By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Presidency has clarified that former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, resigned from their positions and were not removed from office.
This is coming hours after the news broke of the ministers suspension from the federal executive council yesterday by president Tinubu in what many termed as ‘sack’.
In a statement issued by the State House on Tuesday, signed by the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Edun was said to have tendered his resignation on health grounds before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced his replacement. The economist, who turned 70 on Monday, submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Edun wrote, adding that under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria has become “stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected.”
He also paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Presidential Villa, where they held a closed-door meeting lasting about an hour before he stepped down to focus on his private business interests.
Similarly, Dangiwa resigned his position and thanked the President for the opportunity to serve in the Federal Executive Council. An architect, he previously served as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank and Secretary to the Katsina State Government before his appointment as minister in August 2023.
President Tinubu commended both men for their service and contributions to his administration’s economic reform programme, wishing them success in their future endeavours.
The President has since appointed Taiwo Oyedele as the new Minister of Finance, tasking him with consolidating ongoing reforms and advancing the administration’s fiscal and economic agenda with “renewed focus, discipline and innovation.”
Meanwhile, Tinubu is expected to forward the nomination of Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina State, to the Senate for confirmation as the new Minister of Housing.
