Lai: Ministers queue to buy petrol… Change started with us long ago

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, on Thursday said change began with members of the current administration “a long time ago”.

Reacting to the demands of people that change should start from the top, Mohammed said the campaign was leadership-driven.

Mohammed, who said the lifestyle of top government officials, is devoid of any ostentation, said ministers now queue at filling stations and airports.

He was speaking in Lagos when he unveiled the ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign to the corporate world.

“Today, ministers queue up at airports and filling stations. Their lifestyle is devoid of any ostentation,” he said.

“The federal executive council is not left behind. The weekly FEC Meeting starts on time. Indeed, change started with us a long time ago.”

Mohammed said President Muhammadu Buhari demonstrated that change began with him when he rejected the purchase of new vehicles on assumption of office.

He added that the president had also directed his convoy not to break traffic rules.

“The president demonstrated leadership when he rejected the purchase of new vehicles for his use, thus saving N400 million,” he said.

“Thanks to his action, no minister purchases new vehicles, saving millions more.

“Then upon assuming office, the president instructed his convoy to always respect traffic rules. The ministers all followed suit.

“In simple parlance, the campaign is geared towards achieving attitudinal change. As they say, you cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result.

“Against the background that our core values have witnessed total breakdown in the past years, it is imperative that we re-orientate ourselves with a view to restoring those time-tested values.”

Mohammed outlined the different options available to the private sector to key into the campaign, including platinum, gold, diamond and channel partnerships.

Some representatives of the private sector, who spoke at the event, expressed support for the campaign, saying it could not have come at a better time.