By It appears the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina is uninterested in joining the 2023 presidential race, amid speculations about his ambition.
It would be recalled that a coalition made up of 28 groups had procured the presidential expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — pegged at N100m — for Adesina.
The AfDB chief has since been listed among presidential hopefuls under the ruling party.
However, according to multiple reports, Adesina will not be running for the nation’s top job in 2023, neither will he appear for the screening for APC presidential aspirants billed to hold on May 23.
He intends to retain his seat as AfDB president since the establishing regulations of the body forbids him from involving in active politics except he resigns.
In a statement on Tuesday, Adesina also rejected calls to run for president, declaring that he remains “fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa.”
“I have been extremely humbled by several calls from Nigerians at home and abroad that I should consider running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am very touched by all who have gone to great extent, with such huge sacrifices, of their own volition, to consider me worthy to be proposed for potential consideration,” he said.
”The coalition groups of youth, women, farmers, physically challenged and well-meaning Nigerians that have done this have expressed their genuine free will, political right, freedom of expression and association for my consideration, with the interest of Nigeria at heart. While I am deeply honored, humbled and grateful for all the incredible goodwill, kindness, and confidence, my current responsibilities at this time do not allow me to accept to be considered.
”I remain fully engaged and committed to the mission that Nigeria, Africa and all the non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have given me for Africa’s development. I remain fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Before his emergence as AfDB president, the top banker served as the Minister of Agriculture under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
