The presidency has dismissed reports that indicated that Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, is seriously ill, adding that President Bola Tinubu is shopping for his replacement.
Some online news reports had indicated that the Minister was bedridden and therefore unable to continue in office, making it necessary for the President to commence a search for his replacement.
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Edun, a seasoned economist, banker, and former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, has been widely credited with steering Nigeria’s fragile economy through some of its most challenging moments since Tinubu assumed office,, in May, 2023.
The online reports had claimed that Edun who had been instrumental to shaping the nation’s economic and financial plans, was ” seriously ill, adding that the President is looking for his replacement
The report was further fueled by a Presidency statement which stated that the Minister who usually leads the Federal government delegation to the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund Meeting in Washington DC, which opens on Monday, October 13, has been replaced by Oluyemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
But Onanuga, while reacting to the Social media reports in a telephone chat with BusinessDay, stated that although the “Minister was indisposed, he is currently recovering”
“Contrary to the reports by the Social Media, the Minister is not incapacitated and like I said before, he is currently recovering”
Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday, said Cardoso, as the alternate Governor, replaces the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who is indisposed.
The Nigerian team will also comprise the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anete.
According to the World Bank, key elements of the Annual Meetings include the Development Committee Plenary session on October 16 and the International Monetary and Financial Committee meetings on October 17.
“Other featured events include regional briefings, press conferences, and fora focused on international development, the global economy, and financial markets” the statement said.