Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, decried the evil of fake news, lamenting that a fake report about a phantom $1.9bn paid into his account almost destroyed his marriage of 40 years.
Mohammed said there was a need for all hands to be on deck to fight the menace of fake news, explaining that one might not know the gravity of false reports until one falls victim.
This was as he defended the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress government, saying it should not be blamed for the hardship in the land.
Mohammed spoke on Thursday at a programme tagged: “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed” organised by the Mass Communication Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye in collaboration with Nigeria Union of Journalists and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State.
The former minister spoke on “Redefining the Role of Spokesman: My Enduring Engagement/Romance with the Practice of Public Relations”.
Lai Mohammed said, “The menace of fake news is a menace that must 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.
“One day, my wife woke me up in the middle of the night and spoke in Yoruba, She called me: ‘Daddy,” and I said, ‘Yes, what is it?’ She said, ‘We all know that death can come at any time; we may say it wouldn’t be this early but it may be, but whatever happens, it will be good if you make me one of the signatories to your bank account to prepare for any eventuality. Even my friends and many other people are already begging me for money after seeing the report of so much money in your account.’”
