The US Refusal To Back Nigeria’s Ngozi Iweala As WTO Chief: What Could They Have Against Her ?



The Oasis Reporters
October 29, 2020

By Greg Abolo
Twitter@theoasisreport1
Twitter @gregabolo
Despite cross-regional support for Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerging as the WTO head, sources at their meeting say the United States has told a meeting of the World Trade Organization on Wednesday that it does not back Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Okonjo-Iweala had defeated South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, by a wide margin in the final stage of the selection process on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
This is a setback for Iweala, Nigeria’s well respected former finance minister who served two presidents (Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan), meritoriously. She engineered Nigeria’s exit from Paris Club debt burden. Nigeria in the last five years has since fallen deep into wanton debt, with nothing to show for it and deep resentment amongst the populace.
What can the US possibly have against Ngozi? People in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos are asking.
“Do they know something that we don’t ?
Can it be because she contested for the World Bank Presidency against the norm of just handing it over to the American candidate?
Can it be to show displeasure at the Government that nominated her especially as an aftermath of the violence, looting and all the accompanying drama?
Can it be something else that they know and we don’t?
Something isn’t adding up ……
When it comes to international politics, we can come across a lot of vindictiveness” are some of the questions an Ibadan based social media analyst, Ekundayo Awe is asking in exasperation.
International news agency, Reuters, says that the move could undermine the global trade body as it seeks to select a successor to director general Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down in August. A key group of WTO ambassadors had proposed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next chief, but any such decision requires a consensus among the 164 WTO members, meaning any of them could block her appointment..
The veto is what the US has used and the likelihood of President Donald Trump listening to any lobby from Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari appear dim, especially as Trump is facing a crucial election in a matter of weeks against the Democratic Party candidate, Joe Biden whose appeal to the American people is surging.
Besides the killing of unarmed protesters by the Nigerian army that was live streamed across the global digital media space has sent shock waves and deep anger against the government in Lagos and Abuja.
Additional reporting:
Reuters




