The Federal Government’s support for Okonjo-Iweala came less than a week after President Barack Obama publicly unveiled the United States’ candidate for the position.
Nigeria’s silence had hitherto raised some concerns about its seriousness on Okonjo-Iweala’s bid that has enjoyed the support of the African Union (AU) and even China in Asia where the strongest contender hails from.
The worry about Nigeria’s support had prompted a questionnaire to the office of the President on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in which The Guardian requested explanation on why up to last weekend, no official of the Federal Government, including the Foreign Affairs Minister, had said a word about support for the former vice president and managing director of the same World Bank.
It was believed the statement of yesterday was a response to The Guardian inquiry of last Saturday, which a Presidency official claimed was not received, although other correspondents of the same e-mail acknowledged its receipt.
In the statement signed yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan declared support for the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was in India last week where she and her rival from South America, Antonio Ocampo, canvassed for support of members of BRICS that held a meeting in India.
Jonathan extolled the virtues of Okonjo-Iweala, saying her “knowledge and expertise, as well as the depth and breadth of her experience make her the best candidate to lead the World Bank.
“She has first-hand experience of managing complex financial and economic development issues at national and international levels.”
Testifying that the Nigerian Minister has been deploying her skills with demonstrated passion, commitment and professionalism, President Jonathan stated that “she has also shown a high degree of innovation and drive, while exhibiting a strong ability to integrate and manage interwoven problems of development in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, and other sectors in her expanded role as Coordinating Minister for the Economy.”
The President therefore said he was “firmly convinced” that Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership will be beneficial both to the World Bank and to its principal stakeholders.”
He also expressed belief that it would be “immensely beneficial” to Africa and the developing world at large.
The President Jonathan’s statement reads in part: “I am very pleased to note the staunch support and universal acclaim elicited by the nomination of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, as a candidate for the post of World Bank President. I am particularly appreciative of the strong endorsement and proactive backing for her candidature as Africa’s nominee for this very important position by fellow Heads of State across the continent, the African Union Commission, ECOWAS and African Ministers of Finance, Economy and Planning.
“It is noteworthy that other developing countries, prominent individuals and organisations across the globe, including development experts, national and international media, Think Tanks, and civil society groups, have been very supportive of her nomination. I also acknowledge the positive role played by Nigeria’s legislature, and other prominent groups, including members of Nigeria’s vibrant media, in lending strong support to her candidature. These have given Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s campaign a tremendous momentum, which we welcome.
“As a pre-eminent development institution, the World Bank is well-positioned to play an important role in partnering with developing countries to promote growth, tackle poverty and uplift living standards. Accordingly, the leadership of the institution matters greatly and must be chosen with utmost care. It matters even more in a complex, increasingly inter-connected global environment characterised by volatility and uncertainty. It is for this reason that there is a resounding call to ensure an open, transparent and merit-based process in the election of the World Bank President, which our country aligns with, and which has been promised by the G-20 countries as well as the World Bank’s Development Committee.
“We firmly believe that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s knowledge and expertise, as well as the depth and breadth of her experience make her the best candidate to lead the World Bank. She has first-hand experience of managing complex financial and economic development issues at national and international levels, deploying her skills with demonstrated passion, commitment and professionalism. She has also shown a high degree of innovation and drive, while exhibiting a strong ability to integrate and manage interwoven problems of development in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, and other sectors in her expanded role as Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy.”
Interestingly, before Nigeria’s open support came yesterday, two of the respected business and economy journals in the world, the London Financial Times and London-based The Economist, had written articles to draw attention to the qualities of Nigeria’s candidate and her suitability for the job.
Although it was learnt that President Jonathan actually allowed Okonjo-Iweala’s name to be put forward for the top job, The Guardian was told that the support actually came after some African presidents, notably Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Alassane Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic and Chairman of AU called to tell Nigeria’s President that they would back her nomination.
The Guardian was also told that the South African support was even more remarkable as the country’s respected former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, had actually got cracking to throw his hat in the ring for the job. It was learnt that President Zuma was instrumental in the politics that made Mr. Manuel to sheathe his ambition as he (Zuma) was persuaded that Nigeria’s Finance Minister that joined the World Bank as a young professional and rose through the ranks to be Vice President (No. 2) at the World Bank was a more popular continental choice.
Meanwhile, interview dates for the selection of the next World Bank president have been fixed for next week and Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala would be interviewed first next Monday, April 9, according to World Bank and Nigerian government sources in the U.S.
Other candidates for the office, Colombia’s Jose Antonio Ocampo and America’s Jim Yong Kim, would also be interviewed next week Tuesday and Wednesday respectively after which a final choice would be released and a formal announcement expected almost immediately, according to the sources.
As Okonjo-Iweala and other candidates face the directors of the World Bank Board for the interviews next week, the directors who are expected to determine who will be the next president, are said to be under intense moral pressure on how to proceed with the selection, especially since the Bank had earlier committed to a process that would not only be transparent and merit-based, but determined by consensus.
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