The outgoing President of the African Development Bank, AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, has hinted at running for the position of Nigeria’s president.
The AfDB boss affirmed he is available for national service
after his tenure at the bank concludes, specifically stating, “he will be
available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including
his own country, Nigeria.”
Adesina, also a former Minister of Agriculture during
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, made this known in an
interview with Arise Television’s news host, Rufai Oseni.
Recall that Adesina was first elected in 2015 to
lead the continental funding institution, which was founded in 1964, and was
re-elected President of the AfDB for a second term in 2020.
Adesina stated that the only thing that gives him satisfaction
and happiness is seeing the lives of people transform and change.
When asked what’s next for him and whether he would run for
president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Adesina answered:
“You know, one of the things that I’m grateful for as a Nigerian:
many, many years ago, when I was in graduate school in Nigeria, even after
that, I had an opportunity to obtain a US visa. I was given a great visa, and I
could have obtained US citizenship.
“And I say, I didn’t want it, not because I don’t like America.
My kids are Americans, and they were born there, but I remember telling a
colleague of mine that this passport is a Nigerian passport, a green passport.
“I cannot and will never trade it for anything. It gives me
a lot of grief wherever I go. You know, with family, my kids are probably asked
to go right through, and I’m asked to stay behind. They ask you all kinds of
funny questions, where were you born, when do you hope to die? Or any kind of
question, just to make sure that you don’t get it.
“But I told this friend of mine that this part—God did not
make a mistake in making me a Nigerian. He didn’t make a mistake in making me
an African. I will live as a Nigerian, and I will walk by the special grace of
God. But that passport, that green passport, will be respected just like
everybody else in the world, right?
“You don’t beg for respect. You earn respect. So, when
you’re talking about, what will I do after, you know, I started listening to
you by telling you that I always believe in the providence of God, the grace of
God. I don’t see myself as more than just an instrument in the hands of God to
help people.
“Look, the only thing that makes me happy is nothing else
than seeing the lives of people transform and change—that’s what gives me
satisfaction. And so, as a result of that, you know, I will be available to
serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.
“Yeah, you know, I remember one of those songs that I
actually like in Nigeria is by my great singer, pop artist, Davido. And I think
that song was, ‘I’m unavailable, dem no dey see me. I am unavailable.’
“So, but in the case where it comes to service of any kind,
I would ask Davido to change that song—’I am available, they will see me.’
“I will. I’ll be available to serve in God’s hands for
anything that God has in store for my life.”
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