The outgoing Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said his final goodbyes to the entire staff of the Ministry, urging them to support his successor the way they supported him.
The politician made this plea at a valedictory and handover ceremony organised for him by the Ministry in Abuja. He also pointed out that their support is very important for the success of the government’s anti-corruption war.
In a surprised revelation before his speech, some staff of the Ministry described the outgoing Minister as one who fears controversy, contrary to what the general public thinks.
The Director, Legal, Ministry of Information and Culture, JK Ehichioya, said: “There are times we advise the Minister, and he will be reluctant to implement them, because he was concerned about the response of the general public.”
Ehichionya also said that the Minister was not as impervious as what people think, adding that, Alhaji Lai Mohammed performed his duties diligently, and can be ruthless and merciless with his pen and tongue.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Grace Isu Gekpe, described the Minister as one who has a penchant for thoroughness, and is endowed with detribalised sense of mission to serve.
She prayed that the Minister “returns to move the Ministry to the next level”, stating that, all the Directors and staff are optimistic that he will return.
While responding, Lai Mohammed said that his tenure as Minister, recorded huge success, because of the industrial harmony he enjoyed with the different Unions under the Ministry.
He said: “I want to start by thanking the management and staff of the Ministry of Information and Culture for organizing this valedictory session for me.
“I also want to commend the staffers for their candid and kind words towards me. As a matter of facts, I’m not surprised they said so many kind words because before we started, I told them I was still a minister for one more day,” the Minister began.
“Five years ago, I met [many people]. Some have left today, while some have just joined, but until this sentforth upon my assumption of office to solicit for your support for me in particular, and for the government in general.
“I’m happy to say that at large, they have enjoyed the support of the management and staff of this ministry. I have also enjoyed indusrial harmony, thanks to the warm relations with the unions.
“Although relations were testing at times, reason and patriotism prevailed most of the times. Needless to say that without this industrial harmony, whatever we have achieved in this past three and half years, would not have been possible.
“Please permit me to specially thank the permanent secretary for her support and cooperation without which we could not have done all those things that we now count as our achievments and they are indeed numerous.
“I also thank the directors and indeed all the staff for their support. I will not bore you with a list of our achievement in this past 3 and half years.
“We have chronicled our achievements and challenges in the hand-over notes.
“In this book entitled the …… of Alhaji Lia Mohammed, Minister of Information and culture.2015/2019, copies of which I’m sure will be distributed by the office of the permanent secretary.
“Finally, I leave you with my best wishes and sincere hope that you will extend to successor the same support and cooperation you have extended to me.
“I enjoin you to continue to do your best, revamp our economy, fight corruption to a stand still, and tackle insecurity. In the end, it is the little contributions of all of us that will make all the diference,” he ended.
What Next For Lai Mohammed
As it is, the outgoing minister would be shuttling between Abuja and his home state as he tries to remain relevant in the scheme of things.
Recall, that the minister led the “Oto ge” movement that dislodged the Saraki dynasty in the just concluded elections in the state.
Saraki’s defeat in the 2019 elections was one of the biggest surprise in the highly contested poll. This is because, the Saraki dynasty is a very deep rooted grassroot movement in Kwara State that has produced six governors since 1979.
Founded by his late father, Olusola Saraki, the political structure was such a strong force that except you align with him, you were not likely to succeed as a politician in Kwara State.
Sadly, all that went into the drain when Saraki could not deliver Kwara for his party in both 2019 presidential and governorship elections. Worst of it all, he also lost his re-election bid to the Senate.
Source: DailyPost
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