One of the major factors in the underdevelopment of the Third World is imperialism. This concept has taken so many forms since human beings started living in organised life. Usually many people think that imperialism started with the Western capitalist imperialism whose foundation was laid in 1444 AD. But this is not the situation. Imperialism has been in existence before the first contact of Africa will Europe. The Chaka the Zulu of South Africa, Mai Idris Alooma of the Kanem Borno Empire, the Alaafin of Oyo Empire, the old Ghana and Mali Empires at various times secured the capitulation of many African Kingdoms through military conquest. The Jihad of 1804 by Othman dan Fodio was a form of imperialism and with the characteristic oppressive tendencies which foisted Islam and Hausa language on the vast majority of the northern part of Nigeria till date.
Imperialism has been part and parcel of human existence and it is not about to disappear any time soon. To hope that one powerful nation of the world will not dominate the less powerful and weak ones is to live in total delusion. As it is currently constituted, the international system is almost anarchical in nature. The strong will always dominate the week and in the system, morality is a farce. Lamentation and complaining will never have any place in the international system. It is therefore within this context that one must appraise the damage that lamentation scholarship has done to the psyche and development of Africa over the years. Complaining and bemoaning your fate in the international system is defeatist. And this is what Africa has been doing for the past five hundred years. They complain about the West, the international financial institutions, the United Nations and the entire global system without finding ways of liberating themselves from the oppression of the West and other forms of exploitation.
Most African countries got their independence in the 1960s. Since that time however, most of these countries have remained under the clutches and manacles of Western oppression and abuse. The continent has been held captive and helpless because of the corruption and bad leadership that it has witnessed over the years. Very many African leaders in the past 50 years have stolen and looted the resources of the continent and put them in the Western banks and because of this it has become very difficult for them to wage a sustained and vigorous war against global capital. Hence, they become victims of Western imperialism, making sure that they do not offend their oppressors because their loots are kept with them. As a result of their misrule, Africa has been held hostage by the West. This is indeed very tragic. This is where Africa is today and it will continue to remain so until it has patriotic, visionary, well focused and selfless leaders who are ready to take on these Western powers.
In addition to this, there is an urgent need for a revolutionary followership that will be able to put an end to the oppression and humiliation of the masses of Africa by these rotten African leaders. Until this is done, the continent will continue to linger in the limbo and will always remain a continent of the future without any hope of future freedom and liberation.
Motivation is a major factor in human trajectory. It is an instrument that could elevate a rudderless boy or girl to the highest pedestal of achievement in life. It was for this reason that the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees was instituted in the academia. In the exercise of this important assignment, the university community must exercise the highest restraints. This is to avoid a situation where this important university tradition is hijacked by money bags and the many irresponsible politicians we have today. Once, I was in a convocation ceremony where Diezani Allison-Madueke was conferred with honorary doctorate degree. As her citation was being read, what kept coming to my mind was what is the achievement that this woman has recorded that could qualify her for this type of award? Apart from being appointed as the Minister of Petroleum, I could not think of anything of substance that she had achieved that could qualify her for a doctorate degree award. When it was time for her to be conferred with this degree, I closed my eyes in order not to see this academic sacrilege. Today, there are so many Allison-Maduekes that had been awarded honorary doctorate degrees by some of the Nigerian universities, people of doubtful integrity and crooks are now being paraded as role models for the youths. This is indeed unfortunate.
It was, therefore, with much happiness and satisfaction that I witnessed the conferment of a honorary doctorate degree on Dr. Akinwumi Adesina by the Nigerian Defence Academy in October 2019. By all standards, Adesina is an individual that has contributed so immensely to humanity that his story will always inspire the youths to rise higher in life and scale hurdles. But who is he?
“Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina is the 8th elected President of the African Development Bank Group. He was elected to the position on May 28, 2015 by the Bank’s Board of Governors at its Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
“He took office at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan on September 1, 2015 and will serve an initial five-year term.
“Adesina, 60, is a distinguished development economist and agricultural development expert with 27 years of international experience. He is the first Nigerian to serve as President of the Bank Group.
