Dr Akinwunmi Adesina is currently going through one of the most difficult times in his blemish free career that has spanned over three decad
Dr Akinwunmi Adesina is currently going through one of the most difficult times in his blemish free career that has spanned over three decades. Currently the president of the African Development Bank, AfDB, a position he occupied after his meritorious stint as the Minister of Agriculture under former President Goodluck Jonathan, his tenure is now being called to question.
Following a group of whistleblowers’ outcry of allegations of impropriety, fraud, impediment to efficiency, preferential treatment, and involvement in political activities levelled against Akinwunmi Adesina, an investigation was launched by the ethics committee of the bank which looked into the allegations and subsequently cleared him of all allegations, with a unanimous verdict that the allegations are spurious and unfounded. But the United States of America isn’t satisfied with the outcome of the investigation and is pushing for more investigations into Adesina’s activities as president of the bank.
You may wonder why the US is insisting on further investigations on the man who is not only globally respected but has managed to turn the AfDB into a world class institution. Well, the AfDB is made up of 78 shareholders; 55 African countries and 33 Non-African countries, including all of the G7 countries. While the largest African shareholder is Nigeria, the US is the largest non-African shareholder and the 3rd largest shareholder after Nigeria and Egypt. This is in addition to being the biggest economic power in the world.
Now, the Ethics Committee which is chaired by a Japanese Executive Director that cleared Adesina of all wrongs has three African Executive Directors and two Non-African Executive Directors, all of who are representatives of shareholders or member states. Besides, the Ethics Committee, an independent body, followed the laid down processes for reviewing allegations independent of the President.
But as with all things US, their need to want to dominate everywhere, even in the affairs of Africa, is a well known fact and in this case, to dictate who runs the affairs of the AfDB. Which is basically the reason why even though the ethics committee of the bank has cleared Adesina of all wrong doing, the US is insisting on further investigations to enthrone their hidden agenda.
Little wonder the allegations against him surfaced after it became clear that Adesina was going to be the sole candidate for the election this year which would inevitable mean that he would be re-elected for a 2nd term.
It is all the more curious as to why one shareholder (the US) out of 78 shareholders should dictate a position different from that taken by an independent oversight body, simply because they do not agree with the conclusions of the ethics committee.
However, everyone is watching with keen interest and hoping that the AfDB stands up to the US and resists its bully tactics and protect the bank from an unnecessary and potentially destructive corporate crisis capable of breeding resentment among member nations.
