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| Alhaji Lai Mohammed |
The Beginning
Mohammed, 63, was a thorn in the flesh of the then ruling party – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as he was the spokesperson for the then major opposition party – The All Progressives Congress (APC).
He endeared himself to many Nigerians for his constant and consistent checkmating of the policies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Not many were surprised when Mohammed was nominated as a ministerial nominee from Kwara state by President Muhammadu Buhari, even though political actors in the North central state were against his nomination.
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| Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the political leader of Kwara state and Senate President, Bukola Saraki
A group under the aegis of Coalition Groups of All Progressives Congress members , on Friday, October 9 had described Mohammed’s emergence as cheating.
The spokesman of the group, Prince Adetoyese Omokanye, said: ”His permanent voter’s card (PVC) was registered and collected in Lagos and all his contributions for the emergence of APC at the federal level are through Lagos. He was not in Kwara all through the electioneering exercise and couldn’t influence our electoral successes at the poll. His son is presently a member of Lagos state House of Assembly.
”We are baffled when newspapers claims indicated that he represents Kwara state in the ministerial list submitted by the president to the national assembly for screening.
”Our assumption was that two nominees have been taken from Lagos, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola,” he added.
But political analysts opined then that Mohammed’s nomination was well deserved because of the commendable way he battled the government in power before his party took over at the centre.
Reacting to the allegations of the group, Mohammed stated then that he deserved his ministerial nomination by President Buhari. He said he contributed to the successes of the APC in the state, adding that those protesting are free to cross-check.
According to him, his family registered in Oro, his hometown, and he aided some APC members to win their elections to the House of Representatives.
During his ministerial screening at the Nigerian Senate, Mohammed noted that it is service to be in the opposition, but a higher service to serve in government.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed at the National Assembly after his successful screening in the Nigerian Senate
But how has he fared in government so far?
The Gaffes
Ever since he became a minister, Alhaji Mohammed has been committing some blunders that has left many political observers in awe.
Alhaji Mohammed and social media entrepreneurs during an interactive in session in Lagos recently
On Monday, December 21, Mohammed blamed former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for the present fuel queues being experienced across the country.
A statement that got many Nigerians irritated and sparked a frenzy on micro-blogging site, Twitter.
Mohammed said: ”What I will be telling Nigerians is that what we met on ground is such that we are paying for the sins of the last administration. I am being very serious. You remember that about two weeks ago, we had to go to the National Assembly for a supplementary budget of N674 billion.
”Of that figure, N522 billion was for arrears of fuel subsidy which was incurred as far back as August last year. One of the reasons for the fuel scarcity was the inability of the last government to make adequate provision for fuel subsidy.
“We do face some other logistic problems but majorly we are paying for the sins of the last administration.”
The Reactions
But Nigerians will have none of that. And they made their grievances known with the hashtag #LetsBlameGEJ.
While the noise about Mohammed’s allegation against the Jonathan government was yet to die down, the minister went on to say the Nigerian Army has met the deadline on Boko Haram. He made the remark while speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, December 23, during an interactive session with newsmen.
Recall that President Buhari had set a deadline for the Nigerian Army by the end of December to free all Nigerian territory currently held by Boko Haram terrorists.
The minister’s statement further caused furore in the polity as Nigerians again reacted negatively to the minister’s comment.
On his part, the former special adviser to former president Jonathan on new media,Reno Omokri, wrote an article on Mohammed’s recent remarks telling him it is an abdication of responsibility on his part and ”does not project you and the government you represent as being responsible.”
Also reacting, Bayelsa Senator, Ben Bruce called on the APC-led government to follow the example of President Barack Obama who inherited the worst economy ever but succeeded in reducing unemployment and petrol prices without blaming his predecessor.
 L-R: Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and popular actress, Genevieve Nnaji at a recent function in Abuja
Alhaji Mohammed is obviously adjusting to his new position and so it might be early to pass judgement on him. It remains to be seen whether the minister will endear his way into the hearts of Nigerians again like he did in the past.
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