Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina was on Thursday re-elected as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a fresh five-year term by what Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria’s Finance, Budget and National Planning, a member of the Board of Governors said: “was by a double majority from the regional and non-regional countries.”
The unanimous vote of “100% of Regional and 100% of Non Regional Votes,” came after months of politicking involving allegations levied against him by a whistleblower. The allegation was however laid to rest when a high-powered independent panel that reviewed the report of its Ethics Committee on the whistle blower complaint cleared him of the allegations.
Tributes poured in for him from President of his home country Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari; the country’s Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; former President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed Adesina Minister of Agriculture; and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Finance Minister/Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
Writing via his twitter handle, @MBuhari, the Nigerian leader described the reelection as “a well deserved victory,”
He said there is “no doubt that in this second term Dr. Adesina will accomplish even more of his lofty vision for the bank.”
In his congratulatory message, the Senate President said “Adesina’s victory unequivocally affirms the confidence and trust of the shareholders, Management and staff of the bank in his leadership of the bank and the direction he is taking it.”
The renewal of Adesina’s mandate, Lawan noted in a statement, by Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser (Media), “ is an attestation to Adesina’s excellent performance as President, evident in the Bank’s numerous developmental initiatives on the African continent.
“I am elated to convey the joy and pride of the entire National Assembly over the electoral acclamation for integrity, grace, substance and hardwork.
“Your re-election should be an impetus for taking the continental financial institution to a greater height, realising that the reward for hardwork is more work,” Lawan said.
He urged Adesina to consider the storm that preceded his re-election as the fire test for gold and, reminding him to however remain focused and resolute on his mission, having emerged from the test glittering.
While describing Adesina as “a man of vision and capacity,” ex-President Jonathan urged “him to deploy his skills to ensure that the positive impact of the bank’s development initiatives is felt across the continent.
Adesina is credited with growing the AfDB’s capital from $93bn in 2015 when he first assumed office to $208bn in 2019, making it the world’s third-largest regional bank.
