Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, some present and past African leaders for supporting the second term re-election of the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina.
Obasanjo made the commendation yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State when he hosted the leadership of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) led by its national president, Mr. Desmond Nwachukwu.
“I must commend the federal government for the support given to him (Adesina) to get this second term ticket. You know that the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, recommended him before this new government came on board. The government could have rejected him. So, I must commend the president for supporting him all through.
“Also, let me acknowledge and commend some of my colleagues, the 14 former presidents in Africa, for joining me immediately I drew their attentions to it. Some present presidents deserve commendation too,” he said.
Obasanjo also stated that education played a vital role in the success so far made by Adesina and other Nigerians doing the country proud in their different endeavours.
“If Adesina had not gone to school, no matter the innate ability God might have given him, he would not have got to where he is today.
“So, the first thing is how do we get about 14 million children, who are out of school now back to school. 14m children who should have been in school, undergoing education training that will make them contribute to the development of the country in the near future.
“It is having a good education that will make them a good product to market in the global world like Adesina. Not only him, we have several like him, including the president of African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr Benedict Okey Oramah,” he added.
Earlier, Nwachukwu had remarked that former President’s proclivity for grooming talents for leadership positions led to Adesina’s emergence.
“The association is therefore using this opportunity to congratulate you on the historic re-election of Adesina.
“And we are ready to make our doors opened for you to equally tap from many of our qualified members for such leadership positions,” he said.
