On April 1st 2012 (APRIL FOOLS DAY), NigerianEye joked about Okonjo-Iweala becoming the new world bank president in which , Opponent Jose Antonio Ocampo was said to have stepped down for our very own Okonjo-Iweala. (CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED IT)
 |
| April fool joke |
While some readers did not find the joke funny (and many others did), others gladly tapped into it religiously
Well the joke about Colombian economist Jose Antonio Ocampo stepping down just got real as he withdrew Friday (Yesterday) from the race to lead the World Bank, calling the process a “political exercise” unrelated to candidate merits, Colombian media reported.
The former Colombian finance minister also blamed lack of formal support from his own government, saying that had hindered his ability to garner the backing of other countries, according to a statement published by the Colombian media.
“It is clear that this is not based on the merits of the candidates but is a political exercise,” he said in the statement, referring to the widespread expectation that the US candidate would be chosen. according to AFP
“In this I am at a disadvantage by the lack of support from my own government and how this has prevented me from garnering political support for my candidacy.”
Ocampo, currently professor at Columbia University in New York and always considered a dark horse in the three-way race, said he would give his support to Nigeria’s finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala “to facilitate the desired unity of the emerging and developing economies around one candidate.”
But US-nominated Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-American health specialist and university president, is expected to easily gain the post with the overwhelming backing of the Bank’s largest shareholders, the United States, and Japan and the European bloc.
By tacit agreement with the Europeans dating to the founding of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 1944, Washington chooses the Bank’s head, and has always chosen an American.
This year, though, for the first time that tradition has met a challenge with the nominations of Ocampo and Okonjo-Iweala.
After having interviewed all three candidates this week, Bank directors are expected to decide next week on who will replace outgoing President Robert Zoellick. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Wow...what a misleading headline. Ocampo was never a viable candidate and no one even knew or supported him, he's dropping out and supporting Ngozi...how is this equivalent to him "stepping down for Ngozi as world bank president" ? Your website seems to carry credible news for the most part, maybe sometimes in an unprofessional way but still credible...don't tarnish that
ReplyDeleteI am expecting an official announcement that our own Ngozi(Blessing)Okonjo-Iweala will be made the President of the World Bank. That will be a plus for her and Nigeria. To God be the glory in Jesus name, Amen.
ReplyDeleteAm grateful to God who has made me live in a time when yet again, the name Nigeria is a force to recorned with through our own Ngozi Iweala.
ReplyDeleteEven if she does not win, history has borne us withness that we are not just a country of 419s and dropouts. And secondly, it will go down in history that for the first time in global politics Russia, China and America have found common grounds because of Ngozi.
Ngozi, Imela!!
No be small thing O! Almighty God please confirm and stamp this one for nija Amen!
ReplyDeleteAlthought caught in the web of april fool the other day, i also believe it is possible because no magnitude of man's effort can stop what ever GOD has promise her even if they dont want her..
ReplyDeleteIs a thing of joy actually but we stil need to pray for the best!..
Bravo! You cant imagine the image Ngozi in this race has brought to Nigerians, just yesterday in street of paris shopping, the French man i was in his shop asked me, where I am from, i told him Nigeria, he paused and said "hmm! "your sister may be the next World bank president, that will be great" you can immagine away from soccer, away from 419, away from oil NigerDelta, away from Boko Haram, we are for once known to be stakeholder in world economy courtsey of our own Ngozi. God bless her, her family, Nigeria and those that are thinking positively away from sharing the National cake. Frank M.
ReplyDeletehahahaha haaa...NGOZI and her blind supporters.....i laugh...lets wait and see if the World will vote cos she is Nigerian or they will vote for the right person who has something to show for right from home...shame Nigerians..we forget things soo soon ...is this nt d same iweala...Subsidy agenda......mass transit to full Nigeria in 1 week....this is for the masses.....so where are we today...This kind of person to rule World Economy..i laugh...cos The whole world wil collapse economcally.....i dont pray for her to be there to save Nigeria from future disgrace.....Nigeria Eyes i need more jokes...something like...OBAMA SIGN OKONJI FOR WB PRESIDNT.......hahahhaaa....
ReplyDeleteThis Okonjo thing will not work , even if it does . She will be compelled to resign because really she is not a good Economist . But atleast , let us support our own , and we should pray that ours will not eventually disgrace us .
ReplyDeleteNOI should take up that mantle of leadership with immediate effect and with the authority of the Lord Almighty, she will make it to that seat. She just have to be prayerful and fervently, because i cannot wait to Nigeria added to white-list and online merchant adding Nigeria to their shipping destination so i can start online shopping without barriers. My GTBank Mastercard is really hungry for that...
ReplyDeleteGod bless her.