Adesina: Obasanjo Rallies Support For AfDB President
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a rallying cry against the decision of the United States Government; to insist on a probe of Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, AfDB.
Specifically, Obasanjo had penned a four-page letter to former African Heads of State.
The former Nigerian President urged the African leaders to rise up against the US encroachment and invasion of the AfDB; noting that its action in disparaging the entire governance system of the Bank which has been in place since 1964; represents an unprecedented development which may see the AfDB hijacked by foreign interests.
The letter, a copy of which was sighted by our reporter was dated May 26, 2020.
Equally important, the letter was addressed to 13 former African Heads of State. They include Bony Yayi of Benin, Festus Mogae of Botswana, Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, John Kuffour of Ghana. Other are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Tandja Mamadou of Niger. Also copied in the letter are two former Presidents of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe; as well as three former Presidents of Tanzania. They are Benjamin Mkapa, Jakaya Kikwete and Mohammed Marzouki.
Obasanjo noted that the Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors had investigated all 16 allegations raised by whistle-blowers against Akinwumi Adesina. Thereafter, he stated that the Committee had dismissed each of the allegations as baseless and unsubstantiated.
Consequently, he faulted the move by the United States in calling for an independent investigation.
‘‘This is outside of the rules, laws, procedures and governance systems of the Bank…If we do not rise up and defend the African Development Bank, this might mean the end of the African Development Bank, as its governance will be hijacked away from Africa.’’
Obasanjo, who reeled out the various achievements of Akinwumi Adesina since assuming the role of President; held that certain powers are keen to frustrate his re-election bid; in spite of the commendable work, he has done thus far.
