Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Thursday opened up about some of the most controversial moments of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, emphasizing that “headlines can be more powerful than facts” in shaping public perception of governance in Nigeria.
Speaking at Rovingheights Bookshop in Abuja during a reading of his recently released memoir, Media Moments That Define An Administration, Mohammed reflected on the complexities of governing in the era of instant headlines and social media hysteria.
Addressing a packed aunce of media professionals, political associates, and readers, he identified three major episodes that defined his tenure as government spokesperson: cing the narrative on Boko Haram, countering opposition claims with the administration’s scorecard strategy, and managing the communication crisis during the End SARS protests, including the eventual suspension of Twitter.
Recounting his early days in office in November 2015, Mohammed described being stunned by the disconnect between military gains against Boko Haram and the dominant narrative suggesting government inaction. Determined to provide firsthand evidence, he led a delegation of 40 local and international journalists to Maiduguri and later to Konduga, Kaori, and Bama—areas recently reclaimed from insurgents.
“When I entered Bama on December 5, 2015, I thought I was in Afghanistan. Road signs were in Arabic. Boko Haram had deposed emirs and were collecting taxes. That visit brought me face-to-face with the reality of war and the sacrifices of our solrs,” he said.
Despite independent reports by journalists, skepticism persisted, with critics accusing the government of “packaging” the story. Mohammed recalled telling a governor, “I have been there. You go too. Come back and tell Nigerians what you saw,” which he said ended the debate.
He also revealed that he had to secure presidential approval while Buhari was abroad before embarking on the trip, calling it his “first lesson in how complex governance can be.”
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