“Adesina served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2011 to 2015, during which time he implemented bold policy reforms in the fertilizer sector and pursued innovative agricultural investment programs to expand opportunities for the private sector.
“He was previously Vice-President (Policy and Partnerships) of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). He was also Associate Director (Food Security) at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, where he worked for a decade (1998-2008) in senior leadership positions, including as Regional Office Director and Representative for Southern Africa.
“Adesina was Principal Economist and Social Science Research Coordinator for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Principal Economist and Coordinator of the West Africa Rice Economics Task Force at the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) and an Assistant Principal Economist at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). From 2008 to 2010, Adesina was the President of the African Association of Agricultural Economists.
“Adesina has received a number of global awards for his leadership and work in agriculture. In 2010, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed him as one of 17 global leaders to spearhead the Millennium Development Goals, along with Bill Gates, the Spanish Prime Minister and the President of Rwanda. He was named Person of the Year by Forbes Africa magazine in 2013.
“Adesina earned a first-class honours Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ife, Nigeria in 1981. In 1988, he completed a PhD in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University in the United States, where he won the Outstanding PhD Thesis Award for his research work. He also won the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Social Science Post-Doctoral Fellowship in 1988, which launched his international career in global agricultural development.
“Born on February 6, 1960, Adesina speaks fluent French and English.” (AfDB Group)
Since his re-appointment bid a few months ago, I have been following with interest the various developments that have taken place in order to return him for a second term as the President of the ADB. There have been several informed positions as well as emotional and subjective arguments on this issue. I need to stay with the strongest emphasis that international relations are not based on spurious emotional outbursts that are bereft of substance encaspulated in the supremacy of national interest and power.
Oh yes, global capital has exploited and abused you for centuries and you want to fight it to a standstill. But with what? You are indebted to these Western nations and you rush to the World Bank and IMF for financial assistance and you want to fight the West. Your leaders keep their loots in their banks and consequently they could not dare these nations even when African interests are at stake. How realistic is this? For me this is just mere hypocrisy and a waste of time by the African leaders that have been lamenting over the months since the re-election bid of Adesina started.
Does the African leadership has what it takes to call the bluff of the United States? Let us be frank and look at this issue dispassionately. No doubt the interests of the West are at variance and opposed to those of Africa’s. But in a situation of helplessness and vulnerability, to what extent will you be able to fight them and in this case the United States in particular? There is a need for realism as far as this issue is concerned. How much does the United States contribute to this bank? If Africa calls the American bluff, will the bank survive? And what type of survival? Will it be able to discharge its responsibilities to the continent? All these questions must be raised if Africa wants to take on the United States as far as the re-appointment of Adesina is concerned.
But another more important question here is this : how many African countries will be prepared to dare the United States because of the re-appointment of Adesina? International politics is based on the interests of individual nations. How many African countries will be ready to sacrifice their interests for Adesina? These are the necessary questions to ask as far as his re-appointment is concerned. Anything different from these will amount to mere chasing the shadows. Much as any patriotic Nigerian would have wanted him to be returned for a second term but if the odds are against Nigeria as far as United States is concerned, I bet you, he might never return to that office. One thing that is certain is this: by the time the Americans start putting pressure on other African countries, I can tell you with certainty that they will ditch Adesina for their own economic survival.
Currently Nigeria is a debtor nation, taking all forms of loans from any available source. Is this a nation that will be able to fight the United States? The poorest nation on the globe! These are difficult moments for Nigeria. Its commonwealth and patrimony have been looted and it is now in the doldrums of poverty, ignorance and disease. The realistic thing to do at this time is to continue struggling for the reappointment of Akinwunmi Adesina, hoping that America will relax its opposition on this subject. But if it is determined to remove him at all costs, nothing can save him. Today, Nigeria is at its weakest moment since the end of the civil war and cannot in any way confront the United States. If it does this, it is at its own peril. Those advocating for Nigeria to dare the United States based on emotions are not being realistic.
