President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has long been rumoured as a presidential aspirant ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.
But he’s now cleared the air by saying he’s not a part of the race for the presidency.
There were also reports that Adesina, who served as Agriculture Minister from 2010 to 2015, had purchased the APC presidential forms by proxy ahead of the governing party’s primary election.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the AfDB President emphasized that he’s not running for the office of President of Africa’s most populous nation.
“I have been extremely humbled by several calls from Nigerians at home and abroad that I should consider running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I am very touched by all who have gone to great extent, with such huge sacrifices, of their own volition, to consider me worthy to be proposed for potential consideration,” he said.
He added that; “The coalition groups of youth, women, farmers, physically challenged and well-meaning Nigerians that have done this have expressed their genuine free will, political right, freedom of expression and association for my consideration, with the interest of Nigeria at heart.
“While I am deeply honored, humbled and grateful for all the incredible goodwill, kindness, and confidence, my current responsibilities at this time do not allow me to accept to be considered.
“I remain fully engaged and committed to the mission that Nigeria, Africa and all the non-African shareholders of the African Development Bank have given me for Africa’s development.
“I remain fully focused on the mission of supporting the accelerated development and economic integration of Africa. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Adesina was Agriculture and Rural Development Minister under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
