Kaduna govt blasts women affairs minister over misleading claims on communal crisis
The Kaduna State Government has blasted the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for making false and misleading claims about a communal crisis in Kagarko Local Government Area.
In a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, the state government said that the minister was deceived by some members of a leading opposition party, who approached her and created a false impression of disharmony and crisis in Kagarko LGA.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to erroneous and misleading media reports claiming a breakthrough by Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs in brokering peace among three alleged warring factions of Koro, Hausa and Fulani in Kagarko Local Government to end a ‘20 year old crisis.’”
The government said that there was no crisis in Kagarko LGA and that the media reports were part of a plot by the opposition to extort the federal government.
“The Kaduna State Government urges the good people of Kaduna State and Nigerians to disregard the erroneous and dangerous rhetoric unfortunately reported by some media stations without verifying the facts. These reports are capable of creating confusion and igniting crisis in Kagarko Local Government Area,” the statement added.
The government accused the minister of falling for the scheme of the conspirators, who promised her political support in exchange for her intervention.
“The Minister, without verifying their bogus claims and in the absence of officials from Kagarko Local Government and the Kaduna State Government, made official pronouncements, and went to the ridiculous extent of promising parcels of land and even seedlings to the conspirators,” the state government also said.
The government expressed its disappointment and shock at the actions of the minister, who it said should have applied caution and professionalism as a public servant and an attorney at law.
The statement said: “The Kaduna State Government is disappointed and shocked by the ill-advised actions of the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, who with her experience as a public servant and knowledge as an Attorney at Law, should have contacted the Kaduna State Government to get the accurate information on the situation in those communities.”
The government said that it was working in partnership with the federal government and security agencies to promote peace, stability and development in the state and would not allow any external influences to jeopardize these efforts.
