Africa Development Bank Presidency: Akinwunmi Adesina & the Powers-that-Be

TOBENNA OBIANO

The problem of non acceptance of greatness when it happens is one of the forces limiting Africa’s progress and dare for the heights. We must glory in our successes, and continue on same path that led to it, that’s if progress is anything to take seriously. 

It’s not always the best to blow your own trumpet, but where no one thinks your worthwhile efforts and input doesn’t deserve celebrating, do yourself the honour and courtesy of blowing your trumpet. After all, an Agama lizard fell from a height, and when it landed, looking left and right, no one hailed the creature, it chose to celebrate itself with a nod, then moved on. 

The Western world, and in particular, the United States of America has formed a habit of using a whip to trash developing and underdeveloped African nations into submission. Sadly, even against their own will, they’re forced to agree to the takes of the Western World. 

Africa has a multi-faceted problem. If it’s not leadership problems, it’s tribalism, if it’s not Indiscipline, it’s False Image of herself, there’s Mediocrity, Religious Bigotry, Insecurity and the “ogakpatakpata” of them all as we say in our local parlance, the Culture of Corruption. 

While at those, the bane of non seriousness by African leaders brings even more reasons to be worried. Most African leaders shiver at the pronouncement from their so-called allies in the Western World. It brings back the question: has colonialism really ended? Or have the colonial masters redefined it, and calling the shots from their foreign lands?

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is one of Africa’s most charming bride of the moment. There’s something really special about this young, vibrant and disciplined fellow. Mr. Adesina served in Nigeria as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, where for the very first time in so many years, the country whose formerly, major source of income was Agriculture before oil boom took over, has started making headways back towards Agriculture. 

It was while Mr. Adesina was Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under the PDP and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s led Presidency that a lot of great tidings returned to the Ministry. Many were encouraged, with tremendous support – as grants, as loans and conducive environment to thrive. There were huge investments in Agriculture. There were as well, huge gains as returns on those investments. 

If Nigeria eventually attains the food sufficiency goal, then Mr. Adesina deserves to be so rightly appreciated for his role. This is because he implored a genius approach, with this zeal and an unparalleled dedication for the unprecedented success that has been recorded thus far. 

At the height of the expiration of the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency, when then Nigeria’s leading political party, the PDP had lost a reelection bid, Akinwunmi Adesina remained the golden boy, favored by both sides of the divide, the leaving party, PDP, and their incoming one, the APC.

Adesina served as a PDP Minister, yet the then incoming APC Presidency of Muhammad Buhari wrote a strong-worded letter to African leaders in support of Adesina who was at that time, an aspirant for the African Development Bank Presidency. Why did this happen? He was simply too great at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that even when you’ve disagreements with the PDP, you still hold reservations for him. His legacies were everywhere. 

Nigeria has a habit of presenting to the world, their very best set of individuals when time beckons for them. This may not be same with electing leaders or appointing individuals in Nigeria. Eventually, he was elected the President. He was elected the 8th President of the African Development Bank, AfDB on Thursday, May 28th, 2015. He succeeded Donald Kaberuka of Rwanda, and assumed duty on September 1st, 2015 in Abidjan.

As President of African Development Bank, AfDB, he  brought this unparalleled ingenuity and his creative genius-like ideologies to bear. In so short a time, he tremendously turned things around for the better at the African Development Bank, and has lined up a historic success tale for all Africans. Indeed, he came well qualified and amply ready for the onerous task of leadership at the bank. 

What better testament would one need or want to know about Adesina’s outstanding outing as the President of African Development Bank, but the very fact that there has been a historic growth in the banks general capital of 93billion dollars (N34 trillion) to 208 billion dollars (N78 trillion) under the sound leadership of Mr. Adesina.

Obviously a great feat. It didn’t stop at that, for in clearer terms, it amounted to an increase of 115 billion dollars (N43 trillion) or about 124 percent, the highest in the history of the bank since it was established in 1964.

It’s still under the Akinwunmi Adesina’s Presidency at the African Development Bank, through his able and proven leadership, that the banks transparency index has suddenly skyrocketed to position number four, amongst the 45 comparable global bilateral multilateral institutions so gauged.

