Stop Trump from frustrating Okonjo-Iweala, Obiano tells Buhari, African leaders

The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has urged the President, Major General Mohammadu Buhari and other Africa leaders to stop the United State’s President, Donald Trump from frustrating Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s bid to become the next Director General of the World Trade Organisation.

Obiano stated this on Tuesday in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba titled, “WTO DG: A Call on President Buhari and African Leaders to step up diplomatic offensive”.

Stating that there was no reason Okonjo-Iweala who had fulfilled all requirements for the job should be rejected , Obiano said the Nigerian candidate stood a good chance of heading the organisation.

The statement read in part”All which is needed is a great diplomatic offensive before the formal announcement of the winner on November 9.

“The people and government of Anambra State, therefore, call upon President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders to immediately set in motion the machinery to get the United States to do the right thing by supporting the most qualified and the most popular candidate.

“The Trump administration wants South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee who has the support of only 55 nations, about 50 percent of Okonjo-Iweala’s vote. It needs not have its way.

“Earlier this year it ( Trump’s government) opposed the reelection of Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and African Union’s choice, as the African Development Bank president based on unsubstantiated allegations like nepotism.
“It is difficult to understand why the Trump Administration should be on a collision course with Africans on international assignments.

“In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in May, the administration announced it was severing relations with the World Health Organization led by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an Ethiopian, accusing the organization of being China’s lackey, the same charge it levels against the WTO.

“Acts like this help fuel criticism that the administration may not free of racism.
The people and government of Anambra State are of the opinion that President Buhari needs to do more urgently to mobilize not just African leaders but also the EU and, indeed, the rest of the world to get the United States to do the right thing.