Edun: Why Tinubu Sacked Him

Before his eventual sack as the Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Wale Edun’s exit from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cabinet has been long predicted.

Therefore, it was not a surprise that the president finally gave him a shove from the Federal executive Council, FEC on Tuesday, replacing him with Dele Oyedele who was just recently appointed by the president as Minister of State for Finance.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, the development followed a minor cabinet reshuffle by the president. Oyedele appointment, the statement said takes immediate effect.

Also appointed apart from Oyedele is Dr. Muttaqha Darma as Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

Edun’s sack has generated some reactions from not a few Nigerians, particularly those who insist that he has played a key role in the president’s ongoing economic reforms as the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and that his removal came when the president did not give an indication that he would be replaced.

But the magazine, however, learnt that his serious health conditions may have forced the president to show him the way out from his cabinet, so that he can have enough time take care of himself.

Sources revealed that the president has been searching for Edun’s replacement since he fell sick last year, and had to be flown abroad from treatment, even though the Presidency never confirmed that he was ill at the time.

“President Tinubu wanted another round peg in a round hole to replace Edun, that’s why he has delayed his removal from his government till now. Apart from that, the president wanted to give him time to patch thing up in the ministry before his eventual exit, that’s why he was granted many months, almost up to a year before he was removed,” the source said

Adding that, “Don’t also forget that Edun and Tinubu have come a long way since the president was the governor of Lagos state, when the former minister served as the Commissioner of Finance. His health challenges have been there since that time, as he had to take a break at one time or the other from the State Executive Council, SEC to seek medical attention. “

After serving as the Commissioner of Finance in Tinubu’s cabinet as Lagos Governor, Edun had to resign his position in 2004, while Tinubu’s second term in office had just taken of because of some health problems at the time.

The former minister also faced some health problems last October, following which he was flown abroad for treatment.

The Presidency, however preferred to remain anonymous on the issue of Edun’s health until he was finally shown the exit yesterday, ending his three year’s run as Tinubu’s most strategic cabinet minister, considering his dual role as the Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy.

Meanwhile, the former minister has expressed gratitude to the president for the opportunity to serve in that position.

In a statement on Tuesday, Edun said he was grateful that President Tinubu entrusted him with a key role in his cabinet since May 2023, which had enabled him to play an important role in repositioning the economy.