Okonjo-Iweala: “We have made a history”

The congratulating message of the African World Bank candidate, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has once more shown the capacity of this great and rare Nigerian gem. It has also shown, not only shown her humility, but also the death of meritocracy in a World where democracy has been seriously wounded and sectionalized in such a way that only the strongest survive. Her failure to occupy this seat which she technically merited has once more shown that all the discusses on equality and democracy remain words void of sense.

However, though it was evident that she was not going to win the race, not because she was not the right candidate, but because she was a candidate of a wrong Continent, I still believe it confirmed the fact that the World has a long process to go as long as democracy and meritocracy is concerned. 

It will be nice to hear her speak about the result and process of this nomination void of transparency and merit based judgement.

I would like to congratulate Dr Jim Yong
Kim on his emergence as President of the World Bank Group. I look
forward to working with him, staff and stakeholders of the World Bank
Group for the benefit of poor people around the world. Their plight is
at the heart of the mandate of the institution and we must never lose sight of that.

With regard to the selection process, it is clear to me that we need to
make it more open, transparent and merit-based. We need to make sure
that we do not contribute to a democratic deficit in global governance.

Nevertheless, by our participation we have won important victories. We
have shown what is possible. Our credible and merit-based challenge to a
long-standing and unfair tradition will ensure that the process of
choosing a World Bank president will never be the same again. The
struggle for greater equity and fairness has reached a critical point
and the hands of the clock cannot be turned back.
I
congratulate Dr Jose Antonio Ocampo for being a worthy participant and
for his decision to withdraw his candidacy in my favour.
I am
proud of Africa for displaying great unity in supporting my candidacy. I
am proud of my country Nigeria for standing by me. I want to thank all
the African leaders, but particularly President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
for his resolute support, along with other leaders – President Boni
Yayi of Benin Republic, President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’iVoire,
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Chair of the African Union, Mr
Jean Ping. Africa has stood for the right principles throughout these
processes. I am proud to be African.
I want to thank other
developing countries who supported my candidacy. I also thank the
Nigerian public, the National Assembly and the Nigerian and
international media for their analyses and support. I am deeply grateful
to the numerous groups and individuals in different parts of the world
that worked so hard and so passionately in my support.
It was a
worthwhile battle. Now it is time to move on and contribute to the
search for solutions to the many developmental challenges that confront
the world[1].

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Abuja, April 16, 2012