Lai Mohammed also said his “friends and many other people” started begging for money after seeing the fake report
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday in Ogun State recalled how “fake news” also ended his 40-year-old marriage.
He made this known while speaking at an event tagged: “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed” organized by the Mass Communication Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University.
According to him, a fake report about a purported $1.9bn allegedly paid into his bank account almost ruined his union with his wife.
He went on to say after the rumour made the rounds, his wife woke him up at midnight, demanding to be one of the signatories to his bank account to prepare for any eventuality.
The ex-minister called on Nigerians to team up in the fight against fake news, stressing that until one becomes a victim, he may not know the gravity of fake reports.
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While interacting with the students, Mohammed said, “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.
“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.”
He further added that even his “friends and many other people” were also begging for money after seeing the fake report.
