Okonjo-Iweala Reacts To Alleged Plans To Resign As DG Of WTO

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has reacted to reports that she wants to resign as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

A source in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday, September 30 clarified Okonjo-Iweala, did not at any time threaten to resign her appointment at the global trade body as being speculated by some media reports.

Responding to a question on whether the director-general threatened to resign her appointment, the source who pleaded to remain anonymous said: “She did not threaten. She did express quite a lot of frustration. I will tell you … she is an extraordinary person but at a very difficult job.

“I do not think it is easy to explain to someone how difficult the job actually is. There are only a handful of people that sat in that seat. I have seen closely a lot of director generals and any time you think you have a difficult job, just think about the director-general of WTO.”

On Thursday, Bloomberg had reported that the WTO DG considered resignation.

Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh WTO director-general took effect on March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve as head of the institution.

Citing five WTO officials, Bloomberg reported that they explained that Okonjo-Iweala privately floated the idea that she may resign if there is no headway in dealing with/providing solutions to the critical issues of the institution.

“Okonjo-Iweala has repeatedly told ambassadors and staff that she could easily walk away from the job, and reminds them she hasn’t bought any furniture for her temporary home in Geneva,” Bloomberg quoted the officials.

The media firm said WTO has faced “deep divisions and lack of trust” in the past as the institution’s “rigid negotiating structure and disparate interests of its diverse membership have precluded the organisation from delivering anything substantial for the better part of the past decade”.

Aside from resigning, officials also claimed that they suspect she (Okonjo-Iweala) wants to run for upcoming Nigeria’s presidential election in 2023.

Responding, Okonjo-Iweala told Bloomberg that she has no interest in running for president, adding that the allegation is “utterly ridiculous and not true”.

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

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