The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has declined calls for him to join in the race for Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.
In a statement signed by him and issued on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, Dr. Adesina, (who was a former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture), stated that the enormity of his present responsibility would not allow him to accept the call.
He noted that he remains fully engaged and committed to the mission that Nigeria, Africa and all the non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have given him for Africa’s development.
“I remain fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa,” he said.
“I have been extremely humbled by several calls from Nigerians at home and abroad that I should consider running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I am very touched by all who have gone to great extent, with such huge sacrifices, of their own volition, to consider me worthy to be proposed for potential consideration. The coalition groups of youth, women, farmers, physically challenged and well-meaning Nigerians that have done this have expressed their genuine free will, political right, freedom of expression and association for my consideration, with the interest of Nigeria at heart.
“While I am deeply honoured, humbled and grateful for all the incredible goodwill, kindness, and confidence, my current responsibilities at this time do not allow me to accept to be considered.
“May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, may God bless Africa,” the statement added.
A Nigerian private television station, Channels TV had reported that a coalition of about of 28 groups had purchased the presidential forms worth N100 million of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Dr. Adesina.
According to the report, the coalition consists of the Youth Arise Movement, Nigerians in Diaspora, One Nigeria Group, Prudent Youth Association of Nigeria, women groups, farmers and other civil society groups.
Similarly, a former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had also rejected the expression of interest forms bought for him for N100 million by the Nomadic Fulami Pastoralists and Almajiri Communities in northern Nigeria so that he could participate in the 2023 presidential polls in Nigeria.
GIK/APA