‘The Hardest Call I Made as Minister’ – Lai Mohammed Speaks Out

The moment he nearly resigned from the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, according to former Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, was the hardest choice.

Mohammed reportedly 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 developed, 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 because of his extended access to government decision-making.

Lia Mohammed claims that his conviction that Africans must speak their own tales or risk having their histories misrepresented motivated him to write about his experience.

He stated that the newsletter was created to give background information, dispel myths, and share personal observations from his time in office.

“I was at the center of government communication, crisis management, national orientation, culture, and tourism for nearly eight years,” he said. I observed how choices were made and how false information frequently took precedence over the truth.

Former presidential spokesman Segun Adeniyi reviewed the book and pointed out that some contentious themes, such the #EndSARS protests and the Twitter suspension, 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 efforts and called him one of the Buhari administration’s most criticized ministers for his defense of government policies.

Furthermore, Halima, the late former president Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, stated 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,” stated Halima, who spoke on behalf of former First Lady Aisha Buhari.