Edun: Ailing finance minister flown abroad for treatment<\/p>\n
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has travelled to the United Kingdom to seek medical attention, multiple sources close to the development confirmed on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The report, first published by Western Post, was confirmed by a source who had earlier told The PUNCH that the minister might seek medical attention abroad if the need arises.<\/p>\n
The source confirmed on Tuesday that the decision had now been made, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s true, he has left already.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edun left Abuja for Lagos on Monday night via a commercial flight.<\/p>\n
He later departed for London aboard a British Airways flight on the same night.<\/p>\n
Until his departure, Presidency officials who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday had maintained that Edun was recuperating at his Abuja residence under the care of Nigerian doctors.<\/p>\n
The sources said the minister had taken ill in recent days but dismissed earlier rumours that he had suffered a stroke or was incapacitated.<\/p>\n
One senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorisation to speak to the press on the matter, told The PUNCH that Edun\u2019s condition was being monitored closely.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he\u2019s indisposed. He\u2019s sick, which is a bit serious, but it\u2019s not a stroke. As I\u2019m talking to you, he\u2019s in his house. He\u2019s not been flown anywhere,\u201d the source had said on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
The official, however, added that doctors might recommend foreign medical care if necessary, a decision that has now been made.<\/p>\n
Another aide familiar with the matter confirmed that Edun\u2019s medical situation had prompted closer attention from the President but stressed that \u201cthere are no plans to replace him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also confirmed that the minister had fallen ill but was initially receiving treatment in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he\u2019s indisposed. Wale Edun is about 69 years old. He suddenly fell ill. As we are talking, he is in Nigeria. He is recuperating. He\u2019s around,\u201d Onanuga said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Presidency had earlier debunked speculation that President Bola Tinubu was considering a replacement for the finance minister.
\n(Punch, abridged)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Edun: Ailing finance minister flown abroad for treatment The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has travelled to the United Kingdom to seek medical attention, multiple sources close to the development confirmed on Tuesday morning. The report, first published by Western Post, was confirmed by a source who had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":149001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2457,121,166],"class_list":{"0":"post-149000","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-others","8":"tag-medical-treatment","9":"tag-uk","10":"tag-wale-edun"},"yoast_head":"\n