In a last-ditch effort to rally support for Nigeria’s Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in her bid to become the next Director-General of the World Trade organization, African Union diplomats have hosted the former World Bank Chief.
The WTO DG race between Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s serving Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee will come to close on Tuesday, 27th October when a winner would have emerged.
Speaking at a high-level meeting in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Okonjo-Iweala thanked the AU diplomats and leaders on the continent for their support which contributed to her emergence as the last two candidates standing in the final lap of the fiercely contested race.
“I felt supported all the way. And i know it’s different this time. This our time, it’s our time not just because we’re Africans, but because we’ve people who are qualified and competent to lead.” Okonjo-Iweala said while calling for an unalloyed support from countries on the continent.
The race has splitted countries and continents of the world. The New Diplomat earlier reported that while the AU, EU and the Caribbean nations are said to be strongly supportive of Okonjo-Iweala, the United States, Japan and China and other countries in Asia are reportedly rooting for Myung-hee with a lot of underbelly dynamics.
But the battle remains intense between both candidates as last minute horse trading are currently in the works.
The WTO General Council led by Ambassador Walker will determine the fate of Okonjo-Iweala and Myung-hee on October 27, when it officially closes the secretariat to nominations.
The two candidates are on the cusp of history as one of them is set to become the first woman to head the Geneva-based organization in about 25 years of its existence.
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