Adesina Thanks Buhari, Jonathan For Emergence As AfDB President

The newly elected President of the
African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr.

Akinwunmi Adesina, says his emergence
as the AfDB President would not have
been possible without the support of
the Nigerian President, Muhammadu
Buhari and former President, Goodluck
Jonathan.

This is contained in a statement by Dr.
Adesina on Sunday, May 31.

“I would like to give my special thanks
to a few people in particular without
whom this success would not have been
possible: former President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan for his nominating me,
his confidence, and his steadfast,
enthusiastic support; President
Muhammadu Buhari for his strong
endorsement and rallying support for
us; and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for
her vital role and tremendous effort in
delivering this successful outcome.

“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, as Nigeria’s
Finance Minister, worked passionately
for our campaign, and our success
would have been impossible without her
tireless work shepherding support
among many of the esteemed Finance
Ministers and Governors at the AfDB,”
Adesina said.

He also promised to work hard with all
African governments to deliver more
inclusive economic growth across the
African continent, expressing hope in
the prospect of building on the work of
his predecessor, Donald Kaberuka, at
the AfDB.

The former Nigerian Minister of
Agriculture was elected on Thursday in
Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast
where the African Development Bank
Annual General Meeting held. He beat
seven other contenders for the top job.

The cheering news came as Nigeria
prepared for the inauguration of
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday,
May 29.