In a candid revelation, former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed deep concern over the impact of fake news, sharing a personal story of how a false report nearly ended his four-decade-long marriage.
Speaking at a program titled “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed,” organized by the Mass Communication Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State, Mohammed highlighted the urgent need to combat the spread of false information.
Addressing the audience on the topic “Redefining the Role of Spokesman: My Enduring Engagement/Romance with the Practice of Public Relations,” Mohammed recounted an incident where a fake news report claimed he had $1.9 billion in his bank account. This falsehood caused significant distress in his personal life, particularly with his wife of 40 years.
Mohammed explained, “The menace of fake news is a menace that must be tackled by all of us; this is something that nearly cost me my marriage of about 40 years. While we were in government, there was fake news that I had $1.9bn in my bank account and unfortunately, many people believed this falsehood, including my wife.”
He narrated how his wife, troubled by the report, confronted him one night, asking to be made a signatory to his bank account due to the widespread belief in the fake news. Mohammed had to painstakingly convince her that the report was false, clarifying that the annual budget for his ministry was far less than the rumored amount.
Mohammed emphasized the severe consequences of fake news, stating, “This is why I strongly believe that this menace of fake news should be curbed. You won’t know the weight of it until it is about you. It has destroyed many marriages; many people have even committed suicide because fake news were published about them on social media.”
During his speech, Mohammed also defended the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the government should not be blamed for the economic hardships facing the nation. He assured the public that the government’s efforts would soon yield positive results for Nigerians.
