WTO Job: Benin Republic withdraws candidate supports Okonjo-Iweala as AU candidate

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

As the race for the post of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation(WTO), hots up, the Republic of Benin has withdrawn its candidate from the race to brighten the chances of Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The withdrawal of Eloi Laourou, by Benin Republic was done in obedience to the African Union (AU) consensus candidature.proposal.

The decision reached after consultations with three African countries registered by the summit of heads of state and government of the African Union on February 10 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the endorsement of a single candidate from Africa.

President Talon

Many have praised the Beninese president, Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon, for taking such patrotic decision to support Nigeria, as he was inspired by the need to recommend a consensus candidate that will be endorsed by the African Union,

A decision for consensus candidate from Africa was adopted at a separate sittings of AU heads of state and government held in July 7, 2019 in Niamey, Niger Republic and February 10, 2020 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The north African country of Egypt had moved against the candidature of Okonjo-Iweala insisting that Abdulhamid Mamdouh, its nominee should be the only recognised candidature of Africa.

Egypt’s, claim was premised on the grounds that Nigeria submitted her name late,.a position which the WTO had refuted, having accepted Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination.