Presidency: No stone will be left unturned to ensure Okonjo-Iweala becomes WTO DG

Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says President Muhammadu Buhari will leave no stone unturned in ensuring Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala becomes the director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate in the WTO DG process, is the favoured candidate to clinch the position.

However, the United States favoured South Korea’s trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, saying the WTO needs reform and must be “led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field”.

The trade organisation had initially set November 9 for a general council meeting to select a new DG as a consensus is needed among its members.

However, the WTO has postponed the meeting indefinitely.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels TV programme, Shehu said the president has been reaching out to world leaders on the matter.

“President Buhari has been talking to all world leaders, at some point, Ngozi had a list of those to be talked to, so President Buhari talked to them, some to thank for being so strong in their support, some may be to be encouraged to firm up their support for her candidacy and we are seeing the result of this, ” Shehu said.

Shehu disclosed that the president had reached out to President Donald Trump over Iweala’s candidacy, though he had not been briefed about the outcome of the deliberation.

He assured that the government will intensify its efforts in ensuring the former finance minister secures the post.