He looks presidential, that was the prominent phrase some Nigerians have used to describe the President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, after photos of him with some world leaders at the G7 meeting in France emerged on the internet on Monday.

The G7 which used to be G8 before the ejection of Russia five years ago over its annexation of Crimea, is an organisation of major industrialised democracies consisting of seven nations – US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Japan and Italy

Adesina, a former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria and some African leaders were seen at the weekend meeting of the G7 leaders in Biarritz, France.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Egypt President Abdel Sisi were also in attendance. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was not at the event, he had travelled to Japan during the weekend to attend a conference.

At the meeting, the G7 leaders approved a package totalling $251 million in support of the African Development Bank’s AFAWA initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Africa.

Photos of Adesina with the G7 leaders emerged on the internet on Monday and Nigerians are gushing over it, while also taunting Buhari for not attending the meeting.

In one of the viral photos which are currently melting hearts on social media, Adesina was seen placing his hand on the shoulder of  US President Donald Trump indicating that they were having a tete-a-tete.

In another photo, he was seen in the company of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel alongside other African leaders like Paul Kagame.

The emergence of the photos on social media has sparked 2023 presidential debate on Twitter as many have been tipping him as a good ‘presidential material’ to succeed Buhari as it is expected that power will be zoned to the south in the next presidential election.

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Oluseun Onigbinde, the Director and Co-Founder of BudgIT, a budget and public data visualization company, tweeted:

Akin Adesina is so Presidential.

— Olúseun Onígbińdé (@seunonigbinde) August 26, 2019

Another Twitter user also said:

I like that we are highlighting the possibility of an Adesina Presidency. Reminds me of the time we spoke about an Okonjo Aso Rock.

We must move away from the likes of Fashola, El-Rufai and even Osinbajo.

— Uncle Faisal (@JajaPhD) August 26, 2019

 

See other reactions:

Look At Akinwunmi Adesina Looking Presidential While Meeting With World Leaders

Meanwhile, Osinbajo Your Starboy Is On Condolence Visit Tour And Trying To Visit Kogi To Share 10k Tradermoni

One Is A Man, The Other A Boy pic.twitter.com/ssEHqlJfo1

— Revolutionary Effa? (@DrEffaB) August 27, 2019

 

A country that is blessed with @akin_adesina have a Tinubu aspiring for presidency.

Tragic. pic.twitter.com/8P8vvmPoUc

— Ogbuefi Okafor?? (@MistaChika) August 27, 2019

 

What’s more practical is a Nigerian Region setting up a commission fully backed by governors within the region who then give Adesina control of the commission and power to meet set targets.

The average Nigerian Region is larger than most countries so it’s still worthwhile scale. https://t.co/a8U0uMTIz5

— Gene Grey (@EuginhoCortez) August 27, 2019

 

I’m shocked at this sort of reductionism I’ve seen in a few places. Akin Adesina has had a stellar career in Nigeria & on the continent. And has grown in global reckoning for at least 10 years.

To reduce his acclaim to “a simple act of putting his hand on Trump’s shoulder” na wa https://t.co/SwR525bJ2B

— Igala High Chief (@I_Am_Ilemona) August 27, 2019

 

In my opinion I think we should start looking towards the direction of the likes of Akinwummi Adesina come 2023 and stop all these Atiku is coming and Buhari is going crap. What’s done is done its time to look forward. God bless Nigeria

— Mayowa olagunju ❁ (@iam_doctormayor) August 27, 2019

 

Nigerian’s in my mentions all over Akin Adesina over his outing in France … It’s important to be at the frontline when it comes to geo-politics but let’s be guided that he attended the #G7 meetings as the African Development Bank President… pic.twitter.com/w4FNppXTRl

— Mercy (@AbangMercy) August 27, 2019

 

See the way we are all hailing Akin Adesina, but let bros decides tomorrow he wants to run for presidency tomorrow, you will see Nigerian youths that will pick Buhari or any other old washed up politician over him, even with his track records. @The_Seeker76 @thebardogbamola

— Ette Ibibio (@geeweeny) August 27, 2019

 

If Nigeria was a serious country ready to compete with the advanced world, we would be grooming the likes of Akinwumni Adesina to become President by 2023. But No, we are stuck with a President without School Certificate, and a US drug convict is hoping to take over in 2023. ? pic.twitter.com/yi3murynrI

— Mr Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) August 26, 2019

 

Seeing pictures of Akinmumi Adesina of the African Development Bank at the #G7Summit hurts me so much cuz he isn’t the President of Nigeria….it’s even more painful when you think about who the President of Nigeria is and where he is at the moment.?? pic.twitter.com/sKKNQZ3iuE

— Aniefiok Etim (@aniefioketimMyk) August 26, 2019

 

No offense but I’d rather have Adesina at the G7.
Adesina knows his onions and can engage with other world leaders on an intellectual level.
PMB should have fun in Japan ? https://t.co/J0lMc8dowe

— Ada Campbell (@Adacampbell) August 26, 2019

 

Meanwhile, others who opposed the opinion tweeted:

Are you not just a dreamer. A country that rejected Peter Obi, Kingsley Moghalu and even Pat Utomi over Buhari, You think they will choose Adesina. Baba wake up. https://t.co/ozLiB5wSeH

— Mr. Waltz (@EduWaltzChuka) August 27, 2019

Una don start, now na Adesina! Una think say to be President of Nigeria na by to be smooth talker, proper dresser etc? Una think say na by to impress board meeting? You must street! North, East, West & South must sabi you! No be by yeye influencers to tweet your name everyday!

— Aijay (@Hejeoma) August 27, 2019

Akinwunmi Adesina takes a few famzing pictures with some world leaders and immediately some idiotic #Nigerians think he should contest for President?

That’s how they were lauding Invictus Obi.

It’s this same set that helped Sowore to prison.

Empty people are swayed by pics. pic.twitter.com/9s5hoLUkZK

— TracyChels (@ChelsTracy) August 27, 2019