African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina said he was “touched” by calls made for him to run for the highest office in his country, Nigeria, but said he preferred to continue his mission at the head of the institution he directs.
“It is with great humility that I have received several calls from Nigerians, at home and abroad, asking me to consider running for President in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said he let know.
And to add, “I am very touched by all those who, of their own free will, have made every effort and have made enormous sacrifices for me to be proposed as a potential candidate for the Presidency”.
According to his words, coalition groups of youths, women, farmers, disabled people and well-meaning Nigerians have expressed their real will, their political right, their freedom of expression and their freedom of association in favor of his potential candidacy, with the interest of Nigeria at heart.
But Adesina said he was forced not to be able to meet the aspirations of all those people who support his candidacy because of his current responsibilities.
“Although I am deeply honoured, humbled and grateful for this incredible goodwill, kindness and confidence, my responsibilities at this time do not allow me to accept being considered as a candidate,” said the former Nigerian Minister of Health. Agriculture (2011 and 2015).
“I remain fully committed and dedicated to the mission that Nigeria, Africa and all non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have entrusted to me for the development of Africa. I remain fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa,” continued the AfDB boss.
Adesina, the eighth President of the AfDB, was unanimously elected for a second five-year term last August 2020, on the sidelines of the Bank’s Annual Meetings, by the governors of the 54 African regional member countries and the 27 non-regional members.
By OMA Newsletter N° 706 of 18/05/2022
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
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