International relations and politics are deeper than this and they are not based on sentiments. Until Nigeria is able to put its economy in shape and put its house in order and deal decisively with its corrupt and reckless leaders that are looting the country blind daily, Nigeria will continue to linger in the limbo of poverty, misery and barbarism of stupendous proportions. Adesina is indeed a very competent, hard-working and resourceful Nigerian but how far he will go in this confrontation with the United States will depend on the extent to which America will put pressure on other African countries and the resolve of these other African countries to stand by Nigeria.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Then, what are the allegations leveled against Dr. Adesina and how did he respond to them? The Premium Times reports:
“Below are the responses to the US promoted allegations by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
” May 27, 2020 |
“Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has responded (dated April 8, 2020)
Allegation No. 1
Not provided
“Allegation No. 2: Appointment of Mrs Chinelo ANOHU-AMAZU.
“ADESINA: Ms Chinelo Anohu-AMAZU was recruited through a globally advertised, open and competitive recruitment process. The search process was carried out by a top notch external recruitment firm, Russell Reynolds of the UK. She was one of two top candidates (both women) recommended to me as President to consider for appointment by the panel. But, I can state categorically that the allegations made against her are untrue and defamatory.
“Allegation No 3: Appointment and promotions of Martin FREGENE.
“ADESINA: Mr Fregene is NOT my brother-in-law. There is no evidence he is. Second, Mr Fregene is a world-class geneticist, internationally renowned for his work on plant genetics of cassava, and who worked earlier at CIAT, Colombia, one of the CGIAR centres, and subsequently as Director at the Danforth Plant Science Centre (probably the second largest private agricultural research centres in the United States).
“He returned from the diaspora to Nigeria to work as Chief Technical Advisor when I was Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria. He was hired as a consultant by the Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Jennifer Blake, to support her in the development of the Bank’s Feed Africa strategy. I approved the recommended hire which was entirely within my power to do.
“Allegation No. 4: Mismanagement of the TAAT programme.
“ADESINA: Allegations against me concerning the TAAT are belied by objective and solid facts demonstrating no violation by me of the Code of Conduct.
“TAAT is an initiative of the Bank developed to help take agricultural technologies to the scale of millions of farmers across Africa.
“Although some staff made some mistakes in the procurement process, this is being investigated by the Bank and no findings have been made yet. There was no impropriety.
“The president does not get involved in contractual issues in the Bank, except in cases involving matters that may affect the image, reputation and interests of the Bank.
“Allegation No. 5: Appointments and promotions of Mrs Maria MULUNDI.
“ADESINA: Ms Maria Mulindi worked with me prior to joining the Bank. She was part of my transition management team as I prepared to take office at the Bank following my election as President, and she very ably led all engagements with the Bank with my transition team. All Presidents of the Bank are allowed to bring in and appoint their own Chief of Staff and advisers, to help them to implement their mandate.
“Allegation No 6: Direct contracting and appointment of Victor OLADOKUN
“ADESINA: We went to the university together and have been very close friends since then. There is nothing in the Bank rules that says that being a friend of anyone in the Bank who gets recruited at the Bank is against Bank rules.
“Allegation No. 7: Contracting of Kapil Kapoor.
“ADESINA: The African Development Bank, under my chairmanship of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) Heads, was tasked to help further develop my proposal to the group on how we can work collectively to leverage global institutional investors to invest in infrastructure and other sectors.
“Kapil Kapoor, who was previously the Director of Strategy and Policies of the Bank, prior to his appointment as the Director General for Southern Africa, had been leading this work working closely with all other MDBs.
“Kapil was essentially doing this work on top of his regular work as Director General. He retired from the Bank at the end of August 2019.
“Allegation No. 8: Appointment of Emmanuel EZINWA:
“ADESINA: The allegation that “A Nigerian, Mr EZINWA was found guilty of sexually harassing a colleague during his probation period; and despite his misconduct, (I) requested that Mr. EZINWA’s contract be confirmed, thus forcing the HR Director, Mrs Frauke HARNISCHFEGER resign is false.
