EXTRA: Come celebrate my darling husband’s birthday with me, women affairs minister tells colleagues

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has announced plans to celebrate her husband’s birthday.

In an invite to her colleagues dated January 29, 2023, the 50-year-old asked them to join her for the celebration on Sunday, fondly describing her husband as the “birthday boy”.

TheCable understands that the year ‘2023’ as written on the invite was a typo that should have read as ‘2024’.

“Please come celebrate my darling husband’s birthday with me,” the letter leads.

“Birthday boy: Double Chief Kennedy Ohanenye.

“Date & Time: 4th February, 2024 / 3pm dot.

“Venue: Transcorp Hilton Hotel.”

One of the event planners told TheCable that the memo was only intended for ministers, adding that the event was billed as a “low-key, small interaction”.

“I don’t know how the memo got out, besides it’s nothing serious. It’s just a small interaction,” she said.

Kennedy-Ohanenye did not respond to calls and text messages on the authenticity of the invite.

WHO IS THE MINISTER’S HUSBAND?

Not much is known of the minister’s husband except that he is also a lawyer, a businessman, and a philanthropist.

In an interview she granted last year, the minister said she always looks forward to spending time with her husband whenever she is not at work, describing him as her “main baby”.

“You will not believe it, and I don’t know how to explain it. He is my main, main first baby,” she said.

“That is the first thing I look forward to. Then, I love to cook for him personally. There is no day I don’t prepare something for him, even if it is only spaghetti.

“That is why I always come to work early. By 8am or 8.30am, I’m here, and by 5pm, I must have rounded off what I’m doing and I go home to make some food for my husband and my children.

“I have a cook but I have these special meals that I usually do and some of them don’t take long to get prepared and ready. I bring out the food, serve and we eat together and gist.”

The duo have been married for over 20 years and have four children together.

SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICISMS

Criticisms have trailed the minister’s proposed birthday bash for her spouse.

A source within the cabinet told TheCable that not a few colleagues raised eyebrows after Kennedy-Ohanenye posted the invitation, positing that it was “ill timed” and “tone deaf”.

“But she just doesn’t get it,” the source added.

The development also comes amid the backlash that has trailed President Bola Tinubu’s trip to France.

Last week, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced that Tinubu had embarked on a private visit to Paris, the French capital.

Ngelale said the president is expected back in the country in the first week of February.

Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), faulted Tinubu for the trip, describing it as an embarrassment to Nigeria, especially as the French government has not recognised his presence.

Some X users have criticised the minister for the proposed birthday bash for her husband, as the country grapples with spiralling inflation, a weakened currency, unemployment, and insecurity.

Here are some reactions from X.

While the country is going through the worse time ever Our honorable minister for women Affairs is more concerned about this 👇👇👇🤔 https://t.co/eAU0lAR8VL

— OLA MI LEKAN (@Onlineguru_) January 31, 2024

The disturbing part of this invitation is that election happened on the 25th of February,this same woman became women affairs minister in august but she has been using the letterhead paper of that ministry long before 2023 general election.
Apc is making me to lose my mind 😡😡 pic.twitter.com/Rpcoedrv0F

— Hon. Rilwan (@rilwan_ola01) January 31, 2024

Nigeria is burning, Christians are being massacred all over the middlebelt, yet Tinubu found time to embark on a frivolous travel to France.

— KWEKU THE HUSTLER, COMMANDER OF THE HEADLESS MOB (@Urchilla01) January 24, 2024

Just so you know, the kidnap of the schoolchildren in Ekiti is exactly the same as the “kidnapped” Chibok girls.

Jonathan’s head was on a spike for attending a previously scheduled rally in Ibadan. Today, Tinubu is lounging in France with his hapless NSA.

Say cheese.

— Máfejópamí (@VillageParrot) January 30, 2024

Tinubu built a hospital in Lagos state but each time he coughs, he jets off to France for healthcare.

Agba sea divider.

— A Field Marshal of the Han Dynasty⚡️ (@General_Oluchi) January 24, 2024

Sanwo Olu and his minions really no get shame.

Grenada does not even have an embassy or consulate in Nigeria to start with. No trade, no direct flights, no diplomatic relationship. Nigeria also does not even have an embassy or consulate in Grenada.

What bilateral agreements was…

— Brother Bernard (@MikaelCBernard) January 25, 2024

So that Aisha woman was having a party in Grenada, coincidentally, Sanwoolu wore a kangol cap and t shirt to foster bilateral trade with Grenada which has 1/100 of Lagos GDP.
Make Jide rate us.

— Senior Man (@Seyi__) January 25, 2024

So now nobody is talking about the claim Sanwo Olu using the state’s money for a luxurious vacation in Grenada? I wanna talk about that.

— Mayowa A. Balogun (@Sweeegu) January 25, 2024