Alhaji Lai Mohammed , former Minister of Information, said that there was definitely the need for all hands to be on deck to fight the menace of the fake news explaining that one might not know the gravity of falsehood reports until one became a victim.
Mohammed disclosed this on Thursday at a programme 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 programme is tagged “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed”.
The former minister urged Nigerians to discard the thought that the All Progressives Congress-led government foisted hardship upon the country, saying that no responsible government get to power with the aim of making life miserable for the people.
He decried the evil of fake news, lamenting that a fake report about a phantom $1.9b paid into his account almost destroyed his marriage of 40 years.
The former minister spoke on the theme”Redefining The Role of Spokesman: My Enduring Engagement/Romance With The Practice of Public Relations”.
The forum was held at the lecture theatre of the new Faculty of Social Sciences building of the university.
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 is fake news that I have $1.9bn in my bank account and unfortunately many people believe this falsehood including my wife.
“One day my wife woke me up in the middle of the night and spoke in Yoruba, She said Daddy, I said yes, what is it? She said we all know that death can come at any time, we might said it won’t be this early but it might be and may not be but whatever happens, it will be good 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 .
“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 that the government of President Bola Tinubu meant well for the nation and very soon Nigerians will have cause to smile.
He said ” I can assure you that the present government meant well for the people, certain decisions have been taken, it might be painful now but no government come into power to inflict hardship 6con the citizens.
” The President is working hard day and night to see that things get better and this is just a matter of time”.
The Head of the Mass Communication Department, Dr Lanre Akinola said that the essence of the engagement was to provide a forum for town and gown to meet and chart a new cause for national development.
Akinola said that “I am glad the students are excited to meet with the former Minister, they have interacted with him, they have drawn inspiration from his very rich lecture and they must have picked a whole lot of lessons which can help them to turn out to be the best in life too, it has been a rewarding experience”.
