AfDB: Yoruba group writes US Govt, calls for Adesina’s support
Samuel Ogunsona
The United States Government has been asked not to oppose the second term of Dr Akinwumi Adesina at the African Development Bank, (AfDB)
In a letter directed to the United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, the Yoruba Koya Leadership and Training Foundation said opposing Adesina is similar to opposing the interests of African people.
The letter was signed by Otunba Ayodeji Osibogun – Nigeria
Senator Tokunbo Ogunbanjo – Nigeria
Dr. Lanre Babalola – United States
Dr. Oluronke Ogunleye – United States
Mr. Olaide Olalere- United Kingdom
Erelu Kemi Wellington – Ebo – United Kingdom
The group stated ‘We wish to bring to your notice the recent happenings at the Africa Development Bank (AfDB),
an institution in which the United States is a non-regional member. This is in respect of a recent probe initiated by CBRE Caledon Partner, Stephen Dowd and engineered by the
United States Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin”
Yoruba Koya described the investigation as witch hunting.
“This certainly has the appearance of
a witch hunt and constitutes an apparent attempt to discredit Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the
President of AfDB”, the group stated.
According to Yoruba Koya, “Dr. Adesina has made giant strides in the development of the bank through
the introduction and implementation of dynamic projects in the continent of Africa.”
The group said the probe is an unnecessary extrajudicial process that undermines the constituted checks
and balances of the AfDB designed to curb maladministration and corruption in the
organization.
It condemned the setting aside of the findings of AfDB’s Ethics Committee is an indictment of the reputation
and integrity of the member nations, such as Japan and others that constitute the committee.
“A crisis of confidence is going to be built into AfDB, which may eventually lead to creation of
cleavages that might lead to a breakdown and possible disintegration of the bank” the group said
the ongoing projects would suffer as a result of lack of continuity in the administration and its
set goals and objectives of poverty alleviation, healthcare delivery, entrepreneurship,
agricultural industrialization, and general development in the continent of Africa.
“The success of AfDB would enhance the development of the continent, which would in return
reduce the burden of immigration on the United States of America”
The group called on Pompeo to
intervene so as to stop the meddlesomeness in the affairs of AfDB and restore the dignity and
honour for which the American government has been noted for years. It is therefore, in the
best interest of the United States Government to continue to support the activities of the
African Development Bank and other such initiatives in Africa.
It told the United States that the ongoing projects would suffer as a result of lack of continuity in the administration and its
set goals and objectives of poverty alleviation, healthcare delivery, entrepreneurship,
agricultural industrialization, and general development in the continent of Africa.
“The success of AfDB would enhance the development of the continent, which would in return
reduce the burden of immigration on the United States of America”
The group called on Pompeo to
intervene so as to stop the meddlesomeness in the affairs of AfDB and restore the dignity and
honour for which the American government has been noted for years.
“It is therefore, in the
best interest of the United States Government to continue to support the activities of the
African Development Bank and other such initiatives in Africa”
