The Presidency has dismissed rumours that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, suffered a stroke or has been replaced by President Bola Tinubu. Officials confirmed that the minister is recuperating in his Abuja home after falling ill.
A senior government official, who spoke to The PUNCH on Sunday but preferred not to be named, said, “Yes, he’s indisposed. He’s sick, which is a bit serious, but it’s not stroke. As I’m talking to you, he’s in his house. He has not been flown anywhere.”
The official explained that Edun may travel abroad for further medical attention only if his doctors recommend it.
“He doesn’t have a stroke, which is why we put it in the statement that he is indisposed,” the source added.
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Another Presidency official also confirmed that Edun is under the care of Nigerian doctors and remains in stable condition.
“He’s being attended to by Nigerian doctors. They’re still monitoring him. If he needs medical care outside Nigeria, he will go. But he’s still at home. There are no plans to replace him,” the official said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, also assured Nigerians that the minister is recovering well.
“Yes, he’s indisposed. Wale Edun is about 69 years old. He suddenly fell ill. As we are talking, he is in Nigeria. He is recuperating. He’s around,” Onanuga said on Sunday evening.
The Presidency’s clarification followed reports claiming that President Tinubu was planning to replace Edun due to his health challenges.
Earlier, the government had announced that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, would lead Nigeria’s delegation to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., which begin on Monday, October 14, since Edun would be unable to attend.
Mr. Edun, appointed on August 28, 2023, has been a key figure in President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, focusing on stabilising the naira, curbing inflation, and attracting foreign investment. He previously served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance under Tinubu’s administration between 1999 and 2004.
As of the time of this report, the Federal Ministry of Finance has not issued an official statement regarding the minister’s health.