News Of Buhari’s Death Left Me Paralised — Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has revealed that he was left physically paralysed for days after receiving news of the death of his one-time principal, late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the moment as one of the most traumatic in his life.

Mohammed made the disclosure while speaking about his new book, ‘Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration’, which chronicles key events, crises, and communication challenges during Buhari’s eight-year presidency.

“I was paralysed for days when I heard about the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. When I recovered, I decided to dedicate a whole chapter to him in the book,” he said.

The former minister said the period of recovery gave him time to reflect deeply on Buhari’s leadership style and their years of close collaboration in government and politics.

Describing Buhari as “a leader who never micromanaged,” Mohammed said the former president trusted his cabinet members and rarely made personal demands.

“In the entire eight years, the president asked me for a favour only once. He called and asked if I could deliver a paper on his behalf at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. I agreed, and I did it gladly,” he recalled.

He further praised Buhari for his loyalty and trustworthiness, noting that their relationship dated back to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mohammed dismissed claims that the late president was detached from national issues, saying such views were borne out of ignorance.

“Many commentators have little understanding of how government works. Anyone who worked with Buhari would know that he was always in touch, in charge, and on top of his game. Apart from when he was ill, he presided over Council meetings effectively.
He had institutional memory and experience from his prior leadership roles. To say he was disconnected is unfair,” he stated.

The former minister also opened up about one of the most difficult periods of his tenure— the EndSARS protests, which he said brought personal and family hardship due to public backlash.

“My wife and children were bullied online and offline. Their businesses were boycotted, and they were very unhappy because they felt I brought all these upon them,” he said.

Mohammed revealed that his family even held a meeting where they advised him to resign from office. However, he said his decision to stay on was not motivated by money or privilege.

“People talk about benefits from office and I laugh. In my time, no minister earned up to N900,000 a month. My total earnings were N860,000, including feeding and housing allowances. It is an honour to serve, but it is wrong to assume that becoming a minister solves all your problems,” he added.

Addressing criticisms that he frequently distorted facts in defence of the Buhari administration, the former minister insisted he was always guided by truth and national interest.

“You may not agree with my position, but it is difficult to fault my logic or my facts. Many accuse me simply because I was loyal to the president. As Minister of Information, you must consider national security and national cohesion,” Mohammed said.

He described Buhari as “a good leader, mentor, and friend,” adding that his death inspired him to document their shared journey through the book.