Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, says a former minister of agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, is one of the most successful presidents of the African Development Bank (AfDB) going by the economic growth and achievements recorded by the bank during his tenure.
Mr Onyeama made the comments on Wednesday during an appearance on the News Agency of Nigeria forum in Abuja.
Adesina is seeking a second five-year tenure as AfDB president.
Onyeama said Nigeria was also engaging with non-regional shareholders to focus on the economic interest of the bank to retain Adesina, which would be a “win-win” situation for all.
“The AfDB has actually been doing extremely well; it is doing very well in all the rankings. The economic base of the bank has grown enormously,” he said.
“So, looking at all the economic, the metrics and indices, the president has been a huge success, possibly one of the successful presidents AfDB has had.
“There is this issue and the government has come out, Mr President has come out to support the President Adesina and so, we are also engaging robustly with the members of the AfDB.
“And the non-regional’s, the non-African countries that are also shareholders to get them to see that it is in the interest of Africa, it is in the interest of the shareholders to keep fate with the current president.
“Because it has been a win-win for all the shareholders and the bank is doing very well.”
Nigeria has stood by Adesina despite allegations of improper conducts raised against him.
