Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has explained why she posted photos taken with President Bola Tinubu at a summit in Paris, France late on social media.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, Tinubu, and businessman Tony Elumelu among others were at the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ convened by French President, Emmanuel Macron.
The summit afforded Tinubu the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change.
On Friday, Okonjo-Iweala posted pictures with other leaders at the summit. She got backlash for not sharing any picture seen with Tinubu.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress Adamu Garba tweeted: “If she like, let her not acknowledge or recognize the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The same Nigeria that did everything for her to become who she is today, the leader of same party, APC, which gave her the wherewithal to get her current office as DG of WTO.
“If doing so is to spite Tinubu as a person, she should know that Tinubu is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Whoever spites at him has done so against the government and the people of Nigeria. And we noted that. Indeed, rebellion is the greatest of all sins.”
On Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala shared more pictures, one of them had Tinubu shaking hands with her.
Reacting to the backlash, the former Nigerian minister of finance urged Nigerians to unite, adding that she shares photos in the order received by accompanying colleague.
“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!” She wrote.
