By Christian Appolos
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned the recent call for an independent investigation into the allegations against the African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. This move tends to question the integrity and entire governance system of an institution that has served its members well for over 55 years. Why are we having issues now?
TUC said that it is tempted to believe that there is more to the whole issue. What more can we say if the report of AfDB Ethics Committee clearing Adesina of all allegations of corruption and favouritism is being rejected? We sense an outright breach and violation of a process which may disrupt activities of the bank if allowed to fester.
In a statement signed by its president and secretary general, Comrade Quadri Olaleye and Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi, that “AfDB is a regional Bank, therefore non-regional member countries of the bank should not be allowed to form clog on the wheel of the progress of the continent. Why is this coming up at a time Dr. Adesina is seeking re-election? These intrigues must stop. It beats our imagination that the US being one of the oldest democracies with absolute regard for due process would champion such a call.
“We call on African leaders to rise up and defend the continent for once. Let us assume we were ignorant when the territory was being partitioned in 1884-5; posterity will not forgive us if we allow another one in 21st Century. We shall all blame ourselves if we do not rise up to defend what remains of the continent. Our institutions are being hijacked and we are folding our arms! It is unfortunate.
“The time has come for Africa to stand for something. Yes, we must rediscover ourselves now if we want to avert the looming economic crisis post COVID-19. How long are we going to wait to discover that Africa has come of age? Colonialism came and succeeded. Neo-colonialism is still with us, but we are rejecting outright imperialism. And this is exactly what this intervention is all about.”
