Former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, has revealed lesser-known personal traits of Nigeria’s late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a humorous individual whose light-hearted side was often overshadowed by his stern public image.
Mohammed shared the insights during an interview with Edmund Obilo on his podcast, aired on Monday, January 26, 2026, while discussing his newly released book, Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration.
During the interview, Obilo referenced the book and asked, “There is a new book you have to read. It is headlines and soundbites, media moments that defined an administration. Written by Lai Muhammad, Minister of Information, 2015 to 2023. You said Buhari was humorous. Do you think Buhari was straight-faced?”
Responding, Mohammed said, “Yes. You know, I’ll give you two instances. Buhari, if you are close to him, is a very, very humorous person.” He explained that the former president’s humour was more evident in private interactions, particularly during the political engagements that preceded the 2015 general elections.
Mohammed recalled that after the merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC), he frequently travelled to Kaduna alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande to meet with Buhari, who was then the party’s presidential candidate.
“I wrote in this book, in the run-up to the 2015 elections, really after the merger, I used to accompany President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Bisi Akande to Kaduna for meetings with the then presidential candidate of the APC, General Muhammad Buhari,” he said.
He added that the meetings were usually scheduled on days that coincided with his personal fasting routine. “And these meetings normally took place on Thursdays and Mondays, which are my fasting days,” Mohammed said. According to him, this led to repeated refusals whenever lunch was offered. “So whenever they invited me to join them for lunch, I would decline,” he explained.
Mohammed said Buhari eventually took notice and jokingly questioned his absence from meals. “Then one day, Buhari asked Asiwaju, why doesn’t Lai like eating in my house? Is he afraid I will poison him?” he said. He recalled Tinubu’s response to Buhari, saying, “And Asiwaju said, no, Lai actually has some manners and thoughts. He’s been doing that since I knew him.” Mohammed said Buhari accepted the explanation with amusement. “Oh, so that’s good,” Buhari reportedly responded.
He went on to narrate another encounter that further illustrated Buhari’s sense of humour. “A few days later, he called me, he said Lai, tell me the truth. How many people have you killed?” Mohammed said. Surprised by the question, he replied, “I said, killed, sir?”
According to Mohammed, Buhari then added humorously, “He said, because me, you see that 30 days compulsory Ramadan, I fear it.” Buhari reportedly continued, “You are fasting every day. What are you atoning for?” Mohammed said the remark drew laughter from those present. “And everybody laughed. That’s Buhari for you,” he concluded.
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