Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a former Minister of Information and Culture, has expressed strong concern about the impact of fake news.
He revealed how a false report alleging a $1.9bn payment into his account nearly jeopardized his 40-year marriage.
Mohammed emphasised the urgency for collective efforts to combat the menace of fake news, highlighting the unforeseen consequences that victims may face.
Additionally, he defended the government led by President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress, urging against attributing the nation’s challenges solely to it.
Lai 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.
This is 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”.
People Also Read: 70,000 Naira: Four Key Highlights From Agreement Reached Between Tinubu And Labour
Fake News Almost Ruin My Marriage
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.”
The former minister said he had to take his time to explain to his wife that the report was entirely fake news and that the allocation for his ministry in a year was ₦5bn, making a total of ₦40bn for the years he spent in government.
Consequences
He said he had wondered how someone would sit somewhere to cook up that a whooping sum of money is in his bank, adding: “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.”
Speaking on the prevailing economic crisis in the country, Mohammed said the government of President Tinubu meant well for the nation and very soon Nigerians would have a cause to smile.
