AfDB Presidency: Adesina expresses gratitude to Buhari, Jonathan, others

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan played key roles in his election.

Adesina, who was elected president of AfDB in Abidjan on Thursday, made the statement in Abeokuta on Monday during a courtesy visit to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

“I want to appreciate the support of the president and the former President Goodluck Jonathan for their support during the AfDB election.

“Our leaders rallied round us in an unparalleled way, former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Yakubu Gowon, put a lot of their support behind me.

“I commend former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for her role because it was an election we had to convince 74 ministers of finance from across the world.

“The election went into six round of voting and Nigeria led every single round of that vote; I want to confirm that the election was truly Nigerians’ collective effort.

“We will work very hard to develop programmes that will end poverty in our country, create opportunities for prosperity all across our countries,’’ Adesina said.

Adesina said he would ensure that rural economy was revived as well as encourage regional integration.

Earlier, Amosun expressed appreciation to Buhari, Jonathan and the international community for their support for Adesina during the AfDB election.

He said it was not a personal success to Adesina but to Nigeria as a country.

He said that the emergence of Adesina as the head of the bank was another of many feats of Ogun indigenes.

The governor expressed confidence in Adesina as a seasoned agricultural economist to bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new position.