Over 15 former African Presidents on Friday, May 29, 2020, rose in defence of the embattled President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, rejecting calls for another inquest on allegations of abuse of office against him.
Instead, the leaders, including Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Boni Yayi (Benin), Hailemariam Desalegn (Ethiopia), John Kufour (Ghana), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Joyce Banda (Malawi) and Goodluck Jonathan (Nigeria), lauded Adesina for outstanding accomplishments at the institution.
In a statement signed by the ex-presidents, the former leaders described AfDB as the “pride of the continent”.
They cautioned that at this critical time that Africa was battling with COVID-19, the bank and its president should not be distracted.
The United States Treasury Secretary had called for an independent probe of corruption allegations levelled against Adesina after being cleared by the bank’s Ethics Committee.
Speaking further, the ex-presidents said governance was all about respecting and abiding by rules, laws and established governing systems of organisations.
They added that in the case of AfDB, while differences might exist among the parties, the best way to address them was to first respect the rules, procedures and governance structures of the bank.
They said: “To do otherwise will be tantamount to undermining the Bank and its long and hard earned reputation, and that of its President.
“Differences will always occur but we urge that all stakeholders work together. All concerned stakeholders should work with mutual respect, and honour the rules and procedures of the bank and its governance systems that have served it well for 56 years.
“No nation, regardless of how powerful, has a veto power over the AfDB, and no nation should have such power.”
The ex-presidents, who took time to reel out the achievements of the AfDB, noted that the bank had performed remarkably well under the leadership of Adesina.
They said: “The Bank is a pride for all of Africa, and its President, Dr Adesina, has taken it to enviable heights.
“At this critical time that Africa is battling with COVID-19, the Bank and its President should not be distracted.”
They specifically lauded Adesina on the bank’s intervention of $10 billion crisis response facility to support countries in Africa and the inauguration of $3 billion “COVID-19 social bond”, the largest ever denominated bond in the history of the world.
They added that the bank’s presence and work had been highly visible and impactful, stating that in less than five years, the bank’s agenda had impacted more than 333 million people across the continent.
Other leaders who endorsed the statement are Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique),
Tandja Mamadou (Niger), Mohamed Marzouki (Tunisia), Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania),
Ameenah Gurib-Fakin (Mauritius), Rupiah Banda (Zambia), Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania).
