By Christiana Ekpa and Lateef Ibrahim
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the re-election of Dr Akinwunmi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) as a triumph of integrity and dedication to duty.
Adesina was returned unopposed for a second term of five years as president of the continent’s apex bank at a virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank on Wednesday.
While expressing his happiness at the development, the Speaker in a statement by his Media Adviser, Lanre Lasisi, said the re-election has provided Adesina with another opportunity to consolidate and sustain AfDB as a global financial force, even as it pushes African development agenda.
He said: “Your clearance by the independent review panel and Ethics Committee of the bank as well as the bank’s Bureau of Governors’ independent review panel was an affirmation of your integrity, dedication to duty and diligence.
“Your return for a second term without opposition also attests to the confidence the continent and its partners have in your leadership qualities.
“As I congratulate you on this historic milestone with the belief that the bank is in good hands, this is to remind you that your re-election is a call to rededicate yourself to duty towards positioning the bank as a global financial institution to reckon with”.
Also the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives also congratulated Adesina on the reelection.
The lawmakers, in a statement by the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on Thursday, described Adesina’s reelection as well-deserved, given his commitment and track record of performance as the President of the AfDB.
“Indeed, as lawmakers, we are proud of Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, whose performance, leading to his reelection as the President of the AfDB, has again reinforced the global respect for our country as well as the recognition of Nigerians excelling in all walks of national and international engagements”, Elumelu stated.
The Minority Leader also noted that Dr. Adesina, who excelled as the minister of agriculture under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration had continued in the ideals and performance-driven standards of the PDP, leading to his success in the AfDB.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for his re-election to serve a second term in the Presidency of the bank.
The PDP made the felicitation in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.
The main opposition party said that the re-election was not only earned but well- deserved in view of the competence and commitment Dr. Adesina has displayed in uplifting and promoting the bank’s operations since 2015, when he was first elected as President of the bank.
According to the party, “Dr. Adesina has attracted praises in bringing his deep knowledge in economic development to bear on the bank’s primary functions of making loans and equity investments for the socio-economic advancement of Regional Member Countries (RMC)”.
The PDP commended Adesina for improving on the the bank’s key role of providing technical assistance for development projects and programs as well as promoting investment of public and private capital for development.
The party noted that Adesina had remained a good Ambassador of Nigeria in his display of high level of discipline, professionalism and utmost diligence in the discharge of his duties at the AfDB.
