The moment he nearly quit the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was the hardest decision, according to former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed.
According to reports, Mohammed revealed this information on Wednesday in Abuja during the publication of his book, “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration.”
He clarified that the book provided an inside look at how the Buhari administration’s narratives were created, maintained, and disseminated—often in the face of crises, false information, and heavy public scrutiny.
“The toughest decision I took as minister was at a moment when I almost resigned,” he stated, emphasizing that he had a duty to maintain an accurate historical record and dispel long-standing myths due to his extended access to government decision-making.
Lia Mohammed claims that his conviction that Africans must share their own tales or face having their histories misrepresented motivated him to write about his experience.
He explained that the book was created to set the scene, dispel myths, and share personal observations from his years in government.
“I was at the center of government communication, crisis management, national orientation, culture, and tourism for almost eight years,” he said. I observed how choices were made and how facts were frequently obscured by false information.
Former presidential spokesman Segun Adeniyi reviewed the book and pointed out that some contentious matters, like the Twitter shutdown and the #EndSARS protests, were handled more like legal briefs than fair historical accounts.
Speaking as well, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, praised Lai Mohammed’s services and called him one of the Buhari administration’s most criticized ministers for his involvement in defending government policies.
Halima, the late former president Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, added that her father was fully aware of the criticism directed at his administration throughout his tenure.
“He heard both the disappointment of critics and the appreciation of supporters,” said Halima, who spoke on behalf of former First Lady Aisha Buhari.
