AfDB president Adeshina rules himself out of Nigeria's presidential race taking place next year

AFRICAN Development Bank (AfDB) president Dr Akinwumi Adesina has ruled out the possibility of him running for Nigeria's presidency next year pointing out that for now he is focused on his current job of continental development.

Dr Adeshina was elected as the AfDB president in 2015, becoming the first Nigerian to occupy the position and was then re-elected for a second term in 2020. In September 2016, Dr Adesina was appointed by United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to serve as a member of the Lead Group of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and in 2017, he was awarded the World Food Prize.

Nigeria goes to the polls next year to elect a new president and a group of concerned citizens git together to purchase a nomination form for Dr Adeshina. Apparently a coalition of 28 purchased and submitted the nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on behalf of Dr Adesina.

Responding to the development, Dr Adesina said that he is not running for president as he is committed to his current job at the AfDB. Thanking those who bought the forms on his behalf, Dr Adeshina said he was humbled by their kind gesture.

He added: “I am very touched by all who have gone to a great extent with such huge sacrifices, of their own volition, to consider me worthy to be proposed for potential consideration. 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 honoured, 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."