AfDB crisis: We’re behind you, Buhari tells Adesina

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the country’s support for President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, amid ongoing calls for a fresh probe over alleged breach of the bank’s code of conduct.

Buhari stated this when he met with the AfDB president behind closed-door in the State House on Tuesday.

In a series of tweets by Buhari and his Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, the president assured Adesina that Nigeria will continue to support him.

“Nigeria stands solidly behind @akin_adesina in his re-election bid as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). We will work with all leaders, and stakeholders in AfDB, to ensure that he re-elected, on the strength of his achievements during this first term,” Buhari wrote on Twitter.

Also tweeting about the visit, Ahmad wrote: “President @MBuhari receives President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. @Akin_Adesina this afternoon, at the State House, Abuja.

“The whole country is standing for him, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the President of African Development Bank (AfDB).”

Whistleblowers at the AfDB had written a petition against Adesina, accusing him of breaching several codes of conduct — a claim he has continued to deny.

AfDB’s Chairperson of the board of Governors, Niale Kaba, had earlier absolved Adesina of the allegations, consequent upon an in-house investigation of the organisation.

But the United States Department of Treasury dismissed the outcome of the probe, calling for an independent investigation of the allegations.

Several African leaders, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, have since thrown their weights behind Adesina, accusing the US of undue interference.