President Obama, view Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, through your own lens
Mr. President, throughout your life you have always believed that 'may the best win' and with this philosophy the world believed in you, and today as the President of the free world, you remain the pride of America, Africa and the entire globe.
In the same vein, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria who is currently a nominee for President of the World Bank ought to be viewed by you through your own lens.
Through the possibilities of individual achievement, personal merit, adept background, and celebrated expertise in public and private works you became America's first African-American President.
This American historic presidency happened amidst backgrounds like racist attacks, ethnic animosity and social antagonism toward you in terms of your cultural and ancestral history.
Sir, you will agree that what could not be questioned successfully were your impeccable credentials as a candidate for the presidency.
Along these lines of reasoning the extremely public picture you are pushing against Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala compare to your candidate, Dr. Jim Yong Kim is far from who you are in terms of both words and deeds.
In the last few days there is an unbelievable display of unfairness against the psychology of merit, expertness and measured experience in favor of undue power and influence—the America might.
President Obama, if the World Bank is an international financial institution which provides aids and finances to developing countries for capital programs, how does a man with proficiency in infectious diseases, anthropology and university administration occupy and take on such financial headship?
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as you are truly aware of is a woman with a far reaching wealth of experience in world economy, in emerging economies, in economics, in finance and in government.
Yet, you Sir appear to be trying to impose an American public-health professor on the affairs of the World Bank and could this be unconsciously or consciously due to the reality that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is from black Africa, from a purported notorious society, and of a female background?
Sir, some of these characterizations is what you successfully fought against in terms of your being black and different in racist America.
Sir, sure it is civically proper that you support an American and one of your citizens for any global position. But here is the reality. This World Bank position is about who has more qualifications and experience. While Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala comes from a nakedly driven culture of corruption—Nigeria, she presents as a woman within the black Africa community who has struggled individually and pulled herself up by her own bootstraps and now wants to use her skills and efforts as well as her knowledge about the world stage to help emerging nations.
Sir, there is certainly nothing wrong with this type of course especially when you have always fought for persons that have pulled themselves up through their own bootstraps.
Sir, you must not allow a well-educated, a well experienced and a solution driven authority like this woman to back down for a questionable and unsuitable American nominee like Dr. Jim Yong Kim, at least by the standards of the widely known reputable London-based weekly publication, The Economist.
Sir, you have always demanded of America and the world in general; that fairness and clearness must always be respected. So if the World Bank presidency position is contested under the air of freedom, fairness and transparency your long distance sister will win the presidential race for the World Bank.
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. [email protected] 08126909839