Edun's Removal: Lessons To Be Learnt (Politics)

 New empires are built on the ruins of others. 

Wale Edun, newly removed minister of finance   (Courtesy, Google)

That is the bittersweet rise and fall of kingdoms, corporations even, power blocs. 

Alliances, no matter how long and tested, may shift at any time especially if a party stops meeting the expectations of the one with the upper power advantage in a situation.

These are some of the messages inherent in President Tinubu's sack of Wale Edun, the erstwhile minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy. In a struggling economy Nigeria's in recent years, this is by far the most crucial and thorny portfolio in Nigeria. It means not only was Edun overseeing the fulcrum, the finance ministry, he was also supervising economic policy direction for every aspect of the economy..After the President, this is arguably he next critical office. 

This powerful office undoubtedly brought good and bad results for Edun. He had a direct access to the President who he's known and worked with  since Tinubu's guber reign in Lagos, a position many envy. 

But, it also brought him in fire t conflict with  you ger but equally brainy "Young Turks" economic czars who often view his policies as outdated or incongruent with Nigeria in these times. 

Oyedele, new minister of finance (Courtesy Google)

When Tinubu tried their choices against Edun 's and it proved efficacious, it marked a shift. He started relying on their words against Efun's. 

This was a humiliation to the more senior officer who lost face a few times. He felt Tinubu, because of his longstanding relationship with him, would not be so obvious with this in order to spare his feelings. 

But, Tinubu refused to be sentimental. The buck stops on his table and he is only interested in giving Nigeria and the economy, not friendships. He felt his name is that being bandied about across Nigeria, not Edun. He cares less about emotions but warms up to solutions that will move Nigeria forward.

Besides, Tinubu is no fool. Insiders say that had Edun's suggestion been the better options, he would have picked it above the other's suggestion without any hesitation. Maybe, Edun's suggestions fell off because his expertise dated back decades from that of these younger ones, who are cognizant with newer economic models and a better grasp of the peculiarities of the Nigerian economy in contrast to Edun who diversified into running a topmost real estate organization in the UK where he has lived for decades, far from the harsh realities of Nigerian life. 

President Tinubu  (Courtesy Google)

Stung, Edun kept it going. But, observers say it was the residual hurt in him which caused his r subtle retaliation  in acknowledge of the missing $12 before the National Assembly in February. This is mixed with allegations of balking at payments for capital projects like monies for contractors and crucial projects like the Lagos- Calabar coastal... road, which are projects the president intends to flaunt as visible gains of his administration in his campaign flag off. 

These boiled to a purported demand that Edun should resign citing health issues but he reportedly lobbied against this action. .

But, President Tinubu was unyielding. He tactically redeployed the junior minister to another ministry. She was replaced by Taiwo Oyedele. This paved the way for Efun's removal and Oyedele's emergence as the minister without any fussy Senate hearings. 

Now, the new golden boys of the economy team that the president trusts and relies in are Oyefrke and Zacc Adedeji, the head of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS). 

It is their turn to reign now. It is I deed a laudable feat for younger men to achieve this feat. Commendable too, that President Tinubu prides result-oriented practical results above friendship and sentiment. 

  Zacc Adedeji, head FIRS  (Courtesy Google)

Still , they should also realize, no empire rules forever. They'd best etch their names into Nigeria's glorious records by executing great reforms that will turn Nigeria's fortunes around. Quickly.