As the race for the World Bank presidency gathers momentum, a former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to engage the services of former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, as a “shuttle diplomat” to promote the cause of Nigeria’s candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, among Commonwealth countries.

Kalu said Okonjo-Iweala would need more than the support of Africa to make an impact in the race, with three other contenders jostling for the top job.

He said, “We all know that President Barak Obama of the United States has anointed Prof. Kim Yong Kim. But I think the Europeans have not made a move yet.

“Agreed that the US, as major stakeholder, has always produced the head of the World Bank, just as Europe leads the International Monetary Fund, in the United Kingdom, there is a feeling that the American candidate does not have the experience for the job. That is why I will like President Jonathan to use Chief Anyaoku’s links with the UK and Commonwealth to penetrate Europe.”

The ex-governor described Okonjo-Iweala as the right person for the job, especially with her experience as two-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria and a former Managing Director of the World Bank.

Kalu added, “She has got the brain to lead the world. Talking about merit, the minister is outstanding. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is also clean, as nobody can describe her as corrupt.

“As clean as Prof. Kim may be; he is more at home with public health than international monetary politics. The World Bank does not need surgery yet.”

Kalu also advised that a team of experts should be raised to work with Anyaoku so as to press the right buttons, adding, “We have Nigerians who can reach out to world leaders beyond Africa. Men like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Abdusalami Abubakar. Let all be involved in this huge project.

“It will be interesting to have a woman lead the World Bank, just as Christine Lagarde is heading the IMF.”

-Puuch

Posted by admin on Apr 2 2012. Filed under Latest Politics, Women Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry