President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, on Wednesday disowned statement in sections of social media that he had endorsed former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for president in 2023.
Describing the claims as mischievous, Adesina’s senior advisor on communications, Mr Victor Oladokun, said no such endorsement originated from the AfDB president.
He said the claims were “untrue, mischievous and fraudulent.”
On Monday, Tinubu, a chieftain if the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced his interest in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 and disclosed that he had told the president about his intention.
However, a few hours after Tinubu’s declaration, photographs were circulated on social media containing a statement attributed to Adesina endorsing Tinubu.
Part of the debunked statement credited to Adesina read: “If Senator Bola Tinubu could make Lagos the 5th richest economy in Africa and the safest State in Nigeria then be sure that he will as Nigeria President.”
But Oladokun refuted the endorsement, insisting Adesina did not issue the statement.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, no such statement or endorsement has been made by the President of AfDB.”
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