President Muhmmadu Buhari has applauded congratulated the newly re-elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwunmi Adesina, saying his hard work and commitment to Africa’s development earned him second term victory at the polls.
Adesina was re-elected with 100 per cent votes by all regional and non-regional members of the bank for a second term of five years as president of the continent’s apex bank at its Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually in Abidjan.
The Chairperson of the Board of Governors of AfDB, Mrs. Niale Kaba had announced Adesina’s re-election at the AGM.
In his congratulatory message to Adesina, President Buhari said second term victory to lead the Africa’s multilateral financial institution was well earned.
The President, who sent his congratulatory message on behalf of the Federal Government and all Nigerians, said he received the news of Adesina’s victory in the middle the National Council of State meeting held at the State House.
In a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the President, Femi Adesina, President Buhari, said: “On behalf of the Federal Government and entire people of Nigeria, I felicitate with Adesina on his re-election for a second term in office. He deserves it and Nigeria and Africa are honoured by the victory which is a testimony to his hard work and commitment to the development of the continent”.
Buhari thanked the African Union, the bank’s shareholders and the international community who worked tirelessly to ensure Adesina’s.
“President Buhari believes Dr Adesina’s versatility, experience at both national and international engagements, will be further deployed to energize the pan-African financial institution, urging him to remain focused and steadfast in pursuing the noble goals of making life better for Africans through various development plans, already captured as High 5s,” the statement said.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, described the re-election of Adesina as a triumph of integrity and dedication to duty.
While expressing his happiness at the development, the Speaker in a statement by his Media Adviser, Lanre Lasisi, said the re-election has provided Adesina with another opportunity to consolidate and sustain AfDB as a global financial force, even as it pushes African development agenda.
He said: “Your clearance by the independent review panel and Ethics Committee of the bank as well as the bank’s Bureau of Governors’ independent review panel was an affirmation of your integrity, dedication to duty and diligence.
The AfDB boss faced corruption allegations but was cleared by ethics committee of the bank, bureau of board of directors while the Independent Review Panel also exonerated him.
The Independent Review Panel was constituted by the Bureau of Governors of the Bank, following a complaint by the United States, to review the process by which two previous organs of the Bank – the Ethics Committee of the Board, and the Bureau of the Board of Governors had previously cleared Adesina.
Adesina was first elected President of the bank on May 28, 2015 and would begin his new term of another five years on September 1. Kaba said she was delighted that the Board of Governors had re-elected Adesina for a second term in office.
“As shareholders, we strongly support the Bank and we will give him all the necessary support to carry forward and implement his compelling vision for the Bank over the next five years,” she said.
Former Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also congratulated Adesina, on his re-election.
He described Adesina’s reelection as “a landmark victory, not only for Nigeria, but also for Africa as a whole.”
“After rain comes sunshine and I congratulate you on your reelection, which is both a vindication for your character and competence and a well-deserved reward for all the successes and spectacular progress the African Development Bank has made under your leadership.
“You have proven yourself a true son of Africa, unapologetically and unrepentantly committed to the socio-economic emancipation of the continent and it is my hope that you will lead the Bank to surpass the successes of your first tenure. I must also commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria for the leadership and solidarity shown in your matter”.
