The Presidency has dismissed speculations making the rounds that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning to replace the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who is said to be indisposed.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency clarified that Mr. Edun is only temporarily indisposed and is currently recovering, contrary to viral rumours suggesting he suffered a stroke or was flown abroad for medical attention.
“There is no truth whatsoever in the reports that the President is planning to appoint someone else as Finance Minister. Mr. Wale Edun is indisposed and is recuperating. He was not flown abroad, and all stories about his replacement are false,” Onanuga stated.
This clarification comes amidst widespread social media reports and unconfirmed publications alleging that the minister’s condition was critical and that discussions were underway to find a successor to head the Ministry of Finance. Some platforms had claimed that Edun was suffering from paralysis after an alleged stroke, a narrative the Presidency firmly rejected as politically motivated misinformation.
Due to his current health situation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has been designated to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the ongoing World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington D.C. He will be accompanied by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, representing Nigeria’s economic team at the global financial forum.
Meanwhile, sources within the Ministry of Finance have also confirmed that the Minister is in stable condition and remains in the country, resting under medical supervision. Officials close to the ministry emphasized that Edun continues to receive regular briefings and is expected to resume official duties as soon as he fully recovers.
Mr. Wale Edun, a key member of President Tinubu’s economic management team, has been at the forefront of fiscal and monetary coordination efforts since his appointment in 2023. His ministry has been pivotal in implementing the government’s reform agenda, tackling the post-subsidy economic adjustments, and driving fiscal sustainability policies aimed at stabilizing the naira and attracting foreign investments.
Political analysts say the rumours about Edun’s health and replacement may have stemmed from ongoing tensions around Nigeria’s economic direction, given his central role in implementing the administration’s economic blueprint. However, the Presidency insists there is no vacuum in the finance ministry and that the President remains confident in Edun’s leadership and dedication to national service.
With this official clarification, the Presidency aims to put an end to unfounded speculations and reassure Nigerians and international partners that the nation’s fiscal management remains on course under the Tinubu-led administration.