The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has turned down the request to vie for Nigeria’s presidency.

Adesina cited his responsibilities at AfDB as reason for the rejection.

Some groups had obtained N100 million Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Adesna to contest for the presidential ticket of the ruling party.

Adesina, however, rejected the offer on Tuesday.

The regulations of AfDB prohibits its President and other officers of the Bank from partisan politics.

Paragraph 2 of Article 38 titled ‘Prohibition of Political Activity; the International Character of the Bank’, states that: “The Bank, its President, Vice Presidents, officers and staff shall not interfere in the political affairs of any member (country); nor shall they be influenced in their decisions by the political character of the member (country) concerned.”

In a statement issued on the presidential contest, he admitted that he was humbled and honoured for the interest in him to preside over the affairs of Nigeria.

His words: “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.

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“The coalition groups of youths, 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 honoured, 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.”

The Star