Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, has provided an explanation for the alleged omission of President Bola Tinubu in her earlier social media post. It was reported that Okonjo-Iweala shared photos on her Twitter page from the Paris Global Financial Summit, featuring herself alongside other presidents, but did not include a photograph of herself with Tinubu.
Read Also Yunusa Dahiru, Convicted to 26-Year Jail Term in the Ese Oruru Case, Released
Sharing the photos, she wrote: “At a panel in the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris addressing the issue of the role of trade and trade policy in fighting climate change, poverty and inequality. With @Lagarde @MathiasCormann @LaurenceTubiana @IFADPresident @rajshah Sultan Al Jaber @DrTedros @JuttaUrpilainen and Nathalie Delapalme #NewGlobalFinancingPact
“More images from the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris. With HE President @LulaOficial HE President @Macky_Sall HE President @CyrilRamaphosa and HE President @HHichilema”
However, this generated mixed reactions as some people claimed her post was a slap on President Tinubu, for her to recognise and share photos with the other Presidents while failing to post the photograph she had with the Nigerian leader.
Following the backlash, the former finance minister in a new post, shared photos of herself and the Nigerian president exchanging pleasantries at the summit.
Speaking about the backlash via her Twitter handle on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala clarified that she posted photos in the order received by her accompanying staff and colleagues.
She, however, expressed disappointment with the attacks against her by Nigerians, saying that it shows the depth of polarisation in our society.
She said: “Nigerians please relax! Re Paris, Interesting attacks from both sides. Sadly shows the depth of polarization in our society. I post photos in the order received by accompanying staff or colleagues. Reading more into it is unwarranted. Let’s unite to build our country not attack!”
IF AT ALL IT WAS IN A PARTICULAR ORDER AS CLAIMED…..SHOULDNT YOUR PRESIDENT BE FIRST AND OTHERS FOLLOW??.WE PRAY THAT THIS BITTERNESS OF IBO MUST/SHOULD BE PRESIDENT STOPS.OKONJO SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY WARNED.THERE IS NO ROOM FOR EXCUSES.