To this effect, South Korea will announce its decision to withdraw Myung-hee in the coming days to enable the WTO’s General Council to appoint Okonjo-Iweala.

In the same vein, South korea had also relayed its decision to the United states which had been defending Myung-hee

Recall that Okonjo-Iweala was jostling the position with South Korea’s first female trade minister, Yoo Myung- hee, but the nomination was moved forward after the U.S voiced opposition to her appointment.

The US complained that the WTO’s election rules were flawed because they did not allow governments to register a negative view of a particular candidate.

Surprisingly, the American objection prompted an uproar from the delegates of more than two dozen governments and international organizations seated in the room, with European allies, China, Canada, Latin American and African states all rallying against the US.

In the same vein, dozens of governments swiftly spoke out against the U.S saying Washington was trying to obstruct and weaken the global-trade regulator.

While addressing the house, the WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell then announced that the organization would go ahead with a meeting November 9 to pick a new leader. If necessary, as a last resort, a vote would be held to pick a leader although it would break the precedent of selecting the WTO chief by consensus.

The General Council meeting scheduled for November 9, was later postponed following the restrictions on meetings by Geneva Canton in the face of the sudden rise in COVID-19 confirmed cases.

A new date has been scheduled to take place on December 17 although it is not clear if the meeting would take place.

Automatically, Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala is set to steer the WTO’s wheel on the serious trade challenges of a global health crisis.

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During a video conference with President Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, gave the re-assurance to ensure that the Nigerian candidate emerges DG.

Recall that Okonjo Iweala was jostling the position with South Korea’s first female trade minister, Yoo Myung- hee, was poised to become WTO’s first female leader by consensus on Wednesday after gaining the support of most  WTO member states. But the nomination was moved forward after the U.S voiced opposition to her appointment.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the U.S was the first country to dial in, over a video conference line, saying Okonjo-Iweala lacked the experience to do the job, according to a Western ambassador who was present.

The US complained that the WTO’s election rules were flawed because they did not allow governments to register a negative view of a particular candidate.

However, the American objection prompted an uproar from the delegates of more than two dozen governments and international organizations seated in the room, with European allies, China, Canada, Latin American and African states all rallying against the US.

An EU representative complained that if the U.S had issues with the process, it could and should have raised them far earlier.

Other countries with delegates in the chamber also raised flags, including some that backed Yoo, to join the EU in its objections to the American objection.

In the same vein, dozens of governments swiftly spoke out against the U.S saying Washington was trying to obstruct and weaken the global-trade regulator.

The Delegates accused the U.S of trying to bully them and said that if the U.S didn’t rescind its objections, they would force a vote next month on Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy.

“Given that it will come down to a vote, the likelihood of Nigeria winning is 99 percent,” the ambassador said.

Meanwhile, WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell had announced that the organization would go ahead with a meeting November 9 to pick a new leader. If necessary, as a last resort, a vote could be held to pick a leader although that would break the precedent of selecting the WTO chief by consensus.

He said consultations with the U.S and other members would continue but South Korea declined to withdraw Yoo’s candidacy.

Despite US opposition, Okonjo Iweala had pitched herself as a champion of developing countries. She touted her managerial experience and work as a former senior World Bank official and board chair of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization as ideal preparation to steer the WTO’s focus on the serious trade challenges of a global health crisis.

In a statement after the selection meeting on Wednesday, Okonjo-Iweala sounded a note of victory, saying she was immensely humbled to receive the backing of the WTO’s selection committee today.

“A swift conclusion to the process will allow members to begin again to work together, on the urgent challenges and priorities,” she said.

The race for the job, in which eight candidates initially competed, was triggered when Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo said in May that the was stepping down a year early, partly to allow for new leadership ahead of important WTO meetings next year.

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The WTO’s effort to select a new leader by consensus hit a brick wall on Wednesday after the United States vetoed the move towards consensus.

Unmasking learnt that the WTO’s ambassadors have backed Okonjo-Iweala for the position.

According to WTO spokesman, Keith Rockwell, Deputy US Trade Representative, Dennis Shea, maintained that Washington won’t join a consensus to appoint Okonjo-Iweala because the US supported her opponent, South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee,

In the same vein, US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, had pushed for Yoo even though Okonjo-Iweala gained American citizenship in 2019.

He claimed that Okonjo-Iweala, who was a longtime top official at the World Bank, has been too close to pro-trade internationalists like Robert Zoellick, a former USTR from the Bush administration, who worked with her when he was president of the Washington-based bank.

It’s pertinent to know that WTO’s major decisions are made by a consensus of its 164 members. This indicates that a single country, especially the world’s largest economy, can create a stalemate to pressure others.

Meanwhile in her home country, continues to enjoy support from many Nigerians of who had congratulated her ahead of the final selection.

Professor of Capital market, Nassarawa State University, Prof Uche Uwaleke stated that her emergence as WTO DG would be a positive impact on the Nigeria Economy.

“Nigeria would be in a strong position to champion the cause of Arica Union African Continental free trade area project.”

Similarly, in a statement signed by the president of Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye, and secretary General, Musa- Lawal Ozigi, the duo appreciated the Federal Government, Nigerians and all the countries that have support Okonjo Iweala so far.

If the former managing director of the World Bank finally clinches the position, she would be the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO and will generally boost Nigeria front runner status.

The Geneva-based institution would keep working to reach a consensus ahead of the meeting of the General Council tentatively set for November 9.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, born on 13^th of June, 1954 is a Nigeria-born Economist and International Development expert. She holds a significant position on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the Africa Risk Capacity (ARC).

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