office, insisting she remained true to her convictions throughout her tenure.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm on Tuesday, the ex-minister said if given a second chance, she would be even more assertive, adding that leading Nigerians required firmness.
She said, “I have no regrets to date. If I could go back in time, I think I didn’t do enough; I should have been harder.
“It is even difficult to rule Nigerians. The president is working, the governors are working, but what are Nigerians doing in between? If you want to work in this country, you must go offline and be very firm. If you don’t, you will end up achieving nothing.”
Kennedy-Ohanenye, who served under President Bola Tinubu until her recent dismissal, stated that she ran her office with integrity and refused to allow irregularities under her watch.
“The particular office I was given, I did not allow anything anyhow to happen there,” she stated.
She added that her conscience and commitment to service guided her actions.
Responding to criticism of her often fiery and confrontational style, the former minister said she could not compromise her principles for the sake of political correctness or diplomacy.
She said, “There is no way I could have held that portfolio pretending. What you saw was who I am.
“I would not say I was erratic or undiplomatic. Being diplomatic does not mean agreeing to things that are destroying your country. I cannot agree to things I know are harmful.”
Reflecting on her time in office and current outlook, Kennedy-Ohanenye said she was at peace with her decisions, and no longer concerned with the internal affairs of the ministry she once led.
Kennedy-Ohanenye said, “That is why I am looking fresher. I am out now, and whatever they are doing there is none of my business.
“When I was there, I did what made me happy, and my conscience is clear.”
Kennedy-Ohanenye’s removal came amid a cabinet shake-up by President Tinubu, though the former minister maintained that the decision was not a personal slight.