Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has explained that his appointment into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in 2015 was not accidental but the result of years of trust, loyalty, shared ideals and consistent service.
Mohammed, who served in Buhari’s government for nearly eight years, revealed this in his book Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration.
The book was unveiled in Abuja on December 17, 2025, a date chosen to mark what would have been the late President Buhari’s 83rd birthday. It captures Mohammed’s experiences and behind-the-scenes moments while serving under the former President.
Recalling events shortly after Buhari’s inauguration on May 29, 2015, Mohammed noted that the formation of the cabinet took time. However, he said Buhari’s confidence in him was evident early on, even before ministers were named.
According to him, Buhari personally selected him for the Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee in April 2015, despite the fact that the committee had already been constituted.
The committee’s assignment was to interface with the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, examine handover notes and develop a roadmap for the incoming government.
Mohammed recounted the phone call that led to his inclusion.
“‘Hello,’ a voice said on the phone. ‘Is this Alhaji Lai Mohammed?’ I answered yes. ‘Hold on for Mr President,’ the voice added.
“Another voice then came on the line, apparently the President-elect. He asked, ‘Lai, where are you?’
“I told him I was in Lagos.
“He asked what I was doing in Lagos, and I replied that Lagos was my place of residence.
“He then asked, ‘Are you not coming for the inaugural meeting of the Transition Committee in Abuja tomorrow?’
“I told him I was not a member of the committee. He simply said, ‘Okay, Tunde will call you,’ and ended the call.”
Mohammed said that within an hour, Buhari’s longtime personal assistant, Tunde Sabiu, contacted him to ask where the letter appointing him to the transition committee should be delivered.
He added that when the committee was initially announced without his name, he felt neither slighted nor offended, but was simply pleased that the party had won the election.
According to him, Buhari’s personal intervention marked the beginning of a close and enduring relationship that lasted until the former President’s death on July 13, 2025.
Mohammed also revealed that days before Buhari’s 100th day in office, one of the President’s close confidants asked him to assist the presidential spokesmen in preparing for the milestone.
At the time, Buhari had appointed Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu as his media aides, but had yet to announce his ministers.
“I didn’t need anyone to tell me that this was another sign of the President’s trust in me,” Mohammed wrote.
He said the same confidant later hinted that Buhari was already certain of his cabinet membership and the portfolio he would be assigned.
Tracing the roots of their relationship, Mohammed said it began in 2012 when he asked Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to persuade Buhari to write the foreword to his first book, Witness to History. Buhari not only agreed but also attended the book launch.
Their interaction deepened during the build-up to the 2015 general election following the merger that formed the All Progressives Congress.
Mohammed, who served as spokesperson for the Action Congress of Nigeria and later the APC for over a decade, said he frequently attended political meetings with Buhari in Kaduna alongside President Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.
“These meetings, often held twice weekly, helped build mutual respect and shared understanding,” he said.
Mohammed concluded that those long-standing engagements and shared political convictions ultimately earned Buhari’s confidence.
“Serving in Buhari’s administration for almost eight years gave me a front-row view of his commitment to discipline, integrity and national service, the principles that shaped my own conduct in office,” he said.
Advertisement
