Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has been criticized for excluding President Bola Tinubu in the photos she shared on social media.
KanyiDaily recalls that President Tinubu joined other world leaders to attend a summit on ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ organized by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
Okonjo-Iweala, in her capacity as the DG of the World Trade Organization, attended the summit where Tinubu had the opportunity to promote his advocacy for expanding the fiscal space, achieving economic justice for Africa amidst the global energy transition, and addressing the urgent issues of poverty and climate change.
After the summit, the WTO GD shared photos of herself with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President Maky Sall of Senegal, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia.
Okonjo-Iweala’s choice to share a photograph without featuring the President of her home country received backlash on Twitter from some Nigerians. They viewed it as a slight against Tinubu.
As she continued to trend on Twitter on Saturday morning, Okonjo-Iweala responded to the criticism by sharing additional images including one with President Tinubu.
Sharing the photos, she wrote: “More images from the Paris Summit #NewGlobalFinancingPact. With HE President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, HE President @WilliamsRuto and African Business moguls @Mo_IbrahimFdn, @TonyOElumelu.”
More images from the Paris Summit #NewGlobalFinancingPact. With HE President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, HE President @WilliamsRuto and African Business moguls @Mo_IbrahimFdn @TonyOElumelu pic.twitter.com/TIRWCzgB7E
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) June 24, 2023
See some reactions below:
This is Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who became the DG of WTO with the support of the APC administration, today she went for a summit in France and intentionally cropped out President Tinubu from all her pictures, the south Easterners are the most dangerous people to share country with pic.twitter.com/aMo4xpdHZa
— JADE~ 🐘 (@jadesolar_01) June 24, 2023
If Anty Ngozi truly snubbed our President deliberately in Paris, then I’ve lost all respect for her. H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR occupies a seat that is above his person. So no matter what views she has on Mr President, he remains our C-n-C. It’ll amount to an outright bigotry.
— Bello Shagari (@Belshagy) June 24, 2023
I love the tears of the Yorubas and the agbadorians over how Aunty ngozi snubbed their lord. The thing too pain the yeye people 😂 😂😂. Aunty Ngozi no want who go stain her white abeg 😂.
DG of WTO igbos Ned nwoko David hundeyin pic.twitter.com/Vtf9QEH1fs
— Optician-M (@Optician_Mercy) June 24, 2023
Today is a good day to remind y'all how in 2015, Agbado peasants, BMC, & some of these criminals masquerading as intellectuals wrote a petition to the Uni of Yale to withdraw the honorary doctorate conferred to Madame Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Today, they want validation from her. 🫠 pic.twitter.com/NssJNZ28B2
— Aji Bussu Onye Mpiawa azụ 🇨🇮 (@AfamDeluxo) June 24, 2023
When Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was running for WTO, many Agbado people were campaigning against her.
Some even wrote articles on international platforms calling for her disqualification.
Today they want pictures with her for validation.
God will punish all of you!
— Anambra 1st son (@UchePOkoye) June 24, 2023
APC is using Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to divert attention from the hit they took at the tribunal yesterday, and our people are falling for it. They've succeeded in diverting your attention from the main issues.
Why do you think they had no response to the proceedings yesterday?
— KWEKU THE HUSTLER, COMMANDER OF THE HEADLESS MOB (@Urchilla01) June 24, 2023
The only reason Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala didn’t post her picture with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is bigotry
She wants her kinsman Peter Obi in charge of Nigeria
— Sarki. (@Waspapping_) June 24, 2023
BREAKING:
Great jubilation in the APC camp as Tinubu adds another ground breaking achievements to his presidency by meeting, shaking hands and taking a photo with DG of WTO Ngozi Okonjo.
Congrats APC. pic.twitter.com/F1X1XFmndu
— UptownOfLagos (@Uptownoflagos) June 24, 2023
Wild celebrations and immense jubilation in the APC camp as our new president finally meets with the DG WTO Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It was a deep pleasure for our president and a mark of honour to us, his followers.
As he no fit speak for the event, make we use diswan hold body. pic.twitter.com/orRZPhqf4g
— Harmless (@Harmless12345) June 24, 2023
https://twitter.com/trending_medic/status/1672506294182326272?s=20
You guys have started arguing about whether Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Igbo or not, even though only Igbo people know the meaning of her name. Everything becomes about tribe for you, and you can't make an argument or state your point without being tribalistic.
You see names like…
— preach love ❤️ (@redcap_blondie) June 24, 2023
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a respectable global public figure who has distinguished herself over the years. She hasn't done anything that warrants calling her Iya agbaya. As Omoluabi's we must respect elderly people and not abuse them like those raised without love and care.
— Dr Dípò Awójídé (@OgbeniDipo) June 24, 2023
APC and Tinubu supporters use their whole lives and existence to insult Igbos, call them names, and say they'll never rule Nigeria but you want Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (an Igbo woman) to shine teeth with Tinubu.
You can't eat your cake and still have it, it doesn't work like that
— Toluwani 👨👩👦 (LP) (@gabe_teee) June 24, 2023
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Is a Woman of Class
She understands the import of free & elections And image-making
She will never want to identify with illegitimacy
Y’all bush-babies can keep crying that she didn’t recognize your puppet at the summit
Your salty tears can never…
— Pearls (@MissPearls) June 24, 2023
Insulting Igbos because Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala did not upload a picture with Tinubu..
We are officially in the stage of APC fascism.
They will soon start attacking their own, it's inevitable, oh and they will start with religion.
Well done to all involved..
— William (@_SirWilliam_) June 24, 2023
WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala posts photo showing her with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Paris, to debunk viral news she ignored the Nigerian leader. https://t.co/rwYaXXYUl1
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) June 24, 2023
KanyiDaily recalls that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was recently named in Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people for the year.