US Support For Okonjo-Iweala’s Bid For WTO Top Job Excites Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has described as ‘welcome development’ the pronouncement of the Office of the United States Trade Representative, signifying the withdrawal of the country’s objection to the emergence of Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Nigerian leader made his feelings known in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, last Saturday.
Buhari had been at the vanguard of the campaign for the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala as the director-general of the WTO.
The president said, “We certainly welcome the decision of the new U.S. administration to remove the last obstacle in the path of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to becoming the first female and the first person of African descent to lead the organisation.
“Nigeria and the entire African continent are happy about this new U.S. position, which signifies a shift and an important turnaround in the relations between our continent and the United States under the Joseph Biden administration.
“Today, we see that the United States stands with Nigeria and Africa with the acceptance of our widely respected citizen, Okonjo-Iweala to lead the WTO.’’
According to Buhari, Nigeria looks forward to working closely with the Biden-led U.S. administration with a view to addressing all issues of common interests to both countries.
“We look forward to working very closely with the new U.S. administration on this and all issues of common interests, especially in such areas as accelerated economic growth, fight against terrorism and deepening progress on development issues.’’
It would be recalled that Okonjo-Iweala had on February 5, in her Twitter handle, expressed gratitude shortly after she was endorsed for the WTO job by the U.S. Government.
She further tweeted, “Grateful for the expression of support from the U.S. today for DG @WTO. Congratulations to Madam Yoo of Rep. Korea for a hard fought campaign.
“Thank You President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari & all Nigerians for your unflinching support. Thank you friends. Love to my family. Glory to God”.
The United States Government announced its endorsement of Okonjo-Iweala in a statement by its office of trade representative on February 5.
Earlier, the United States Government had acknowledged the withdrawal of the Trade Minister of the Republic of Korea, Yoo Myung-hee, initially supported by the Donal Trump administration from the race for the top job.
In a statement, US Government said, “The United States has taken note of the decision by the Republic of Korea’s Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee to withdraw her candidacy for Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“The Biden-Harris Administration is pleased to express its strong support for the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director General of the WTO.
“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala brings a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World Bank and two terms as Nigerian Finance Minister.
“She is widely respected for her effective leadership and has proven experience managing a large international organization with a diverse membership.
“The Biden-Harris Administration also congratulates Minister Yoo Myung-hee on her strong campaign for this position.
“She is a trailblazer as the Republic of Korea’s first female trade minister and the first candidate from Korea to advance this far in the Director General selection process.
“The United States respects her decision to withdraw her candidacy from the Director General race to help facilitate a consensus decision at the WTO.
“It is particularly important to underscore that two highly qualified women made it to the final round of consideration for the position of WTO Director General — the first time that any woman has made it to this stage in the history of the institution.
“The United States stands ready to engage in the next phase of the WTO process for reaching a consensus decision on the WTO Director General.
“The Biden Administration looks forward to working with a new WTO Director General to find paths forward to achieve necessary substantive and procedural reform of the WTO”, the statement added.