Politics

Why I Rejected My Family’s Call to Quit During EndSARS, Says Lai Mohammed

 

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday recounted how his family urged him to resign at the height of the 2020 EndSARS protests over police brutality.

Mohammed, who spoke as a guest on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, said the period was one of the most challenging moments of his public career.

The former minister, who appeared on the show to discuss his new book, “Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration,” explained that the pressure on his family during the protests became overwhelming.

According to him, his relatives were subjected to intense harassment both online and offline, with some of their businesses also affected.

“They met and asked me to resign,” he said. “They told me: ‘We are being bullied online and offline. Our businesses are suffering. And we’re not gaining anything from this. Why continue to expose us?’”

Mohammed said he had to persuade them that walking away was not as simple as they assumed.

He noted that the book was written to provide an insider’s account of significant moments in contemporary Nigerian governance, stressing that history would be incomplete without perspectives from those who served.

“This book is for posterity,” he said. “It is meant to educate the public and inspire future leaders. It contains successes, failures and tough moments, including what happened during EndSARS.”

Olayinka Babatunde

Recent Posts

Eight rescued Benue kidnap victims confirmed as UTME candidates

Eight victims rescued from last Wednesday’s abduction of a Benue Links bus have been confirmed…

11 hours ago

Iran says final deal ‘far off’ as Strait of Hormuz remains closed

Iran has said a final peace agreement with the United States remains distant, as the…

11 hours ago

Imo LGA vice chairman suspended over alleged armed robbery

The Vice Chairman of Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Prince Mathew Igbokwe,…

11 hours ago

Amnesty faults NBC directive, warns against media clampdown

Amnesty International has criticised a recent directive issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), describing…

12 hours ago

TCN declares force majeure as storm damages Lagos–Osun power line

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared a force majeure on the Ikeja West–Osogbo…

12 hours ago

Kano gov welcomes Shekarau to APC, cites boost for party strength

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has welcomed the return of former governor and senator, Ibrahim…

12 hours ago