There has been overwhelming endorsement of African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, as various individuals and organisations commend his stewardship of the bank, and reiterate their support for his re-election, writes Demola Ojo

Considering the recent events at the African Development Bank, the resignation of the bank's vice-president, Jennifer Blanke, was bound to attract attention.

In an interview with Pan African Visions, Nedelcovych said, "If competing with the Chinese in Africa is primordial to the US, then supporting the position of our African fellow shareholders in the AfDB and supporting President Adesina is in our own interests."

In a June 5 statement by the heads of state and governments of ECOWAS signed by Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou, the West African economic bloc reaffirmed its support of the AfDB president, by noting that "in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors, Adesina has further strengthened and accelerated the institutions development."

The ECOWAS heads of states and governments reaffirmed their full confidence in the leadership of Adesina and "reiterated their collective support for his re-election... "

Former Kenyan Prime Minister and the African Union's high representative for infrastructural development in Africa, Raila Odinga, also weighed in and stated that Adesina had made "commendable strides" as president of the AfDB.

The support of these African countries and institutions extends to their past leaders led by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who last month, pointed out the need to speak against the introduction of alien practices being recommended by some parties at the bank and further emphasised the need for the AfDB to remain an African-focused development bank rather than one which serves interests outside Africa.

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