I had a very good economic team, says Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s immediate-past president, says he had a good economic team that managed the affairs of the country.

He described the appointments of Akinwunmi Adesina as president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Arunma Oteh, vice-president of the World Bank, as attestation that his administration had good hands.

Adesina served as the minister of agriculture and Oteh as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Jonathan conveyed the message in separate letters to the duo.

“Given your exemplary record of performance while serving as the honourable minister for agriculture and rural development in my cabinet, I have no doubt that you will deploy your energy and the bank’s resources to ensure that Africa experiences a new era of accelerated development,” read the letter  to Adesina.

“You were not only a critical voice in my economic team, you also walked the talk, and earned the praise of our countrymen and women, by ensuring that Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in food production became achievable dream.

“I am particularly pleased with your emergence as the AfDB boss; a development I believe has come as a reward for having served your country meritoriously. It also attests to the fact that my administration had a good team that managed the affairs of the country.”

The former president also showered encomiums on Oteh, recalling how he stood by her particularly when he was under pressure to sack her. Jonathan’s refusal to fire Oteh led him to a face-off with the federal house of representatives.

“I am delighted that you are going to your new job, fresh from the experience of having led the recovery and growth initiatives of the Nigerian Bourse in the wake of the decline, occasioned by recent global economic recession and financial crisis,” the letter read.

“I am particularly pleased that you are being rewarded and elevated on the world stage, after serving your country meritoriously, at a time I was the president. This is a clear testimony to your capacity, high integrity, and tenacity of purpose. It is also a vindication of the decision of my administration to stand by you, believing in your abilities and competence, even when questions were being raised in some quarters over your choice.

“I am convinced that the experience you gathered as director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria (SEC) gave you deep insights on how to tackle the peculiar challenges of a developing nation.

“The World Bank can draw from this to ensure that its future partnerships with emerging economies in Africa and other parts of the world are anchored on policies that will lead to sustained growth and development, which is a sine qua non for lifting millions of people in the developing world out of mass poverty.”