The Presidency has clarified that former Finance Minister Wale Edun and former Housing Minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa were not dismissed but voluntarily resigned from their positions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Presidency explained that Edun stepped down on health grounds before the President announced his replacement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Dangiwa also resigned from the Federal Executive Council and expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve.
Following their exits, Edun was directed to hand over to Taiwo Oyedele, while Dangiwa was to hand over to Muttaqha Rabe Darma.
The Presidency noted that Edun, who turned 70 on Monday and has faced recent health challenges, submitted his resignation letter on his birthday.
In the letter, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement quoted him as saying.
“Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient, and more internationally respected.
“I wish you and the administration every success in the future.”
The statement also revealed that before the official announcement of his departure, Edun paid a valedictory visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where he held a meeting lasting about an hour before departing to focus on private engagements.
Dangiwa, an architect, previously served as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria between 2015 and 2022.
He also held the position of Secretary to the Katsina State Government before his appointment as minister in August 2023.
Edun, an economist and investment banker, served as Lagos State Commissioner for Finance between 1999 and 2004 during Tinubu’s tenure as governor.
Earlier in his career, he worked at Chase Merchant Bank in Lagos before joining the World Bank in 1986 through its Young Professionals Programme, where he handled economic and financial assignments across Latin America and the Caribbean.
In 1989, he co-founded Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited, now known as Stanbic IBTC, and later established Denham Management Limited, now part of the Chapelhill Denham Group, where he served as chairman from 2008 to 2021.
President Tinubu, according to the statement, expressed appreciation to both former ministers for their service and contributions to the administration’s economic reform agenda, wishing them success in their future endeavours.
He also tasked the new Finance Minister, Oyedele, with consolidating ongoing reforms and advancing the government’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed discipline and innovation.
The President is expected to forward the nomination of Darma, from Katsina State, to the Senate for confirmation as the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
