Former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has said he almost resigned from office during what he described as the most difficult period of the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Mohammed, who served two terms in Buhari’s cabinet, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at the launch of his book, “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration”.
He said, “The toughest decision I took as minister was at a moment when I almost resigned.”
Mohammed explained that his long access to government decision making placed a responsibility on him to preserve an accurate historical record and correct long standing misconceptions.
He said the book offers an insider account of how narratives of the Buhari administration were shaped, defended and communicated, often amid crises, misinformation and public scrutiny.
“For almost eight years, I was at the centre of government communication, crisis management, national orientation, culture and tourism. I saw how decisions were made and how misinformation often overshadowed facts,” he said.
The former minister said he did not write the book to defend the legacy of President Buhari, adding that the truth needs no defence.
He said Africans must tell their own stories to avoid distortion, noting that if they do not, others will do so to suit their own purposes.
“My uncommon access to government decision making over a long stretch of time places a responsibility on me to preserve an accurate record, correct long standing misconceptions and provide clarity where necessary,” he said.
Mohammed added that the publication was written to provide context, correct misconceptions and offer firsthand insights from his years in office.
“It is my hope that this book will serve as a resource for researchers, media professionals and students of politics, communications and public relations, among others,” he said.
He also said the book highlighted government projects and communication materials used during the 2023 electioneering campaigns to counter opposition claims that the APC had nothing to campaign with.
Reviewing the book, a former presidential spokesman, Segun Adeniyi, said some controversial issues such as the Twitter suspension and the #EndSARS protests were treated in a manner that read more like legal briefs than balanced historical narratives.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described Lai Mohammed as one of the most criticised ministers under the Buhari administration because of his role in defending government policies.
Halima Buhari, a daughter of the late former President, said her father was aware of the criticisms against his administration while he was in office.
Representing the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, she said, “He heard both the disappointment of critics and the appreciation of supporters.”
