OKONJO-IWEALA: KALU WANTS SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY

As the race for the World Bank top job gains altitude, former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to engage the services of former commonwealth secretary, General Emeka Anyaoku as shuttle diplomat.

According to a letter signed by Emeka Obasi, Kalu believes that the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would need more than the support of Africa to make an impact in the race, which so far had three contenders.

He said: 'We all know that President Barak Obama of the United States has anointed Prof. Kim Yong Kim. But I think the Europeans have not made a move yet. Agree that the U.S. as major stakeholders, always produced the head of the World Bank just as Europe leads the International Monetary Fund (IMF). I think in the United Kingdom, there is a feeling that the American candidate does not have the experience for the job.

That is why I would like President Jonathan to use Chief Anyaoku's links with the U.K to penetrate Europe.' The ex-governor described Okonjo-Iweala as the right person for the job, especially with her experience as two-time minister of finance and managing director of World Bank.

'She has got the brain to lead the world.
Talking about merit, the minister is outstanding. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is also clean as nobody can describe her as corrupt. As clean as Prof. Kim might be, he is more at home with Public Health than international monetary politics. The World Bank does not need surgery yet,' Kalu added. Kalu also advised that a team of experts to work with Chief Anyaoku would be necessary if more buttons needed to be pressed.

'We have Nigerians who can reach out to world leaders beyond Africa. Men like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Prof. Chinua Achebe, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Abdusalami Abubakar. Let them all be involved in this huge project. It will be interesting to have a woman lead the World Bank just as Christine Lagarde is heading the IMF,' he said.