The President and Chief Executive Officer of the African Development Studies Centre (ADSC), Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, has condemned the recent circulation of false information regarding the health of Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Wale Edun.
He described the claims as misleading and harmful to public integrity, urging Nigerians to uphold truth and dignity in public discourse.
In a statement released on Thursday, Sir Oluwafemi said it was regrettable that some individuals and media outlets published unverified stories suggesting that Minister Edun had lost control of his hands and knees. He dismissed the reports as “reckless, medically unfounded, and completely false,” stressing that no credible evidence supports such claims.
According to verified information obtained from Edun’s family, the Minister is currently undergoing routine medical evaluation and is said to be in stable condition. “It is irresponsible to make statements that have no medical basis. Declaring that his motor or sensory functions are impaired without proof is completely out of order,” Sir Oluwafemi stated.
He also appealed to Nigerians to show compassion and avoid politicizing health matters. “Illness is a deeply human experience that should not be turned into a weapon of political or social attack,” he said. “Behind every public official is a person who deserves privacy, empathy, and respect.”
Sir Oluwafemi praised the Finance Minister’s decades of service to the country, describing him as a “seasoned technocrat committed to national growth.” He cautioned against attempts to discredit hardworking public officers through fabricated stories, noting that such actions weaken the nation’s moral and social fabric.
The ADSC chief concluded by calling on journalists, social media users, and political actors to embrace responsible communication and higher ethical standards. “Let us build a society that values truth and decency. We all fall ill and recover let’s treat others with the same understanding and respect we expect for ourselves,” he added.