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Why ex-President Buhari appointed me into his cabinet in 2015 – Lai Mohammed reveals

Abuja, Jan. 11, 2026 (NAN) Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that his journey to ministerial appointment by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 was not the result of a single moment, but of years of trust, shared convictions, loyalty, and service.

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Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture for almost eight years, during the Buhari’s administration, disclosed this in his book, “Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration”.

The book launched in Abuja on Dec. 17, 2025, to coincide with what would have been Buhari’s 83rd birthday, chronicled his experiences as minister under the late President’s administration.

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Mohammed recalled that after Buhari’s inauguration on May 29, 2015, it took a while before he named his cabinet

He, however, said that because of the trust and confidence reposed in him, Buhari personally appointed him into the Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee in April 2015, after the members had been named.

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The committee was mandated to liaise with the then outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in reviewing handover notes and preparing a blueprint for the incoming government.

Mohammed detailed the telephone conversation between him and the late President, on how he was appointed into the transition committee.

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“Hello”, the voice on the line said, “Is this Alhaji Lai Mohammed?” I answered in the affirmative. “Hold on for Mr President” the voice said.

“Then another voice, apparently that of the President- elect came in on the line and asked: Lai where are you?

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“Your excellency, I am in Lagos’. “What are you doing in Lagos?” he asked, I live in Lagos your excellency.

“He then went straight to the reason for the call. “Are you not coming for the inaugural meeting of the Transition Committee in Abuja tomorrow?

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“I replied, Your excellency I am not a member of the committee . He then said, Ok, Tunde (Sabiu his longtime Personal Assistant) will call you, and he hung up.

“Within the hour, I received a call from Tunde who asked where he should deliver the letter appointing me to the transition committee,” he narrated in the book.

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Mohammed said when the committee was first named and he was not included, he did not feel left out or slighted, but happy that they had won the elections.

According to him, Buhari’s action of personally appointing him into the committee, marked the beginning of a very cordial and special relationship that existed between them, until the former President’s death on July 13, 2025.

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Mohammed also recalled that a few days to Buhari’s 100 days in office, he received a call from a very close confidant of the President, requesting him to come and assist the spokesmen ahead of the landmark celebration.

He recalled that at that time, Buhari was yet to name his Ministers but had made some appointments, including those of Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu as his spokespersons.

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“I did not need a soothsayer to tell me that the call was a further indication to the President’s confidence in me.

“The same confidant told me on another occasion that if there was anyone the President was very sure would make his cabinet and whose portfolio he was already sure of- that person was me,” he wrote.

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Mohammed said that the relationship between him and Buhari dated back to 2012, when he wrote to the late President through Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to request that he write the foreword to his first book, “Witness to History”.

He said Buhari graciously agreed, wrote the foreword and attended the book launch.

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The next encounter with Buhari, according to the former minister, came in the run up to the 2015 general election, after they had consummated the merger that birthed the All Progressives’ Congress (APC).

Mohammed who was the opposition spokesman for the Action Congress of Nigeria and later the APC, for over a decade, said he was usually part of the meetings with Gen. Buhari in Kaduna.

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The meeting, according to him, included his political leader, and the incumbent President Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande and were usually held on Mondays and Thursdays.

Mohammed said these long-standing interactions, built on mutual respect and shared political ideals, laid the foundation for the confidence Buhari later placed in him as minister.

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He added that serving in Buhari’s administration for nearly eight years, allowed him to witness firsthand, the former President’s dedication to discipline, integrity, and national service, values that guided his own conduct in office.(NAN)

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Govt suspend Doctors for leaving scissors in patient’s stomach after operation

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Govt suspend Doctors for leaving scissors in patient’s stomach after operation

The Kano State Hospitals Management Board has acknowledged that the death of Aishatu Umar, a five-time mother, resulted from professional lapses at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, a government health facility in Kano.

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According to a statement issued by the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Samira Suleiman, an internal probe initiated by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, revealed that medical staff failed to remove surgical scissors from the patient’s body after an operation, a mistake that proved fatal.

Following the findings, the Board ordered the suspension of three staff members connected to the procedure, barring them from all clinical responsibilities with immediate effect.

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The case has also been handed over to the Kano State Medical Ethics Committee, which will conduct a more detailed inquiry and determine appropriate sanctions in accordance with existing regulations and ethical guidelines.

“The Board extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late Aishatu Umar and sympathizes with them over this painful loss. We reassure the public that negligence will not be condoned in any form,” the statement read.

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Aishatu Umar reportedly died after complications arising from a surgery in which surgical scissors were allegedly left in her abdomen.

Her husband, Abubakar Muhammad, said she repeatedly complained of worsening health conditions after the operation, but her concerns were not adequately addressed before her death.

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The tragedy has triggered widespread anger among Kano residents, drawing attention to systemic weaknesses in supervision and accountability within public hospitals.

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Masquerade arrested, detained by Police over alleged attack in community

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Masquerade arrested, detained by Police over alleged attack in community

The Anambra Police Command says it has detained a masquerade, allegedly involved in unprovoked violent attacks on residents of Awgbu Community in Orumba North LGA of the state.
In a statement issued in Awka and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, the command’s Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the incident happened on Monday.
“The Anambra Police Command wishes to inform the public, especially the people of Anambra and other concerned persons, that it has taken into custody the masquerade involved in the unprovoked and violent attacks on innocent citizens.
“The act led to a breach of public peace in Awgbu, Orumba North LGA.
“The suspect is currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice,” Ikenga added.
He described the conduct by the masquerade, as seen in the viral video currently in circulation, as “unacceptable, unlawful, and would not be tolerated under any guise”.
An eyewitness in the community told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the masquerade, accompanied by some youths, went out of its way to attack unsuspecting members of the public and destroyed people’s property.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said that the incident occurred during the last “Ofala” festival in honour of the late Traditional Ruler of Awgbu, Igwe Michael Okechukwu.
NAN reports that the festival was supposed to be a solemn cultural and symbolic celebration of the life and reign of the late monarch. (NAN)

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BREAKING: More Rivers Lawmakers back out of impeachment proceedings against Gov Fubara

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BREAKING: More Rivers Lawmakers back out of impeachment proceedings against Gov Fubara

Two additional lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly have appealed to their colleagues to halt the impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as calls for restraint within the legislature continue to grow.

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The legislators, Barile Nwakoh, representing Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, made their position known on Wednesday, barely 48 hours after two other members of the House publicly distanced themselves from the impeachment effort.

Earlier on Monday, Sylvanus Eyinna Nwankwo and Peter Abbey had broken ranks with the Assembly leadership, urging lawmakers to approach the unfolding crisis with caution, dialogue, and a spirit of compromise rather than confrontation.

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The dissenting lawmakers argued that impeachment should not be the first option in resolving disagreements between the executive and legislative arms, suggesting that alternative mechanisms could help de-escalate tensions and open the door to reconciliation.

The appeal was delivered during a press conference held in Port Harcourt, where the lawmakers said pressure was mounting from political leaders and stakeholders within and outside Rivers State to seek a peaceful resolution.

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Addressing journalists, Nwankwo, the Minority Leader of the House and representative of Omuma Constituency, disclosed that several interventions had been made by respected figures calling for moderation and restraint.

He urged his colleagues to suspend the impeachment process and give room for dialogue in the interest of political stability in the state.

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Abbey, who represents Degema Constituency, acknowledged allegations that the governor may have breached constitutional provisions but cautioned against an irreversible step such as impeachment.

He noted that while errors may have occurred, the focus should be on corrective measures and ensuring that any identified lapses are not repeated going forward.

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