Olushola Omogbehin
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has travelled to the United Kingdom for urgent medical attention.
A top government source confirmed the development on Sunday, describing Edun’s condition as “very serious” and currently receiving intensive medical attention overseas.
“It’s very serious. He may survive, but he can’t get back to work again,” the source told SaharaReporters, disclosing that the minister suffered severe paralysis as a result of the stroke.
The minister left Abuja for Lagos on Monday night through a commercial flight and departed same night for London aboard a British Airways flight.
Before his departure, Presidency officials who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday had maintained that he was recuperating at his Abuja residence under the care of Nigerian doctors.
In recent days, there had been widespread rumours that the minister suffered a stroke but the Presidency has since debunked the claims.
Meanwhile, in a Sunday statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said that Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, will lead the country’s delegation to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, starting Monday, October 13.
“Cardoso, as the alternate Governor, replaces the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, who is indisposed,” Onanuga said.
Following his assumption of office as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on August 21, 2023, Wale Edun has been responsible for Nigeria’s fiscal policy, economic strategy and coordination of financial institutions.
As a key member of Tinubu’s economic team, his absence could significantly affect ongoing fiscal reforms and budget preparations.
