Buhari, Jonathan, Saraki Hail Akinwumi Adesina Over Historic Re-election As AfDB President

The re-elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has been bombarded by congratulatory messages over his return to lead the Bank for another 5-year term.

Adesina was re-elected on Thursday, August 27, during the bank’s 55th annual meetings which was held via Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions.

He was returned unopposed – by 100 percent votes from the AfDB Board of Governors. This is the first time in the history of the bank that anyone would be elected by 100 percent votes. He is also the first Nigerian to be elected into this position.

Following his epoch re-election, Adesina’s Twitter page has been flooded with congratulatory messages from eminent Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised the new president the total support of the Nigerian Government.

Other notable leaders who congratulated Adesina are former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Finance Okonjo Iweala, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, Incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu.

I congratulate @akin_adesina on his re-election for a second term in office as President of the @AfDB_Group. It is a well deserved victory. I have no doubt that in this second term Dr. Adesina will accomplish even more of his lofty vision for the Bank.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 27, 2020

Let me reiterate my earlier pledges of the full support of the Nigerian government to ensure a successful second term for Dr. Adesina. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to strengthen him and his team to deliver even greater development to the African continent.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 27, 2020

I congratulate @akin_adesina on his re-election as the President of @AfDB_Group.I'm proud of him because he is a man of vision & capacity. I urge him to deploy his skills to ensure that the positive impact of the Bank’s devt initiatives is felt across the continent.
– GEJ pic.twitter.com/45I2p2ybPs

— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@GEJonathan) August 27, 2020

Congratulations, @akin_adesina, on your re-election as @afdb_group President. Your re-election offers you an opportunity to continue your excellent performance in this role and I have faith in your ability to deliver.

— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) August 27, 2020

Wonderful to get the news of the re-election of @akin_adesina as President of @AfDB_Group. Hearty congratulations to you, my brother, and to Grace! Wishing you five more fruitful years!!

— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) August 27, 2020

On behalf of the good people of Ogun State, I congratulate @akin_adesina on his re-election as President of the African Development Bank, @AfDB_Group. pic.twitter.com/3pqLfy8uu3

— Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun – MFR (@dabiodunMFR) August 27, 2020

So proud of Dr. @akin_adesina, re-elected President of the African Development Bank for a second term with 100% support of the African and non-regional shareholder states. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG @AfDB_Group pic.twitter.com/xaBl2tCccx

— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) August 27, 2020

Congratulations to @Akin_adesina, who has been re-elected as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) receiving 100% of the vote for Africa, as well as 100% of the vote of non-Africans! The first time in history that a President is elected by 100% vote at the bank.

— Tony O. Elumelu, CON (@TonyOElumelu) August 27, 2020

Speaking on his re-election, Adesina described it as historical.

“We also made history by re-electing me by 100 percent votes. via a vote, I became the first President of the bank in its history to be re-elected by 100 percent votes of all its shareholders and I am most grateful and very appreciative.”

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Adesina expressed gratitude to the Governors of AfDB’s 81 member countries, the bank’s shareholders and members of staff for their confidence and trust in him to steer the leadership of the bank again.

He noted that his re-election is yet another call to selfless service to Africa and the African Development Bank.

Adesina’s re-election comes after he was cleared of corruption charges in July by an independent panel.

Whistleblowers had accused him of financial impropriety – alleging that he gave contracts to friends and appointed relatives to the bank’s workforce.

Consequently, an internal panel of inquiry was set up to investigate the charismatic leader and the panel later declared that Adesina was innocent.

But in April, the US, one of the bank’s biggest shareholders, insisted that an independent panel should further investigate Adesina.

The new panel of three experts made up of Ireland’s ex-President Mary Robinson, Gambian Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and Leonard McCarthy, formerly the World Bank’s integrity vice-president, also cleared Adesina of any wrongdoing.