The presidency says Wale Edun, the immediate former minister of finance, and Musa Dangiwa, former minister of housing, resigned from their positions as members of the federal executive council (FEC).
In a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said Edun resigned due to recent ill health, while Dangiwa also resigned and thanked President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity given him to serve in the cabinet.
Onanuga said Edun, who turned 70 on Monday, submitted his resignation letter and thanked the president for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
He said before George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), announced the minor cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, Edun visited Tinubu at the State House and “held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses”.
“Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“On Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa.
“He held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.”
Background
On Tuesday, Yomi Odunuga, special adviser, media and publicity to the SGF, announced in a press statement that Tinubu relieved Edun from his position and replaced him with Taiwo Oyedele, who was recently appointed as the minister of state for finance.
He added that the president also approved the appointment of Muttaqha Rabe Darma as the minister-designate for housing and urban development to replace Dangiwa.
Salient Times reported that an insider said Edun was asked to “leave honourably in October last year but he lobbied to keep his position” after he fell out with the president.
The insider said the former finance minister was to be fired two weeks ago with a number of options considered as his replacement
