The chances of Nigeria’s former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, becoming the director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has become brighter as the Republic of Benin has withdrawn its candidate from the race.
It was gathered that President Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon, told the permanent missions of the member states of the International Organization of La Francophonie (01F) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva that it has decided to withdraw, Eloi Laourou, its candidate.
He added that the decision was reached after consultations with three African countries registered by the summit of heads of state and government of the African Union for the endorsement of a single candidate from Africa.
Talon said Benin has decided to support Okonjo-Iweala as the consensus candidate in line with the African Union’s agreement.
Perhaps the only opposition to her candidature is from Egypt, which kicked against the nomination saying its candidate, Abdulhamid Mamdouh, should be the only recognised candidate out of Africa.
