Presidency Rules Out Betta Edu’s Return To Tinubu’s Govt

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has said that Betta Edu, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, will not be returning to the government.

Onanuga, who appeared on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) findings were the basis for Edu’s dismissal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

The alleged misappropriation of N585 million in public funds into a personal bank account led to the former Cross River State health commissioner being suspended by the president in January.

She was also involved in the release of N3 billion during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari to verify the National Social Register.

Edu denied any wrongdoing, but she was one of the ministers whose positions were eliminated during President Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle last week.

The presidential aide responded, “She has been sacked because another person has been assigned her portfolio,” when asked why there had been no official announcement regarding Edu’s dismissal.

He stated, ” Betta Edu has left us. October has passed since her suspension in January. She has left. Someone else has taken over her position.

She does not belong in that cabinet in the eyes of this government. Although the EFCC has not shared anything, the President’s actions indicate that the EFCC may have submitted evidence that actually justified the suspension.

“The EFCC has said something, revealed something, that formed the basis for the President’s action, if you go by what the President has done.

“If she does not return to the cabinet, it indicates that she is not a member of it, particularly if her name was not included in the cabinet that was reshuffled.

“The President has the authority to appoint and remove anyone he chooses, as well as to hire and fire employees. She is not there if her name is not listed. There seems to be nothing to argue about.

Edu was also the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women’s Leader during her time as health commissioner in Cross River State.