Drama as minister disrupts event over impersonation claim

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

Drama ensued at the NAF Centre, Jahi, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, when the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, disrupted an event over alleged impersonation.

The event was organised by the Mela-Chiyoma Pat Limited, on how to empower women through agriculture, and titled: ‘Unveiling the power of women and food security.’

Kennedy-Ohanenye stormed the centre about an hour after its commencement with security operatives believed to be men of the Department of State Services (DSS), claiming that the organiser, Patricia Stan-Dioka, impersonated her ministry.

According to her, “there is an impersonating thing going on here. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs did not plan this. The lady, I have arrested her. Right now, she is with the Department of State Service (DSS).

“After we wrote that we were cancelling, the president approved that we should cancel until further notice; she still went ahead to print this thing.

“This is an impersonation. As far as this thing was given out there, that makes it a fraud. So, that is why I am standing here to explain this to everyone. She has been arrested.

“She should have organised herself, used her name to make an invitation, and used her name to do this and not to use the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

“I can’t allow this programme to move on. I am sorry about it because this is pure impersonation and the president is not happy about it.

“I am saying this. Let the media cover it; I don’t care. You don’t do this. You don’t take the ministry for granted.”

The minister’s action brought an end to the event.