Adesina Hails El-Rufai, Says Abuja Best When He Was Minister

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina says Abuja was at its best when Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, was the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Adesina said this on Friday at the commemoration and send-off ceremony organised for Nteranya Sanginga, the outgoing director-general of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), held at the IITA Conference Centre, Ibadan.

The AfDB president described el-Rufai as an “amazing governor” with good leadership qualities.

El-Rufai served as FCT minister from 2003-2007 under the leadership of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.

“You can never be leading except you know where you’re leading people, and governor el-Rufai knows that very well because you’ve been an amazing governor of Kaduna state. Also, when you were minister, in terms of Abuja, Abuja was at its best,” Adesina said.

Speaking about the celebrant, Adesina said he is very proud of the achievements of Sanginga, whom he calls his twin brother.

Adesina said he has always expressed confidence in Sanginga, knowing that he would deliver and transform the IITA. He added that it was on that basis that he nominated him as DG of the institute in 2011.