According to reports, the minister’s condition is said to be “very serious,” with sources revealing that he is currently receiving intensive care overseas.
A top government official who spoke to SaharaReporters disclosed that Edun suffered severe paralysis as a result of the stroke. “It’s very serious. He may survive, but he can’t get back to work again,” the source said.
The source further revealed that President Bola Tinubu has begun discreet consultations to identify a possible replacement for Edun amid his health challenges. “President Bola Tinubu is looking for a replacement urgently,” the source added, linking the minister’s deteriorating health to stress, exhaustion, and the nation’s mounting economic and foreign exchange pressures.
The report also suggested that senior government officials, including Edun, often work with minimal rest and irregular meals, which may have contributed to his current state.
Contacts within security circles, including the Department of State Services (DSS), reportedly confirmed Edun’s health crisis, describing him as “extremely ill.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency announced that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., in place of the ailing minister.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said in a statement that Cardoso, as the alternate governor, will represent the country “as Mr. Wale Edun is indisposed.”
President Tinubu, on the other hand, departed Abuja on Sunday, October 12, for Rome, Italy, to attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Level Meeting, which will focus on security challenges in West Africa.
The Aqaba Process, launched by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015, aims to strengthen international cooperation against terrorism and transnational crime in Africa, particularly the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions.
Mr. Edun, a long-time associate of President Tinubu, was appointed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in August 2023. He previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State from 1999 to 2004 and has been a central figure in the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and fiscal planning.
His sudden illness could have significant implications for ongoing fiscal reforms, budget planning, and Nigeria’s broader economic strategy.
