Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said the removal of Wale Edun as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy was because he “didn’t fit” into President Bola Tinubu’s political arrangement.
Speaking on the recent cabinet reshuffle, Dalung argued that Edun’s exit was not purely about performance but linked to political considerations within the administration.
President Tinubu on Tuesday sacked Edun and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, in what the presidency described as a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Taiwo Oyedele, formerly Minister of State for Finance, was elevated to replace Edun as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Muttaqha Rabe Darma was named ministerial nominee for the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the changes were aimed at “strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Edun, a close ally of Tinubu, oversaw reforms that helped stabilise the naira, build reserves above $40 billion, and deliver GDP growth, but critics pointed to high inflation and worsening power outages during his tenure.
One report cited sources claiming Edun was “released to go and attend to his deteriorating health condition” and had wanted to leave since late last year.
Dalung maintained that beyond health or economic metrics, the reshuffle reflected Tinubu’s need to realign his cabinet to suit current political calculations ahead of 2027.
All handover processes were directed to be completed on or before close of business Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NOP NIGERIA to reach thousands of our daily users
