Okonjo Iweala Rejects PDP Vice President Slot,Says Ibo Will Not Play Second Fiddle

Former Finance Minister and the current Director General of World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Okonjo Iweala has rejected the call for vice president slot by the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) presidential flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is searching through the southern part of the country to choose his running mate.

Dr. Iweala was reported to have turned down the quest on the basis that the Ibo dream is the president not the vice president, saying the Ibo origin cannot continue to be playing second class ruler.

Atiku Abubakar who also pleaded with madam Okonjo to see the exalted position as an opportunity for the easterners but okonjo blatantly told Atiku that she won’t play second fiddle, besides power ought to go to South East.

It would be recalled that the DG WTO has twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions. She distinguished herself by carrying out major reforms which improved the effectiveness of these two Ministries and the functioning of the government machinery. She had a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the Number two position of Managing Director and Operations.

As development economist and Finance Minister, Dr Okonjo Iweala steered her country through various reforms ranging from macroeconomic to trade, financial and real sector issues.