, recently visited former President Muhammadu Buhari to express gratitude for the steadfast support he received throughout his leadership at the bank.){kind=link}
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), recently visited former President Muhammadu Buhari to express gratitude for the steadfast support he received throughout his leadership at the bank.
As Adesina’s second term at the helm of the AfDB winds down in September, he took the opportunity to personally thank Buhari for backing his candidacy—originally put forward by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan—and for standing by him during critical moments of his presidency at the bank.
“He stood firmly by me in challenging times, which greatly contributed to my re-election. I deeply appreciate that,” Adesina stated.
He recounted his early campaign experience for the AfDB presidency, recalling how a foreign official once pointed out that Jonathan, who nominated him, was about to leave office. Adesina described feeling like a “stranded candidate” at that time and said he sought Buhari’s support to keep his bid alive.
During the visit, Buhari recalled their first meeting and praised Adesina for his dedication and professionalism, noting he had admired his work for years.
Despite Adesina’s previous ties to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buhari emphasized that he had always prioritized merit over political affiliation.
“I see everyone as Nigerians first. When someone deserves help, I provide it based on their capabilities, not their party,” the former president remarked.
Buhari also congratulated Adesina on launching the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative, which is designed to drive agricultural development and industrialization across Africa.
Adesina, who became AfDB President in 2015 and secured a second term in 2020, is the first Nigerian to head the continental development institution.
His meeting with Buhari is part of a farewell tour ahead of concluding what many consider a transformative decade in leadership.