The defining point for those in positions of power and authority, in this case including Mr. Adesina of African Development Bank is in the word “impact”. Impacts begets legacies, and those are landmarks that one may be remembered for. Indeed, Adesina has really being impactful. 

The last five years of Akinwunmi Adesina’s time as President of the apex bank in Africa has seen a magical turnaround of things. In merely five years, by his well thought-out plans, his people-oriented style and his disciplined approach, the bank’s investments have directly and indirectly impacted on more than 360 million Africans. Of course, African nations are the biggest gainers. 

There’s this systemic sad turn of events that comes with when the ovation is loudest. African leaders and sincere global citizens are elated that Africa has began to keep her house together and in order, and are matching on the path that can lead to greatness; however, there’s this show of discomfort, obvious disagreement and arrogance coming from the West. 

While Africans dare to glory in the unprecedented success recorded by Akinwunmi Adesina of Africa’s Development Bank, the Western World, led by the United States seems to be more than determined to at all cost, stop Adesina from being re-elected the President of the Bank. Their campaign to stop him are obvious and they aren’t holding down. 

As is usual, once they’re determined to bring any African leader down, it’s either they throw up sentiments of misleadership or they raise the narrative of bile hate, especially in issues relating to corruption. Adesina is today their victim, as they’re pushing steadily, the creed that he’s grossly corrupt-stricken, even when the odds are in his favor as clean, they aren’t giving up. 

In a report from the African Development Bank: “A suspicious whistleblower’s complaint against Adesina has been duly investigated by the bank’s Ethics Committee and dismissed as being “frivolous, baseless, and without merit or evidence.”

“Unfortunately, the US has not accepted this outcome because it is not helpful to its quest to remove Adesina from office.

It continued, “Why should the U.S, which is a minority shareholder in the AfDB, impose on the bank, another so-called independent investigation of Adesina’s conduct outside the bank’s procedures and policies?

The report concluded, “Under which statute of the bank is the U.S. revisiting a matter which has been resolved in a transparent manner and in line with the bank’s existing procedures and policies?” it queried.

African Development Bank rightly pointed out that Nigeria, being the largest AfDB shareholder should be the one calling the shot, and definitely not the U.S, a non-regional member with “only 6.6. per cent” shareholding.

It argued strongly, that the United States lacked the authority, rights and posture to lord itself in a commandeering manner over African countries that owned 60 per cent of the bank’s shares. This was unacceptable.

ADB said the move against Adesina was part of attempts by some non-regional members of the bank to frustrate Akinwunmi Adesina’s re-election in spite of his towering “achievements and impressive leadership” at the bank.

The body called on the United States to leave the AfDB president alone since African leaders had already endorsed him as the sole candidate for the election billed for August. Yes, as it stands now, Adesina is the sole candidate for the position, having gotten strong endorsement from leaders across Africa. 

The former Nigerian President, Chief. Olusegun Obasanjo has also come out from his comfort zone, and joined forces in championing for the reelection of Mr. Adesina. Chief. Obasanjo wrote a strong-worded letter to African leaders, encouraging them to stand their ground with their support, and not allow the United States or anyone else for that matter to bully them to submission. 

The incumbent Nigerian, Muhammadu Buhari had also received in audience, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina at the State House, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, FCT, Abuja where he gave his strong support for his reelection. It’s also said that he’s reaching out to his colleagues to stand in support of Dr. Adesina. 

Unfortunately, the Western World, and at this instance, the United States of America in particular has failed to acknowledge and accept the investigation and conclusions carried out by the Ethics committee of the bank. They want an independent one carried out yet again, maybe by those who they so choose. This should be rejected wholly and unapologetically. 

Africa as a continent cannot be dictated for, or to, by faceless powers or forces from outside the continent. It’s about time that Africa rises and faces her challenges head-on. All isn’t well in Africa no doubts, however, the Western World must not be at the forefront of making matters worse more like opportunists, while masquerading with an obvious misleading intention. 

Akinwunmi Adesina has performed credibly well, and does richly deserve a second shot at the African Development Bank Presidency. 

• Tobenna Obiano, an analyst, writes from Awka, Anambra State.