Why Buhari appointed me minister in 2015 — Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has revealed that his appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was based on years of trust, shared values, loyalty, and service, rather than a single decision or moment.

Mohammed, who served nearly eight years in Buhari’s cabinet, shared these insights in his book, Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration.

The book, launched in Abuja on December 17, 2025, coincided with what would have been Buhari’s 83rd birthday and chronicles Mohammed’s experiences as minister under the late President.

Reflecting on the period after Buhari’s inauguration on May 29, 2015, Mohammed said it took some time before the President named his cabinet.

However, due to the confidence Buhari had in him, Mohammed was personally appointed to the Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee in April 2015, even after other members had already been named.

The committee’s role was to liaise with the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan administration, review handover notes, and prepare a blueprint for the incoming government.

Mohammed recounted the phone call that led to his appointment: “‘Hello,’ the voice on the line said. ‘Is this Alhaji Lai Mohammed?’ I answered yes. ‘Hold on for Mr. President,’ the voice added.

“Then another voice, which I recognised as the President-elect, asked, ‘Lai, where are you?’ I replied, ‘Your Excellency, I am in Lagos.’

“He then asked, ‘What are you doing in Lagos?’ I said, ‘I live in Lagos, Your Excellency.’

“He immediately went to the point: ‘Are you not coming for the inaugural meeting of the Transition Committee in Abuja tomorrow?’ I responded, ‘Your Excellency, I am not a member of the committee.’

“He then said, ‘Ok, Tunde (Sabiu, his personal assistant) will call you,’ and hung up. Within the hour, I received a call from Tunde asking where he should deliver the letter appointing me to the committee,” Mohammed wrote.

He explained that when he was initially left out of the committee, he did not feel slighted, but was simply glad that the party had won the election.

Mohammed said Buhari’s personal appointment marked the beginning of a close and special relationship that lasted until the former President’s death on July 13, 2025.

He also recalled that a few days before Buhari’s 100th day in office, a presidential confidant requested him to assist the spokesmen ahead of the celebration, even before ministers had been named.

At that time, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu had already been appointed as spokespersons, but the request to Mohammed was a clear indication of the President’s confidence in him.

“The same confidant told me that if there was anyone the President was certain would make his cabinet, it was me,” he wrote.

Mohammed traced his relationship with Buhari back to 2012, when he sought through Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for Buhari to write the foreword to his first book, Witness to History.

Buhari graciously agreed, wrote the foreword, and attended the book launch, solidifying their early political connection.

Their next significant interaction came during the lead-up to the 2015 general election, after the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As the opposition spokesman for the Action Congress of Nigeria and later the APC, Mohammed regularly attended meetings with Buhari in Kaduna, alongside political leaders President Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.

These meetings, typically held on Mondays and Thursdays, allowed Mohammed to build a foundation of trust and mutual respect with Buhari.

He said these long-standing interactions and shared political ideals formed the basis for the confidence Buhari later placed in him as minister.

“Serving in Buhari’s administration for nearly eight years allowed me to witness firsthand the former President’s dedication to discipline, integrity, and national service—values that guided my own conduct in office,” Mohammed said.