How Buhari called me PDP man when Atiku took me to him for support – Adesina

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has recounted how he received the crucial backing of former President Muhammadu Buhari in his bid to lead the continental bank in 2015—despite being referred to as “a PDP man.”

Adesina, who served as Minister of Agriculture under President Goodluck Jonathan, shared the story on Friday while delivering the 14th convocation lecture of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.

The lecture was themed “Advancing Africa’s Positioning Within Global Development and Geopolitical Dynamics.

He revealed that it was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who took him to Buhari shortly after the latter emerged victorious in the 2015 presidential election.

“But I want to say something today. If President Buhari had not supported my campaign, it was dead in Nairobi. I went campaigning around the world. They said, sorry, we can’t see you. I said, why? They said, because the government has changed in Nigeria, there’s a new president that’s coming, and we don’t know whether he’s going to support you,” Adesina said.

He explained that at the time, the uncertainty around his candidacy caused many international contacts to avoid him.

Adesina said while in Paris he reached out to then Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who linked him to Tunde Sabiu, an aide to Buhari.

“I placed that call to Tunde Sabiu who was working for President Buhari. He took the phone to President Buhari,” he recalled.“I have never spoken to him in my life. Mr. President, sir, I’m a Nigerian candidate that is roaming the streets of Paris, because nobody knows whether I’m going to be a viable candidate, because they said, you are new, and maybe they don’t know whether you’re going to support me. He said, when are you coming to Nigeria? I said, immediately.”

Adesina said he returned to Nigeria and met Buhari in person, accompanied by Atiku.

“The President Buhari said to me, Dr. Adesina, I have followed your career without your knowledge for a long time. I know you as a person of integrity and generosity. I will support your candidacy, even though you are PDP,” he said.

Describing Buhari as a leader with a great sense of humour, Adesina praised his support, which he said helped secure his AfDB presidency.

He also narrated his determination to express gratitude to both former Presidents Jonathan and Buhari following his election to the AfDB role during the presidential handover ceremony at Abuja eagle square despite being a former minister no longer entitled to VIP access.

“I stood in the sun for three hours waiting for my opportunity to say thank you to President Jonathan and President Buhari,” Adesina said.

He described how he maneuvered through the crowd to position himself in Buhari’s line of sight during the May 29 inauguration ceremony.

“I moved to the right. I crossed the carpet. The serbice chiefs saw me… I stood there. President Buhari came, and he looked up. I was the first person that he saw. I said, Mr. President, thank you for your support for everything.” adding that Buhari said jokingly : “I thought my chief of defense staff was in mufti.”