No replacement plan, Edun is recovering in Abuja, says presidency
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, is currently recuperating at his residence in Abuja after falling ill, and multiple sources within the Presidency have confirmed to The PUNCH on Sunday that any rumors about President Bola Tinubu planning to replace him are untrue.An official, who wished to remain unnamed due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, denied the circulating speculation that the Minister had suffered a stroke or was taken abroad for treatment.
The source validated the illness by stating, “Yes, he’s indisposed. He’s unwell, which is somewhat serious, but it’s not a stroke.” They also added, “As I speak with you, he’s at home. He hasn’t been taken anywhere.”
The official acknowledged that seeking foreign medical treatment could be an option if necessary, saying, “Of course, he may consider medical care outside if the doctors recommend it. So, the claim that he has a stroke is false.”
They concluded the remarks regarding his health by saying, “He doesn’t have a stroke, which is why we indicated in the statement that he is indisposed.”
Another official confirmed that Mr. Edun is being looked after by Nigerian doctors and reiterated that any decision to seek medical care abroad would only be made if absolutely necessary.
This official mentioned, “He’s under the care of Nigerian doctors. They are monitoring his condition. If he requires medical attention outside Nigeria, he will seek it. But for now, he’s at home,” and firmly stated, “There are no plans to replace him.”
In a separate comment, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also affirmed that the Minister is being treated within Nigeria.
Onanuga told the correspondent, “Yes, he’s indisposed. Wale Edun is approximately 69 years old. He fell ill unexpectedly. As we are speaking, he is in Nigeria. He is recovering. He’s around.”
The statements from the Presidency come in response to reports from The Whistler suggesting that President Tinubu was contemplating replacing the Minister following news of his health condition that emerged late last week.
Previously, the Presidency had already confirmed that Mr. Edun would not participate in this year’s World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., scheduled to start on Monday, October 14.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, is set to represent Nigeria at the meetings in his absence, which gather finance ministers, central bankers, and economic experts from around the world.
Mr. Edun was appointed on August 28, 2023, and has been a key figure in President Tinubu’s fiscal reform strategy, focusing on stabilizing the Naira, controlling inflation, and attracting foreign investment.
Before becoming a minister, he served as the Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State during Tinubu’s administration from 1999 to 2004. As of the time of this report, the Finance Ministry has not released an official statement regarding the situation.
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