Adesina: Obasanjo Cries Foul; Writes African Presidents; Says His Ordeal Plot To Deny Him 2nd Term, Hijack AFDB

By Adesina Soyooye

Nigeria’s former President, Dr Olusegun Obasanjo, is very angry over the carefully planned humiliation of one of Africa’s most brilliant minds, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

Adesina, Nigerian, is the President of the African Development Bank, AFDB.

Aged, 60, he was on the verge of completing his first term in office, and   set for an overwhelming endorsement for a second term in office, based on his sterling performance when a faceless group, within the Bank,  in a petition to the Board of the bank, accused him of unwholesome businesses in the bank, asking that he be probed.

The allegations, a couple of them, funny, include his alleged favouritism and partiality when it comes to issues concerning Nigeria and other African countries. He is, also, accused of recruiting more Nigerians than others to the bank, including the brilliant recruitment of Dr (Mrs) Virgy Anoho. Anoho was recruited in an international competitive exercise. Adesina was, also, accused of being too liberal with loans.

He denied all the allegations vehemently, protesting his innocence.

An internal probe of the allegations, instituted by the bank, gave him a clean bill of health. But suddenly, an unexpected irritating ant flew into the oil.

The Government of the United States of America, a few days ago, raised an objection.  It said it did not believe in the internal probe and clean bill given to Adesina. It asked for another round of probe from an independent body. In asking for this probe, the USA, most discerning people agree, no longer wants Adesina on that seat. The only way to go about it, is to put a question mark on Adesina’s hard earned integrity, many argue.

Adesina is not afraid of the new probe. He said any such probe worth its salt would find him innocent. But he sees it as a plot to frustrate and humiliate him. The US is now backed by its traditional allies, and is hinting that Adesina  steps aside for the probe to be carried out.

Obasanjo, unarguably, one of the most respected and influential former Presidents in Africa, agree that what is happening is a deliberate humiliation of Adesina. He says it is a plot to deny him a second term, and rubbish one of Africa’s best.

Most important, Obasanjo says it is a plot to hijack the bank, and wants African leaders to be in alert.

The former President is, therefore, rallying African Presidents, serving and Exes, to see it for what it is: A humiliation of Africa. He has, therefore, taken the initiative  to, in a letter, ask all of them to sign a strongly-worded letter in support of Adesina, and in defence of his integrity.

The bottom line: Adesina should be left alone to have a second term in office which the US, deliberately, for some inexplicable reasons is desperate to deny him.

Following, Chief Obasanjo’s letter.

Click to Read: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s Letter on AfDB