WTO Job: House Supports Okonjo Iweala, Calls on Buhari to Mobilise African Leaders
The former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Tuesday got the support of the National Assembly for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Law makers who gave her the support also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to mobilise support for her from African leaders.
The law makers were full of commendation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Governments for supporting Okonjo Iweala’s candidature.
House Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu sponsored a motion calling on the federal government to reach out to Egypt and Kenya to step down for Nigeria’s candidate as a show of African spirit and oneness.
Elumelu had in the motion said, “Aside Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Africa has two other candidates from Egypt and Kenya and entering the race with three candidates from Africa will split Africa’s votes, which cripples the prospect of an African assuming the WTO position. Therefore, we must urgently reach out to the governments of Egypt and Kenya on the need to rally round a single candidate for the continent in the person of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
“In the past, Nigeria has staunchly supported the candidatures of other Africans to leadership position at multilaterals, including the candidacy of the late Boutros Boutros Ghali, an Egyptian national, to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A good turn deserves another and we must now unite the African continent and ensure cooperation amongst our countries to put the continent first.”
Law makers who gave her the support also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to mobilise support for her from African leaders.
The law makers were full of commendation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Governments for supporting Okonjo Iweala’s candidature.
House Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu sponsored a motion calling on the federal government to reach out to Egypt and Kenya to step down for Nigeria’s candidate as a show of African spirit and oneness.
Elumelu had in the motion said, “Aside Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Africa has two other candidates from Egypt and Kenya and entering the race with three candidates from Africa will split Africa’s votes, which cripples the prospect of an African assuming the WTO position. Therefore, we must urgently reach out to the governments of Egypt and Kenya on the need to rally round a single candidate for the continent in the person of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala.
“In the past, Nigeria has staunchly supported the candidatures of other Africans to leadership position at multilaterals, including the candidacy of the late Boutros Boutros Ghali, an Egyptian national, to become the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A good turn deserves another and we must now unite the African continent and ensure cooperation amongst our countries to put the continent first.”
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