“The truth is that I do not know Mr EZINWA and have never met him in the Bank. The President does not get involved in any staff appraisals except for Vice Presidents and direct reports.
“The then HR Director, Mr. David Ssegawa, evaluated the staff and there was nothing about sexual harassment.
“Mrs Frauke HARNISCHFEGER was not the HR Director in 2018. The HR Director in 2018 was Mr David Ssegawa, who evaluated the staff and recommended the staff, as per the standard procedures of the Bank, to the President. Ms HARNISCHFEGER joined the Bank in 2019, one year after a confirmation recommendation made by the predecessor HR Director.
“Allegation No 9: Preferential treatment for Nigeria and Nigerians.
“ADESINA: I did not introduce an organisational chart with a Nigeria Country Directorate. The decision to open a Nigeria Country Directorate was taken by the Board of Directors under my predecessor, the former President of the Bank, Donald Kaberuka.
“Allegation No 10: Awards received by the President and costs borne by the Bank.
“ADESINA: I received the World Food Prize ($250,000) and the Sunhak Peace Prize ($500,000) in recognition of a life of accomplishments in the field of agriculture. Although they were individual prizes, they brought great credit and prestige to the AfDB.
“I brought further credit to myself and the Bank by donating these two cash awards for the establishment of the World Hunger Fighters Foundation, a foundation that has garnered contributions from others and now funds the Borlaug Adesina Fellows Fellowship for young African Agribusiness Innovators.
“The expenses of the World Food Prize event, including musical entertainment (musical groups from Nigeria and the Glee Club from Purdue University (my alma mater) were defrayed by the World Food Prize Foundation.
“Allegation 11: Settlements for staff separations
“ADESINA: The allegation that somehow the former Chief Economist, Mr Celestine Monga, departed the Bank with improper payments is false. The Chief Economist was not dismissed. Contract non-renewal is not dismissal of staff.
“Allegation 12: Resignation of Mr David SSEGAWA
“ADESINA: Mr Ssegawa was the HR Director. It is not true that I, as President, allowed him to resign when there was an investigation. There was absolutely no investigation of David Ssegawa when he resigned, nor was one contemplated.
“Allegation No 13: Resignation of Mr Michel-Cyr DJIENA-WEMBOU.
“ADESINA: The allegation that I allowed the country manager to resign when he was under investigation for corruption is false. The President does not run country offices. They are under a Director General and overall oversight of a Vice President.
“Allegation No. 14: Appointment of Mr Charles LUFUMPA as acting VP and Chief Economist.
“ADESINA: The allegations against me over the appointment of Charles Lufumpa as Acting Vice President and Chief Economist are patently false. My conclusion after careful review of the case of Charles Lufumpa is that the investigations conducted were very faulty and cannot prove the allegations made against him. My review also showed a well-orchestrated effort to make Mr Lufumpa a scapegoat for failures of others to do their job.
“Allegation No. 15: Disregard of rules concerning leave of absence of VPs or travels of management.
“ADESINA: The President does not monitor or manage time off for staff as that’s done by the Human Resources. The truth is the Vice President had personal medical issues that he had to get attended to (his private life must be respected) that required him to be away for extended periods, as needed, and he travelled with full knowledge of the department of health of the Bank which was monitoring him while away on medical reasons.
“Allegation No 16: Political lobbying of Heads of State.
“ADESINA: It is alleged that as President, I basically bribed and corrupted the 16 African Heads of State and governments in the ECOWAS region to support my candidacy for re-election.
“The allegation essentially impugns the integrity, leadership and honesty of 16 African presidents and ECOWAS. This is a fanciful and baseless allegation.
Summary
“In summary, every single one of the 16 allegations against me in the Disclosure remains unsubstantiated. I have not violated the Code of Conduct. The Ethics Committee should so find and dismiss the matter.”
Let us keep our fingers crossed and await how far the United States will go in this matter.
Toba Alabi is a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
[email protected]
