Okonjo-Iweala Speaks On Contesting For 2023 Presidency

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal, has refuted reports that she is planning to run for President in 2023.

In a statement on Wednesday, the former Nigerian Minister of Finance stated that she is not interested in contesting in the 2023 presidential election.

She described the speculations as fake, baseless, and utterly ridiculous, adding that she is only focused on leading the WTO to greater heights.

She said: “I just got here. I am enjoying what I’m doing. It is a very exciting job and I am trying to have some successes here.”

The WTO boss, however, denied commenting on speculation that she is contemplating resigning from her position.

According to Bloomberg, five trade officials said that Okonjo-Iweala has fully grasped the frustrating reality of the organization.

The officials said that Okonjo-Iweala has repeatedly told ambassadors and staff that she could easily resign and reminds them she hasn’t bought any furniture for her temporary home in Geneva.

Meanwhile, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore (MAKH) has accused the Northern Governors Forum and emirs of not giving a hoot about humiliations being suffered by Fulani herdsmen in southern parts of the country over grazing areas for their herds.

Bauchi State chapter of MAKH berated the northern governors and emirs over their inability to address the plight of the Fulani herders at its recent meeting in Kaduna, stating that the governors were only concerned about where power will be domiciled in 2023.

Chairman of the group, Alhaji Muhammad Hussaini, while addressing journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday, expressed disappointment that Northern governors and emirs, as representatives of the people, could sit to discuss issues affecting the region without recourse to the Fulani’s plight.

Hussaini said: “Northern governors are being lackadaisical towards the predicaments of the Fulani tribe in the country, especially the herders, who roam about searching for greener pasture for their animals in the southern parts of the country while being humiliated, maimed and even killed, with their movements restricted on their fatherland soil, contrary to the provisions of Nigerian Constitution.”

The MAKH chairman wondered why the governors and emirs were only bothered about political issues such as power shifts between the country’s regions at the detriment of the lives of their people.