Why Buhari appointed me as minister in 2015 — Lai Mohammed

A former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has mentioned his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was the results of years of belief, shared convictions, loyalty, and repair, somewhat than a single second.

Mohammed, who served as info minister for nearly eight years throughout Buhari’s administration, disclosed this in his e-book, Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Outlined an Administration.

The e-book, launched in Abuja on December 17, 2025, to coincide with what would have been Buhari’s 83rd birthday, chronicles his experiences as minister underneath the late President.

Recalling the interval after Buhari’s inauguration on Could 29, 2015, Mohammed mentioned it took some time for the previous President to call his cupboard.

Nonetheless, due to the belief and confidence Buhari positioned in him, Mohammed was personally appointed to the Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee in April 2015, after the opposite members had already been named.

The committee was tasked with liaising with the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to assessment handover notes and put together a blueprint for the incoming authorities.

Mohammed detailed the phone dialog that led to his appointment: “‘Good day,’ the voice on the road mentioned. ‘Is that this Alhaji Lai Mohammed?’ I answered within the affirmative. ‘Maintain on for Mr President,’ the voice mentioned.

“Then one other voice, apparently that of the President-elect, got here on the road and requested: ‘Lai, the place are you?’

“‘Your Excellency, I’m in Lagos.’

“‘What are you doing in Lagos?’ he requested.

“‘I reside in Lagos, Your Excellency,’ I replied.

“He then went straight to the rationale for the decision: ‘Are you not coming for the inaugural assembly of the Transition Committee in Abuja tomorrow?’

“I replied, ‘Your Excellency, I’m not a member of the committee.’ He then mentioned, ‘Okay, Tunde (Sabiu, his longtime private assistant) will name you,’ and he hung up.

“Inside the hour, I acquired a name from Tunde, who requested the place he ought to ship the letter appointing me to the transition committee,” Mohammed narrated within the e-book.

He mentioned that when the committee was first named and he was not included, he didn’t really feel omitted or slighted, however was merely blissful that the celebration had gained the elections.

In accordance with Mohammed, Buhari’s private appointment marked the start of a cordial and particular relationship that lasted till the previous President’s demise on July 13, 2025.

Mohammed additionally recalled that a number of days earlier than Buhari’s one centesimal day in workplace, a detailed confidant of the President requested him to help the spokesmen forward of the landmark celebration.

At the moment, Buhari had not but named his ministers however had appointed Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu as his spokespersons.

“I didn’t want a soothsayer to inform me that the decision was an additional indication of the President’s confidence in me.

“The identical confidant informed me on one other event that if there was anybody the President was very positive would make his cupboard and whose portfolio he was already positive of, that individual was me,” he wrote.

Mohammed mentioned his relationship with Buhari dated again to 2012, when he requested by way of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai that Buhari write the foreword to his first e-book, Witness to Historical past. Buhari graciously agreed, wrote the foreword, and attended the e-book launch.

The subsequent encounter got here throughout the run-up to the 2015 common election, after the merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mohammed, who was the opposition spokesman for the Motion Congress of Nigeria and later the APC for over a decade, mentioned he was usually a part of conferences with Buhari in Kaduna alongside his political chief, President Bola Tinubu, and Chief Bisi Akande. These conferences have been often held on Mondays and Thursdays.

He added that these long-standing interactions, constructed on mutual respect and shared political beliefs, laid the inspiration for the boldness Buhari later positioned in him as minister.

“Serving in Buhari’s administration for almost eight years allowed me to witness firsthand the previous President’s dedication to self-discipline, integrity, and nationwide service—values that guided my very own conduct in workplace,” Mohammed mentioned.

(NAN)